Anti Aging Moisturizers & Creams

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How to Choose an Anti-Aging Moisturizer

An anti-aging moisturizer does two jobs: it holds water in the skin so lines look softer right away, and it carries actives such as peptides or retinol for longer-term changes in how skin looks. The right one depends first on your skin type, then on your main concern. Use this guide to match a Skin Perfection moisturizer to your skin.

Start With Your Skin Type

  • Dry or mature skin: choose a richer cream with plant oils and butters, such as the Ultimate Moisturizer or the Ageless Advanced Peptide Moisturizer.
  • Normal skin: any of the creams below suit you; pick by concern.
  • Oily skin: the Clear Skin Oil-Free Moisturizer hydrates with hyaluronic acid and Irish moss without added oils.
  • Firmness as the main goal: the Multi-Peptide Skin Firming Moisturizer, with five peptides plus Progeline, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter.
  • Retinol at night: the 2.5% Retinol Moisturizer, listed for combination, dry, normal, and oily skin, but not sensitive skin.

Not sure of your type? Take the What's My Skin Type check first.

Compare the Moisturizers

Moisturizer Key actives Best for Price
Ultimate Moisturizer for Day and Night Use Argireline, Matrixyl 3000, Syn-Ake, Syn-Coll, Pepha-Tight, Progeline, Edelweiss, idebenone Dry to normal skin, lines and firmness $54.95 (1 oz)
Multi-Peptide Skin Firming Moisturizer Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Progeline, sodium hyaluronate, shea butter Firmness, a five-peptide blend $54.95
Ageless Advanced Peptide Moisturizer Matrixyl Synthe-6, Syn-Coll, TENS'UP, hyaluronic acid, rosehip and carrot seed oils Dry or mature skin $49.95 (1 oz)
2.5% Retinol Moisturizer 2.5% retinol concentration, botanical hyaluronic acid, shea butter, propolis, green tea Night renewal, skin that tolerates retinol $29.95
Clear Skin Oil-Free Moisturizer Hyaluronic acid, Irish moss, ocean minerals, vitamins A, B5, E Oily or normal skin, a light finish $26.95 (1 oz)

What the Research Shows

  • Peptides: in Sederma's supplier study, a cream with 3% Matrixyl 3000, one of the peptides in the Ultimate Moisturizer, used twice daily for 2 months decreased the surface occupied by deep wrinkles by 39.4% from the start, while the placebo side showed no significant change (supplier data).
  • Retinol: in a 24-week study of 36 older adults, 0.4% retinol lotion improved fine wrinkle scores compared with a plain lotion (Kafi, 2007).
  • Hyaluronic acid: in a 60-day study of 76 women, 0.1% hyaluronic acid creams improved skin hydration and elasticity versus placebo (Pavicic, 2011).
  • Sunscreen: in a 4.5-year trial of 903 adults, daily sunscreen users showed 24% less skin aging than discretionary users (Hughes, 2013).

How to Build a Routine With Them

  1. Morning: cleanse, serum, a peptide moisturizer, then sunscreen.
  2. Night: cleanse, serum, then either your peptide moisturizer or the 2.5% Retinol Moisturizer. The retinol product page directs use every other night or once a week, so alternate with a peptide cream on the other nights.
  3. Apply a small amount to the face and neck and massage until absorbed.

Sensitive skin: patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours and start once a day. Skip the retinol moisturizer until your skin is comfortable with the rest of the routine. The Multi-Peptide Skin Firming Moisturizer contains fragrance, and the Ultimate and Ageless creams contain essential oils. Shop by need in face firming creams, night creams, or oil-free, or read the best moisturizer for aging skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for in an anti-aging moisturizer?

Look for actives with human data, such as peptides, retinol, and hyaluronic acid, in a texture that suits your skin type. A full ingredient list lets you confirm what is actually inside.

Do I need a different moisturizer for day and night?

Not always. A peptide moisturizer works morning and night, while retinol belongs at night. Many people use a peptide cream by day and a retinol cream a few nights a week.

What is the best anti-aging moisturizer for oily skin?

Choose an oil-free formula that hydrates with humectants, such as the Clear Skin Oil-Free Moisturizer. Pair it with a peptide serum for the look of lines.

Can I use a moisturizer with retinol every night?

Start slowly. The 2.5% Retinol Moisturizer is directed for every other night or once a week, with sunscreen the next morning.

Is a moisturizer enough, or do I need a serum too?

A moisturizer alone helps, but a serum adds a concentrated layer of actives underneath. For the look of lines, a peptide serum followed by a peptide moisturizer covers both.

Sources

  • Sederma, Matrixyl 3000 technical document (supplier data).
  • Kafi R, et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Archives of Dermatology. 2007;143(5):606-612. PubMed 17515510
  • Pavicic T, et al. Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2011;10(9):990-1000. jddonline.com
  • Hughes MCB, et al. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2013;158(11):781-790. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.