I’m not ‘anti’ ageing – after all, ageing is a privilege. But ‘anti-ageing’ is a widely used marketing term for moisturisers that rejuvenate skin, targeting fine lines, wrinkles, discolouration and loss of firmness.
More positively, I like to think of them as day creams that help you age well or even moisturisers for mature skin, since there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look your best by slowing down or addressing skin changes.
Anti-ageing formulas are often packed with antioxidants, as they help protect skin from the ageing effects of the sun’s UV rays, as well as pollution and other environmental damage that ages the skin. “Dermatologists rave about antioxidant vitamin C with good reason – it’s a real multi-tasking skincare superstar. It not only helps shield the skin but also stimulates collagen production and brightens uneven skin tone,” says Ada Ooi, skincare expert and founder of 001 skincare. Nor should we forget about niacinamide, which helps protect against environmental aggressors, pigmentation and blemishes.
Just be mindful that prevention is key. Some anti-ageing day creams include SPF to help protect the skin, but you should always use separate sunscreen for the face, picking one that comes with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30. Ooi explains that “To prevent lines from forming, volume loss and pigmentation, use protective measures from as early on as possible, and try to be consistent.”
But that’s a lot to bear in mind, so I’ve done the hard work for you. As a beauty tester with years of experience, I spent months testing the best favourite tried-and-tested formulas to make it easier to find a cream that helps your skin look its best.
How I tested
I’m in my 40s, and as a beauty editor, I test day creams as they launch. Each product featured here has been tested for a minimum of 30 days, but I’ve been testing anti-ageing creams for IndyBest for years. Many have been trialled until empty or used on repeat, and many creams did not make the cut. During testing, I considered the following key criteria:
- Rejuvenating benefits: The most important consideration, I wanted formulas that smoothed, brightened or firmed my skin.
- Feel: All the formulas were marked on how they felt and looked on the skin after application.
- Value for money: The ingredients and overall results were evaluated against the product's cost.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Sabine Wiesel is a beauty journalist in her 40s who specialises in mature and anti-ageing skincare and beauty products. She’s reviewed everything from the best neck creams to retinol eye creams to find the best-value products that actually make an impact on fine lines and pigmentation. Sabine has experience speaking to long-standing dermatologists and aestheticians, and is familiar with brands both high-end and affordable.
The best anti-ageing day creams for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Murad superactive moisturiser SPF 50, brightening: £55, Spacenk.com
- Best budget buy – Facetheory glow-C daily moisturiser, SPF 30: £20, Facetheory.com
- Best for pigmentation – Dr. Idriss major fade active seal: £60, Dridriss.com
- Best luxury – Elemis pro-collagen marine cream, SPF 30: £95, Boots.com
- Best for fine lines and wrinkles – Lancome rénergie HPN UVmune SPF 50 cream: £56, Lookfantastic.com
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Murad superactive moisturiser SPF 50, brightening
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Best: Anti-ageing day cream overall
Key ingredients: Vitamin C (3-O ethyl ascorbic acid), ceramides
SPF: 50
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: Yes
Why we love it
- Antioxidant protection
- Lightweight texture that deeply moisturises
- Brightens skin tone
- Fades the look of dark spots
- Includes SPF
Take note
- May not be suitable if you have sensitive skin
- Pricier than some other options
Murad’s four new SPF moisturisers team potent actives with high SPF, for day creams that help rejuvenate skin and protect it from sun damage. Leading the pack is this ‘brightening’ formula that’s had a major glow-up from its last instalment.
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Teaming 10 times more vitamin C with SPF 50, the luxuriously lightweight but intensely hydrating cream provides a sheer, subtle glow. It perked up my tester’s dull skin tone, without leaving any chalkiness or greasiness in its wake. The more you use this product, the more you’ll see its brightening results. After just a month of use, there was a slight fade to my dark spots, too.
