These 15 Anti-Aging Creams Help Reverse the Effects of Time for Under $45

I'll be the first to admit that I often feel overwhelmed when scanning the endless drugstore shelves for products that will make a difference in the health of my skin. As a 20-something, one of my biggest goals is to do what I can to protect my complexion from environmental aggressors (which, for me, can mean anything from blue-light damage to my cold-weather walks), but I do spend a good chunk of time taking cues from the women around me who are pros at keeping their mature skin healthy.

Here's the truth: The best skincare routine is one that's tailored to your personal needs (and no one else's). As much as I love aesthetic-looking and high-performing products, one rule of thumb I use while deciding on skincare products is to avoid judging their effectiveness by the price point or packaging. It's easy to step into a drugstore and misjudge a product's contents.

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(Image credit: @thetennillelife_)

Shopping for an Anti-Aging Cream

It's finally time we decode the complexities of anti-aging creams and dive into everything from the most effective ingredients to which you should look out for. To learn more about the benefits of incorporating an anti-aging cream into your skincare routine, we tapped Anar Mikailov, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Skintensive. "As the skin ages, UV and other environmental stress damage accumulate, leading the skin to lose elasticity, have more fine lines and wrinkles, more pigmentation, become increasingly thin and crepey, and have more pronounced pores," he explains.

Mikailov also notes that as we age, the skin becomes drier, sensitive, eczema-prone, and easily irritated. So, when it comes to shopping for your anti-aging cream, the trick is to select products that are filled with skin-loving ingredients that can nourish, plump, and promote youthful-looking skin. "It’s important to look for ingredients that address these signs of aging by stimulating collagen production, increasing cell turnover, fight oxidative stress damage, while delivering moisture and nutrients the skin needs to function optimally, all without irritating the skin," Mikailov continues. Take this as your sign to spend some extra time inspecting the ingredient list provided on the back of products you may be interested in.

Knowing the Ingredients

If you pay close attention to the ingredients in each of our anti-aging cream picks below, you'll notice that many of them have a couple in common: retinyl retinol. These ingredients have been witnessing what can only be described as a renaissance in the past couple of years, making appearances in everything from liquid exfoliants and serums to hand creams and targeted topical ointments. But are they ideal for everyone?

As the skin matures, skin cell turnover and collagen production slows, resulting in the signs we associate most with aging: fine lines, dark spots, and wrinkles. When used safely, retinol can vastly improve skin texture, reduce fine lines, and prevent dullness. However, retinol at a high strength can result in irritation, itchiness, and scaly patches. These side effects are noticeable in first-time users of retinol products, particularly for individuals with sensitive or easily irritated skin.

According to Mikailov, more ingredients to be on the lookout for on the back of anti-aging creams are:

  • Vitamin C: A multitasking ingredient that helps brighten skin, protect it from free-radical damage, and renew collagen.
  • AHAs and PHAs: Alpha hydroxy acids are typically derived from fruit, sugarcane, and other natural substances and are used to exfoliate the skin to increase cell turnover. PHAs are their larger cousins. Because they don’t penetrate the skin as much, they are less irritating while still effective.
  • Sea Buckthorn Berry: Rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin B, as well as hydrating and anti-inflammatory fatty acids to promote collagen production for plumper and firmer-looking skin.
  • Arnica Montana: An herb with anti-inflammatory properties used holistically to reduce bruising as well as promote healing. Older skin that is prone to bruising will find creams with Arnica Montana extract especially beneficial.
  • Coconut Oil: Can help restore and soothe common skin disorders with a high concentration of deeply hydrating and nourishing fatty acids, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories, coconut oil.

We've rounded up a number of our top creams and corresponding serums with the help of thousands of glowing reviews, notable qualities, and details from the internet's biggest sellers. Get ready to screenshot and bookmark links nonstop—you'll want to pull these up on your next trip to the drugstore.

Best Overall: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

Pair It With:

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream

Pair It With:

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

Pair It With:

No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Day Cream SPF 30

Pair It With:

L'Oréal Revitalift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer

Pair It With:

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(Image credit: @greceghanem)

The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer

Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Creme

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Olay Regenerist Whip Cream

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Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Renewal Cream 

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More Anti-Aging Creams To Try

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.

Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor
Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's assistant beauty editor based just outside of Seattle, Washington. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.