Caffeine for immediate puffiness reduction, alongside a peptide like palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 for longer-term structural improvement in the skin quality around the eye. For brightness specifically, a lightweight concealer with a peach or salmon corrector underneath neutralizes the dark tone before you layer coverage. If the concern is more vascular darkness than pigmentation, niacinamide and vitamin K in an eye cream.

Retinol to start, retinaldehyde if you want something gentler with less adjustment period. Alongside that a peptide serum (palmitoyl tripeptide-1). SPF50+ every morning without exception. Give it 3 months.

Depends entirely on your skin type. For oily skin look for a water-based formula with dimethicone early in the INCI, helps control shine without feeling dry. For dry/mature skin, a hydrating silicone base with glycerin & a dewy finish sits more comfortably and doesn't settle into fine lines. Etc. The INCI always tells you more than the front label.

Hi, try a milky toner with a short clean ingredient list where water & glycerin lead, followed by a skin-identical lipid like ceramide NP will give you hydrating effect without the stickiness.

The advice to avoid retinol and vitamin C entirely is a bit outdated because the issue isn't the ingredient itself but the formulation and concentration, so bakuchiol is worth looking into as a retinol alternative since it works on similar pathways without the irritation, and for vitamin C switching from ascorbic acid to a more stable ester form like ascorbyl glucoside tends to be much better tolerated by rosacea prone skin while still delivering brightening benefits

Honestly 53 is not a late start at all, and with your combination of concerns the two ingredients worth building around are retinol for the texture, lines, and discoloration all at once, and niacinamide for the oiliness around your nose and chin since it regulates sebum while also helping with uneven skin tone, so a simple cleanser, niacinamide serum, moisturizer routine during the day and introducing a low percentage retinol at night a few times a week is a solid place to begin without overwhelming your skin.

To actually have useful recommendations it helps to know a bit more about what you're working with or dealing with, fine loss? loss of firmness? uneven texture or discoloration because anti-aging is a pretty broad category and the ingredients that work well for once concern can be completely irrelevant for another.