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9 best anti-ageing creams for men that hydrate and smooth fine lines
From tackling wrinkles to dark spots, these skincare must-haves are the best route to a forever-young glow
It might be a little uncool to talk about anti-ageing skincare these days (we’re all supposed to be “pro-age” rather than “anti-age” after all) but, let’s face it, what man doesn’t want to turn back the clock if he can? Such is the allure of the anti-ageing promise that there are scores of wrinkle-busting, complexion-enhancing, skin protecting products on the market for men now – from fancy pants serums to overnight rescue balms and revitalising skin peels – but perhaps the most useful weapon a man can have in his anti-ageing armoury is a decent daily face cream.
On a very basic level, using a moisturiser will help restore the skin’s natural protective barrier and help it retain moisture, which is important because adequately hydrated skin tends to look plumper and younger. What makes anti-ageing moisturisers different from ordinary ones, however, are the added active ingredients.
According to renowned NYC dermatologist, pioneering researcher and clinician, Dr Anthony Rossi, a key one to look out for is hyaluronic acid. “It’s a workhorse moisturiser which has the ability to bind water strongly and is already in our dermis so applying it topically will help to moisturise the skin and improve its barrier function,” he says.
Anything that supports collagen production is useful too, while Rossi also recommends opting for a cream featuring a built-in UVA/UVB sunscreen if you want to minimise premature ageing.
“Many clinical studies have shown that the use of UV protection can minimise the signs of ageing by helping block the sun’s rays from reaching the DNA in our skin and prevent the associated photoaging that goes with that,” he says.
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Question is, which cream do you choose? Luckily, we’ve tried some of the best anti-ageing lotions and potions out there so you don’t have to.
How we tested
Without having a Tardis (we know someone who does have one but she’s using it at the moment) it’s hard to conclusively say what results any anti-ageing product delivers, but it is possible to rate them based on immediate results, the kind of anti-ageing ingredients they pack and, of course, overall value-for-money, because there’s nothing more ageing than an overdraft. So, here goes…
The best men’s anti-ageing creams for 2021 are:
- Best overall – Nivea Men anti-age hyaluron face moisturising cream SPF15: £4.68, Amazon.co.uk
- Best refillable product – Lab Series anti-age max LS lotion: £58.65, Escentual.com
- Best budget buy – Bulldog age defence moisturiser: £5, Sainsburys.co.uk
- Best dermatologist brand – Dr Dennis Gross ferulic + retinol anti-aging moisturiser: £72, Lookfantastic.com
- Best premium product – Patricks AM1 anti-aging moisturiser: £85, Lookfantastic.com
- Best multi-tasker – Auden age defence face cream + SPF 30: £50, Audenskincare.com
- Best small batch product – Pelegrims facial balm: £45, Pelegrims.com
- Best organic option – Green People scent free anti-ageing 24-hour cream: £15.19, Healthpharm.co.uk
- Best for firming – ClarinsMen hydra-sculpt: £45, Johnlewis.com
Nivea Men anti-age hyaluron face moisturising cream SPF15
Best: Overall
Rating: 9.5/10
Offering an affordable, 360-degree approach to combatting the ageing process, the hero of Nivea Men’s anti-age range features hyaluronic acid – a useful ingredient since as we age our skin’s ability to produce this important acid is reduced, leading to a loss of moisture, volume and elasticity.
As well as tackling the visible signs of ageing by helping minimise wrinkles and firming the skin, it also packs an SPF15 sunscreen to help guard against future wrinkle formation.
A pump dispenser means you can measure out just the right dose too and it’s available in a cream or gel formula, the former being a bit better for drier skins. The slight fragrance won’t be for everyone, but with a RRP of £12.99 that’s often discounted further, it’s fantastic value for money given everything it does.
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Lab Series anti-age max LS lotion
Best: Refillable product
Rating: 8/10
American grooming brand Lab Series has always been at the forefront of men’s skincare, utilising the latest technology to deliver better-looking skin, so it’s no surprise that its recent rebrand also sees it utilise newly refillable products in its max LS range.
Suitable for all skin types, the anti-age max LS lotion (previously known as max LS power v lifting lotion) is the most lightweight of all the anti-agers here, sinks into the skin in an instant, leaves no shine and features a raft of anti-ageing ingredients to support collagen production, improve elasticity, boost skin’s cellular energy and minimise fine lines.
You can definitely feel a slight tightening effect on the skin too which is always welcome in an anti-ageing cream. The fact that you can now buy eco-friendly refill cartridges for it is the icing on the cake.
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Bulldog age defence moisturiser
Best: Budget buy
Rating: 8.5/10
Bulldog is renowned for providing affordable, straightforward, efficacious skincare with an ethical emphasis (the products are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, free of synthetic fragrances and artificial colours and the brand strives to reduce its impact on the environment).
