Since they started showing up on the market decades ago, anti-aging products have become a billion-dollar industry, estimated at $52.5 billion and expected to reach a revised size of $83.2 billion by 2027.
Today, an endless number of brands claim the honor of creating the absolute best anti-aging cream that can help you restore or maintain your youthful look, but of course, not all of them can be right. Since the FDA does not regulate skincare products before they are released as over-the-counter (OTC) cosmetics, we have taken the time to help our readers find a cream or serum that actually lives up to these promises.
With this in mind, we have performed extensive research and testing of the most popular products on the market, so that we can compose these best anti-aging cream reviews.
Without wasting any more time, let’s dive right in!
Top 10 Best Anti-Aging Products for 2021
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Key Features
- Formulated with blueberry extract
- Alcohol- and dye-free
- Contains Proxylane
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate
Key Features
- Trackable delivery service
- Contains retinol
- Works all night long
Meaningful Beauty Age Recovery Night Crème With Melon Extract and Retinol
Key Features
- Contains retinol
- Contains melon complex with super antioxidant properties
- Overnight treatment
Meaningful Beauty Anti-Aging Day Crème with Environmental Protection SPF30
Key Features
- 15% off on all subscription purchases
- Beautifully scented
- A 60-day money-back guarantee option on all purchases
Manuela Lubin (ML) Delicate Beauty Advanced Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum
Key Features
- Contains antioxidants
- Improves collagen production in the body
- Clears acne and acne scars
Kate Somerville +Retinol Vita C Power Serum Firming & Brightening Treatment
Key Features
- 10% discount on subscription purchases
- Contains L-ascorbic acid (the purest form of vitamin C)
- Best serum for aging skin of all types
Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream
Key Features
- Contains babchi edible seeds
- Works best for wrinkles and spots around the eye area
- Quickly noticeable results
Kate Somerville Age Arrest Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Key Features
- Contains Telo-5
- Reduces the loss of skin cell telomeres
- Perfect texture
Kate Somerville Peptide K8 Power Cream
Key Features
- Contains ceramide-infused peptide
- Contains hemp seed
- Multi-layered approach to skin renewal
Best Anti-Aging Creams Reviews
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter
Key Features
- Type: Skincare cream
- Ingredients: Blueberry extract (4%), Proxylane (30%), phytosphingosine (0.2%)
- Shipping policy: Free shipping on orders over $100.00 for site members within the contiguous US
- Return policy: 30-day money-back guarantee for items purchased from the official site
- Discounts: Complimentary samples and free shipping for subscribers
A.G.E. Interrupter from SkinCeuticals is widely praised for its advanced wrinkle treatment capacity. According to an overwhelming majority of anti-aging cream reviews, it is able to fight visible signs of aging caused by advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.), which are a significant factor in the natural aging process that leads to wrinkles.
Another reason it’s considered by many to be the best drugstore anti-aging cream is that it contains potent compounds such as Proxylane in high quantities. This helps your body fight loss of firmness in the skin and reduces the odds of wrinkles showing up.
Pros
- + Formulated with blueberry extract
- + Alcohol- and dye-free
- + Contains Proxylane
Cons
- − A bit pricey
Olay Regenerist Retinol24
Key Features
- Type: Skincare cream
- Ingredients: Retinoid complex, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), amino peptide
- Shipping policy: Only shipping within the US
- Return policy: 30-day money-back guarantee for defective or incorrectly shipped items
- Discounts: 30% off for subscription orders
Most people who tried it consider Regenerist Retinol24 from Olay the best natural anti-aging cream to use if you want to rejuvenate your skin within the shortest time possible.
Due to the presence of vitamin B3 and retinoid complex, it can help keep your skin moisturized and prevent wrinkles and dark spots, giving your face a bright, smooth, and spotless look.
The Olay Regenerist Retinol24 might also be the best moisturizer for aging skin over 60, since it is dye-free and helps keep your face hydrated all day long.
Pros
- + Contains vitamin B3
- + Dye-free
- + Made with a retinoid complex
Cons
- − Only shipping within the US
No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate
Key Features
- Type: Skincare cream
- Ingredients: Pure retinol (0.3%), retinol optimizer (1%), retinol soother (0.2%)
- Shipping policy: US shipping only; free shipping for orders above $25.00
- Return policy: A 14-day money-back guarantee for unopened items
- Discounts: Buy two, get one free
The No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate is widely regarded as one of the best anti-aging products. It is designed with advanced peptide technology and next-generation retinol complex to give your skin a renewed look.
