Dr Alexis Stephens has looked at more than 10 products aimed at mature skin, and her approval rate sits at 88%. That means she liked the vast majority of what she tried. She had almost no reservations along the way.
What does Dr Alexis Stephens recommend for mature skin?
Dr Stephens keeps coming back to a few things: retinol, peptides, and vitamin C. For retinol, she likes formulas that ease you in gently. She praises the Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum because it pairs retinol with a neural peptide that can help soften muscle movement. She also uses the Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion on areas where she wants firming and collagen benefits, showing her retinol habit extends beyond the face. Packaging matters a lot to her too. She highlights the CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum specifically because its packaging protects the 10% L-ascorbic acid from light and air the way medication packaging does, which keeps the formula stable. For peptides, she rates The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum as one of the best carrier-peptide options around. That means it helps deliver trace elements like copper into the skin, and the tetrapeptide 30 in the formula also brightens and calms inflammation.
In her words
"One of the best well-known ones for carrier peptides that help to transport different trace elements like copper into the skin [...] is from The Ordinary. I really love the Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum. This one has copper tripeptide 1 and tetrapeptide 30, which is a fantastic brightening peptide. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and blocks the transfer of melanin to the surrounding cells."
"This is the CeraVe Vitamin C Serum. Most importantly is the packaging. It's 10% L-ascorbic acid, but this packaging will hold up with different light and as oxygen and air gets exposed to it as you're using it. This is actually the same kind of packaging that a lot of medication comes in, so I really like the stability of this packaging."
"I use this Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion [...] on the areas that I really want to get that collagen and firming benefit from."
"A great product that pairs the neural peptides with retinol is the Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum. It has acetyl dipeptide-1 acetyl ester, which can help to decrease some of those muscle movements while giving you all the benefits of a retinol."
"It's got glycerin in here, they also have hyaluronic acid as well as a soluble collagen. It just really kicks everything up a notch. I'm using just one pea-sized amount and that pea-sized amount is going to be distributed evenly all over my face. I [...] have now graduated to a prescription strength, but trust me it took me years to get to this point. [...] You absolutely have to wear sun protection in the morning anytime you're using retinol at night time."
"So it helps with brightening, de-puffing, and plumping up fine lines. While it's not a must-have in a skincare routine, if you're someone like me who doesn't sleep as much as they should or deals with under eye puffiness or hyperpigmentation, it's a really nice little additive to put into your skincare routine."
How many products has Dr Alexis Stephens reviewed for mature skin?
Dr Alexis Stephens has reviewed 17 products for mature skin, for an approval rate of 88%. 15 approved, 1 mixed, and 1 skipped.
What has Dr Alexis Stephens skipped for mature skin?
The only product she spoke against was Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides with Amino Acids, Iron and Protein. She was direct about it: it caused acne for her. That is a useful flag for anyone whose skin breaks out easily, and it is worth noting she gave the companion Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Gummies a different verdict, so the format seems to matter.
"I did not get along well with the Vital Proteins actual collagen. It for sure caused acne for me."
What should you take from Dr Alexis Stephens's picks?
Dr Stephens is a strong voice for mature-skin routines built around retinol, peptides, and stable vitamin C. She approves of options at every price point, from e.l.f. Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum to SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, which means her recommendations are easy to act on whatever your budget. Her one consistent reminder: always wear sun protection in the morning when you are using retinol at night.
Watch Dr Alexis Stephens say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides with Amino Acids, Iron and ProteinSkipped itWatch at 6:16
- The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% SerumRated itWatch at 6:17
- CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C SerumRated itWatch at 3:39
- Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body LotionRated itWatch at 3:35
- Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose SerumRated itWatch at 5:23
- Altreno Tretinoin Lotion 0.05%Rated itWatch at 6:21
- DRMTLGY Brightening Eye MasksRated itWatch at 8:45
- e.l.f. Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid SerumRated itWatch at 5:10
- Allies of Skin CE15 Brightening & Firming OilRated itWatch at 8:45
- Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening SerumRated itWatch at 5:21
- Cosmelan 1Rated itWatch at 9:48
- Olay Retinol body washRated itWatch at 5:32
- Rhode Peptide Glazing FluidRated itWatch at 4:52
- SkinCeuticals C E FerulicRated itWatch at 3:22
- Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical SerumRated itWatch at 3:37
- SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight CreamRated itWatch at 4:19
About this expert
See everything Dr Alexis Stephens has reviewed
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This guide reflects what Dr Alexis Stephens said across her videos about 17 products for mature skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.