Athena 7-Minute Lift
Athena’s 7-Minute Lift is one of our favorite anti-aging creams because it has almost-instant results and effectively reduces the overall appearance of wrinkles with regular use. Unlike many skin creams, the Athena 7-Minute Lift has been the subject of clinical trials and is actually proven to reduce fine lines by up to 83%.
It can be used to treat forehead wrinkles, laugh lines, crow’s feet, you name it, and it’s safe for all skin types because it’s free from harsh ingredients.
Key Skin-Boosting Ingredients: Argireline, vitamin A, ascorbic acid, green tea leaf, organic orange peel, avocado and olive fruit oils, lavender oil, rose oil, and more.
We love this cream because it uses 12 different botanicals to not only reduce fine lines but also boost your skin’s overall health, ultimately preventing future damage. As its name suggests, you can expect to see results 7 minutes after your first application. Keep in mind, the initial results only last 12 to 24 hours, but with continued use, you can expect to see your skin look smoother and younger in only a couple of weeks.
Price: $79 for a 60-day supply
Adonia Stemulift
Next on our list is Adonia’s Stemulift, a skin-boosting cream that can be used twice a day to improve your skin’s overall health. Packed with both plant stem cells and oxygenated botanicals, this cream effectively reduces sagging and wrinkles while brightening age spots and correcting uneven skin tone.
Its powerful combination of ingredients reverses signs of aging on the face AND neck, so it’s got you covered no matter what kind of wrinkles you’re looking to tackle.
Key Skin-Boosting Ingredients: Organic plant stem cells, patchouli, lemon verbena, clary sage, rose, jasmine, lemon, chamomile, and more.
The botanicals in this cream work, unaltered, to brighten your skin’s appearance and keep your skin moisturized. However, when you oxygenate these botanicals, you boost their effectiveness at eliminating age spots to give your entire face and neck a radiant, youthful glow. Plus, these botanicals shield against outside environmental damage, too.
Users of Adonia’s Stemulift have reported noticeable results in less than 10 days, with some seeing improvements after only a couple of uses. We also appreciate this cream because it’s versatile enough to take the place of both a morning and night cream, simplifying your skincare routine and saving you some money.
Price: $79 for a 60-day supply
Peptide 10
Peptide 10 gets its skin-smoothing abilities from ten key nanopeptides proven to reverse the signs of aging and promote younger, plumper skin. Peptides are naturally-occuring proteins, so they’re safe for everybody to use to lift and firm their skin. Nanopeptides do two big things to combat lines and wrinkles: one, they stimulate new skin cell growth, and two, they boost collagen and elastin production.
We also recommend this cream because it’s so hydrating. It contains several live probiotics to nurture your skin and lock in moisture. We suggest this cream for forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and laugh lines.
Key Skin-Boosting Ingredients: Acetyl hexapeptide-30, dipeptide-10, acetyl hexapeptide-37, pentapeptide-18, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, bacillus, soybean, folic acid ferment extract, and more.
Peptide 10 smooths skin temporarily (up to 24 hours) only two minutes after it’s applied, and since it contains ingredients that work to improve overall skin health, it can effectively reduce the overall appearance of wrinkles and fine lines so you can enjoy more youthful skin.
Price: $79
Plant Collagen Night Serum
Plant Collagen Night Serum by Adonia Organics is a lightweight anti-aging product you can use nightly to rejuvenate dull, saggy skin. As its name suggests, this serum works to eliminate lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production and promoting new skin cell growth.
In addition to a number of nourishing botanicals, Adonia’s Plant Collagen Night Serum features aloe vera and cucumber to firm skin and vitamin E to protect it from further damage. While you can certainly use this cream to correct one area (i.e. crow’s feet), you can use it on your entire face to achieve younger, brighter, fresher-looking skin.
Key Skin-Boosting Ingredients: Bamboo, whole algae protein, artichoke protein, aloe vera extract, cucumber extract, beta-glucan, yucca root extract, Ginkgo Biloba, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, and more.
We highly recommend this night serum because it’s made with organic ingredients, so its safe for people of all ages and skin types to use. It’s not too oily, so it won’t clog pores, and it absorbs in only seconds after application. If you’re just beginning to dabble in anti-aging products, this is a great night serum to start with.