Buy now £55.00, Spacenk.com
Facetheory glow-C daily moisturiser, SPF 30
Best: Budget anti-ageing day cream
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C
SPF: 30
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: Yes
Why we love it
- A multi-tasking antioxidant serum and moisturiser
- Powerhouse actives at a fraction of the price
- Brightens and evens skin tone
- Includes SPF
Take note
- Citrus scented, but also comes in a fragrance-free version
- Slight tackiness upon application
This is a relatively purse-friendly product that’s also a real multitasker, protecting and correcting signs of ageing like an antioxidant serum, moisturiser, and sunscreen all in one. Its mousse-like whipped texture immediately sinks into the skin, leaving it feeling comfortably hydrated.
Niacinamide and vitamin C combine for a formula which quickly illuminates my tired-looking complexion, and, with time, brightens skin tone and evens texture. Meanwhile, antioxidant and SPF 30 protection help shield skin from daily environmental and UV aggressors. I even love its recyclable aluminium packaging.
Buy now £20.00, Facetheory.com
Dr. Idriss major fade active seal
Best: Anti-ageing day cream for pigmentation
Key ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, glycerin
SPF: No
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: Yes
Why we love it
- An antioxidant serum and moisturiser in one
- Use as day and night cream
- Boosts radiance and brightens skin tone
Take note
- Dry to very dry skin may need to combine it with a richer cream (without actives)
- Expensive delivery fee
New York dermatologist Dr Shereene Idriss has shared her journey with melasma on her popular socials, and often talks about the best ingredients (and effective doses) for fading the look of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. For ease, she’s packaged them up in a pigmentation-blitzing trio: a mask, serum and this vitamin C skin-brightening gel moisturiser.
It’s a lightweight, gel-cream that feels plush to use, complete with a super-silky texture, and it leaves a glowing finish on the skin. After two months of use, both day and night, I saw that dark spots were looking less prominent.
Buy now £60.00, Dridriss.com
Elemis pro-collagen marine cream, SPF 30
Best: Luxury anti-ageing day cream
Key ingredients: Marine and algae actives, glycerin
SPF: 30
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: No
Why we love it
- Instant and long-lasting hydration
- Smoother and firmer skin after two weeks
Take note
- Expensive
Still a true beauty icon, Elemis’s pro-collagen marine cream lives up to the hype. I’ve lost count of how many jars I’ve gone through of this lightweight and fast-absorbing cream. Reintroducing it to my morning routine, I’d forgotten that it’s instantly hydrating and leaves the skin feeling well-nourished.
This is thanks to a blend of marine and plant actives, which offers antioxidant skin protection while supporting the production of collagen. After just two weeks, you should start to see the benefits, with skin feeling smoother and firmer. The SPF 30 doesn’t hurt, either.
Buy now £95.00, Boots.com
Lancôme rénergie HPN UVmune SPF 50 cream
Best: Anti-ageing day cream for fine lines and wrinkles
Key ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, mexoryl 400
SPF: 50
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: No
Why we love it
- Advanced UVA protection
- Luxe, lightweight texture
- Brightens, smooths and firms skin
Take note
- Expensive
I was already a fan of Lancôme’s rénergie, but it now comes with advanced UV protection. It boasts SPF 50, with mexoryl 400 helping to protect against long UVA rays, which are often the culprits behind premature signs of ageing.
The texture is light and silky, and the formula left my complexion feeling well-nourished. A whopping 300 peptides provide skin-plumping rejuvenation. I used this formula daily for two months, and saw the smoothing, firming and brightening claims come to fruition. It would get full marks if it weren’t for its expensive price tag.
