35 till I'm 85.

At 35, I've finally started to see a couple of smile lines around my mouth, and said that's enough already. I want to look 35 until I'm 80. I looked on the Dr. Denese web site--her stuff is supposed to be the best: the highest concentration of vitamins, etc. Her stuff is also complicated. There's a list a mile long, with no pre-made "packs" for people in their 30's, 40's, 70's, whatever. Each product is also at least $30. Then I went looking on Q&A boards. Intelligent people seemed to be talking about going DIY, but they didn't site sources of info. With my skills at chemistry DIY, I'd probably end up making LSD instead of anti-oxident cream.

I chronicled this problem to my friend Donna, and she sent me an uncomplicated, but complete answer:

Hi Suki!
Ah...the lines and their prevention issue. You have mentioned this to the right person. My skin has been a small (read:huge) obsession since I was oh, eleven.
I have tried many products for many things (anti-acne, anti-wrinkle, line prevention, pore minimizers).
Consumer Reports came out with a big study the other day saying a lot of stuff out there, especially the expensive stuff, doesn't do a lot BUT did say the best stuff out there is the Olay Regenerist line.
I've used that- go for the serum and/or the cream, but forget the "lotion". I used something else recently that purported to impart "glow" and I WAS glowy; I ran out and intend to get more although I can't remember the name of the product. 99% sure it was Olay something but I'll know it when I see it in the store.
The general consensus among magazine articles interviewing dermatologists is that you want something with either retinol or Vitamin C for prevention. Retinol can be a little irritating at first and you need to use sunblock every day because it makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Actually THAT's the number 1 prevention item right there : SUNBLOCK.
So, on the basis of my vast experience with many products and ridiculously expensive quest for good skin, I believe in serious (35-50 SPF) but cheap sunblock slathered on in the morning and some kind of retinol/Vitamin C serum topped with a moisturizer cream at night.
Oh, and also note that most line minimizers take about 6-8 weeks of use to see a difference, so don't give up if whatever you try doesn't seem to do much right away.