And you’ll want to have the regal packaging on full display.
No, you’re not dreaming — the soft life is calling your name. It’s finally time to give into indulgence, luxury, and opulence — all the things we’re guilty of denying ourselves. And while a day at the spa can sometimes do the trick, the best way to step into a new lifestyle is to start by incorporating a sense of grandeur into your everyday skin-care routine. Thankfully, Luxury at Ulta Beauty is your one-stop shop for just that.
From the regal packaging to the impressive formulations, Lancôme’s Absolue collection is exactly what you need to take your regimen to the next level. Infused with extracts from the Absolue Perpetual Rose, a perennial blooming flower, grown using organic farming principles, and hand-harvested in the south of France, the line is beloved by a diverse array of beauty experts for a reason: These are the sorts of exquisite results that can be seen across all skin types.
“[Rose oil has] anti-inflammatory and soothing properties,” says Corey L. Hartman, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. “Skin-care products with rose oil are often well-tolerated by patients with sensitive skin, and higher concentrations can also help reduce the appearance of minor scars, fine lines, and wrinkles.”
Allure beauty advisors Kayla Greaves, Sable Yong, and Hannah Baxter are each living proof. That’s why the trio is excited to share their favorites from the Absolue line, available at Luxury at Ulta Beauty — and trust us, you’ll love them, too.
Lancôme Absolue Oil-in-Gel Facial Cleanser
“Playing in makeup is one of my favorite things to do — but I hate removing it. Not only does my complexion typically run dry, but with the eczema-prone skin around my eyes, heavy-duty cleansing can sometimes trigger the hellscape that is contact dermatitis. Thankfully, Lancôme’s Absolue Oil-in-Gel Facial Cleanser offers a gentle solution that melts it all off in one go — without irritation. To use, I simply squeeze out a nickel-size amount into my hands and apply to dry skin, gently massaging the cleanser into my face. After about a minute or two, I rinse with warm water and pat dry. Thanks to key ingredients like glycerin, my face is always left feeling soft and nourished — never stripped. ‘Glycerin is a common humectant, drawing in water from the air or from deeper layers of the skin,’ explains Dr. Hartman. ‘It softens skin.’ Another plus? Glycerin is great for use across all skin types, even the most sensitive.” —Kayla Greaves
Lancôme Absolue Rose 80 Brightening and Revitalizing Face Toner
“With fairly well-behaved skin that is prone to dehydration and hyperpigmentation, I love Lancôme’s Absolue Rose 80 Brightening & Revitalizing Face Toner. It has an essence-like texture and feels so silky as I apply a nickel-sized blob onto my face. Its rosewater base teams up with sodium hyaluronate (a humectant with smaller molecules than hyaluronic acid, which allows the product to penetrate deeper into the skin for better hydration, Dr. Hartman shares) and salicylic acid to sweep up dead skin cells and any lingering pore debris. Immediately, my skin feels quenched — no tightness or crepey-looking texture in sight.” —Sable Yong
Lancôme Absolue The Serum
“Lancôme’s Absolue The Serum must have been based on whatever potion Isabella Rossellini’s character was doling out to Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in Death Becomes Her. Within a week of using this morning and evening, my skin transformed into a smoother, softer, and plumper version of itself, as though it too came back from the dead. The formula uses key actives to polish, plump, and brighten skin, like Lancôme’s Grand Rose Extracts, vitamin E, and Pro-Xylane. ‘Research on Pro-Xylane has shown it can help reduce skin elasticity, which can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,’ says Dr. Hartman. Two-to-three pumps is enough to cover my face and neck. Plus, it has the loveliest floral scent, and absorbs into my skin easily, leaving a silky-feeling finish in its wake.” —S.Y.
Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing & Brightening Soft Cream
“As a woman in her mid-thirties, anything that promises to firm my skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines automatically piques my interest. The difference is finding one that actually feels good on my skin. That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised to discover that Lancôme’s Absolue Revitalizing & Brightening Soft Cream not only contains proprietary ageless ingredients like Pro-Xylane, but quite literally lives up to its name. It’s insanely soft, like a cashmere blanket for your skin, and leaves my complexion with a luminous demi-gloss finish. Plus, the formula has clinical results to back up its claims of increased radiance and smoothness (a must for a skin-care nerd like me). It’s why I’m using this cream both in the morning and at night to keep my chronically dry skin supple and soothed.” —Hannah Baxter
Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing & Brightening Rich Cream
“Slathering the gorgeous Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing & Brightening Rich Cream all over my dry skin every night is something I really look forward to. Formulated with some of my favorite ingredients like squalane (which helps to strengthen the skin barrier, Dr. Hartman explains), my skin always feels just as moisturized and blessed when I wake up as it did when the cream was first applied. Over time, I’ve noticed my complexion has become brighter and more radiant, too, which is the ultimate plus for someone who struggles with hyperpigmentation. Another perk is that little goes a long way for this bad boy. I only need a tiny dollop to get the job done after cleansing.” —K.G.
Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing Anti-Aging Eye Serum
“As the most sensitive area of your face, the eyes deserve a little extra oomph in the form of Lancôme’s Absolue Revitalizing Anti-Aging Eye Serum. One of the hero ingredients, sodium hyaluronate, is a potent form of hyaluronic acid that helps retain water in the skin — a must for anyone dealing with fine lines or crepiness (slowly raises hand). I particularly love that the texture isn’t too heavy or greasy, which is perfect when I need a quick swipe of concealer for those early-morning meetings, without it pilling or melting down my face by lunchtime. I tap on a pearl-sized amount around both my top and bottom lids morning and night, then revel in the surge of instant skin hydration. Pro tip: I sometimes keep mine in the fridge for a cooling and depuffing experience in the morning, particularly if I had a long night with a martini or two.” —H.B.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
