As a Dermatologist, I Feel Like I’ve Tried Countless Wrinkle-Fighting Moisturizers: Here’s My 5 Top Anti-Aging Face Creams for 2024!
“Which face cream do you use, Doc!!?”
I’ve been a board-certified dermatologist for close to a decade. In that time it feels like I’ve been asked EVERY DAY by patients about face creams – which ones can deliver visible results?
I understand how difficult it can be to wake up every day to see a face that’s still got eyes that sparkle, but the face just doesn’t have the same bounce it once did!
This is why understanding the crucial role of face creams in our skincare routines is so important! There are just so many brands that make promises they can’t keep!
The perfect face cream should ideally:
- Enhance the skin's natural radiance
- Leave the skin feeling smoother and looking plumper
- Deliver ingredient-driven results you can see!
A truly indispensable cream should also provide long-lasting benefits, and it should blend seamlessly into any skincare regimen.
Now, let’s talk about pro-aging, AKA anti-aging. Without a doubt, wrinkles are the most obvious culprits of how time visibly changes the skin. That’s why understanding where and how they form is a super-crucial step to WOWING friends and family.
There are 5 main kinds of visible wrinkles:
- Expression lines: the lines that develop when we move our face – crow’s feet forehead lines, smile lines around the mouth, etc. They develop from repetitive muscle movements.
- Elastic creases: the lines that are caused by skin folding, usually resulting from exposure to environmental stressors.
- Gravitational folds: the deeper, sagging skin folds that result from the relentless pull of gravity.
- Compression wrinkles: the lines and creases that form during sleep or resting upon your cheek, compressing the skin.
- Atrophic crinkling rhytids: also known as static wrinkles – are fine, criss-crossing lines that appear across the skin.
Addressing each of these effectively requires a beautifully formulated cream that promotes a youthful-looking complexion. Something we all NEED.
I understand the frustration of searching for a face cream that delivers. That’s why I've meticulously selected 5 top standout face creams of 2024 that I feel rise above the rest…
#1 Restore Ultra-Rich Face Cream by Naked & Thriving
If my experience in skincare has taught me anything, it’s this – when you find a face cream that’s worth its weight in gold – you hang onto it!!
I honestly feel Restore Ultra-Rich Face Cream is that hero I’ve all been waiting for!!
What makes Restore so special?
I love what's inside this cream most—it's got all the good stuff for your skin, and I was super-impressed by the quality, especially because it's not super expensive like so many other drugstore brands.
It's like finding a hidden gem that makes your skin look healthy and dewy without breaking the bank!
Restore is enriched with triple-weight Hyaluronic Acid, known as Triluronic Acid. Studies show that Triluronic Acid deeply quenches the skin's thirst, promoting multi-depth hydration support that visibly plumps and firms the skin.1
Things don’t stop here:
- Restore also contains Bakuchiol. This is another addition I was ecstatic to see included here! Bakuchiol is a gentler alternative to retinol that helps combat the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots without having to worry about the same associated negative effects you’d expect from traditional retinol. I adore this ingredient! 2
- The Resurrection Plant. I almost never see this amazing ingredient in formulations! Studies show this amazing ingredient helps skin appear more luminous, as well as supporting more even tone and texture. 3 So glad it’s included here!
On top of all of this – Restore’s price point I feel is super modest given its ultra-top-quality formulation - especially the travel version! (Less than $30!!)
I just checked and Naked & Thriving hasn’t sold out yet, so find out for yourself! Plus, there’s a 30-day returns policy if you feel like it’s not for you! Practically risk-free.
#2 Regenerist Night Recovery Cream by Olay
As a board-certified dermatologist, I appreciate the affordability and simplicity that Olay's Regenerist Night Recovery Cream provides.
First of all, this high-performing cream includes Glycerin. Studies show this ingredient helps to provide fundamental hydration support. Plus this cream contains peptides. Studies show peptides can help skin feel firmer and look plumper too! 4 5 All positives in any dermatologist book!
So, why second place?
While these ingredients certainly get me excited, I find this cream doesn’t have some of the more “vital”, advanced anti-aging ingredients I’d like to see included like hyaluronic acid or retinoids.
