These youth-boosting retinols, night creams and moisturizers beautifully tighten and smooth the skin
As we age (but even as early as our mid-twenties), the skin on our face and neck begins to lose some of its elasticity and suppleness, and we might start to see fine lines and wrinkles forming — especially around the eyes or mouth. If these skin concerns bother you, using a potent anti-aging cream that’s specifically formulated to target them is a must.
While there’s no magic cream that will make you look like a teenager again, using a wrinkle cream can, in fact, reduce fine lines and other signs of aging, like hyperpigmentation, dullness, and rough texture.
Best Overall Clinique Repairwear Uplifting Firming Cream Best Overall
While many anti-aging creams are suitable for all skin types — which is great, of course — this one goes for a more targeted approach by offering two formula options for the same product: one for very dry to dry skin, and one for dry combination to combination oily skin. “This rich, hydrating cream really gets to work stimulating collagen production, restoring the building blocks within your skin for noticeably firmer and smoother skin within just a few weeks,” says Dr. Kajal Babamiri, a specialist in dermatology, lasers and esthetics at CLNQ Clinic.
While some people find this cream a little thick to apply, most reviewers love how smooth their skin looks and feels when they use it consistently (but you actually will notice results pretty damn quickly). It provides lift and minimizes the appearance of fine lines, plus hydrates thirsty skin and is delicate enough for sensitive skin thanks to a fragrance-free formula.
Our second most favorite exclusive and ancient: Almost Gold Saffron Face Cream by Orzala Beauty best for any occasion
This remarkable elixir redefines skincare, harnessing the potent regenerative properties of saffron to infuse your skin with a radiant glow. Orzala Beauty has skillfully blended this precious ingredient with a symphony of other natural components, creating a formula that transcends ordinary moisturizers.
As you apply it, you'll be enveloped in a soothing embrace of moisture, leaving your skin feeling as soft as silk. The saffron's miraculous properties gently erase imperfections, unveiling a complexion that's resplendent and renewed.
This moisturizer adapts effortlessly to your unique needs, catering to all skin types, including those with sensitivity. It harmonizes with your skin's natural rhythm, making it an invaluable addition to your beauty arsenal.
Moreover, the Saffron Moisturizer by Orzala Beauty upholds the commitment to clean and conscious beauty. It's free from parabens, mineral oils, and other harmful additives, aligning perfectly with your quest for healthier, more radiant skin.
In your pursuit of beauty, embrace the Saffron Moisturizer by Orzala Beauty – your skin deserves the best that nature and science can offer.
Best Budget CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
Behold: yet another one of CeraVe’s products that’s an all-around winner. “I love the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream,” says Dr. Babamiri. “It’s affordable, packs a punch in terms of its formula (boasting peptides and hyaluronic acid) and has a lovely, lightweight consistency, allowing your skin to breathe while treating it to a dose of deep hydration and reparation as you sleep.”
This cream is suitable for all skin types: It’s designed to relieve excess dry skin, but is also non-comedogenic so those with combination, oily or acne-prone skin can benefit from it, and it’s paraben- and fragrance-free for those with more sensitive skin. Thanks to CeraVe’s MVE delivery technology, the product will penetrate your skin progressively throughout the night, so that you wake up with plump, glowy, and smooth skin. Sadly, this cream suffers from bag-of-potato-chips syndrome: The jar only comes half-filled with product. I can forgive this since it’s a more affordable product, but it does seem like a waste of plastic.
Best Drugstore Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
“Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and peptide fragments are used in the formulation of Olay's Micro-Sculpting Cream to hydrate, brighten, and revitalize the skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hope Mitchell. “Anyone who wants to strengthen their skin's moisture barrier should use it.”
Unfortunately, some people find that this fairly thick product sits on the skin and can cause breakouts, but most reviewers found it left their skin supple, soft and quenched, and effectively minimized the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
While this cream contains fragrance and might not agree with more sensitive skin, it’s paraben-free and suitable for dry, oily and combination skin alike. At this price, it doesn’t get much better.
