Clear, smooth skin is globally considered a beauty ideal, and like most ideals, it is something most of us have to work towards. Whether it’s due to age, pollution in our environment or even stress, our skin tends to go through a lot of damage as the years go by. It’s in our youth that it’s at its best, which is why we call silky skin “baby-soft”.

It may not be possible for us to retain the precise quality of our skin at childhood, but there are things we can do to help it stay smoother and softer for longer. Using the right skin care products is one of them. Here we go over several of the absolute best skin care products currently available, as well as why they are worthy of notice. Investing in even only one of these could make all the difference for your skin and shave years off the face you see in the mirror.

Bioderma Laboratoire Dermatologique Sensibio H2O

This product actually used to be unavailable on this side of the Atlantic, but US stores have recently begun to carry it. This is most certainly a good thing, given the gentleness of this makeup remover. It is one of the most affordable and non-irritating products of this kind that you can find, so if you use makeup at least thrice a week, give it a try. You might be surprised by how much milder it is compared to the one you are currently using.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

This is a superb cream that contains both Gingko Biloba and the marine algae Padina Pavonica. The result is a cream that has great hydrating properties yet does not feel heavy when slathered on. It can show clear results in as little as 2 weeks and also happens to be great at fighting breakouts.

Ageless Body System

Not all great skin care products need to be creams or serums. This is an easy, sensibly-written guide to eating right for your skin’s betterment, and it also lists a lot of the best foods for those who want to reduce their wrinkles. It makes a big deal of sticking to the organic approach, so it’s a great alternative for those wary of the “trend diets” for skin care but are still eager to get some sort of guidance in how to structure their diets for better skin (and hair) health.

Rose Stem Cell Bio-repair Gel Mask by Peter Thomas Roth

This mask is a clinical skin care item that contains perfect rose stem cells and a rose extract. Applied, it prompts the skin to renew itself through fresh epidermal cell growth. The result is stronger, toned, younger-looking skin. It also has superb hydrating properties.

Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum

With a name like “Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum”, this product can be a little bit intimidating at first. It might seem less so if you just use the other word used to refer to it on its own packaging, though: plantidote. This plantidote is an intriguing blend of mushrooms created by Dr. Andrew Weil and designed to offer a very gentle yet thorough cleansing effect. Within it are Hypsizygus ulmarius, Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms. It also contains other herbal ingredients with known beneficial effects such as holy basil, turmeric and ginger. Those with skin prone to flushing and acne will benefit the most from it, as it has marvelous calming properties.

GlamGlow’s Super-clearing Mud Mask Treatment

This mud mask from Hollywood contains a six-acid blend that has a very fast-acting effect. It targets the pores and dramatically reduces their size besides fighting blackheads and whiteheads. It is also a good thing to have on hand if you find yourself dealing with breakouts fairly often.

SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0

Retinol is one of the big names when it comes to anti-aging skin care these days, so a lot of people are constantly on the lookout for it in skin care products. While a lot of products advertise that they contain it, though, they do not all have the same amount of the stuff. SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 is very highly regarded by Retinol users because it has a lot of it — enough that going just a bit more over what they currently include in the product would actually require them to make the product prescription-only.

Keep in mind, though, that Retinol can be a bit harsh on your skin at first. It works by causing it to peel, after all, after which you discover new-growth, younger skin underneath. Still, if you have never used anything with Retinol before or have a powerful sensitivity to it, save this for later and try the 0.5 version first. You should also use this stuff with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, like all retinol products. The results can be worth it, as you may find your pores noticeably smaller, your age spots clearly lighter and your skin brighter after the first peel.

Murad Essential-C Daily Renewal Complex

This is a great product if a lot of your skin aging has been due to the sun. Aside from using sunscreen, using this product can result in your photodamage being reduced by as much as 46% in only 4 weeks. Studies have also shown that it reduces fine lines by a full 17% in most cases after a single application. It achieves that through a combination of pure Vitamin C as well as Murad’s own skin repair blend, which improves the growth of collagen.

Garnier Nutritionists Ultra-Lift Pro Deep Wrinkle Roller

It would be hard to miss this one from this list. Not only does this contain Pro-Xylane from the beech tree but it is also rich in Vitamin A for wrinkle eradication. It also happens to have one of the most adorable applicators for wrinkle treatments at the moment — even if some do think it looks a bit like you are applying deodorant to your face when you use it.