Designed for mature skin, their age defence moisturiser helps keep dry skin hydrated, while an antioxidant complex of rosemary, echinacea and vitamin E help protect against the ageing process. It doesn’t have a sunscreen but still makes a brilliant everyday anti-ageing essential – and all for under a tenner.
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Dr Dennis Gross ferulic + retinol anti-aging moisturiser
Best: Dermatologist brand
Rating: 9/10
A cult product from dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross, who has over 25 years’ experience dealing with people’s skin issues, this premium moisturiser is packed with potent anti-ageing ingredients including antioxidant ferulic acid and retinol – the anti-ageing world’s go-to ingredient that’s good for boosting collagen, speeding up cell turnover and tackling hyperpigmentation.
As well as helping smooth fine lines and plumping skin, the presence of gallic acid (an ingredient that helps tackle the appearance of dark spots) means it’s especially good for mature skin already showing signs of ageing.
It has a great, silky texture, smells good (think light hint of orange) and its presence on your bathroom shelf is guaranteed to show off your skincare smarts.
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Patricks AM1 anti-aging moisturiser
Best: Premium product
Rating: 9/10
Wirth awards from everyone from GQ to Forbes, Australian grooming brand Patricks has become a byword for luxury grooming (its face scrub features crushed diamonds after all).
Designed for normal to dry skin, its antioxidant-packed AM1 anti-aging moisturiser features a roll call of skin-saving essentials from vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid andomega 3 to creatine and squalane to encourage collagen production and improve skin elasticity.
Formulated to hydrate skin for 24hrs (which it certainly seemed to do) it’s quickly absorbed, leaves a matte finish and feels more potent than a traditional moisturiser.
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Auden age defence face cream + SPF 30
Best: Multi-tasker
Rating: 8.5/10
Created specifically to address the skincare challenges of modern life (stress, pollution, at home and office working) London-based male grooming brand Auden’s products are also created to streamline a man’s routine.
No surprise, then, that this multi-tasking anti-ageing moisture is pretty much the last word in anti-ageing protection; hydrating skin (with the help of hyaluronic acid), minimising fine lines and large pores,and protecting against sun damage.
It’s also formulated to shield against the potentially ageing effects of pollution and blue light emitted by computer screens, mobile phones and TV, thus ensuring skin is protected when you’re indoors and out. Think of it as the ultimate defence shield for skin.
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Pelegrims facial balm
Best: Small batch product
Rating: 8.5/10
If you’re looking for a product that really captures the zeitgeist of the skincare industry at the moment then this deceptively simple facial balm from British brand Pelegrims is it.
Using locally sourced ingredients (in this case upcycled waste from the Westwell Wines vineyard in Kent), it keeps ingredients to a minimum, is produced in small batches (limited edition is the new luxury), puts sustainability at its heart and is designed to help your skin help itself, with antioxidant resveratrol from the grapes helping rejuvenation and marine algae boosting natural collagen synthesis.
It’s a balm, though, so has a rich texture more suitable to older or drier skins, and we found a little goes a very long way, so go easy on the application.
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Green People scent free anti-ageing 24-hour cream
Best: Organic option
Rating: 8/10
Green People is the go-to brand for anyone looking for organic-based, cruelty-free vegan-friendly grooming. Though it has a dedicated men’s range, it’s this unisex, scent-free cream that’s best for holding back the years.
As well as ticking all the ethical boxes, it has a lovely texture (we found it kept skin moisturised all day long), is fragrance-free (so is great for sensitive skin) and features 89 per cent organic ingredients and a raft of plant oils, vitamins and minerals to support the skin’s natural repair and defence processes.
It’s also formulated with baicalin – a plant-derived anti-inflammatory antioxidant that helps counteract the ageing effects of the sun’s UV rays.
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ClarinsMen hydra-sculpt
Best: For firming
Rating: 7.5/10
As we age and collagen production changes, skin tends to lose its elasticity and firmness, with the result that everything starts heading south. This clever gel-cream (it contains a gel and a cream that only mix as you apply) aims to correct that slow slide slightly by tightening skin a little.
Featuring three key plant extracts (oat, baccharis and centella asiatica) that tone skin, it’s designed to be used specifically around the jawline but, since it also acts as a moisturiser, can be used on the entire face and neck.
As a bonus it has Clarins’s anti-pollution complex to help guard against the damaging effects of pollution. After a little time on the skin you definitely notice a slight tightening. Don’t get us wrong, it’s not going to give you a noticeable facelift – only an actual facelift is going to do that – but it does tighten the skin slightly, and when it comes to anti-ageing every little helps, right?
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The verdict: Anti-ageing creams for men
We gave Nivea Men’s hyaluron face moisturising cream our best overall accolade based on a mixture of formulation and affordability but we also highly rated Auden’s multi-tasking age defence face cream.
If you’ve the cash to splash, though, Dr Dennis Gross’ cult anti-ageing cream is one of the sounder investments. Think of it as an insurance policy for your face.
Voucher codes
For the latest discounts on skincare buys, try the links below:
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