Philosophy of Skin Care

I think it is agreed that stimulating the skin will help it regenerate, and that the sun and environment can damage the skin.
It is widely acknowledged that there are stem cells in the skin, and that they are associated with hair follicles.

Building the skin for a period of time, and then exfoliating the skin, is a good idea and can result in regenerating skin smoothing so that wrinkles, fine lines, and pores are controlled.  The traditional way to do this is to build the skin for 6 weeks and then peel it gently to get a fresh start on building again.

Peptides change this a bit.  They can rebuild aspects of the skin, relax muscles to contribute to elasticity.  They work by affecting different cells and enzyme systems to perform tasks.
Vitamins are necessary for tissue repair.

Supplying the building blocks of repair is also necessary.

Chemical peels have been around for a long time.  Mild and moderate peels are widely tolerated and irritate the skin without heat to allow regeneration without hurting the stem cells.  Stem cells are heat sensitive.  Peeling can be done over many years and maintains its ability to help the skin regenerate,
Dermabrasion has been used for a long time.  In my opinion dermabrasion has limited use because it can thin the skin.

With some laser treatments there has been altered pigmentation, fat atrophy, thinning of the skin over time.  The results are less than surgical and not anything you couldn't do with a chemical peel.

Do not underestimate the effect of your physical condition and hormonal status on your skin.  It is part of why you sag or get vertical lines on your upper lip and such.
Physical appearance is a full time commitment.  Skin care regimes, like exercise, should be varied allowing for building and exfoliation for more successful result.   No skin care regime can overcome destructive behavior or inconsistent use.   Change is sometimes slow but is cumulative over a period of time.