If there's one product that elicits the same visceral reaction from beauty editors, skincare experts, and customers alike, it's an anti-ageing moisturiser. "Benjamin Buttoning." Ageing backwards. Stopping time. This is what these beauty buzzwords espouse. But the truth of the matter is this: There's no miracle cream, gel, serum or treatment that has the power to actually reverse or halt the signs of ageing on the skin. That said, there are a small number of products that come pretty close, tightening and firming your complexions or reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines with super-powered ingredients and intelligent technology.
While we firmly believe that ageing is a privilege and something that should be celebrated rather than hidden, there's no denying that the world of anti-ageing skincare has skyrocketed over the last decade, with plenty of us looking to smooth a few lines here and boost a bit of glow there.
Per a roster of celebrity makeup artists and skincare experts—Emily Cheng, Naoko Scintu and Emma White Turle—we're uncovering a curated selection of the best anti-ageing moisturisers. The keyword here being curated because according to them, not every cream or moisturiser on the market works the same. Luckily, they find that the below six do wield high-performing effects that plump and lift the skin and combat fine lines and wrinkles.
So, without further ado, keep scrolling to discover what makes each one so beloved, plus discover and a few of the other products they recommend building out your routine with as well.
The Best Anti-Ageing Moisturisers To Reduce Signs Of Wrinkles, Fine Lines and Firm Skin:
1. Natura Bissé Diamond Gel Cream
Turle introduced this cream to me by saying that it's considered a scientific masterpiece and that she's inclined to agree. I was immediately intrigued. "This lifts the skin from the first use," she explained. "And over a few weeks of use, lines are diminished and skin is brighter. It’s very rich but very light and works beautifully under makeup. The most tired and driest skin is immediately revived with this. I hide this from my husband."
The Routine to Match:
A pure concentration of hyaluronic acid and advanced hexapeptides to instantly plump the skin instantly, tackle fine lines and deep creases. Consider this the gentler and, quite frankly, easier alternative to Botox.
"The first few days when I was extremely dry with more intense dry patches, I applied Dr. Barbara Sturm's hyaluronic acid before the gelée," Cheng noted. This particular serum is a beauty-editor favourite.
2. Susanne Kaufmann Rejuvenating Day Fluid
Another anti-ageing gem Turle swears by? Susanne Kaufmann's Rejuvenating Day Fluid. "This is a moisturiser where they’ve harnessed natural skincare with science to create a formidably powerful, light, easily absorbed moisturiser," she shared.
"Susanne’s anti-ageing range is quite remarkable and gives significant long-term effects as well as hydrating skin immediately. I would use this every day, let it absorb for a few minutes and then apply makeup. You don’t need a primer, as it creates a perfect canvas that holds your makeup."
The Routine to Match:
Turle insists that face massage is a key factor in anti-ageing. She broke down the benefits of facial massage tools, explaining, "Apart from dispersing fluid that can gather around the eyes and jawline, this stimulates blood flow to facial muscles, to help to heal and to ease away tension. I like to use a gua sha or a facial roller."
"Both of these will lift the face and smooth out the lines. The facial roller works wonderfully around the eye area to massage away jet lag, wine or insomnia. I always have them in my kit bag," Turle noted.
Take your facial massage to the next level, a sculpting bar works works with vibrations that mimic the effect of massages to get the most out of your at home facial tools for quicker results.
3. SK-II R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream
"My mom has the most beautiful skin and swears by SK-II," shared Cheng. "She loves the essence paired with the R.N.A. power anti-ageing face cream. [Editor's note: The R.N.A. face cream is sadly unavailable in the UK, but the Skinpower Advance Airy Cream is a great alternative.]
"She struggles mostly with sunspots and firmness, which she and I have seen vastly improve since she started the duo. She is also particular about scents and has pretty sensitive skin. A win for her!"