Often considered the best anti-aging night cream for 50s, it has been expertly formulated to harness retinol’s power to ensure excellent results while being gentle on the skin.
This supercharged concentrate is often praised in anti-aging cream reviews, as it is designed to actively target the visible signs of aging and dullness in your skin and kick-start surface skin renewal from the very first application. It does this by working night after night to deliver visibly younger-looking skin.
The Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate is an anti-age cream that will give you a firm skin tone, smooth lines, and a lifted appearance overall.
Pros
- + Trackable delivery service
- + Contains retinol
- + Works all night long
Cons
- − Refunds available only for unopened items
Meaningful Beauty Age Recovery Night Crème With Melon Extract and Retinol
Key Features
- Type: Skincare cream
- Ingredients: Retinol, Prunus amygdalus (sweet almond) oil, tocopherol, maltooligosyl glucoside, Elaeis guineensis (palm) oil, Cucumis melo (melon) fruit extract, hydrogenated vegetable oil, Hippophae rhamnoides oil, orchid root/stem/leaf extract, Red 40, olivine extract
- Shipping policy: All products shipped attract a shipping fee depending on your location
- Return policy: 60-day money-back guarantee (minus shipping and handling) even for empty returned bottles
- Discounts: 15% off + free shipping for subscription purchase
Made by the Meaningful Beauty brand, this hydrating overnight moisturizer stands out as one of the best anti-aging night cream products on the market. It pairs the super antioxidant properties of French melon with the acclaimed skin repairing properties of retinol.
Often described as the best wrinkle reducer on the market, it will improve the overall texture and radiance of your skin, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines around your eyes.
The Age Recovery Night Crème from Meaningful Beauty, possibly the best anti-aging night cream for 40s, will increase your skin firmness and elasticity. Its ingredients are designed to work collectively and individually to maintain a moisturized and hydrated skin all day long.
Pros
- + Contains retinol
- + Contains melon complex with super antioxidant properties
- + Overnight treatment
Cons
- − Some users don’t like the scent
Meaningful Beauty Anti-Aging Day Crème with Environmental Protection SPF30
Key Features
- Type: Skincare cream
- Ingredients: Avobenzone 3.0%, homosalate 10.0%, octisalate 5.0%, oxybenzone 4.5%
- Shipping policy: All shipments attract a fee depending on your location
- Return policy: 60-day money-back guarantee on all returned items
- Discounts: Save 15% for every subscription purchase
It is not news that overexposure to sunlight damages the skin, and even more damage is incurred if you belong to the older population. However, with the Meaningful Beauty Anti-Aging Day Crème, one of the best anti-aging skin care products on the market, you can keep your skin hydrated and moisturized all day long without fear of harsh environmental factors.
The Meaningful Beauty Anti-Aging Day Crème is one of the best anti-aging products for over 50 that will help keep your skin visibly firm, plump, and hydrated. Thanks to its multidimensional approach, this cream is considered one of the top anti-aging products that can not only hydrate and moisturize your skin, but also help fight off environmental aggressors capable of damaging it.
Pros
- + 15% off on all subscription purchases
- + Beautifully scented
- + A 60-day money-back guarantee option on all purchases
Cons
- − Some users report suffering an allergic reaction
Manuela Lubin (ML) Delicate Beauty Advanced Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum
Key Features
- Type: Serum
- Ingredients: Ferulic acid, vitamin E (tocopherol), vitamin C (20% L-ascorbic acid), vitamin B5 (panthenol), vitamin B3 (niacinamide), hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), glycerin, sodium PCA
- Shipping policy: Worldwide shipping; items shipped attract a fee according to your location
- Return policy: A 30-day money-back guarantee for unused items
- Discounts: Save 10% on all subscription purchases
Manuela Lubin, a well-known global brand in the skincare industry, has come out with what might be the best drugstore anti-aging serum for those who want to restore the skin tone, firmness, texture, and youthful appearance of their skin.
The presence of hyaluronic acid makes this the best wrinkle serum to fight wrinkles, shrink pores, clear up acne and breakouts, reduce redness in the skin, and even provide relief from itches and burns.
