I'm over 50 and test anti-aging skin care for a living — here are the incredible beauty deals in my cart this week

This is the deal of the week! There are few greater thrills for beauty nerds like me than when a trusted brand's essential skin-care product is unexpectedly on sale. When I found this deal on Grace & Stella's highly rated, ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid serum, I was so excited I could barely type. 

If you don't know: Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring slippery substance that's found in our eyes and joints. It acts as a lubricant inside the body and research suggests that it has an array of skin benefits when it's applied topically, including locking in moisture, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, evening skin tone, boosting elasticity and creating a dewier, plumper look overall. Grace & Stella's top-rated hyaluronic acid is vegan, plus it's paraben- and cruelty-free. (Full disclosure: I love this deal so much, I purchased two bottles.)

Exfoliants are essential for turning over dead skin cells and promoting skin health and collagen production no matter your age. However, they're particularly important in your 40s, 50s and beyond to keep your face from looking dull and tired. This Bliss serum is an excellent entry point — it's gentle yet effective and good for all but the most sensitive skin types. It smells good too. 

One cruel joke of getting older is the presence of pimples on top of your wrinkles. That's due to hormonal shifts — a reality for many of us girls of a certain age. 

Luckily, acne treatments have come a long way from the torture devices of our youth (I think I'm still scarred from Bioré face strips). Case in point: These highly effective, blemish-abolishing, soothing patches have garnered nearly 16,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. They're invisible enough to be worn under makeup during the day, but they're an excellent overnight treatment too. 

Bio-Oil was one of my favorite discoveries of 2023 (and one of our best beauty products of the year) and here's why: There are multiple uses for this wildly well-reviewed, internet-famous skin-care oil, but I like it best as a treatment for itchy, scaly skin on the body, not the face. It's amazing on calves and thighs as an after-shave oil and as an emollient for cracked heels and dry elbows. It's too oily (for me) for my face or as a scalp treatment, but a little goes a long way to tame flyaways. Also, if future queen Kate Middleton uses it, surely it will suffice for a peasant like me.

Solawave is the hottest name in skin-care tech: Using light and heat therapy, along with therapeutic massage, these versatile wands help reduce wrinkles, smooth scarring, increase blood flow and give skin a more even tone. The Radiant Renewal Wand is clinically proven and award-winning. When customers used it consistently (for three minutes per day) they saw results within weeks.   

I've been wanting to try TruSkin's internet-famous Super Serum for months now. It's packed with retinol, niacinamide, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, and it's meant to address a host of aging skin issues including saggy skin and dark spots. Its claims are backed up by nearly 10,000 majorly glowing reviews. If you're curious, now's the time to give Super Serum a go: at more than 50% off, this deal is too good to pass up. 

Caffeine has been clinically proven to reduce under-eye wrinkles and lighten dark circles. This serum contains a highly concentrated amount of caffeine, 5%, and the cooling metal roller-ball applicator helps bring additional blood flow to the area. It has 3,500 five-star reviews (some including before and after pics) and at under $20, it's a solid skin-care deal. 

There are loads of pricey treatments and potions meant to decrease facial puffiness, promote collagen growth and improve the texture of aging skin, but the ancient art of face rolling is the easiest, least expensive and arguably the most relaxing. This high-quality jade roller and face massager tool set has more than 25,000 five-star reviews.

Major deal alert: If you're looking for a retinol treatment for bags, crow's feet and the under-eye area, this is for you. RoC is the premier name in affordable, high-quality retinol. It also rarely goes on sale. At nearly 30% off, this is one of the best prices I've seen since Black Friday. 

Once you hit middle age, your lips need extra moisture to stay plump and youthful-looking. The Laneige lip mask is a lifesaver — it has endless TikTok mentions and has been recommended by more celebrities than I can count (among them: Kelly Ripa, Brooke Shields, Kate Moss, Keke Palmer and Kate Hudson). Users say it works better than Aquaphor for dry lips and that it's changed their chapped-mouth-in-winter lives. They also wax poetic about the texture, taste and, most importantly, the results. It's a great product to add to your beauty arsenal and one of our best beauty products of 2023.

The key to keeping mature skin from looking dull and lifeless: finding an exfoliant or resurfacing mask that promotes cell turnover and sloughs off dead cells. This Peter Thomas Roth mask is a tried-and-true favorite — I've been using it for 20 years. It's rare to find such a high-quality product from a luxury brand so deeply discounted, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a better price than this.     

Right in time for spring and summer dresses and skirts, our best self tanner of 2024 is on major sale. It's easy to use and excellent for smoothing skin and reducing the appearance of spider veins, bruises and other blemishes, making legs appear more youthful overall.