Celebrity dermatologist spills her own skincare routine – and names the ingredients every woman in their 30s should be using: ‘Bank your collagen’

DAILYMAIL.COM • 4h ago

By ELISE WILSON, SENIOR LIFESTYLE REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Updated: 04:00 13 Oct 2026

A celebrity dermatologist who treats some of the world’s most photographed faces has revealed the skincare ingredients she swears by to slow the visible signs of ageing.

New York-based Dr Marnie Nussbaum, 44, says maintaining a youthful complexion has less to do with expensive products or dramatic cosmetic procedures and more to do with consistency, prevention and knowing exactly what your skin needs.

Speaking on the popular Well with Arielle Lorre podcast, the board-certified dermatologist shared her own anti-ageing routine, the ingredients she believes are worth investing in and the common skincare mistakes that could be doing more harm than good.

And while the beauty industry is constantly promoting the latest miracle serum or celebrity-approved treatment, Dr Nussbaum insists the secret to beautiful skin is surprisingly simple.

‘Bank your collagen, even in your 30s. Bank your collagen,’ she urged.

Collagen is the structural protein responsible for keeping skin firm, plump and resilient, but its production naturally declines with age, contributing to fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.

‘We lose one to two per cent of collagen per year [and] you’re never going to notice it until around 36,’ she explained.

Rather than waiting until wrinkles appear and trying to reverse them, she encourages women to take a preventative approach by incorporating targeted skincare ingredients into their daily routines.

The ingredients every woman in her 30s should know about

For women entering their 30s, Dr Nussbaum recommended focusing on a handful of hardworking ingredients rather than chasing every new beauty trend.

At the top of her list are vitamin C, retinol, peptides and moisturising ingredients that help maintain the skin barrier.

‘Moisturising is so important to prevent fine lines and re-densifying that dermis and protecting it.’

Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, is widely used to improve uneven texture, fine lines and pigmentation by encouraging skin cell turnover and supporting collagen production.

However, she warned that the ingredient isn’t suitable for everyone, particularly those with sensitive skin or rosacea.

She also stressed that retinol should be avoided during pregnancy, while trying to conceive or breastfeeding.

For those who struggle with irritation, she highlighted bakuchiol, a plant-derived ingredient increasingly appearing in anti-ageing skincare.

‘It’s much less irritating. It just takes longer to work,’ she said.

Another ingredient she’s particularly enthusiastic about is peptides, which she believes deserve far more attention.

‘They’re short-chain amino acids, building blocks for collagen and elastin. They are the best thing to ever happen to skincare.’

She also recommended carefully introducing chemical exfoliants such as glycolic, salicylic and lactic acids, which can help improve skin texture and congestion.

Rather than immediately using them every day, she advised starting slowly and increasing frequency only if the skin tolerates them.

And for women feeling overwhelmed by the endless skincare advice circulating on social media, she has one particularly important warning.

‘Don’t chase trends. That’s the biggest mistake women make in their 30s,’ she said.

Dr Nussbaum’s recommended skincare routine

Despite having access to some of the world’s most advanced treatments and skincare technology, Dr Nussbaum prefers a relatively streamlined approach to her own daily routine.

The dermatologist revealed she uses her own Dr Marnie Facial Serum twice daily, which combines several ingredients she considers important for maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin.

‘I wanted peptides, collagen, niacinamide, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and bakuchiol in one serum,’ she explained.

The formulation was developed as part of her own skincare line, which she created after becoming frustrated with complicated, expensive routines involving numerous separate products.

At night, she also uses her exfoliating Glow Pads before applying serum, while retinol remains another ingredient she recommends incorporating where appropriate.

She stressed that exfoliation and retinol strength should always be adjusted according to the skin’s tolerance, particularly if redness or irritation develops.

And while many women focus almost exclusively on their faces, there are several areas that are frequently neglected.

‘But people forget their necks – so important. Their eyes – so important.’

She has also noticed her own skin becoming increasingly dry with age, something she says women approaching perimenopause should be aware of.

An SPF 30 or higher is also something she highly recommends every day, including when spending time near windows, and she advises reapplying every two hours when outdoors in the sun.

Having spent years treating high-profile clients, Dr Nussbaum also revealed what separates the complexions of Hollywood’s most famous faces from everyone else’s.

And contrary to popular belief, it isn’t necessarily an expensive facelift or the latest injectable treatment.

‘What people don’t realise is celebrities take care of their skin, maintaining it.’

According to the dermatologist, even those who undergo cosmetic surgery must continue looking after their skin with appropriate products and treatments.

She explained that surgery can address sagging or excess skin, but it doesn’t replace the need for ongoing skincare.

For those considering professional treatments, she is particularly fond of collagen-stimulating options, including Clear + Brilliant laser treatments and radiofrequency microneedling.

However, she cautioned that the right procedure depends on individual concerns, skin type and the experience of the practitioner.

She also warned against choosing treatments purely because they are trending online, noting that many technologies marketed under different names work in similar ways.

Her advice is to discuss your goals, budget and acceptable downtime with a qualified provider rather than arriving at a clinic demanding a particular machine.

While the 30s are an important decade for prevention, Dr Nussbaum says the 40s can bring more noticeable changes to facial structure, firmness and hydration.

‘In your 40s, collagen loss becomes more significant. The fat pads are being lost. Everything is sort of dropping,’ she explained.

As collagen and elastin decline, changes to facial fat and bone structure can also contribute to sagging and deeper wrinkles.

For women concerned about skin laxity, she discussed ultrasound-based tightening treatments such as Ultherapy, alongside resurfacing procedures and radiofrequency microneedling.

She also uses a combination treatment called Secret Pro Duo, which incorporates fractional CO2 laser resurfacing and radiofrequency microneedling to address texture, fine lines and firmness.

But she stressed that these treatments are not one-size-fits-all, and that choosing an experienced medical professional is essential.

For everyday skincare, her priorities remain largely unchanged with the use of retinol where tolerated, antioxidants, peptides, moisturiser and consistent sun protection.

And although she is an advocate of cosmetic treatments, Dr Nussbaum insists women shouldn’t feel pressured to start Botox or other procedures simply because they’ve reached a certain age.

‘That being said, you don’t need to, and we could still do it later on,’ she said of muscle-relaxing injections.

And when asked which skincare ingredient most women still aren’t using enough of, her answer was immediate.

When it comes to skincare, Dr Nussbaum is a firm believer that more expensive does not equal more efficacious. ‘There are so many great products that are sold in the drugstore,’ she said on the popular Well with Arielle Lorre podcast.

Here are our top pharmacy picks under $50:

Olay Luminous Niacinamide + Vitamin C Super Face Serum ($29.99) – The potent formula helps reduce the appearance of spots and discolouration

No7 Future Renew Serum ($40.79) – Powered with the brands patent-pending peptide technology to help support the skin’s natural self-repair process

RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Night Serum ($29.99, 30 caps) – Each anti-ageing capsule is designed to rival prescription skincare without the irritation

Glow Lab Pro Collagen Plumping Night Cream ($14.99) – A peptide-rich barrier cream to protect and plump skin while you sleep

Garnier Skin Active Vitamin C* Brightening Eye Cream ($14.99) – Highly concentrated with four per cent niacinamide, caffeine, vitamin C, and banana powder to boost dull skin

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