What products are best?

"Spending more money doesn't get you more results," says dermatologist Barney Kenet. He recommends products with fewer ingredients and no fragrance.

Anne Williams, with Associated Skin Care Professionals, begs to differ. "I do spend money on my cosmetic products for my skin. I'm 43 and people tell me I have the skin of a 33-year-old. I've always moisturized, and I've always used an extremely good product."

But she also recommends minimalism when it comes to ingredients, noting that one aesthetician she knows doesn't use anything on her face that she couldn't eat.

Herbalist Brigitte Mars focuses on all-natural products.

Here are some of their product recommendations:

Kenet:

• Sensitive skin: Dove's Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar or Cetaphil cleansers.

• Normal/healthy skin: Alpha Hydrox products or anything with 8 percent alpha hydroxy acids, which help battle the effects of aging but also open pores to battle breakouts.

• Acne-plagued skin: Look for over-the-counter products with benzoyl peroxide, which kills bacteria, dries oily skin and exfoliates pores.

• Aging skin: Look for creams with vitamin A and/or retinol, a derivative of the vitamin. Kenet recommends RoC brand creams. Products with 8 percent alpha hydroxyl acids are best.

• Sunblocking moisturizer: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer products with broad-spectrum sunblock.

Mars:

• Natural skin-care products: Dr. Hauschka Skin Care, Astara Bio-Genic Skincare, Alba Botanical and Weleda brands. Look for these products at many Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores, Pharmaca and salons.

Williams:

• Younger skin, ages 20 to 30: Dermalogica products, available at select salons.

• Acne-plagued skin: Proactiv Solution

• Older skin: Dr. Spiller Biocosmetic, a German company.