Buy now £90.00, Lookfantastic.com
Clarins super restorative day cream
Best: Anti-ageing day cream for menopausal skin
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, harungana, vitamin C
SPF: No
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: No
Why we love it
- Exceptionally hydrating
- Feels luxurious
- Boosts radiance within weeks
- Smoother and firmer skin with time
Take note
- If you have very dry skin, the rich version will be better suited to your needs
A bestseller for Clarins from a lineup of outstanding face moisturisers, this formula was made with menopausal skin in mind. With the change in hormone levels at this stage of life, skin is prone to extra dryness, thinning and a lack of firmness, all of which are tackled by this high-performance cream.
Complete with a delicately scented, soothing, and refreshing gel-cream texture, not only does it immediately stop skin feeling tight and dry, but it continues to leave it feeling comfortable and well-nourished throughout the day. Within a few weeks of use, I noticed a renewed radiance to my skin tone (thanks to the inclusion of vitamin C) and smoother, firmer skin with continued use.
Buy now £85.00, Sephora.co.uk
Olay regenerist SPF 30 day cream
Best: Value anti-ageing day cream
Key ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, glycerin, vitamin E
SPF: 30
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: No
Why we love it
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Deeply hydrating
- You can now buy cheaper refills and reuse the jar
Take note
- Subtly fragranced, but the range does include a fragrance-free version
If you like the sound of Elemis’s offering (see above) but need a day cream at a fraction of its price, reach for this little red jar. The Olay regenerist range is marking its 20th anniversary this year, and a product doesn’t hang around this long unless it's well-loved.
It ticks all the boxes for ease of use: it's lightweight, absorbs quickly and sits well under makeup. Ingredient-wise, it’s infused with skin-plumping peptides and hero-active niacinamide, which is known for boosting hydration and improving skin tone and texture. In just a week, my skin felt well-nourished. If you play the long game, you’ll see smoother, firmer results.
Buy now £30.00, Boots.com
Naturium multi-peptide moisturiser
Best: Fragrance-free anti-ageing day cream
Key ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid
SPF: No
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: Yes
Why we love it
- Great value
- Suitable for all skin types – even sensitive
- Creates a smooth base for makeup
- Brightens and plumps lines with continued use
Take note
- Dry skin types will prefer the multi-peptide rich cream version
Naturium keeps impressing with its reasonably priced, high-performance skincare and body care, and this formula is a real people-pleaser that’s super lightweight but still manages to replenish the skin, leaving it nourished and bouncy.
Suitable for all skin types, this product is vegan-friendly and includes superstar hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, squalene and niacinamide. It instantly leaves skin smooth and supple, offering the perfect base for makeup, too. It’s packed with skin-plumping peptides and skin-brightening, non-irritating vitamin C that boosted radiance and plumped fine lines over the weeks of testing.
Buy now £21.00, Spacenk.com
Estée Lauder revitalizing supreme + bright radiance power soft creme
Best: Anti-ageing day cream for dull skin
Key ingredients: Vitamin C, moringa extract, peptides
SPF: No
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: No
Why we love it
- Instantly leaves skin super soft and radiant
- Long-term brightens and smooths
- Refillable so you save money and packaging waste
Take note
- You'll either love or hate the subtle citrus floral scent
This new skin-brightener targets lines, wrinkles and firmness but also dullness, uneven skin tone and discolouration. It delivers results, as long as it's used consistently, and you allow it at least a month to see the benefits.
The lightweight texture absorbs in seconds, and in the short term, it left my skin exceptionally soft and glowing. The only issue is that it’s expensive for a 50ml pot, but you can buy refills.
Buy now £88.00, Lookfantastic.com
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s magic cream
Best: Anti-ageing day cream for use under makeup
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E, peptide complex
SPF: 15
Size: 50ml
Cruelty free: Yes
Why we love it
- Super hydrating
- Day cream and primer in one
- Plumps lines and renews radiance
- Refillable
Take note
- Charlotte’s magic water cream is a lightweight version, if you're not a fan of rich textures
Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury originally formulated this moisturiser to perk up and prep the skin of her catwalk models. The cream instantly nourishes dryness and adds glow to lacklustre complexions, while creating a smooth base for long-lasting, flawless makeup application. I was sceptical, but you really can skip the primer when using this cream.