Price: $79
RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream
RoC’s Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream is a budget-friendly, once-a-day moisturizer that is clinically proven to reduce signs of aging with prolonged use (on average, it takes about a month to notice results). This anti-aging night cream is a great option for people who don’t necessarily need to smooth wrinkles quickly, but want to nurture their skin over time. It’s also a great cream for those seeking anti-aging products to prevent wrinkles from forming since it’s so moisturizing and conditioning.
We also like this cream because it can combat even deep lines and wrinkles, too. It takes a bit longer to smooth severe wrinkles (on average, 12 weeks) but it’s definitely a more affordable option than Botox, fillers, or laser treatments.
Key Skin-Boosting Ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, shea butter, methylparaben, citric acid, glycerin, Ethylhexyl hydroxystearate, isodecyl neopentanoate, tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, and more.
You can use this cream on your entire face and neck, so it can treat everything from sagging skin around the eyes to frown lines.
Price: $22.99
Ingredients to Look For
When comparing anti-aging creams, look for these key ingredients to ensure you’re getting a high-quality, effective product. Each one of these ingredients fights aging differently, so one ingredient may stand out to you more than another.
If you are somebody who is looking for an extra-hydrating cream, one boasting both moisturizers and hyaluronic acid will be most appealing. On the other hand, if you care more about firming, peptides and stem cells will likely catch your eye.
Vitamins C and E
Vitamins C and E are both powerful skin-boosting antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your skin against environmental damage by combating free radicals. Free radicals unstable atoms that can enter our bodies and cause cellular damage, resulting in accelerated aging and illness.
Vitamin E, specifically, is effective in protecting your skin against harmful UV rays and preventing sun damage. Creams rich in vitamin E are especially helpful at eliminating dark spots and wrinkles. Since vitamin E is quite hydrating, too, we suggest those with dry skin look for this ingredient in their anti-aging products.
Vitamin C is also found in many anti-aging creams because of its ability to stimulate collagen production and smooth wrinkles. Creams packed with vitamin C help your skin appear plumper and radiant.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, typically found in skincare as retinol, counters aging by kickstarting the production of new blood vessels and collagen, resulting in brighter, smoother, shinier skin.
Hyaluronic Acid
While the term “acid” sounds harsh, hyaluronic acid is actually a very hydrating ingredient. It’s used in skincare to draw extra water in the air and our bodies’ tissues to your dermis (the thick layer of tissue directly below your skin). As a result, your skin appears glowing and stays moisturized.
Peptides
Peptides are a somewhat new ingredient in skincare. Since they were found to promote collagen production, many skincare brands have started incorporating these naturally-found, skin-boosting proteins into their products.
Peptides stimulate collagen production, and increased collagen production smoothens lines, brightens skin, and prevents against future wrinkles.
Furthermore, peptides shield your skin against future damage. They boost the overall health of your skin to make it less prone to sagging and aging. Peptides aren’t an absolute cure for aging, but they are quite effective at reducing signs of it and keeping your skin looking young.
Antioxidants
As we mentioned above, vitamins C and E are two antioxidants commonly found in skincare to combat aging, and antioxidants act more or less like a shield to protect your skin against environmental factors that otherwise would take a toll on your skin’s health (UV rays, pollutants, etc.).
Vitamins C and E are not the only antioxidant ingredients found in skincare, though. When searching for a cream chock-full of antioxidants, look for ingredients such as coenzyme Q10, açai oil, green or white tea, turmeric, zinc, pomegranate, and rosemary, to name a few.
Plant Stem Cells
Plant stem cells facilitate new skin cell growth to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help your skin look younger. Creams with plant stem cells often have long-term effects because they boost your overall skin health.
SPF
SPF isn’t an ingredient that can necessarily combat aging, but it defends your skin from the sun’s UV rays to prevent dark spots, sagging, and wrinkling.
Moisturizers
Moisturizers keep moisture locked in and prevent your skin from drying out. Dry skin is more susceptible to damage and thus, will show signs of aging sooner. Moisturized skin better resists sagging and wrinkling.
Final Thoughts
When shopping for anti-aging creams, always keep your skin type, severity of wrinkles, and budget in mind. There are — quite literally — hundreds of different anti-aging creams out there to consider. And as you might imagine, different creams work better for different skin types. If you’re having trouble choosing the right anti-aging products, we suggest talking with your dermatologist, as they’ll be able to steer you toward the right products for your needs.