The Routine to Match:
The benefits of a potent nighttime skincare routine have been clinically proven. The eight hours you spend asleep each night is a vital time for restoration and cell turnover. So, reach for a nourishing and hydrating sleeping mask to further the body's natural healing process. This one from Harry Styles's beauty brand, Pleasing, assists with overnight repair, using Australian tea tree oil and French lavender extract to promote PM skin recovery.
An essence is one of the easiest way to keep your skin looking extra plump and smooth. Tatcha's The Essence is rich in amino acids, to support the skin's natural cell turnover and improve the skin’s ability to keep moisture in for that fresh, glowing and juicy skin.
4. Dior Prestige Le Micro-Caviar De Rose Creme Gelée
Cheng also shared that she's currently in Vancouver, having stayed put much longer than planned, and completely ran out of all her usual favourite skincare products. "I was lucky enough to get my hands on Dior's Le Micro-Caviar de Rose Gelée," she told us, "which is not something I would normally go for because rose isn't my favourite scent. However, I gave it a go, and I am so pleasantly surprised."
"I find that I get very dehydrated skin in Vancouver, and it usually takes forever for my skin to go back to normal. I used the cream and within two days noticed a huge difference. The dry patches dissipated. I'm all about prevention at this point. Fine lines and wrinkles appear the drier your skin is, so keeping hydrated is key for me. It's been about a week now, and all the dry patches are gone, I have not broken out (which I usually do with new products because my skin is so sensitive), and overall it feels firm and super soft. Right now, I use this day and night alone with a prescription acne creme for blemishes."
The Routine to Match:
Cheng recommends applying your SPF (yes, even if you're staying indoors!) over your moisturiser and ensuring both are absorbed into the skin.
5. Omorovicza Blue Diamond Supercream
Scintu, the makeup artist behind a number of your favourite celebrity looks, tells us, "I love this moisturiser as its deeply hydrating and also helps rebuild the skin to make it more youthful in appearance. It also encourages the production of collagen, which we all cannot get enough of! It actually makes the skin firmer and plumper, which is what I look for in a great moisturiser. I apply a pea-size amount to my fingertips and rub in to the face using an upward circular motion."
The Routine to Match:
If your skin is more on the oiler side, opt for a gel formula that will not only hydrate the skin, but also contain ingredients targeted at treating breakouts and oil production over time. This Farmacy Daily Greens moisturiser is supercharged by moringa and papaya to deliver long lasting moisture without feeling too heavy and greasy.
If you're looking for a do-it-all toner that hydrates, calms and refreshes, look no further than the cult-favourite Caudalie beauty elixir, which you can apply whenever or wherever, on clean skin, on top of makeup or really at any point in your routine.
6. Sisley Youth Protector Cream
Scintu shared another favourite of hers, Sisley's Youth Protector. "I love a good moisturiser that contains SPF. As we all know, anti-ageing prevention is best for youthful-looking skin. I love Sisley's Youth Protector, which contains an SPF 30 and is also a perfect base for makeup. You don't need a primer with this product, and it contains gorgeous ingredients that nourish and protect the skin. I like to use this over Omoressence in the morning for maximum hydration and protection with the two products combined. Just make sure you allow the Omoressence to soak into the skin completely before applying the Sisley Youth Protector."
The Routine to Match:
"I actually love using this moisturiser in combination with Blue Diamond Concentrate serum, also from Omorovicza," Scintu shared. "This serum just seems to fill in those fine lines, which I think makes the skin look the best it can. It’s all about hydration—the plumper the skin is, the healthier it appears.""I love to use this on my clients and also on myself. It contains all those repairing minerals from the hot springs in Budapest. Pat this product in to clean skin, ready for your moisturiser of choice."
Another gorgeous serum, Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair is created with an award-winning and high-tech formula that floods your skin with hydration for over 72 hours. The addition of hyaluronic acid helps your barrier continue to retain moisture.