Pros
- + Contains antioxidants
- + Improves collagen production in the body
- + Clears acne and acne scars
Cons
- − Some users find the serum too sticky
Kate Somerville +Retinol Vita C Power Serum Firming & Brightening Treatment
Key Features
- Type: Serum
- Ingredients: Retinol, 100% stabilized L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Physalis angulata extract
- Shipping policy: Free ground shipping on orders over $35.00 within the US (Hawaii and Alaska included)
- Return policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Discounts: 10% off and free shipping on all subscription orders
Kate Somerville, another well-renowned name in the industry, makes our list with the +Retinol Vita C—possibly the best anti-aging serum for 40s suitable for almost any skin type. Formulated with potent ingredients such as vitamin C and retinol, this silky face serum works its wonders by rejuvenating tired or damaged skin during sleep.
The +Retinol Vita C Power Serum, which might be the best anti-aging serum in this price range, contains uniquely formulated ingredients that help improve skin texture and prevent premature aging. L-ascorbic acid (the purest form of vitamin C) helps to brighten and even the skin tone.
Pros
- + 10% discount on subscription purchases
- + Contains L-ascorbic acid (the purest form of vitamin C)
- + Best serum for aging skin of all types
Cons
- − Some users experience a burning sensation after prolonged use or when combining it with other products
Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream
Key Features
- Type: Eye cream
- Ingredients: Retinol, bio-retinol, hyaluronic acid, lime pearl, bakuchiol, a natural blend of linseed, cotton and palm seed oils, and Bidens pilosa extract (aka Spanish needles)
- Shipping policy: Free ground shipping on orders over $35.00 within the US (Hawaii and Alaska included)
- Return policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Discounts: 10% off and free shipping on all subscription orders
The +Retinol Firming Eye Cream from Kate Somerville is an advanced eye wrinkle reduction cream that can restore firmness and smoothness to the skin around the eye area.
The presence of retinol in what might be the best anti-aging eye cream for 40s helps combat the development of wrinkles and fine lines and reduce the appearance of dark spots. The Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream also hydrates the skin thanks to the bakuchiol from the babchi edible seeds, which, as we mentioned, makes it one of the best anti-aging skin care products for 40s.
Pros
- + Contains babchi edible seeds
- + Works best for wrinkles and spots around the eye area
- + Quickly noticeable results
Cons
- − Some users complain that the product actually made their skin drier
Kate Somerville Age Arrest Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Key Features
- Type: Skincare cream
- Ingredients: Telo-5 technology, Laminaria kelp extract, age-defying peptide, sea whip extract, and algae plasma
- Shipping policy: Free ground shipping within the US on orders over $35.00 (Hawaii and Alaska included)
- Return policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Discounts: 10% off and free shipping on all subscription orders
The Age Arrest Anti-Wrinkle Cream is a revolutionary skincare product that has been clinically proven to slow down the appearance of signs of aging and is widely considered the best wrinkle cream on the market today. Due to the presence of Telo-5, this top-rated wrinkle cream can eliminate wrinkles, restore the firmness of your skin while keeping it hydrated, and ultimately, improve its color and texture.
As we age, it is almost inevitable for our skin cell telomeres to shorten in length, leading to apoptosis (programmed cell death). This loss in cell telomeres can lead to wrinkles, sagging of the skin, and dryness.
Specially formulated to treat the signs of aging, the Kate Somerville Age Arrest Anti-Wrinkle Cream, one of the top-rated wrinkle creams, works rapidly to help in the restoration of youthfulness, elasticity, and bounce to your skin.
Now, your skin can recover its lost hydration, firmness, and shining appearance without complications, owing to one of the best-rated anti-aging skin care products on the market.
Pros
- + Contains Telo-5
- + Reduces the loss of skin cell telomeres
- + Perfect texture
Cons
- − Results may take some time to become apparent
Kate Somerville Peptide K8 Power Cream
Key Features
- Type: Skincare cream
- Ingredients: Advanced ceramide-infused peptide, advanced moisture complex, babassu and hemp seeds, oligopeptide
- Shipping policy: Free ground shipping within the US on orders over $35.00 (Hawaii and Alaska inclusive)
- Return policy: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Discounts: 10% off and free shipping on all subscription orders
The Peptide K8 Power Cream is an advanced age-defense cream and is one of the best anti-aging moisturizer products thanks to its different approach to skin repair and protection.
It is uniquely formulated with potent ingredients to offer a number of benefits, including improving skin texture and tone, smoothening the line and wrinkles, creating younger-looking skin, and thanks to the babassu and hemp seeds, enhancing its firmness.
