What are the best anti-aging creams? There are hundreds of products out there on the market today that claim to reverse the effects of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin, but which ones are worth your money? This article lists the top five anti-aging creams based on a combination of customer reviews and my own experience using these products over the years. I hope you find it helpful!
1) Retinol is the Best Anti-Aging Cream
Anti-aging clinics use several different topical ingredients to stimulate collagen production. Although hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient used by anti-aging clinics around the world, some consider retinol to be more effective. Retinol helps erase wrinkles and fine lines on your face by stimulating skin cells to rebuild collagen; It also aids in the growth of cell turnover.
This happens because retinol attaches itself to skin cell membranes causing them to deteriorate quicker than normal; with new cells being produced faster than they are breaking down, your skin will regain its natural firmness over time.
2) Try Peptides If You Want an Alternative
Some anti-aging creams incorporate collagen peptides to provide nutrition to your skin. Collagen is used in anti-wrinkle creams because it provides moisture and elastin—two things your skin loses over time. Look for a cream that offers bioactive peptides like Argireline or Matrixyl 3000, which have been clinically proven to reduce wrinkles and tighten loose skin. If you’re looking for an alternative way to moisturize as you age, look into a non-invasive body treatment like Thermage CPT or Ultherapy.
Not only are these procedures completely painless (and effective!), they both focus on tightening loose skin from underneath so there’s no visible sign of treatment afterward. Both offer immediate results that last months after one procedure.
3) Anti-Aging Moisturizers Work by…
Skin creams that contain collagen with peptides can help prevent future aging by protecting your skin. Collagen is a protein that naturally occurs in your body and is essential to healthy skin. When you reach your mid-20s, your skin’s production of collagen slows down by about 10 percent every decade. If you want to keep wrinkles from forming around your eyes or keep your skin looking youthful, applying anti-aging moisturizers with collagen with peptides can help fight aging symptoms like fine lines and sagging tissue.
4) Attacking Aging in Four Key Ways
1- Getting rid of wrinkles
2- Filling in fine lines
3- Creating a firmer base to support sagging skin
4- Plumping up the skin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Each product will have different ingredients that help achieve these goals in different ways. You should consider factors like your skin type (will you get breakouts if you use a particular ingredient?), price (are you willing to spend $100+ per bottle?), and how invasive each process is (does it involve needles or lasers?).
5) Products with Sunscreen are Better for Aging Skin
While many anti-aging products include retinol or other vitamin A derivatives (which are fabulous at reducing wrinkles), they can be drying. Applying moisturizer on top of your serum keeps your skin hydrated and provides an extra layer of protection against UV rays, which cause fine lines to form. If you have dry skin, to begin with, applying a rich cream will help keep it that way by replacing lost oils. Choose one that contains sunscreen for added protection from damaging UVA/UVB rays.
Be sure to opt for a cream with sunscreen—preferably SPF 30 or higher. With age, your skin’s ability to protect itself from UV damage weakens, which leaves it vulnerable to sun spots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. For that reason alone, I recommend you pick up an anti-aging cream with sunscreen on all exposed areas (face, neck, and chest). Many anti-aging creams use titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as their active ingredients in addition to sunscreen protection.
Conclusion
The best anti-aging creams can do a great deal to improve your skin’s appearance. They can help fight off sagging skin, wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging. However, one cream does not fit all—your specific needs will change as you age. Finding a product that is effective for your skin type is essential. That’s why I love these top five brands – they are affordable options that target specific concerns like hydrating dry or sensitive skin or diminishing large pores. Whatever your anti-aging goals are, picking up one of these products is an excellent place to start!
Image Credit: Getty Images