The Science Behind Anti-Aging Facials: Do They Really Work?

As the world sits on the edge of its seat, anticipating the potential eradication of free speech on apps like TikTok through its merge with Meta, I couldn’t help but wonder about another company that seems to have a monopoly. Unlike censorship, however, this brand might be wreaking havoc on your skin. L’Oréal Paris is a cosmetics giant that sells makeup, skincare, haircare, and hair color products.

Brands such as NYX, Essie, Garnier, Maybelline, Lancôme, Armani Beauty, Mugler, Ralph Lauren, CeraVe, and even La Roche-Posay are just a few of the companies owned by this global powerhouse. Redken is also part of their portfolio—but why? Companies like LVMH, L Brands, ASIAS Brands, and L’Oréal own numerous other brands as part of a strategic business model known as a brand portfolio strategy.

While this practice can raise questions about monopolistic behavior, it serves several legitimate purposes. For instance, by owning multiple companies, they can target various price points, demographics, and market segments. L’Oréal, for example, owns luxury brands while also offering more affordable options like Maybelline, ensuring they capture a broad customer base. But how does this affect you, the consumer?

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The anti-aging market alone was estimated to be worth approximately $47 billion and is projected to grow significantly, reaching around $140.94 billion by 2034, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 6.8% from 2025 to 2034. Societal pressures undoubtedly drive the demand for these brands, and with high demand often comes high costs. While a company like L’Oréal can offset pricing disparities by leveraging its diverse brand portfolio, do they actually do so?

By diversifying their brand portfolio, companies like L’Oréal reduce risk—if one brand underperforms, others in the portfolio can compensate for the loss. However, does this benefit the consumer? According to a former L’Oréal Paris employee in France, “L’Oréal is a marketing mastodon and the world leader in cosmetics, consistently growing year after year. The brand is mostly owned by the richest woman on earth—Liliane Bettencourt. She did not become the richest woman simply by owning a lot of brands and ensuring each product is made with quality ingredients.”

A mascara from Maybelline may retail for about $13 but only costs around $2 to manufacture. Ingredients are where many of these companies make their money! Whether it’s in your cosmetics, skincare, or the food you eat, it’s all about profit. The difference here is that we aren’t directly affected by one Mark Zuckerberg trying to censor free speech on a public platform—it’s a brand selling you low-quality products that you use, toss, and replace with more low-quality products until you find one that satisfies you.

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Anti-aging facials are not designed to truly work, just as over-the-counter skincare products are not made to cure your acne. Factors like genetics and diet play crucial roles in your overall skin health and beauty. If men aren’t rushing out to buy the latest anti-aging under-eye cream from L’Oréal, why are women doing it? The science behind anti-aging facials includes collagen stimulation, improved blood circulation, hydration boosts, exfoliation, and antioxidant protection.

While a product’s marketing might focus on these benefits, the truth is that there isn’t enough of any one active ingredient in a single product to make a significant difference. If you want to actually reverse aging or give your skin a fighting chance to age gracefully, you need to focus on addressing each of these elements individually. To stimulate collagen production, consider treatments like microneedling, microdermabrasion, or even LED light therapy.

Sure, these treatments can sound expensive, but they involve direct contact with the skin and are more effective. One bottle of anti-aging cream can cost anywhere from $48 to $400, but it isn’t nearly as potent. You would need 6–10 jars of such products to equal the impact of one round of LED therapy or microneedling. There are also brands that sell LED light therapy devices direct-to-consumer, which can be beneficial since you’d only need to purchase the device once.

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Improving blood circulation can be as simple as using a gua sha or jade roller. Whether you’re sitting on the couch catching up on your favorite TV show or movie, consider rolling your face. A cosmetics fridge is perfect for this, as chilling your items makes them even more effective and enjoyable to use. This is a direct application of a product that can visibly help combat aging.

Hydration, simply put, comes from water. Many of the products you purchase should list water as the first ingredient, which is a good sign. However, guess what? Water is one of the least expensive ingredients. In a 1.7oz jar of Revitalift, for example, you can bet that 85% of it is water. If you’re active or sweat a lot, consider drinking at least a gallon of water a day. If you’re more sedentary, 3–4 bottles of water daily should suffice. If the idea of drinking from a standard water bottle doesn’t appeal to you, try our Vegan Tumbler. It’s 16oz and a stylish alternative that might make hydrating more enjoyable.

Exfoliation is also key and can be achieved with an exfoliating glove for those on a budget, or with tretinoin if you have access to a good dermatologist. I swear by tretinoin—it’s hands down a staple in my skincare routine. Your face will start to peel periodically, but that’s the product doing its job. Once again, keep in mind that many anti-aging products are not designed to work as advertised; if they were, these companies would risk losing their customer base.

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Brands like L’Oréal need to balance delivering on their promises with ensuring their products have a long shelf life—but guess which one takes priority? The longer a product can sit on a shelf, the higher the likelihood it will sell, reducing the risk of expired, returned, or damaged goods. So, do anti-aging facials really work?

The short answer is... sort of. It’s unlikely that salons are using expensive, salon-grade products for your facials, and over-the-counter products often don’t live up to their claims. Taking control of your anti-aging regimen with effective treatments like LED light therapy, microdermabrasion, and high-quality skincare products is a better approach. Just don’t wait too long—before we know it, these LED light therapy companies might start charging us a subscription fee to use them at home. (Let’s hope I didn’t just give them any ideas!)

by Kyla Cruz & Lisa K. Stephenson