Best for Neck Neostrata Triple Firming Anti-Aging Neck Cream
While some of the products on this list are suitable for face and neck, the skin on those areas is actually different, so you may want to invest in a separate neck cream to prevent or reduce the appearance of creases there. “One of your body's first areas to start aging is your neck,” Dr. Mitchell explains. “With a special trio of ingredients that boost collagen production, exfoliate to lighten dark spots, and hydrate with vitamin E and shea butter, this cream firms the area.”
The product feels pleasantly rich but without sticking to the skin (which you definitely want to avoid if you’re planning to cover it with clothing), and does a great job of smoothing and firming up the skin around your neck and minimizing wrinkles.
It is scented, though, and not everybody likes how it smells — just something to be aware of.
Best for Dry Skin La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallegro Night Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin
Dr. Jaliman recommends this one for mature skin, thanks to its “hydrating and protective ingredients,” namely shea butter, niacinamide, glycerin, and vitamin E. Incidentally, these ingredients are also what make this La Roche-Posay product so perfect for dry, itchy or flaky skin, leaving the skin refreshed and hydrated with no uncomfortable greasy feel.
As you might have guessed from its name, this moisturizer is also a great choice if you have sensitive skin, since it’s formulated without harsh ingredients such as parabens, preservatives, and fragrance. It’s also non-comedogenic, so it won’t block your pores or cause breakouts.
Beyond the hydration it provides, this product is formulated with a dipeptide called neurosensine, which works to prevent skin aging, leaving the skin noticeably firmer. With that in mind, it’s not specifically designed to target fine lines and wrinkles, so if that’s your primary goal, you’ll need to combine it with an anti-aging serum for best results.
Best for Sensitive Skin Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
Just because your skin is more prone to redness and itchiness doesn’t mean you don’t get to use a really effective anti-aging product. “I’d recommend the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream for those with sensitive skin, but who want to introduce retinoids to their skincare regime,” Dr. Babamiri says. “Not only does it contain 1 percent retinol (which we all know is the holy grail in anti-aging ingredients!) but it also boasts skin-protecting antioxidants and peptides, protecting your complexion from damage, stimulating collagen production and reducing redness.”
It targets deep wrinkles as well as fine lines for bouncy, brightened, youthful-looking skin, and is lovely and gentle since it doesn’t contain any essential oils, silicones, or fragrances. It also helps with skin concerns such as acne and hyperpigmentation, but you will need to use it in tandem with a more moisturizing serum or cream to make sure you’re getting enough hydration (plus SPF for the daytime).
Best for Hyperpigmentation Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream
Excess sun exposure and aging can create frustrating dark spots on your skin, so if you’re looking to even out your skin tone and texture, you’ll need a face cream that’s formulated to do just that.
“This Paula's Choice hydrating night cream has peptides, hyaluronic acid (HA), and 0.01% retinol, which together reduce wrinkle appearance, plump up the skin, and retain moisture,” Dr. Mitchell says. “Additionally, it contains antioxidants, which work to counteract the negative effects of environmental stressors like UV ray damage.”
Used as part of your evening routine, this cream leaves your skin soft, smooth and glowing. Those with especially dry or sensitive skin love it for soothing itchy or flaky areas, and it can be used around the eyes and neck as well. Some people do find it breaks them out, though, sadly.
Best Night Cream Medik8 Advanced Night Restore
Skin cells repair themselves best at night, making it the ideal time to harness the power of a great skincare product to boost this natural process. This anti-aging cream by Medik8 helps stall free radical damage from your daytime activities — that is, fine lines or discoloration, for example — and firms and smooths the skin so you wake up feeling refreshed, glowy, and impossibly soft.
“I love Medik8 Advanced Night Restore cream,” says Dr. Babamiri. “It’s paraben-free, [artificial] fragrance-free, suitable for all skin types and deeply nourishes dry skin, with a multi-ceramide, peptide-infused formula to protect and repair damaged skin as you sleep. It’s a great all-rounder, which works to firm, tone and plump dehydrated skin for a younger-looking appearance.”