7. Beauty Pie Youthbomb Biologic Collagen Peptide Cream
This cult moisturiser is one of the best Beauty Pie products available. It comes directly from a lab in Japan and utilises a cocktail of supercharged ingredients that really do make a difference to the quality of your skin. Just read the five-star reviews.
The Routine to Match:
Cheng's three-step routine for moisturising with the most benefits? "First, make sure your skin is well cleansed before you apply. If you are on the drier side, use a hydrating toner or essence before moisturiser. Then, gently massage moisturiser into your skin so that it fully absorbs, gets blood circulation going and the product won't just be sitting on the surface."
This brightening eye cream from Tatcha revives exhausted under eyes and targets the appearance of fine lines and crows feet thanks to a formulated slow-release vitamin C.
8. Fresh Black Tea Advanced Age Renewal Cream
Fresh's latest moisturiser boosts the skin with a three pronged approach; boosting radiance, firming and plumping wrinkles.
The Routine to Match:
Keep things bouncy with this skin barrier-soothing moisturising milky lotion from K-Beauty brand Dr. Jart. (Truly, this one promises to boost hydration levels by +110%)
9. Révive Moisturising Renewal Cream
Many facialists adore Révive's skincare, so if you want to invest in a premium moisturiser, make it this one. It uses glycolic acid to slough away dull dead skin cells to unveil glowing skin.
The Routine to Match:
Tinted moisturisers or skin tints are often better to use on mature skin types because they're lightweight, packed with skincare benefits and crease less than foundation. If you're serious about using anti-aging moisturisers, be sure to follow through with a nourishing complexion product when it comes to your makeup ritual.
10. Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream
Specifically designed for skin that's experiencing signs of ageing, this rich cream helps to lift, firm, smooth, and moisturiser. In a consumer trial, 96% of users saw visible results within eight weeks.
The Routine to Match:
Regularly exfoliating the skin is another way to improve skin texture. Using something like Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant will not only promote better absorption over time but also unclog pores and brighten tone.
Comprised of vitamin B5—known for soothing irritation and reducing redness—this cream mask can be lathered to seal your skincare routine on place.
11. Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser
Since peptides work by stimulating the production of collagen, elastin, and keratin, this moisturiser helps to target concerns like loose skin and uneven texture.
The Routine to Match:
While your anti-aging moisturiser is focused on keeping your skin firm, combat breakouts and a clogged appearance with this viral pore-tight toner from Glow Recipe.
They say the hands, neck and décolleté show signs of aging first, so ensure you're treating those areas just as well as your face with this specialised concentrate cream from La Mer.
12. Eve Lom Moisture Cream
This cream feels lightweight, but is packed with hyaluronic acid to plump dehydrated skin with much-needed moisture.
The Routine to Match:
Under-eye patches are like a universal salve for dark circles and crow's feet. But to proverbially reverse the clock further, reach for 111Skin's Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask, which delivers vitamins and peptides to delicate under-eyes to brighten and plump.
An essence is essential for prep your skin ahead of using your preferred anti-aging moisturiser. This one from Augustinus Bader comes highly recommended by aestheticians, dermatologists and skincare experts alike.
13. Perricone MD High Potency Classics Hyaluronic Intensive Moisturiser
Oil free but deliciously thick and nourishing, this is exactly the kind of moisturiser that will soothe and plump dry, tired skin.
The Routine to Match:
Using a micellar water to cleanse your face will maintain longevity by gently removing impurities without stripping your skin barrier.
Hyaluronic acid and kombu extract work with niacinamide to oxygenate the skin and defend against environmental stressors.
14. Murad Cellular Hydration Repair Cream
A four-week clinical trial ofor this moisturiser demonstrated that it could immediately repair dry skin, restore bounce and radiance, and lock in hydration for 24 hours.
The Routine to Match:
Thoroughly remove daily build-up with this award-winning 3-in-1 cleansing balm. (Hydrates, nourishes skin and melts away makeup.)
Sensitive skin will relish in this hydrating mist.
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