Derms and Editors Say These Moisturizers Take Years Off the Face

Okay, I’ll admit it. You can’t actually Benjamin Button and take years off your face, but according to dermatologists, there are a few key ingredients you can incorporate into your skincare routine that can help you come pretty darn close. I’ve witnessed firsthand what the right routine can do for the overall appearance of your skin. It can work wonders—wonders, I tell you!

I’ve seen my dark spots disappear, fine lines relax, and acne clear up just by adding a few simple ingredients to my skincare lineup, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the results they’ve produced.

While I think skin aging is normal, natural, and beautiful and shouldn’t be shamed in any way, it’s also okay to want to keep yours looking youthful. If you’re looking for an anti-aging moisturizer that will help you do so, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve polled dermatologists and editors on their favorite formulas. Keep reading for advice on how to choose the right one for you and, of course, our top picks.

What to Look for in an Anti-Aging Moisturizer

According to board-certified dermatologists Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, and Azadeh Shirazi, MD, there are a few universal ingredients all skin types should look for in an anti-aging moisturizer. They broke them down for us below.

1. Retinol: “Retinol is the gold standard in topical anti-aging skincare. This vitamin A–derived ingredient helps to boost collagen production and keep skin young. Those with oily skin can generally tolerate higher concentrations, while those with dry or more sensitive skin should start with lower-potency vitamin A derivatives.” — Murphy-Rose

2. Coenzyme Q10: “[This is] a natural antioxidant crucial for energy production in cells, which declines with age. CoQ10 reduces oxidative stress and promotes collagen production, keeping skin more healthy and youthful, diminishing wrinkles and fine lines, and fighting off laxity while preventing free radical damage.” — Murphy-Rose

3. Resveratrol: Resveratrol is a potent topical antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Resveratrol neutralizes free radical damage to protect skin at the cellular and DNA levels.

4. Green tea: Rich in catechins like EGCG, green tea provides antioxidant protection against oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory benefits to calm and soothe.

5. Vitamin C: “[Vitamin C] helps to boost collagen production and decrease hyperpigmentation. However, vitamin C is not always well-tolerated by sensitive skin, as many formulations contain higher concentrations of vitamin C that can be irritating to skin. Also, vitamin C is commonly stabilized with vitamin E or tocopherol, which is highly comedogenic so should generally be avoided by those with acne-prone or oily skin.” — Murphy-Rose

6. Peptides: “[These are] short-chain amino acids that trick your skin into boosting collagen production and renewing skin cells. They also help calm inflammation. They’re helpful in improving skin firmness and elasticity and reducing the appearance of wrinkles over time.” — Shirazi

7. Hyaluronic acid: Known for its ability to attract and retain moisture, it instantly plumps fine lines and gives the skin a dewy, glowing appearance.

8. Niacinamide: Niacinamide helps restore and strengthen the skin’s barrier, brightens skin tone, and calms inflammation.

9. Glycolic acid: This is an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates dead skin cells off the outer layer of the skin, promotes cell turnover, brightens the skin, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin texture.

If you’d like more advice for your particular skin type, Shirazi also provided a few helpful tips for each.

Dry skin: “If you have dry skin, look for heavier, more occlusive formulas that are nourishing and reduce transepidermal water loss. Formulations with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, panthenol, ectoin, and AHAs are helpful in strengthening the skin, firming, and improving skin laxity.”

Oily skin: “If you have oily skin, opt for a lightweight, noncomedogenic moisturizer with ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide to help regulate oil production and prevent breakouts while targeting signs of aging.”

Combination skin: “Those with combination skin may need to use different products in different areas of the face—ones designed for oily skin in the T-zone and a product for dry skin on the outer sides of the face more prone to dryness. Some common ingredients that help both are AHAs, niacinamide, and peptides to address multiple skin concerns, including fine lines and uneven texture.”

Sensitive skin: “If you have sensitive skin, look for a simple, fragrance-free formula with soothing ingredients like chamomile or oat complexes, glycerin, panthenol, and allantoin to minimize irritation. Avoid harsh ingredients and potential sensitizing ingredients.”

Normal skin: “The world is your oyster since your skin tolerates most of the more powerful anti-aging ingredients. Choose a moisturizer with antioxidants like vitamin C and E, resveratrol, retinol, green tea polyphenols, niacinamide, peptides, stem cells, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, AHAs, or glycerin. [These ingredients] protect against environmental damage, renew your skin, [and] strengthen your moisture barrier while promoting collagen production to give your skin a more youthful appearance.”

For the absolute best anti-aging moisturizers dermatologists and editors love, keep scrolling below.

The Best Anti-Aging Moisturizers