13 Anti-Aging Creams That Actually Work, According to Skincare Experts

Get the ultimate moisture boost with Olay’s best-selling cream that outperformed 10 competitors — even a prestige $440 one! — in the GH Beauty Lab’s clinical studies. Packed with powerhouse anti-agers including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, our measurements with the Corneometer device found the formulation increased hydration by 50% on average over 24 hours and improved skin texture by 10% in four weeks. Note that it has a rich cream formula that could be too heavy for those with oily skin.

Key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides | Best for: Dry, combination, sensitive skin | Size: 1.7 oz. | How to use: Daily morning and/or night after serum and before sunscreen

L’Oréal Paris's affordable drugstore lotion packed with age-fighting actives and SPF proved to be a "bright" idea for youthful skin: It was a star in our anti-aging day cream test, outperforming other formulas tested. The formula reduced UV spots by 11% over four weeks in measurements with the Visia Complexion Analyzer and improved skin hydration by 28% over six hours, per Corneometer calculations.

Testers also gave it the highest marks for its "citrusy" scent, texture and absorbing quickly. (Note that it didn't score as well for irritating eyes and a few testers reported breakouts.) "My skin appeared brighter and more radiant," a user commented. Two said that it left their skin "smooth and soft."

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, retinol, SPF | Best for: All skin types except sensitive | Size: 1 oz. | How to use: Daily in the morning as last step in skincare routine

Soften creases on the face and neck with this double-duty Fresh formula; it excelled in our Lab's neck treatment test at minimizing stubborn lines and softening skin. Lab before-and-after photo evaluations showed the cream visibly smoothed lines, plus testers rated it highly for leaving skin looking and feeling moisturized.

Most testers praised the "really rich" texture, though one said it was "too thick." A fan called it great "for skin that needs extra moisturizing for lines and wrinkles."

Key ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, plant extracts | Best for: Dry skin | Size: 1.6 oz. | How to use: Daily morning and/or night after serum and before sunscreen

The gentle yet powerful formula (retinol, glycolic acid) of this SkinBetter Science cream makes it a dermatologist and beauty expert go-to and a strong performer in our testing. Accoridng to Lab Visia imaging, the GH Beauty Award winner boosted skin's firmness by 28% over four weeks and scored high for improving skin texture and tone.

Testers gave it top points for its texture that soaked in quickly and for not causing irritation or redness. It didn't hydrate skin as well, though, so may require following up with a richer night cream or moisturizer. "My skin felt firmer and my fine lines were diminished," a user remarked.

Key ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, peptides | Best for: All skin types except very dry | Size: 1 oz. | How to use: Nightly after cleansing and before night cream

No pain, no gain isn't true when it comes to all anti-aging creams. Case in point: Philosophy's gentle formula, a GH Beauty Lab night cream test winner that delivered heavy duty moisturizing and firming effects sans irritation. In Lab calculations, it upped skin hydration by 32% in six hours and firmness by 29% in four weeks of use, yet 95% of testers agreed it didn't cause irritation or redness.

It was also best in the Lab for improving skin texture and among testers for its "soft" scent, however some said it took time to absorb. "I noticed my skin feels firmer in the morning," one revealed.

Key ingredients: Peptides, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid | Best for: Dry or sensitive skin | Size: 2 oz. | How to use: Nightly after last step in skincare routine

Anti-aging creams don't have to be heavy to be effective: This Good Housekeeping Seal star Mary Kay moisturizer is oil-free and non-comedogenic (not pore-clogging), created specially for oily and combination skin types. According to our data evaluation, it significantly improved skin firmness, lines and crow's feet starting after two weeks of use, plus 95% of users agreed it absorbs quickly and 79% agreed that it helps maintain skin's moisture balance.

Key ingredients: Niacinamide, peptides, antioxidants | Best for: Oily or combination skin | Size: 3 oz. | How to use: Daily morning and/or night after serum and before sunscreen

This top dermatologist pick from Neutrogena, made with the gold standard anti-aging ingredient retinol, aced the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging day cream test. Lab tests with the Visia Complexion Analyzer found that it reduced UV spots by 13.5%, and it also measurably firmed skin and evened tone over eight weeks of use. The lotion was a tester favorite, earning high scores for improving radiance and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

The GH Beauty Award winner also quenches dry skin (although some users wished the formula was richer and more moisturizing) and protects against the sun’s rays with SPF 30. Consumers liked that this face cream absorbed quickly, didn’t irritate and had minimal scent. “Hands down, the best wrinkle cream I’ve tried!” a tester raved. Another reported: "My skin looks younger and firmer and has less visible wrinkles."

