I tested 100+ anti-aging products in the last year — here's my secret Amazon haul

Retinol and bakuchiol are two key ingredients for any skin-firming product, which is why this gentle, beginner's retinol cream comes highly recommended by dermatologists. Both ingredients help increase collagen production, though bakuchiol is often touted as a natural alternative to retinol, as it has fewer side effects and tends to be less irritating.

Bakuchiol and retinol actually work well together — really well. In fact, research shows that bakuchiol can enhance the effectiveness of retinol while helping to stabilize it. 

At .1% retinol concentration, and with the addition of high-quality skin-nourishing ingredients like grape seed oil, this $8 tube is a reliable alternative to far pricier options from luxury brands.  

This is the cream you want if you're, like, "I think tightening creams are BS but I also want to believe they are true because I currently hate my neck." The Gold Bond firming cream is no frills but gets the job done (the job being tighter jowls and a less reptilian neck). The formula is lightweight and on the thin side, but the product absorbs well and is gentle enough not to irritate sensitive skin. 

Note: You'll need to use it consistently for about a month to see results, and it won't, of course, magically make you appear 25, but being able to snag this ample size for less makes this product worth a go.

Every once in a while, an internet-famous product comes along that I think will never in 100 years work — and then I am pleasantly surprised (okay, more like shocked) when it does. Such was the case with this strange little tube of a TikTok-famous collagen and protein hair mask from Elizavecca.   

It's a repairing treatment that's meant to render even the driest, most straw-like hair into silky strands. You work it into your hair after shampooing and, after 5-15 minutes, the before-and-after is seriously profound. My thin, dry, longtime dyed-blonde mane was bouncy, soft and smooth as a satin sheet and, best of all, didn't feel weighed down. Though it does make your hair slightly greasier than normal, the conditioning impact is worth it — my results lasted for weeks. 

In 2022, Regimen Lab, a peer-reviewed skin care brand, shared a video comparing Nivea's Creme with the ultra-pricey luxury brand La Mer and found the two use the exact same base ingredients. 

The biggest difference? La Mer costs hundreds of dollars and Nivea is just $12. I've found it to be the ideal everyday face moisturizer for winter and it makes an excellent night cream too. 

These gilded, Jessica Alba-approved eye masks incorporate hyaluronic acid, amino acids and sea moss to hydrate the delicate under-eye area, reducing dark circles and puffy bags and blurring fine lines as they go — act fast, with this lightning deal, they're more than 40% off!

They're also paraben- and sulfate-free, vegan and gentle enough for most skin types. The luxe packaging makes them an excellent gift. 

This beloved snail mucin from CosRx is just the thing for evening skin tone and making your face look softer and brighter overall. It's won multiple awards, has over 57,000 five-star Amazon reviews and impresses most beauty editors I know.

After using it for the first time (here's my full review), my face was noticeably dewier, and other users have boasted about its ability to hydrate, repair and improve dullness in the skin — all of which helps wrinkles look less deep and crepey. When I tried it again this month, after a medi-spa laser treatment, it soothed and calmed my skin as it healed, lending a healthy sheen. 

I've been loving this extra-firming eye cream from Derma E, a truly quality brand that makes natural, vegan, cruelty-free products that won't cost you a week's pay. Made of skin-revitalizing ingredients like copper peptides and plant stem cells, it's clinically proven to improve elasticity and firmness as well as lighten darker under-eye skin tones. I especially like it for my upper eyelids, where I've seen a noticeable difference in texture over just a few weeks.

More than 1,600 five-star reviewers praise its lifting and tightening merits, calling it "A miracle for your eyes — no time travel required!"

Related: These are the year's best eye creams, tested and reviewed

For those who don't know: Micellar water is not a scammy way to make you pay more for water, but a combination of water plus skin-moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and something called "surfactants" that are like magnets for dirt. Micellar water is the product you want to remove the daily grime from your face: It's super lightweight and mild enough to use on any kind of skin. It's especially good for cleansing older skin — it makes makeup removal a breeze so you're not pulling or rubbing and potentially causing fine lines. 

We can't really talk about micellar water without talking about Bioderma, "the original inventor of micellar technology," according to the brand. This is not only my fellow beauty editor Marie Lodi's favorite makeup remover of the year, but it also boasts 45,000 five-star reviews (including "Quite literally a FREAKING GODSEND!"). In short, this is a stellar product at a great price. 

