With greater than 60,000 glowing opinions, Anua’s Visibly Firming Collagen Retinol Refining Gua Sha Cream earned a everlasting spot in my nighttime skincare routine.
I’m in my 20s, and sure, I solely not too long ago began utilizing retinol persistently. (I do know, a shocker.) The humorous half is that I’ve interviewed dermatologists and skincare specialists about retinol serums and lotions for years, studying precisely why they’re thought-about a gold commonplace for smoothing texture, softening the looks of tremendous strains, and supporting collagen manufacturing.
Even with all of that information, I by no means really dedicated to swiping one on each night time. As I’ve turn out to be extra considerate about my anti-aging routine — including LED face masks, de-puffing units and different skin-supporting staples — I figured it was lastly time to apply what I’d been writing about. My reply? The Anua Visibly Firming Collagen Retinol Refining Gua Sha Cream.
There’s a cause this method has earned such a loyal following. The very first thing that caught my consideration was the built-in gua sha applicator, which seems like one of many smartest skincare designs I’ve used. As an alternative of shopping for a separate gua sha instrument and remembering to scrub it after each use, the applicator is already hooked up to the tube — a second of silence and appreciation for that! — making it extremely straightforward to therapeutic massage the cream upward throughout my jawline, cheeks and neck.
It turns a step that might really feel tedious into one thing I genuinely sit up for each night.
The method itself checks each field I hoped for as a retinol newbie. Alongside retinol, it contains collagen, which, in response to a 2023 research, helps help pores and skin elasticity whereas delivering lasting hydration that leaves my complexion feeling comfortably moisturized. Since I’ve delicate pores and skin, I used to be ready for irritation, however this cream has been surprisingly light.
Throughout utility, I seen just a little non permanent redness from gliding the therapeutic massage applicator throughout my face, however that shortly fades and feels extra like the results of stimulating the pores and skin than irritation from the method itself.
My appreciation for Anua runs deeper than this one product. Final 12 months, I flew greater than 16 hours to South Korea and got here residence with a pink carry-on full of skincare. Whereas I used to be there — and after I returned — I reviewed virtually each Anua product I might get my fingers on. Spending time immersed in Korean skincare solely strengthened why it continues to set traits around the globe, particularly with regards to attaining that coveted glass pores and skin glow.
This cream has turn out to be one in every of my favourite discoveries from the model as a result of it slips seamlessly into my night routine. Since retinol ought to solely be used at night time, I clean it on as one in every of my remaining skincare steps earlier than mattress, letting the method get to work in a single day.
For anybody who’s been hesitant to start out utilizing retinol, this is without doubt one of the greatest beginner-friendly choices accessible. It combines a cushty method, an progressive built-in gua sha applicator and skin-loving substances that make consistency really feel easy. For me, that’s precisely what lastly made retinol stick.
This text was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Submit Commerce Journalist & Content material Strategist, who has spent numerous hours researching, testing a whole bunch of merchandise and evaluating the most recent make-up, skincare, hair and wonder gadgets and traits to find out what’s actually price your hard-earned money. She evaluates formulation, textures, substances and extra, along with consulting medical and trade specialists. A few of Victoria’s newest conquests embrace testing one of the best sheet masks in the marketplace, and a rinse-and-repeat assessment of one of the best shampoos for all hair varieties and budgets. Victoria, who obtained a magnificence trade necessities certification from the Style Institute of Know-how, has been creating buying guides for the New York Submit since 2021 and beforehand held positions at Insider Critiques and CNN Underscored.