Key ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C, sunscreen | Best for: All skin types except sensitive | Size: 1 oz. | How to use: Daily in the morning as last step in skincare routine

A skin-smoothing retinol cream treatment and night moisturizer in one, Olay was a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging night cream test thanks to its visible brightening, softening, firming and wrinkle-reducing effects at a bargain price. The formula raised skin’s firmness by 27% over four weeks of use per the Lab’s Cutometer machine, which measures skin laxity. It also scored at the top for reducing wrinkles via digital imaging with the Visia Complexion Analyzer.

An impressive 100% of testers agreed it made skin feel softer and they also ranked it best at brightening, though some noted that the cream took time to absorb. "I can see that fine lines are less noticeable," a user noted. Another said: "It seemed to work as well as my prescription retinoid."

Key ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide, peptides | Best for: All skin types | Size: 1.7 oz. | How to use: Nightly as a last step in skincare routine

Great for everyday wear, Roc's moisturizer with SPF was a GH Beauty Lab anti-aging day cream test winner, absorbing quickly and not leaving a greasy feeling on skin. In Lab digital imaging with the Visia Complexion Analyzer, the formula reduced visible dark spots by 4.5% and improved skin's texture by 11% in four weeks of use. It also didn't irritate eyes despite containing sunscreen, however a few testers reported breakouts.

Consumer testers gave it top marks for softening, firming and reducing wrinkles. "It made my skin feel plump, smooth and glowing," one commented. A second user said they "noticed a difference in skin tone and texture and would continue using it."

Key ingredients: Vitamin C, sunscreen | Best for: All skin types | Size: 1.7 oz. | How to use: Daily in the morning as last step in skincare routine

A worth it splurge, Lancôme’s luxurious cream with rose extracts, plant oils and vitamins C, E and B5 won the top spot in our test of anti-aging eye treatments for firming and hydrating the eye area. The formula boosted skin firmness by 29% in four weeks and increased hydration by 41% in Lab measurements. Testers also gave it the highest marks for smoothing crow's feet and eye area wrinkles.

“I could see a real difference in my undereye area," a user remarked. "My eyes look brighter." Another said: "It was effective in making my skin softer and reducing crow's feet." Two drawbacks: The cream didn't absorb quickly and its scent was a bit strong for some.

Key ingredients: Vitamins C and E, botanical oils and extracts | Best for: All skin types | Size: 0.7 oz. | How to use: Daily in the morning after serum and before moisturizer

A top performer in the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging night cream test, Exuviance’s light, gel-like lotion was top at reducing lines, thanks to a potent smoothing trio of glycolic acid, retinol and peptides. Lab digital imaging with the Visia Complexion Analyzer found that the formula minimized the look of wrinkles by an impressive 10%. In calculations with the Cutometer machine, which gauges skin laxity, it raised firmness 31% after four weeks.

A caveat: Some users commented that the product was a bit irritating. Multiple users marveled at the overnight results: “My face felt smoother and looked brighter in the morning after using it," one said. Another remarked that "it did seem to make a difference on my lines and wrinkles."

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, retinol, peptides | Best for: All skin types except sensitive | Size: 1.75 oz. | How to use: Nightly as the last step in skincare routine

Smooth stubborn neck area lines with this amino acid-infused cream from dermatologist-recommended brand NeoStrata, a winner of the GH Beauty Lab's anti-aging neck treatments test. It was best at minimizing the look of testers’ neck lines and wrinkles over 12 weeks in standardized digital imaging.

The formula also scored high among testers for making skin feel hydrated, but didn't rank as well for lifting. “I have very dry skin and felt it was hydrating," a user revealed. "It made my neck feel smooth."

Key ingredients: Plant stem cells, amino acids, vitamin E | Best for: All skin types | Size: 2.8 oz. | How to use: Morning and/or evening after serum (if applicable)

RoC’s cream was a winner of the GH Beauty Lab's anti-aging eye treatments test for tackling multiple eye-area issues — at a price way below the average. Lab measurements found it increased firmness by 19% and hydration by 20%, reduced wrinkles by 10%, plus scored well with testers for brightening dark circles and depuffing undereye bags.

Note that the cream does contain fragrance, but it didn't bother testers. "Really seemed to firm up the area under my eyes and erased fine crow’s feet," one said. Another enthused: "I want a vat of this product — it corrected every undereye problem I have."

Key ingredients: Vitamins C and E, glycerin | Best for: All skin types | Size: 0.5 oz. | How to use: Daily morning and night after serum and before moisturizer