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Best moisturizers for aging skin to nourish and repair, tested and reviewed by experts
Over 40? It's probably time to switch up your face cream — Dr. Dennis Gross makes the best moisturizer for mature skin we've tried.
When it comes to aging, we’re living in interesting times. Our societal perception of getting older is changing. It might seem ironic to read that sentence in a story about the best moisturizers for aging skin, but there aren’t quite the same social stigmas attached to being a woman over 40 as there were in generations past. Just look at Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston, for example. All women in their 50s — the same age as the characters in the '80s sitcom The Golden Girls — but could you imagine any of them portraying such characters? (I can't, though I’m sure it would be just as hilarious!)
Best overall moisturizer for aging skin
Dr Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Intense Wrinkle Cream
Best nonretinol moisturizer for aging skin
Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Advanced Cream
Best drugstore moisturizer for aging skin
L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer
Best dermatologist-approved moisturizer for aging skin
Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body and Face Lotion
However, while women's aging is more celebrated than ever before, we're still obsessed with looking young, as the whopping 497% increase in Botox injections from 2000 to 2020 proves. But is that such a bad thing? I don’t think so. If you want to use a quality wrinkle cream, treat the dark spots on your face or, really, any skin care routine that keeps your skin healthy and makes you feel good, that's a great thing in my book. I’ll wear my 40s with pride and happily slather on my creams and serums (and protect my skin barrier in the process), thank you very much.
Beauty products like daily moisturizers are especially important for mature skin. “With age, our skin’s ability to retain moisture declines,” explains Dr. Andrea Suarez, a dermatologist based in Houston. “Because of this, skin is more likely to become dry and crepey, and it is also more vulnerable to irritation and damage from environmental stressors. Moisturizers can help reduce water loss, plump the skin surface and improve moisture retention.”
Besides a loss in hydration, many moisturizers that are focused on aging skin address other issues, such as dark spots, uneven texture, wrinkles and dullness, so you can get more bang for your buck. Keep reading to find out what I consider to be the best moisturizers for aging skin.
Table of contents
The 4 best moisturizers for aging skin
Others we tried that didn't make the cut
The 4 best moisturizers for aging skin
Formulation: Cream | Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, rambutan, trans-retinol and encapsulated retinol, ferulic acid | Size: 2 oz. | Skin Type: All
You know how I mentioned finding a moisturizer that got you more bang for your buck in terms of what it can treat? Well, this beloved Dr Dennis Gross moisturizer hydrates and plumps the skin while also fading dark spots, reducing damage from outside stressors (like UV rays), improving texture, smooth wrinkles and more. What can’t it do? It’s all due to a blend of retinol with bakuchiol, rambutan and ferulic acid that helps encourage collagen production, as well as arnica and centella asiatica, which calm the skin and strengthen its barrier.
A clinical study showed 91% experiencing stronger and more youthful skin and 85% with firmer skin and improved elasticity in two weeks, but the reviews are also promising. Many users described their skin as plump, with a reduction in noticeable wrinkles and fine lines, and their complexion instantly looking better (the clinical study also showed 97% had improvement in the overall appearance of their skin). While it’s pricey at over $70, a little does go a long way.
- Clinically proven to reduce dry fine lines
- Cruelty free and vegan
- Paraben free, phthalate free and sulfate free
- Contains antioxidant ingredients that stimulate collagen, increase hydration and strengthen the dermis
- No added fragrance, but not for sensitive noses as it does have a citrusy scent
- Pricey
Formulation: Cream | Key ingredients: Safflower RED, caffeine, ginseng root, jujuba fruit | Size: 50 ml | Skin Type: Normal, dry
You'll find that a lot of these skin moisturizers have retinol, which makes sense since it's a highly studied and very beloved ingredient, especially for aging skin. But that doesn't mean you necessarily need it to see real results. Ever since I began using Shiseido Vital Perfection, it hasn’t left my side. It’s a firming cream, so if you’ve got issues like elasticity and loss of firmness, this is a great choice. Safflower is the big ingredient here — cultivated in Yamagata, Japan, this particular variety of safflower has “an effect on stabilizing blood vessel structure,” which can help target sagging, dark spots, dullness and wrinkles.
I was dealing with a little bit of sagging skin and new wrinkles on my neck from weight loss, and using this cream every day seriously plumped it up. It also contains caffeine, ginseng root and jujuba fruit to stimulate collagen and increase elasticity and firmness. Also, Anne Hathaway is the face of Shiseido’s Vital Perfection range, which is especially brilliant if you remember the controversy surrounding her age-gap rom-com The Idea of You a few months ago. People couldn’t believe that Hathaway was playing the 40-year-old single mom of a teenager, because she was too hot! Not saying that could be attributed to the power of Vital Perfection … unless?
