“Do you need my I.D?”

I ask the cashier at Trader Joes while she’s scanning the wine I bought. She shakes her head no and smiles at me while I accept the fact that I am at an age where it’s no longer questionable. And in a time where everyone is chasing the fountain of youth and we are inundated with social media images of celebrities and influencers who are 50 but look 30, it’s easy to get caught up in the race against time.

I have been influenced more times than I can count and have bought many products promising to erase my wrinkles and turn back time however none of it has been effective enough to fool the employee at Trader Joes. Despite some of my poor purchases, I have found some great skincare products that live up to their hype and have made a considerable change to my skin.

Here are a few of my favs:

Dr.Dennis Gross Daily Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads- These are not cheap, coming in at $82.50 for a monthly supply however I noticed a visible difference overnight in using these. My skin appeared brighter, pores smaller and fine lines less noticeable. I tried the gentle and regular strength pads. The gentle was fine for my sensitive skin and the regular strength slightly burned when I first tried it. They also have an extra strength version, so my advice is to try out the 5 pack of whichever strength, depending on your skincare needs. A 5 pack is only $18.

Cosrx Snail Mucin Serum– Retailing at $17, this product is so affordable for what it does. It locks in moisture, and I love using it after my actives and before moisturizer for additional hydration. Much needed during these dry winter months.

Nulastin Serum for Eyebrow and Eyelash- Retailing at $79 each, I’ve tried a lot of growth serums and none compared to Nulastin. This stuff really works. My eyelashes grew so long they hit my eyebrows and I had to stop using it for a bit because they were so long. It also helps to fill in those stubborn eyebrow spots still hanging on to the pencil thin 90’s brows we all once loved.

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution- Retailing for $16 for two, I love using this when I first wake up. It visibly  tightens and de puffs the under-eye area.

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting BHA 9 Spot Treatment- Retailing for $46 for a very tiny container of .3 ounces of miracle mystery serum. It claims to help with fine lines, enlarged pores, black heads and uneven texture but if you have milia- a little dab of this goes a long way. I had a spot under my eye the dermatologist tried to take care of 2x. It was so stubborn, and their treatments didn’t work so I bought this and within a week it disappeared. I am shocked at the effectiveness of this product so I don’t doubt it targets all the other things it claims to help with.

I hope these suggestions help you in your journey to getting carded at the grocery store.

Love,

Nikki Needs This

Nikki Coppack is not only a wife, mother to 3 girls and a therapist but she’s also a huge fan of beauty, skincare, fashion, travel, self-care, life hacks and renovating her house in the suburbs of CT. With her extensive experience in fashion, television, event planning, renovating, therapy and motherhood, she has a unique take on trends and what quality products will benefit the everyday middle aged kick ass woman.  She is the hub of product recommendations to all her friends, and we decided to share her great taste with all of you here at CMN!