For those seeking primarily lightweight moisturization, this no-fuss cream is certainly worth a try. However, some patients of mine hoping to smooth visible wrinkles may be a little disappointed.
Unlike richer, multi-tasking creams, you might need to use additional products to see the kind of anti-aging results you’d like – which could really hurt your budget!
I always feel it’s more worthwhile to select creams that include advanced, multi-pronged formulas to combat visible signs of aging in more ways than one, without sacrificing ease of use!
I feel it offers a greatly priced moisturizing option for that simple, everyday usage.
While Olay provides basic hydration support, I feel Restore goes beyond, offering advanced anti-aging benefits with its innovative approach, but at a superior value!
I still think this one is a great choice for those seeking high-quality skincare without any high cost!
#3 Advanced Génifique Repairing Night Cream by Lancôme
Next is Lancôme's Advanced Génifique Repairing Night Cream. At face value, this certainly looks like one of the best!
However, in my opinion, this cream's formula leaves me feeling like wanting a little more – even if the beautiful packaging does look great on my shelf. I feel its mild floral scent and rich texture also fail to perfectly balance themselves and deliver real visible results for all users.
Now, Lancôme devotees may say – “but Doc, I love this cream! I feel like it does wonders for my skin!”
If it works for you – great! But I've personally discovered more compelling formulas lacking the inflated designer price tag – so for me, that changes things.1 And that’s the main reason it’s at number three here…
If you shop around, you’ll see that ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid can be found in much cheaper alternatives.
I’m super happy to see the inclusion of ceramides and prebiotics here. But I honestly feel that at this price point you should be able to see sky-high expectations met. Nevertheless, I cannot deny the beauty and elegance of that packaging, or how it looks alongside my other cosmetics.
#4 Smart Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Age Transformer Duo by Clinique
Now let's talk about Smart Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Age Transformer Duo by Clinique.
I'll give credit to Clinique's Smart Clinical MD Duo for its novel dual-chamber design allowing customization between formulas. To me – that's awesome! But if you were to ask me in my practice – fancy packaging alone doesn't quite cut it without looking over the science that backs it up.
To me, this has the opposite problem to Olay and I can summarise it in one word: complexity!
So, let’s break it down…
This one does contain celebrated ingredients like hyaluronic acid and neuropeptides. Studies show both of these ingredients can support firmer-feeling, more hydrated-looking skin. So that’s something I find very promising.
So, what’s the catch then Doc?!
The ingredient list here is very complex, – I’ve been a dermatologist for nearly 10 years and I even have trouble understanding it!
My rule of thumb is that an effective formula should include key ingredients without putting too much in! How does that expression go? – too many cooks spoil the broth…
Also, while the pump dispenser seems clever and simple, I’d be hesitant to recommend this one to every single patient who comes to me looking for a face cream that’s packed with ingredients that I feel can deliver effective results every time!
Another negative for me – it’s got a steep price tag, so that’s another thing to consider.
Ultimately, the novel approach intrigues me, but I much prefer straightforward formulas that contain innovative ingredients I know.
…still, if you like this one, and you know this product inside and out, stick to it!
#5 Protini Polypeptide Cream by Drunk Elephant
Finally, let’s talk about the Protini Polypeptide Cream by Drunk Elephant.
Speaking as a both dermatologist and eco-advocate, brands that fuse naturally-derived ingredients with skin science always intrigue me.
Drunk Elephant's Protini Polypeptide Cream checks both those boxes through innovative formulas and sustainable packaging, much like Naked & Thriving’s Restore Ultra-Rich Face Cream.
Okay so let’s start with the good.
- Peptides: Known for promoting firmer-feeling skin and promoting that youthful bounce.
- Hyaluronic acid: Has been shown to attract moisture and leave your skin feeling hydrated and fresh.
Its whipped texture also helps promote that feel of smoothness and softness to the touch.
Where I feel more cautious…
I worry the brand’s aesthetic caters specifically to a younger demographic. This is an important niche, but it tells me that anti-aging is not the focus of their formulation.
Still, this is not a choice to pass up lightly - consider your needs and values thoroughly here though!