- Refillable packaging
- Addresses multiple aging concerns
- Hero ingredient grown exclusively in Japan
- Expensive
- Contains fragrance, so sensitive noses might not like
Formulation: Cream | Key ingredients: Pro-retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C | Size: 1.7 oz. | Skin Type: All
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a good retinol cream, and this one from L’Oreal is proof. Its ingredient list features a triple-threat made up of a stabilized retinol derivative, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid that not only works to reduce wrinkles but also helps make skin more firm and less dull. Another thing that stands out about this face cream is that it comes in both regular and fragrance-free (plus a broad-spectrum SPF 30 version!), which is not something you see often. People who are sensitive to fragrance can happily choose that option.
Over on Amazon, L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Triple Power has over 28,000 five-star reviews, with fans gushing over how the cream has made their wrinkles look way less obvious and skin feel soft and deeply hydrated but without feeling heavy or greasy.
- Comes in fragrance-free and SPF options
- Formulated to wear under makeup
- Dermatologist tested
- Known to work fast
- Some sensitive users experienced irritation
- Contains synthetic fluorphlogopite (synthetic mica), which can make skin look shimmery
- Complaints about glass jar packaging being easily breakable
Formulation: Lotion | Key ingredients: Retinol, peptides, shea butter, cocoa butter | Size: 7 oz. | Skin Type: Normal, dry
Another great budget choice is Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion, which Suarez says is one of her top recommended products for patients with mature skin. “The rich formula contains a stabilized and effective retinol, which helps support the skin’s renewal process,” she says. It also has peptides and niacinamide, two more hydrating and skin-improving ingredients, plus even more moisture from shea and cocoa butters. Plus, coming in with a whole 7 ounces of product, it’s officially the aging skin moisturizer with the most bang for your buck on our list.
On Amazon, more than 3,000 people sing its praises with five-star reviews. Some said the product transformed their skin, taking it from dry, crepey and scaly to moisturized, plump and supple.
- Can be used on both the face and body
- Affordable
- Dermatologist developed and tested
- Free from parabens, dyes and fragrances
- Noncomedogenic
- No added fragrance but some people may not like the cocoa butter scent
- Some sensitive users experienced a reaction
How we tested
While testing these moisturizers, I, an over-40 beauty editor, kept all the most-common aging issues in mind, such as unwanted dark spots, rough and uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles and complexion dullness. I wanted to make sure that my chosen picks addressed a good number of these concerns in order to have real value for those with aging skin. Over a couple of months, I tested dozens of face moisturizers, judging them on the quality of ingredients, cost, efficacy, value, texture, how they felt on my skin and how they addressed my biggest skin care issues. I also spoke to a variety of skin experts, including dermatologists like Suarez and medical aesthetic providers like Vanessa Lee, celebrity medical aesthetic provider and founder of the Things We Do.
Others we tested that didn't make the cut
While the Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer has great Korean skin care ingredients, like propolis and buckwheat honey (I believe in the antioxidant powers of honey), it felt greasy rather than hydrating on my skin. Another product that fell short for me was Philosophy's Anti-Wrinkle Miracle Worker — it didn't do anything remarkable enough to my skin to justify the $74 price tag.
Aging skin moisturizer FAQs
How does skin change as we age?
For some of us over 40, the skin changes that come with aging can be glaringly obvious (like the time I realized I was no longer looking at my childhood freckles, but in fact sun- and aging-related hyperpigmentation). “Those with more mature skin often contend with issues like dehydration, loss of elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles, which are all part of the natural aging process,” explains Lee. “But there are a number of effective ways to address and mitigate these concerns — through both intentional skin care, like quality moisturizers and collagen-building treatments like PRFM [Platelet-rich Fibrin Matrix — an injectable treatment that uses platelets from a patient's own blood to rejuvenate the skin]."
Which skin care ingredients are most beneficial for mature skin?
For one, retinol. Every expert I spoke with extolled its benefits: "Retinol can be a game changer for mature skin,” says Suarez. “It can visibly improve the appearance of aging skin, and with long-term use, it can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” Lee also highlighted hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide as “real gems” for mature skin. “[They] are powerhouse ingredients that work wonders in managing signs of aging, promoting collagen production and providing antioxidant protection against environmental stressors,” she says.
Is there a type of moisturizer formula that is best for mature skin?
When it comes to formulas, Suarez recommends cream moisturizers since they are more vulnerable to dryness and irritation. But if you’re over 40 with oily or combination skin, you might want to stick to lightweight formulas, like water-based gel moisturizers. I have always had combination skin, but it’s become drier since I turned 40, so I use both (gel during the summer and thicker creams during winter).
What is the best way to apply moisturizer for aging skin?
To get the best results from moisturizers, Suarez recommends always applying them shortly after getting out of the shower or tub, ideally while the skin is still a bit damp. “This really helps lock in hydration,” she says. “Don’t forget to moisturize your chest and neck! These areas are some of the skin’s most vulnerable territory for showing the signs of skin aging.”
Meet the experts
Dr. Andrea Suarez, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist
Vanessa Lee, medical aesthetic provider and founder of the Things We Do
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