Pros
- + Contains ceramide-infused peptide
- + Contains hemp seed
- + Multi-layered approach to skin renewal
Cons
- − Serious quality concerns
How We Selected the Best Anti-Aging Serums and Creams
Our Ranking Methodology
Did you know that the global skincare market was valued at nearly $135 billion in 2018? Further reports indicate that by 2025, its value could rise to $189.3 billion.
There is no shortage of competition in this industry, and everyone is looking for a share in the market by boasting about the supremacy of their products and claiming that they have the best skin care line for aging skin. Surprisingly, many of them lack clinical evidence to back up such claims.
However, we understand that when it comes to skincare, it is crucial that you only use products containing ingredients with clinically proven benefits. A high price tag doesn’t necessarily imply a quality product or place it among the best skincare products for aging.
After carefully investigating the essential skincare ingredients and the products using them, we compiled our list of the top 10 anti-aging creams to help guide your purchasing decisions. Here are some of the criteria we used in selecting these products.
Quality Criteria
In our efforts to research the best anti-aging skin care lines available as over-the-counter cosmetic products, safety was one of the critical criteria that we kept a close eye on. Since these products can have a major impact on the health of our skin, we only listed the ones that weren’t linked to any kind of severe complications, as they may result in permanent skin damage.
Therefore, we made sure to only include reliable skin rejuvenating products, which were all tested and proven to be safe for prolonged use.
Ingredients
The skincare business is all about combining the right ingredients to achieve the best age reversing skin care effects possible, irrespective of the skin type targeted. If you get your ingredients wrong from the onset, you will hardly achieve anything meaningful with your skincare product.
Unfortunately, such a scenario seems to be the order of the day, as there are more ineffective skincare products than there are useful ones on today’s market.
To help you overcome this challenge, we carefully assessed the legitimacy of the claims from several brands about their cream or serum being the most effective anti-aging product. We did this by testing the products ourselves, by carefully examining the reviews of customers that have tried them, and by confirming the presence and effectiveness of all ingredients mentioned on the packaging.
Manufacturing Methods
The production process of skincare products is exceptionally precise. Just a slight change in the formulation can result in a completely different product than initially planned, all from the same raw materials.
To ensure that these companies are not cutting corners by altering their production process to meet up with demand, we have ensured that all brands whose products are listed here have a top-notch manufacturing process, capable of producing the best anti-aging moisturizer creams and serums.
Certifications
Although they’re not strictly a necessity, certifications can go a long way towards telling you more about a brand and how serious they are about their customers’ health and safety.
All brands whose products made our best anti-aging cream list use FDA-approved processes that adhere to the good manufacturing practice regulations (GMP). We also considered other certifications, such as ISO and USDA, during our market survey.
Brand Reputation
Brands like Kate Somerville, whose products are featured in our list, are renowned for their quality introductions into the skincare industry over the past years. Others like Manuel Lubin (ML) Delicate Beauty, and Meaningful Beauty, are also known for the various skin rejuvenating creams that they have developed.
We understand the risks involved when trying to purchase a new skincare product. You can’t tell what kind of an effect such a product could have on your skin, or if it is even suitable for your skin type. However, with our guide, you can rest assured that all brands on our list are renowned for making the best over-the-counter anti-aging cream and serum products.
Furthermore, the major ingredients used in formulating each product have also been listed in this guide so you can quickly identify substances that you might be allergic to or which may be harmful to your skin type.
Customer Support, Guarantee, and Refund Options
Most products on our list have a refund policy ranging from 14 to 30 days for damaged items. It is our responsibility to look out for our readers, and one way of doing so is ensuring that we only recommend the best anti-aging skin products with a reasonable refund policy.
Price
Regardless of what you’re buying, price is going to be one of the major factors in your decision. In our research of the best anti-aging serum and cream products, we tried as much as we could to look for the items with the best potent ingredient combinations that won’t cost our readers a fortune.
We also understand that while more successful brands can afford to keep the price of their products low without running at a significant loss, smaller brands with quality products in the same market cannot afford to do so.
That being considered, we did our best to maintain an equilibrium between price and quality to ensure that you won’t miss out on the best natural anti-aging skin care products just because of the price tags.
Finding the Best Anti-Aging Cream
Buyer’s Guide
In this section, we will walk you through what you need to know when looking for the best natural anti-aging products for your skin type.
What Are Anti-Aging Creams?
Also known as age-defying face creams, these products are designed to help you look younger by preventing or slowing down the visible signs of aging (such as wrinkles, fine lines, etc.) on the skin. Anti-aging creams are predominantly moisturizers capable of improving the skin’s appearance and texture by making lines on the skin and wrinkles less visible. These moisturizers can take the form of gels, lotions, serums, creams, etc.
