My 65-Year-Old Face ‘Looks And Feels About 40’ Thanks To This $24 Moisturizer

While you may associate “K-beauty” with TikTok and Gen Z, there is a ton of amazing Korean skincare geared towards plumping, hydrating and smoothing — core needs for aging skin. Korean skincare is typically celebrated for its innovative formulas for mature skin, often featuring unexpected anti-aging ingredients, like eggplant extract and salmon sperm (yes, really). It’s also generally affordable, with plenty priced well under $30.

Take this fragrance-free daily face moisturizer from Korean brand ANUA. Made with hyaluronic acid, collagen, eggplant extract — and yes, salmon sperm — reviewers call it “Botox in a bottle” and the “perfect” thing for “post-menopause, mature skin.”

If you’re a fish out of water in the Korean skincare world, “polydeoxyribonucleotide,” or simply PDRN, is an incredibly effective anti-aging skincare ingredient, typically derived from salmon sperm.

If you’ve heard about “salmon sperm facials” from “Selling Sunset,” the Kardashians or previous HuffPost reporting, this may be old news. If you haven’t: PDRN is super-popular and found in many Korean beauty products, especially those targeting dry and mature skin.

PDRN is the star of this daily face cream, and ANUA claims it can help your skin retain moisture, give you a radiant, glowy look and may even boost your skin barrier. One reviewer calls the cream “40+ approved,” noting that out of all the skin care they have ever purchased, “nothing has worked quite as fast on a hydration level, leaving my skin looking great and glowing.”

The cream also offers other anti-aging heavy-hitters, like hyaluronic acid for plumping and hydration, niacinamide for protection, squalane for softening, glycerin for moisture, and turmeric, aloe and eggplant extras for soothing and brightening. Lightweight and non-greasy, users say it quickly soaks into your skin and plays well with other products.

“The texture is so light and silky that it feels like nothing on the skin, which is exactly what I want during the day. My richer nighttime creams are way too heavy for daytime wear, but this one gives me hydration without any greasiness,” another reviewer said. “On my 52-year-old post-menopause mature skin, it absorbs beautifully, leaves a nice fresh sheen, and never pills under makeup — a huge bonus.”

The cream is loved by those 40 and over, for reducing fine lines and making “a huge difference” with wrinkles. One reviewer even remarks, “No Botox needed with this!”

After using the cream for only five days, a reviewer who recently turned 40 noticed a difference in their skin, appearing brighter with decreased wrinkles, and without irritation.

Another 40-year-old reviewer, with combination dry and oily skin and ance, says after using the cream, “I have elasticity and softness as I had in my 20s.” They also note that they’ve been getting many compliments on their skin — something they are not used to. “My face at 65 years old looks and feels about 40,” another wrote.

Users report the cream smoothing wrinkles around their mouth, that their fine lines and crows’ feet “are pretty much almost gone,” and that skin feels plumper and more hydrated. They also noted fewer dark circles around their eyes, and less creasing around their lips and on their neck.

“There is something about this product, and it’s a game changer — a holy grail for my mature 58-year-old skin,” katinsb wrote. ”It’s like a miracle cream, and I can’t say enough good things.”

Reviewers over 40 love this unsuspecting PDRN and hyaluronic acid moisturizing cream. Read more 5-star reviews, and grab a tube for yourself.

“ANUA is awesome my face at 65 yrs old looks and feels about 40! Seriously it is the best face cream ever! I am hooked! It softens and hydrates it’s not slimy or sticky, it absorbs so nicely. I highly recommend!” — Tammie Zamesnik

“Started using the Anua line to jump on the ‘Korean skincare train’ and this product DID NOT disappoint. I have always had dry spots along the bridge of my nose, but the oiliest T zone and chin on this green earth, I don’t know how but my skin has evened out with its chaos. I have elasticity and softness like I had in my 20s (40 this year) and I’m actually getting compliments on my skin. Me! Ms Teenage Acne @ 30 herself has been getting compliments on my skin. I’m sure it’s the combination of all the Anua products I have started using, but if you are wondering about it, just do it. My skin tone has evened out, I have a brighter complexion, very happy with the results considering the price being so low! I’m on my second tube of the 100+ cream and I swear by it now.” — Holly Clay

“I really love this cream. The texture is so light and silky that it feels like nothing on the skin, which is exactly what I want during the day. My richer nighttime creams are way too heavy for daytime wear, but this one gives me hydration without any greasiness.
On my 52-year-old post-menopause mature skin, it absorbs beautifully, leaves a nice fresh sheen, and never pills under makeup — a huge bonus.Even with the PDRN and hyaluronic acid, it doesn’t feel sticky or heavy at all with no overpowering fragrance. Just smooth, balanced, comfortable skin.
A really lovely daytime moisturizer that plays well with makeup and keeps my skin looking healthy. I’m impressed!” — TheFaceLadyG

Looking for more skin care upgrades? Check out these recommended K-beauty products from HuffPost contributor Shawna Hudson.

The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)