By 30, most women are struggling to combat fine lines and sun damage; the last thing we need are zits that make our complexion resemble the lunar surface. Admittedly, my skin has always been something of a nuisance, but I was inclined to believe that I would outgrow the occasional flare-ups. This has not been the case. Add dry patches, puffy eyes, and clogged pores to the mix, and there are days when I’m almost afraid to look in the mirror. Fortunately, Olay’s Total Effects line is suited to meet the needs of skin that, like mine, appears to be stuck between adolescence and adulthood. Packed with salicylic acid, the frothy Anti Aging Anti Blemish Cleanser and greaseless Moisturizer ($8 and $19; cvs.com) work in tandem to fight pimples as well as the seven signs of aging. After just one week, the products made my skin noticeably clearer, smoother, and brighter, delivering better results than several of the popular microdermabrasion kits and retinol-laced creams I’d previously tried. The verdict: Olay delivers not only total effects, but also total grown-up control. —Juliette Miranda

Photo credit: Maciej Laska