The Top 14 Anti-Aging Products Facialists Recommend to Their Clients

What would you ask a facialist if you had their number on speed dial? Apart from hassling them every time you get a blemish or notice a fine line appearing, we thought that the most important question would probably be “What’s the number one product recommendation we should all be using?” After all, no one knows which products work better than the aestheticians who use them every single day.

So we did just that: We reached out to some of our favorite dermatologists, facialists and skincare experts in the know to find out what they consider their must-have skincare buy. From ultra-hydrating moisturizers to SPF (and even a facial essence thrown into the mix), if you’re looking to stock up on staples, make sure you’re adding these to the list.

“If a client comes to me for face treatments, I need to be able to fully trust and know a product inside-out to ensure they give results, are clean in the formulation, have great ingredient lists with good delivery systems and also will work alongside the treatment programs I’m creating for them.”

“This is the best face wash suitable for all skin types. It’s gentle, effective, doesn’t strip, won’t cause any irritation, helps rebalance the skin and is also suitable pre- and post-peels or other invasive treatments.”

“This is just a real ‘wow’ product suitable for all skins. It’s derived from human stem cells. It’s easy to apply, non-sticky and amazing to layer with all other skincare. This is all about regenerating new cells, so it works perfectly alongside your retinol, antioxidants, peptides and moisturizing factors. Once I get clients to give it a go, they don’t switch!”

“I always recommend a really good mineral SPF like the Alumier SPF one. The key is to get clients off chemical SPFs, as they can cause a number of skin issues and get them onto a really good mineral.”

[Ed. Note: This product is currently only available in the UK]

“I absolutely always recommend The Intense Nurture Antioxidant Elixir to everyone because it protects and repairs the skin from everyday life. It offers antioxidants, an extra layer of hydration and adds a little brightness to the skin.”

“My number one product would have to be a facial oil-serum. My go-to is Decléor Aromessence Neroli Amara. This oil is not only full of botanicals and aromatherapy essences (and therefore will truly nourish and feed the skin), but also encourages you to massage spending time distressing muscle tissue opening the lymphatic system, which will help eliminate toxins and congestion. Massage will improve the tone and texture of the skin adding immediate smoothness, radiance and dewy glow whilst improving health and vitality of facial muscles to give a more sculpted, contoured appearance to the face.”

“UV damage is the primary cause of collagen breakdown, pigmentation issues and general aging of the skin. In today’s environment, we need to protect against UVA, UVB, infrared and blue light, so I suggest my Skin Insurance, which offers 360° skin and cell protection. Every day, no matter what the weather, I recommend using SPF to protect against environmental damage and prevent accelerated aging.”

“After spending years mixing skincare for my clients, I decided to formulate my own range I could use in my treatments and people could take home with them. My absolute number one product that I would recommend to all my clients is my Rehydrating Toning Essence, as it adds that extra layer of hydration after cleaning and keeps the skin feeling comfortable all day long.”

[Ed. Note: This product is currently only available in the UK]

“If I were to only recommend one thing, I’d say my microneedling kit, as it has everything could wish for in a facial. It has tiny needles to deliver the treatment deep into the skin and they don’t hurt, so there’s no downtime. It’s super effective.”

“I also always recommend SPF, rain or shine. The sun is the worst thing for your skin. Heliocare is my number one.”

“Like everyone, my skin gets drier so much easier as I’ve gotten older—especially on my body. To me, smooth, soft, and even-toned skin equals youthful skin. Three times a week, I apply a non-drying shower foam to this glove and gently massage in circular motions all over my arms legs and stomach. What I like about this glove is that it has a nice, rough texture, so it gives an excellent exfoliation to leave my skin baby-soft.”

“The rose-quartz butterfly-shaped stone helps with many healing and anti-aging benefits. Regular massaging helps drain puffiness and unwanted toxins. This stone was specifically designed to contour the face and help smooth fine lines and wrinkles. It’s even Karlie Kloss’s go-to product.”

“As a laser specialist clinic, we take particular pride in helping our patients manage post-procedure downtime and redness so they can get on with their daily lives quickly after treatment. We often recommend Oxygenetix foundation because it is formulated with a pro-healing aloe vera base and a breathable Ceravitae formula, which promotes skin healing and reduced inflammation. My patients really like the weightless formulation, which can be built up to provide very effective coverage, particularly for that immediate post-procedure redness as they leave clinic—without compromising the delicate skin underneath.”

“During the day, you need to protect your skin so use an antioxidant serum to fight free-radical damage. I love the PCA Skin SPFs. Not only are they skin cancer–foundation endorsed, but the formulations also treat and protect the skin from free radicals and UV rays.”

“The health of the skin is paramount. In my opinion, too much skincare can often be the cause of the problem. Applying too many strong ingredients can cause harm to the delicate lipid barrier. My aim is to protect and defend the skin to restore its natural radiance. For all skin types, I recommend Quantum Botanika’s Hydrating Gel. It’s a silky, lightweight gel texture that harnesses the power of Bulgarian rose oil, aloe vera and acmella oleracea extract to plump and smooth the appearance of fine lines. Shiitake mushroom extract works to strengthen the skin’s immunity while hydrolysed silk helps to provide the skin with essential amino acids.”

[Ed. Note: This product is currently only available in the UK]

Next up: If you’ve got blocked pores and blackheads, this is the facial for you.