I'm a 50+ skin-care expert: Here's what I'm shopping in Amazon's secret sale

Albolene's inconspicuous, no-frills moisturizing face cleanser is one of those in-the-know beauty secrets, a product you'd never think to buy for yourself until a friend said, "YOU MUST GET THIS. IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE." Well, I am that friend, telling you this lush, velvety, mild, no-fragrance cream is about to transform your entire nighttime skin-care routine and make your face a whole lot softer and happier in the process. 

The gentle, century-old cleansing product removes makeup effortlessly, without water (though you can choose to take it off by using a damp washcloth or cotton pad). It's particularly effective for older women concerned with damaging delicate under-eye areas and causing fine lines by scrubbing away mascara and eyeliner. It's also safe for all skin types. Trust me, if you buy it now (for just $10!) it will become a can't-live-without beauty staple on your bathroom shelves and — if you're a good friend — those of every woman you know.    

This dermatologist-favorite moisturizing cream is a great option for those with dry or sensitive skin as it is free of dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens and more, — reducing the potential for irritation or sensitivity.

It's also versatile, can be used on face or body, and now-pore-clogging too. 

StriVectin has been in the prestige skin-care game for decades, and over the years, the brand has built a reputation for thoughtfully formulated anti-aging products made with the highest-quality ingredients. This popular, dermatologist-recommended tightening cream was specifically created to address the slack, sagging skin on the neck — an area that loses collagen and fatty tissue faster than the face. 

It's thick and emollient and really sinks into neck skin without pilling or feeling at all sticky. This is a luxurious product that helps with crepey texture and the appearance of "tech neck" lines. 

Retinol is one of the few ingredients that's clinically proven to help smooth wrinkles — including crow's feet — and brighten dark under-eye circles. This affordable eye cream uses a stabilized form of the retinoid that actually releases slowly over time, which means there's less chance of skin irritation, even for beginners. We've also found that this drugstore pick is effective at reducing puffiness and is gentle enough for sensitive skin.

It's among the most highly rated eye creams on the market, with 15,000 five-star Amazon reviews. It's dermatologist-recommended too. Right now is a good time to give this popular cream a try — it's nearly 50% off.

Martha Stewart is a lady who loves facials. In fact, according to her website, she's been getting the same one, at the same place — the Mario Badescu Spa in New York City — for 40 years. So it should come as little surprise that most all of her favorite skin care products are from the high-quality Mario Badescu line. Martha's faves include this mega popular collagen mask, which is specially formulated to work for both mature and sensitive skin. The award-winning product is made from collagen and kaolin clay and is meant to tighten, firm and bring moisture to parched faces, necks and even decolleté. 

This is the cream you want if you're, like, "I think tightening creams are BS but I also want to believe they are true because I currently hate my neck." The Gold Bond firming cream is no frills but gets the job done (the job being tighter jowls and a less reptilian neck). The formula is lightweight and on the thin side, but the product absorbs well and is gentle enough not to irritate sensitive skin. 

Note: You'll need to use it consistently for about a month to see results, and it won't, of course, magically make you appear 25, but being able to snag this ample size for less makes this product worth a go.

Sunday Riley's Good Genes is one of the most effective beauty products I've ever tried, and this six-month supply will last you. Honestly, I like this skin rejuvenating serum so much, if I had to pick one desert-island beauty product (outside of sunscreen), it would be this. The lactic-acid treatment gently yet effectively exfoliates dull surface skin, promoting cell turnover and giving even the dullest, dreariest complexion a healthy, vibrant glow.

It also smooths and plumps rough texture and clarifies an uneven tone. My skin never looks better than when I use this every night and, while this sale price still isn't cheap, a little goes a long way.

Similar to Good Genes above, I almost don't want you to know how good Sunday Riley's vitamin C serum will make your skin look (and feel). This product is expensive and so, the fact that it works beautifully, smells amazing and has a pillow-y-rich, non-pore-clogging texture remains information I would sooner rather we both forget.

However, I'm currently testing vitamin C serums this month and decided to give this one another go. It left my skin bright and bouncy and dewy and is just as incredible and high-quality as I remembered it to be. Bonus: It's currently on sale. 

Speaking of vitamin C serums, it's not just Martha Stewart raving about this potent vitamin C serum — reviewers are smitten too: "Simply love it!" says one happy customer, "I have only used it daily for 2 weeks and honestly my skin looks so dewy. I’ve gotten compliments on looking more rested and glowy... . I’m hooked!

I've been loving this extra-firming eye cream from Derma E, a truly quality brand that makes natural, vegan and cruelty-free products that won't cost you a week's pay. Made of skin-revitalizing ingredients like copper peptides and plant stem cells, it's clinically proven to improve elasticity and firmness, and it lightens darker under-eye skin tone. I especially like it for my upper eyelids, where I've seen a noticeable difference in texture over just a few weeks.

More than 1,600 five-star reviewers also praise its lifting and tightening merits, calling it: "A miracle for your eyes — no time travel required!"

If you're looking for an all-over tightening, brightening, hydrating, complexion-smoothing night cream for the face, neck and decolleté, you can't do much better than this clinically proven version by trusted brand RoC — especially at this price. 

The popular cream is nongreasy and noncomedogenic and beloved by both dermatologists and celebrities alike (Sarah Jessica Parker is a fan). And, according to the more than 4,000 five-star reviews, ordinary folks are all over it too: "I'm in my 70s and this cream has been my go-to for years. It works on my skin!"

This beloved snail mucin from CosRx is excellent for evening skin tone and making your face look softer and brighter overall. It's won multiple awards, has almost 70,000 five-star Amazon reviews and impresses most beauty editors I know.

After using it the first time (here is my full review), my face was noticeably dewier and other users have boasted about its ability to hydrate, repair and improve dullness in the skin — all of which helps wrinkles look less deep and crepey. When I tried it again this month, after a medi-spa laser treatment, I found it soothed and calmed my skin as it healed, lending a healthy sheen. 

Yes, CosRx is best known for popularizing snail mucin, but you shouldn't sleep on its other stellar products, including this intensely hydrating cream. A favorite among the K-beauty crowd, this face cream packs and seals moisture into dry, dehydrated skin to prevent further hydration loss. I love this moisturizer for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula and antioxidant ingredients. The texture is perfectly rich without being too heavy, and the product absorbs fast, all of which is why we named it one of the best anti-aging products of the year. 

Bonus points: In addition to hyaluronic acid, this cream contains vitamin tree water (also known as sea buckthorn), which is filled with vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids that help strengthen the skin barrier and increase hydration even more. The midrange price point is the cherry on top.

We know retinol works reliably to reduce wrinkles, but this Swedish brand's Dark Spot Fix does double duty: It's a skin-lightening treatment containing retinol 8, a stabilized vitamin A complex meant to be eight times more effective than conventional retinol but half as harsh. There's no data to support the company's claim here, but I can tell you this from experience: The formula is creamy and gentle, and it lightened a stubborn brown spot on my cheek I'd been annoyed by for years in just three weeks. 

Though no results will be as effective as a visit to the dermatologist, if you're dealing with mild hyperpigmentation, this is an at-home skin-care win — especially at this price.