Every year Prevention magazine enlists some of the world’s leading dermatologists and asks them to try a variety of popular new age-defying products to see if they live up to their claims. Based on the results, they pick about a dozen to receive their Prevention Age-Defying Beauty Award. This year, four new categories were added: Best Body Product, Best Shampoo, Best Conditioner, and Best Hair Treatment. The seven dermatologist who participated in the scientific testing conducted their study on 350 women, ages 40 and over, over a period of at least six weeks. 61 products, including both drugstore and prestige, were tested to come up with the 12 winners. I spoke to the publication’s beauty editor and she told me that the 61 products were chosen from a pool of about 900 deemed by the magazine’s editors to be this year’s most innovative and high performing. Though the products tested included ones reaching in the $100 range, all of the winners retail for $55 or less.
The winners include some “expected” products along with one very notable surprise. Check out the products that stood up to the scientific testing below along with some personal favorites (my picks however are not all new launches):
Best Day Moisturizer with SPF:
L’Oreal Paris Youth Code SPF 30 Day Lotion ($25); my pick would be Sensai CP Wrinkle Repair Collagenergy SPF 20 ($188) or for a less expensive alternative, First Aid Beauty 5-in-1 Face Cream ($38).
Best Night Treatment:
Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum ($55); I’m loving Estee Lauder’s new Resilience Lift Night Cream ($80).
Best Exfoliating Treatment:
Clarins Bright Plus HP Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel ($38); Clarins is an always reliable personal favorite along with Dermalogica Daily Mircrofoliant ($50).
Best Eye Cream:
Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase Lift & Resculpt Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream ($28); Vichy Aqualia Eye Stick ($29.50) is a miracle worker to get rid of tired eyes in the morning if you store it in the fridge. Sjal Orbe Eye Creme ($175) is great for nighttime, while Sephora Collection’s Roll-On Eye Gel works day or night.
Best Neck Cream:
Elizabeth Arden Ceramid Plump Perfect Ultra All Night Repair Moisture Cream for Face and Throat ($62); my go-to for this region is Rodial’s Chin and Neck Lift ($98).
Best Hand Cream:
Avon Anew Clinical Luminosity Pro SPF 15 ($15); in my experience it’s hard to top L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream ($26).
Best Lip Treatment:
Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30 ($2); Blistex is certainly reliable, but unappealing to look at package-wise, which is why I prefer eos SPF 15 Lip Balm ($3.29).
Best Spot Fader:
Specific Beauty Skin Brightening Serum ($24.99)
Best Body Moisturizer:
Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone Superhero Body Sculpting Serum ($35); Dr. Perricone’s line is a perennial favorite and his website is a fantastic resource (see here and here).
Best Hair Treatment:
Redken Time Reset Corrective Defense ($20); Redken is an all-around reliable brand I’ve found, but all my favorite hair products are from Bumble & bumble and Kerastase.
Best Conditioner:
Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Fortifying Conditioner ($4); this was a huge surprise to me — last time I used a Garnier hair product, it was akin to putting cheap, sudsy, detergent in my hair! Again one can’t go wrong with Bumble & bumble or Kerastase.
Best Shampoo:
Wella Professionals Age Restore Shampoo ($13); Again one can’t go wrong with Bumble & bumble or Kerastase. For a more affordable hair care range check-out Yes to Carrots.
