Dr. Somji Skin has reviewed more than 20 products for mature skin, and his approval rate sits at 76%. He is selective, but not harsh. Most things he looks at earn his nod. Very few get skipped, and his reasons are specific enough to be genuinely useful.
What does Dr. Somji Skin recommend for mature skin?
He keeps coming back to retinoids, and he is precise about which form suits which skin. He rates Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum as his dry-skin pick, pointing to its ceramides and peptides alongside the retinol. For oily or sensitive skin, he directs people toward The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion. He explains that granactive retinoids sit closer to retinoic acid than standard retinol does, so they are more likely to actually work. He also singles out The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream as a smart choice around the eyes, since the encapsulated retinol resurfaces gently. For deep pigmentation, he calls Cosmelan 1 'literally like magic', saying it clears even stubborn melasma by around 80 to 90 percent. And for lifting and tightening, he named SoftWave as a standout, noting that his own clinic's surgeon sometimes pairs it with blepharoplasty because the results are that reliable.
Dr. Somji Skin's anti-aging picks, in his words
"If you're acne prone you might want to use specific retinols for acne prone skin. One that I like to prescribe within clinic is Differin Adapalene Gel, which is great."
"You've got the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, which is more for patients with oily skin. It's creamier in texture, it's better for beginners, that's what I would start as a beginner. [...] Because the Granactive retinoids are more close to retinoic acid, it's much more likely that you will get a better result with the Granactive range than you would with the retinol range, but as I said, not every retinoid is good for each patient, so you have to try each one out."
"The Hyaluronic Acid Serum from The Inkey List does exactly what it says in the tin. It's made of hyaluronic acid and is designed to have a thin layer. It should rapidly absorb because it's not a thick cream, it's a serum. Once you've got hyaluronic acid within the skin, that's going to help with moisture."
"The Inkey List has a specially designed Retinol Eye Cream which is actually fantastic for that area if you're going to be using retinol around the eyes. Maybe you want to use some encapsulated retinols that will help just resurface and exfoliate the skin so that you get down to that base and also it can help reduce the appearance of milia as well."
"Eyes clinical um hydrating serum high um is very very good um and I would use that too as well"
"Softwave is extremely effective if you read one of the clinical studies looking at patients that were treated with one treatment of softwave, 88% of patients had a significant improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, and lifting on the face. There was also high patient satisfaction with the treatment. There is some pain involved with softwave because it is a very powerful treatment, but [...] we have some good tactics to help with pain. We numb the area for a good hour prior to the procedure."
How many products has Dr. Somji Skin reviewed for mature skin?
Dr. Somji Skin has reviewed 21 products for mature skin, for an approval rate of 76%. 16 approved, 4 mixed, and 1 skipped.
What has Dr. Somji Skin skipped for mature skin?
He gave a clear skip to Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream, calling it essentially an olive oil cream with peptides so far down the ingredients list they barely count. La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Treatment got a 'three out of ten' from him for low retinol concentration and no supporting actives. He said La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum fails for being a 'hybrid' between a serum and a cream, a format he dislikes. And he told people to be careful with L'Oreal Revitalift 0.3% Pure Retinol Night Serum, even though it has ingredients that should work on paper.
"Now if you put olive oil in your skin it's going to feel like this, it'll feel good. But hey, you are overpaying for this product. You know it's marketed as a polypeptide cream, but the peptides are so low down on the ingredients list that it may as well not be a peptides cream. It's basically an olive oil cream."
What should you take from Dr. Somji Skin's picks?
Dr. Somji Skin's record on mature skin is broadly encouraging. He approves most of what he reviews, but his skips are blunt and worth heeding. If you are picking a retinoid, he wants you to match the formula to your skin type rather than just grabbing the most popular bottle. And for anyone thinking about a clinical treatment, his enthusiasm for SoftWave and Cosmelan 1 is hard to miss: he named both of them standout winners.
Watch Dr. Somji Skin say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide CreamSkipped itWatch at 15:10
- Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%Rated itWatch at 7:58
- The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% EmulsionRated itWatch at 7:16
- The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid SerumRated itWatch at 1:53
- The INKEY List Retinol Eye CreamRated itWatch at 1:35
- SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier with Arbutin and Azelaic AcidRated itWatch at 4:33
- SoftwaveRated itWatch at 12:03
- Obagi Nu-Derm SystemRated itWatch at 6:00
- Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day SerumRated itWatch at 2:51
- The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in SqualaneRated itWatch at 4:46
- SkinCeuticals C E FerulicRated itWatch at 5:43
- Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol CreamRated itWatch at 21:02
- ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin BrightenerRated itWatch at 10:59
- The INKEY List Super Solutions 1% Retinol SerumRated itWatch at 4:33
- Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night SerumRated itWatch at 5:43
- Rhode Peptide Glazing FluidRated itWatch at 5:00
- Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector Serum (15% formula)Rated itWatch at 8:22
About this expert
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This guide reflects what Dr. Somji Skin said across his videos about 21 products for mature skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products he approved. It is general information, not medical advice.