This product sits on the richer, creamy side, with nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid. Even so, it's still fast-absorbing and non-greasy, so you don’t need to wait to apply coverage on top. Feeding the skin with immediate moisture that lasts all day, this cream will help plump out fine lines and boost radiance.
Buy now £79.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Your questions on anti-ageing day creams answered
What is the best anti-ageing day cream?
My top spot goes to the Murad superactive moisturiser, for protecting the skin so well from ageing UV rays. It transforms a dull skin tone to a radiant one, brightening discolouration for a more even tone and texture.
If you’re on a budget, the Facetheory glow-C daily moisturiser performs similarly but at a fraction of the price. It’s also infused with vitamin C, to help rejuvenate the skin.
Do anti-ageing products really work?
You can’t reverse ageing, but certain skincare ingredients, such as vitamin C and niacinamide, can improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, dullness and texture.
Remember, SPF should be used daily to help protect skin in the first place. Regular use will help limit damage from UV radiation, but also play an important role in protecting against fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, pigmentation and uneven skin tone.
The best thing you can do to reduce the appearance of ageing is to take care of your skin as early as possible, with preventative steps such as applying SPF daily and always removing makeup before you go to bed.
Ingredients to look for in anti-ageing day creams
Antioxidants – These neutralise free radicals and protect the skin from UV rays, pollution and other environmental damage.
Ceramides – You’ll find ceramides in plentiful supply in cleansers, serums and moisturisers. While ceramides occur naturally in your skin, they decline gradually as we age. They protect your skin against environmental aggressors and prevent water loss, so they are great in topical skincare products, as they’ll leave skin feeling supple and hydrated.
Hyaluronic acid – This is one of the most commonly used ingredients in moisturisers, as it's a humectant that attracts and retains moisture on the skin, giving a plumping effect.
Retinol – Derived from vitamin A, retinol is one of the most potent anti-ageing ingredients, thanks to its clinically proven results in improving fine lines and wrinkles in as little as 12 weeks. It can also fade acne scars and increase collagen production. It’s available over the counter in moisturisers and serums of varying strengths. However, retinol can make skin more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays, so it is particularly important to use a high SPF when using retinol products.
Squalane – This is an unfussy, oil-based moisturising agent that works well for mature, dry and dehydrated skin types, reducing water loss and strengthening the skin barrier by sealing in moisture.
How to use an anti-ageing cream in your daily beauty routine
Speaking to dermatologist Dr Zainab Laftah in our IndyBest guide to anti-ageing skincare, we discussed that a “commitment to regular use” is important when seeking results with anti-ageing products. Gleaning expert insight from further dermatologists – Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme and aesthetician Dija Ayodele – in our skincare routine how-to, we established that the ideal order to apply your products is as follows:
Does your skin type affect which anti-ageing cream you should use?
In short, yes. You should take into account your skin type when looking for a new moisturiser. Anything too oily or thick may exacerbate oil production, so if you want to avoid a shiny T-zone, opt for oil-free, non-comedogenic products that are lightweight and won’t clog pores.
Equally, if you have dry skin, you’ll need something nourishing to improve skin texture and suppleness that will hydrate while tackling fine lines and wrinkles.
How long does it take to see results?
It’s important to acknowledge that no matter what a brand might claim, no product has the power to truly repair the signs of ageing. “It’s important to have realistic expectations,” says advanced aesthetic nurse and clinic owner Amanda Azzopardi. “These products can help reduce the visibility of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of ageing, but they cannot reverse the ageing process entirely.”
You also need to give a new product about a month to see visible results, as this is roughly the time it takes your skin to regenerate skin cells. However, this isn’t true for everyone. Skincare expert Ada Ooi warns that “significant changes can take several months of consistent use and depend on the depth of wrinkles and individual skin biology.”
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