Old Beauty Favorites, Revamped and Better Than Ever

“It turns out that your skin isn’t old, it’s just tired. Skin’s metabolism slows with age and is slower to recover from free radicals, leading to decreased responsiveness to anti-aging ingredients,” explains the scientists at Olay labs. The brand has improved its decade-old Regenerist formula by packing higher concentrations of existing ingredients with a derivative of olive oil to increase absorption, as well as including niacinamide and Matrixyl™ to target the fine lines and wrinkles. The new cream promises twice as fast results as the previous formula, and the entire Regenerist line will soon receive the upgrade.

Orange tan victims rejoiced when Jergens popularized the gradual glow category of self-tanners that slowly build up natural-looking color over a few body lotion applications. This season, the brand has worked diligently on improving the sunless tanning smell (which is caused by the essential reaction of the ingredient DHA with your skin to develop the tan) by blocking the receptors in your nose that pick up the scent. In our own trial of the new products, we found the foaming daily moisturizer to be the least scented.

VIDEO: Why You Should Stick to Self-Tanner

Phytomer Hydra Original Thirst-Relief Melting Cream, $76 and

This Saint Malo, France-based brand was a pioneer in marine-based luxury skincare that incorporates the nutrients of the sea in every formula. The best-selling product for 15 years, Instant Moisture Cream, has recently been reformulated as Thirst-Relief Melting Cream, and a lighter-weight Non-Oily Ultra Moisturizing Fluid. “After the initial shock of the discontinuation, clients have realized that the change is new and improved with updated ingredients,” says a brand spokesperson. Laminaria brown algae, freeze-dried seawater and a mineral-rich marine plant known as glasswort are included for deeper hydration in the new formula.

Dove’s moisturizing line of shampoos and conditioners has long been a favorite of thirsty strands, yet fine hair types could often weigh down with excess residue. The new line incorporates tri-silicone technology comprised of three different-sized moisture molecules that lather up to cleanse while replenishing moisture without flattening fine hair. Conditioners use a microsheet structure that distributes hydration evenly on strands, so no one area is weighted.

MORE: Hair Care Tips

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Multi-Tone Revealing Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, $7 each;

John Frieda didn’t just ease frizz, but also introduced the concept of shampoo and conditioner that could enhance your color with a light deposit of enriching hue. Sheer Blonde and Brilliant Brunette are relaunching with the addition of color protection. “I see clients all the time who leave the salon with the perfect shade and come back brassy and fried—the right regimen at home will not only prevent fading but bring out the best in your color and texture,” says Harry Josh, international creative consultant for John Frieda.

Well-known for its three-step acne solution that celebs have long praised in late-night television infomercials, Proactiv has now reformulated from the ground up. Drs. Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields have paired skin-enhancing ingredients with each anti-acne active for results that make skin healthier overall, not just clearer. For example, you’ll find hydrating glycerin alongside 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide in the pore targeting treatment, as well as moisturizing hyaluronic acid, naturally brightening kojic acid and .5 percent salicylic acid in the moisturizer.

MORE: The Best Skincare Products For Acne

The renowned New York dermatologist launched his line with the best-selling Alpha Beta Face Peel, which is now available in an extra strength version. The two-step pre-soaked cotton towelettes boast high concentrations of alpha beta acids, plus newly added boosters like mandelic acid and willow bark extract for a stronger peel without the risk of irritation. You’ll also find glycolic, lactic, malic, citric and salicylic acids, as well as retinol, green tea, resveratrol and Co-Q10, among several other skin beautifying ingredients in the pads. “I created the extra strength formula for the maximum results possible without irritation,” says Dennis Gross, M.D.

“Before you dress, Caress,” cooed the 80s commercials that made iconic the benefits of a body bar formulated with moisturizing oils instead of drying detergent. The newest bars incorporate moisture beads and butters to further soften skin, while the brand has partnered with top fragrance house Givaudan to offer body washes in scents that go beyond boring vanilla into notes of patchouli, black orchid and orange rose.

MORE: Extra-Moisturizing Bath Products

Nothing gives hair volume quite like good old-fashioned foam rollers. Yet the plastic pins and clips that accompany the classic design often leave a dent in strands. Goody has redesigned their legendary set with a self-holding soft strap that prevents indentation. We loved setting just a few of the rollers in sections on the crown of the head after blow drying for incredible volume that sets as strands cool down.

Versatile and inexpensive, Q-tips are one of beauty’s most underrated products. An ingenious new precision tip version makes makeup application, eyeliner smudging and mistake clean-ups a breeze. Best of all, the 100 percent cotton head is gentle and safe for even sensitive skin types. “One of my favorite tricks to a long-lasting bold lip that doesn’t bleed is to dip a Q-tip in a translucent powder and then apply along the outer edge of lips after you’ve applied lip color – it’s like a security barrier!” says celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal.

MORE: Skincare Tips For Your Lips

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Long viewed as a family-friendly bar soap, Lever 2000 is known for its refreshingly clean, gender-neutral scent. Now the bars and added body washes come in elegant scents like pomegranate and coconut water, with formulas chock full of glycerin, sunflower seed oil and vitamin E to cleanse and hydrate skin in one step.

Created in 1930, Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream was mixed by the brand founder herself and was the first product to bear her name. (She famously used it to heal her prized thoroughbred horses’ bruises.) A new lip formula blends the legendary cream with full spectrum SPF 20 in an intensive anti-chapping and cracking treatment.

MORE: Shop For The Perfect Lip Balm

Clarins has pulled out all the stops with the seventh version of its iconic Double Serum. “It’s a completely new formula taken from research to identify the 20 most potent pure plant extracts and high-tech skin molecules. We started from scratch this time and analyzed 200 potential plant ingredients that were then narrowed down to the 20 after extensive screening for performance,” explains a brand spokesperson. The new dual chamber also dispenses the correct oil to water balance that most closely mimics the skin’s natural composition, as opposed to the automatic 50/50 ration in previous versions.

Known for its deep celebrity red carpet level of glow, St. Tropez is taking it to yet another level with its darkest self-tanning line yet. Available in a mousse, lotion and spray, the new formula contains melanin technology that adjusts depth to your unique skintone. Extra skin conditioners provide an even, streak-free color while fragrance absorbers eliminate up to 70 percent of the sunless tanning odor.

MORE: How to Reverse Sun Damage

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Perhaps the most recognizable drugstore facial exfoliator ever, St. Ives Apricot Scrub is a perennial beauty awards winner. Now the scrub comes in custom formulations, from blemish control to anti-aging and antioxidant effects. While the add-on ingredients include everything from glycolic acid to green tea, the base of 100 percent natural apricot extract, walnut shell powder, corn kernel meal and glycerin remains the same.