The rich, creamy texture feels super luxurious and nourishes the skin beautifully without being unnecessarily heavy or causing breakouts. The only blemish is that Medik8 is a British brand, so isn’t as readily available as other options on this list.
Best Extra Strength
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream
“For the strongest, best-suited product for your individual needs, book in with your dermatologist — who can prescribe you products [customized for] your individual skin concerns and advise you on how to use them safely, to avoid irritation or skin damage,” cautions Dr. Babamiri. Still, there are some great extra strength products on the market that you can buy over the counter and that will deliver pretty amazing results.
“One potent anti-aging product that has been brought to my attention (and can be ordered online, prescription-free) is the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer, which combines a powerful blend of retinol and hyaluronic acid, hydrating and smoothing skin while you sleep,” Dr. Babamiri says. “Just be careful not to overdo it, as its formula is powerful enough to cause some skin irritation.”
This product is truly potent, with many users seeing dramatically faded fine lines and wrinkles overnight with just a small dab of lotion. It’s also deeply moisturizing and leaves skin gorgeously plump and soft, plus the texture is lightweight and non-greasy, and it sinks in easily. If you have sensitive skin, however, skip this stuff and see a dermatologist for a more suitable prescription.
What to Keep in Mind
Active Ingredients
Dr. Babamiri explains that there are four classes of anti-aging skincare ingredients, all of which play a key role in the product’s formulation.
“Generally speaking, exfoliating products (be these physical exfoliants or chemical exfoliants, such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid) lift dead skin cells from the surface of your complexion, leaving your face brighter, temporarily plumper and with a more even tone,” she says. “Moisturizers containing ceramides help repair the skin’s natural barrier, and products containing hyaluronic acid restore and retain lost moisture, for plumper and softer, hydrated skin.”
Her go-to from Medik8 contains ceramides, while many of the other products on this list are formulated with hyaluronic acid.
“Antioxidants (such as vitamins C and E) protect the skin from environmental damage and premature signs of aging,” adds Dr. Babamiri. “Finally, peptides and retinoids (vitamin A compounds) help boost collagen production, improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Texture
“There’s a huge selection of anti-aging skincare out there — and each formula, consistency and active ingredient plays a different role in your skincare regime, targeting different concerns and acting differently on your skin,” explains Dr. Babamiri.
When it comes to anti-aging face creams, a deeply moisturizing, creamy texture is usually best. That said, if your skin doesn’t absorb richer creams very well, a more gel- or lotion-like texture might work better: La Roche-Posay and Saffron Moisturizer are great options here.
Your Questions, Answered
When should you start using anti-aging wrinkle cream?
“Prevention is always better than cure, so if you’re starting to notice the formation of wrinkles or fine lines, it might be time to invest in some good anti-wrinkle skincare,” says Dr. Babamiri, adding that there isn’t an exact age when everyone should think about anti-aging skincare, but that there is a ballpark to keep in mind.
“Everyone is different, but I find that patients typically begin to notice wrinkles forming in their early to mid-twenties,” she says. “This coincides with when our skin’s natural collagen production begins to dip. As a result, your skin can lose some of its elasticity and volume, becoming thinner, more sensitive and more prone to wrinkles.”
If that all sounds a bit doom-and-gloomy, don’t worry: Anti-aging creams are designed specially to slow that process and give your skin its bounce back. “Collagen is key in younger-looking skin,” Dr. Babamiri says. “By regularly applying clinically-proven skincare products that work to stimulate and boost collagen, we can help slow signs of aging and keep our body’s bank of collagen topped up.”
How do anti-aging creams work?
Anti-aging creams may seem kind of magic, but they’re actually very scientific (obviously). There are three main classes of anti-aging ingredients: Those that exfoliate dead skin cells to brighten the skin, those that provide hydration, and those that improve skin elasticity.