BUY BELIEVE

The real deal on how to manage the damage.

- HANA HONG

FROM RETINOL peels and microdermabrasion to special diets and supplements, so-called miracle procedures and anti-aging myths flood our social media feeds. But the world of anti-aging is chock-full of rumors and misinformation, which can make taking great care of your skin a sometimes overwhelming process.

Before you smear mysterious ingredients all over your face or spend half your paycheck on a tiny jar of anti-aging cream, you should know more about how and why your skin ages. We tapped a handful of experts, from dermatologists to plastic surgeons, to help separate the facts from the fiction.

MYTH
Wrinkles Are the First Sign of Aging

TRUTH Although most people think skin aging begins with wrinkles, more subtle changes in laxity, discoloration, and texture often appear first. "I find that dark spots and low facial volume is what people start to see before anything else," says Jason Emer, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist and surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. But there are other signs of aging that appear early, Emer adds, including "dark circles and hollow skin under the eyes and folds around the mouth." All this to say: It's never too soon to start an anti-aging skin-care routine. Prevention can make all the difference when your skin eventually starts to lose its collagen.

MYTH
Aging Is All Genetic