This dermatologist-favorite moisturizing cream is a great option for those with dry or sensitive skin. It's free of dyes, fragrances, lanolin, parabens and more, reducing the potential for irritation.

It's also versatile, as you can use it on both your face and body, and it won't clog pores.

StriVectin has been in the prestige skin-care game for decades, and over the years, the brand has built a reputation for thoughtfully formulated anti-aging products made with the highest-quality ingredients. This popular, dermatologist-recommended tightening cream was specifically created to address the slack, sagging skin on the neck — an area that loses collagen and fatty tissue faster than the face. 

It's thick and emollient, and it really sinks into neck skin without pilling or feeling sticky. This is a luxurious product that helps with crepey texture and the appearance of "tech neck" lines. 

Albolene's inconspicuous, no-frills moisturizing face cleanser is one of those in-the-know beauty secrets, a product you'd never think to buy for yourself until a friend said, "YOU MUST GET THIS. IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE." Well, I am that friend, telling you that this lush, velvety, mild, no-fragrance cream is about to transform your entire nighttime skin-care routine and make your face a whole lot softer and happier in the process. 

The gentle, century-old cleansing product removes makeup effortlessly, without water (though you can choose to take it off by using a damp washcloth or cotton pad). It's particularly effective for older women concerned with damaging delicate under-eye areas and causing fine lines by scrubbing away mascara and eyeliner. It's also safe for all skin types. Trust me, if you buy it now, it will become a can't-live-without beauty staple on your bathroom shelves and — if you're a good friend — those of every woman you know.    

Speaking of peptides, this potent peptide toner and serum set is made by beloved K-beauty brand CosRx — yes, the same brand that has popularized snail mucin. It uses ingredients like niacinamide, which have been clinically proven to help smooth rough skin texture over time. 

I know, I know. It's a third CosRx product, but you shouldn't sleep on this, Yahoo's pick for the best moisturizer of the year. A favorite among the K-beauty crowd, it's perfect for winter as it packs and seals moisture into dry, dehydrated skin. I love it for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula and antioxidant ingredients. After testing dozens of face lotions, I honestly believe this moisturizer is more effective than brands that cost 10 times as much, including luxury lines like La Mer.

In addition to hyaluronic acid, it contains vitamin tree water (also known as sea buckthorn), which is filled with vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids that help strengthen the skin barrier and increase hydration even more. The midrange price is the cherry on top.

Sunday Riley's Good Genes is one of the most effective beauty products I've ever tried, and this six-month supply will last you. Honestly, I like this skin-rejuvenating serum so much that if I had to pick one desert-island beauty product (outside of sunscreen), it would be this. The lactic acid treatment gently yet effectively exfoliates dull surface skin, promoting cell turnover and giving even the dullest, dreariest complexion a healthy, vibrant glow.

It also smooths and plumps rough texture and clarifies uneven tone. My skin never looks better than when I use this every night, and a little goes a long way.

I hate how much I love these skin-transforming, expensive-as-hell exfoliating pads. I hate that I have yet to find a product that works as well, and I hate that, while, yes, I would like to retire with financial dignity, I may continue to spend $65 on a beauty product just because it makes my 51-year-old skin glow. But as my grandmother once said, "We must suffer to be beautiful."

These pads are made from a chemical exfoliator that does its magic via a two-step process. You use the first pad, which is soaked with five different AHA and BHA acids to lift away dead skin cells, then follow up with the second pad, which has retinol to fight wrinkles and lines.

When I use these pads consistently, my skin looks phenomenal, as if I’ve gotten a facial every single day. If you find this version too harsh for your face, there are two other types: Ultra Gentle for dry and sensitive skin and Extra Strength for oily skin, which is good for dark spots.

I picked up this stellar hairdryer on a whim during Prime Day and I've been nothing but impressed since. It's lightweight and easy to use with five heat settings and three speeds, and it works with ion-generated energy that dries my hair stunningly fast (there's also a handy button for a "cool shot" at the end, which further helps tame frizz).

In addition to the top-rated dryer, this set includes a high-quality detangling paddle brush that works for all hair types and a 2.5-inch round brush for professional-grade styling.