However, when it comes to anti-aging skin care lines, there is no one-size-fits-all product suitable for everyone, as their effectiveness depends on both your skin type and the active ingredients in them. You need to consider important factors such as ingredients and allergies when selecting an anti-aging product. For example, those with acne will have to look specifically for the best anti-aging products for acne-prone skin when deciding which cream to use.
Also, the aging process is different for everyone, and the factors that trigger aging symptoms in people are never the same. Nonetheless, you will rarely find people younger than 25 using anti-aging products.
Forms of Anti-Aging Creams
Day Creams
As we go through our daily activities, the skin on our face experiences different environmental strains. The best anti-aging day cream for you is the one that will provide your skin with the protection it needs from harsh environmental factors such as sunlight.
Night Creams
Whether you’re looking for the best anti-aging night cream for oily skin, or one meant to help with the wrinkles in the eye area, you should bear in mind that they are more effective during the night. This stems from the fact that they work by enhancing the natural renewal and repair processes that happen in our skin during sleep.
Eye Creams
Did you know that the skin around your eyes is much thinner and more delicate than the rest of the skin on your face?
Eye creams are created specifically for these delicate areas around the eyes where you are likely to experience wrinkles and fine lines more easily. By finding the best anti-aging eye cream for your skin type, you can significantly reduce the appearance of puffiness and wrinkles around the eye area.
Sunscreens
Sunscreens were explicitly designed to protect your skin from the damages caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) lights. As such, they should be used whenever you’re going to be out in the sun for prolonged periods of time, and not only for cosmetic reasons either.
Serums
Unlike other forms of anti-aging products that we have discussed, serums can be your secret anti-aging weapon due to the high concentration of active anti-aging ingredients in their molecular structure.
Popular Ingredients Used in Making Anti-Aging Creams
Retinoids
Retinoid is a general name given to all vitamin A compounds (retinol and retinoic acid). These two have been clinically proven to aid skin repair after sunburn.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
This is a common ingredient in most of the best anti-aging face creams due to its antioxidant properties that protect the skin from free radicals. Vitamin C is regularly included in skincare products to help fight off wrinkles and minimize the occurrence of fine lines.
Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are used in skincare products to help eliminate dead skin cells and aid the growth of new ones.
Coenzyme Q10
This powerful enzyme helps in the reduction of fine wrinkles around the eyes and plays a significant role in protecting the skin from sun damage.
Peptides
These are naturally occurring molecules in living organisms. Specific peptides can also induce the production of collagen and contribute to the improvement of skin texture, which is why they are often used in the top-rated anti-aging products.
Grape Seed Extract
The grape seed extract is filled with antioxidants granting it anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been shown to promote the skin’s production of collagen.
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
Niacinamide is an antioxidant that can reduce the loss of water in the skin. This powerful vitamin may also improve skin elasticity.
How To Apply Anti-Aging Creams
When using anti-aging creams, the following tips can come in handy.
- Make sure your hands are clean before applying an anti-aging cream
- Gently apply the skincare product using your fingertips
- Remove all makeup on your face before applying an anti-aging skincare cream
- Continuous use is needed to experience the full benefits of skincare products
- Only use anti-aging eye creams around the eye area
Wrapping Up
We scoured the market and extensively tested the products that seemed to stand out the most in terms of ingredients, quality, brand reputation, and user reviews, with the intention of helping you find the best anti-aging cream for your skin.
We hope that our reviews have sufficiently illustrated the main benefits of each product and that you will be happy with the cream or serum that you decide to give a try to.
FAQs
What is the best anti-aging product on the market?
There is no one-size-fits-all product suitable for everyone using anti-aging moisturizers. What works for someone else might not work for you due to the differences in skin types, reaction to different ingredients, and environmental factors you are exposed to. That’s why you should take all of this into account when deciding which product to buy.
What cream makes you look younger?
All anti-aging creams are designed to make you look younger by getting rid of wrinkles and fine lines. However, not all products are actually capable of this, as some are based on ineffective ingredients without clinical benefits to skin health.
What is the best anti-aging cream that really works?
If you are looking for the best anti-aging cream for your budget, skin type, and specific needs, our reviews should go a long way towards helping you find it. Based on direct testing, customer reviews, and available clinical research, we have been able to narrow down the selection, hopefully making it easier to find the product that works for you.
