The best hard-working anti-wrinkle creams on the shelves right now (2025)

Anti-ageing, radiance-inducing, an SPF and of course moisturising - we want a lot from our daily face creams in 2025 and to be frank, when it comes to the beauty shelves, there’s a lot of marketing hyperbole out there.

Some moisturisers claim to transform your skin overnight, while others promise to freeze lines and banish pigmentation altogether. While dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles are a completely natural part of the ageing process, if you are looking to make your skin brighter, smoother and younger, employing an anti-wrinkle cream is your best fighting chance.

In fact, if ageing skin is a concern for you, you may want to look into the most-effective skin cleansers for mature skin and even reassess your makeup bag to make sure the concealers and foundations you use are best for you.

How do anti-ageing creams work?

So, where to start? Firstly, it’s important to narrow down your specific demands. Do you want a serious hydrator to ease dry patches? Or perhaps you need something to work alongside your makeup base?

For fading dark spots and pigmentation, there’s a host of retinol-based creams designed to brighten and smooth the skin, while peptides are here to help increase your elastin levels, plumping out fine lines in the process.

For deep hydration, discover the industry’s most rich plant extracts, or invest in a high-end moisturiser that contains all of the above and more. Essentially, look for creams containing retinol, vitamin C, peptides and hyaluronic acid, as these ingredients will help to improve the texture, radiance and bounce to your skin.

Also keep an eye out for formulas with antioxidants, like vitamins C and E. Not only will they help to reduce pigmentation on photo-aged complexions, but they'll protect from pollution and free radicals, helping to slow down the ageing process. More importantly, make sure that your skin is protected from UV rays. Many formulas now come with SPF protection, but it's still a wise idea to apply a high-factor sunscreen (like this one ) on top of your day cream.

The 10 best anti-wrinkle creams to try now...

From Elemis' cult hydrator, to a skin-plumping formula by Olay, we’ve whittled down those heaving skincare shelves to bring you the only 10 anti-ageing creams worth your attention – there's something to suit every skin type and budget.

If your skin needs the ultimate boost then look no further than Charlotte's Magic Cream, which is full of the good stuff. Supercharged with hero ingredients like rosehip oil, vitamin C and E, hyaluronic acid and camellia oil, your complexion will be looking plump, hydrated and dewy in no time. It also works as the ultimate primer before makeup.

Elemis' long-loved Marine Cream is so enduringly popular, it now comes in an array of targeted variants. (Super-dry skin? The Ultra Rich version is incredible.) It's rich and silky, yet not at all greasy, and comes loaded with the brand's signature padina pavonica: a prized algae that locks moisture within the skin, making it look progressively plumper. It's especially beneficial on crepey jawlines, so be sure to massage it down to your neck.

You really can’t go wrong when it comes to affordable French pharmacy brands with effective formulas – and La-Roche Posay always pleases us in this department. Fine-tuned to suit mature skin types, this high-factor SPF protects the skin from UV rays, while niacinamide targets dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Plus, it harnesses our favourite humectant, hyaluronic acid, to cushion your skin with moisture, keeping it soft and supple.

Clever enzymes help fade stubborn patches of pigmentation and help prevent new ones appearing. Moisture magnets glycerin and hyaluronic acid keep dry skin comfortable throughout the day, too. A sophisticated formula that belies its affordable price tag.

Peptides play a key role in many anti-ageing formulas as they help to boost your skin's elasticity while firming and plumping in the process. Take this one: it harnesses all the best qualities of peptides plus it’s paired with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and amino acids to deliver a more hydrated complexion. Remember, don’t neglect your neck – massage the formula to your décolletage and get the most out of the product.

If you’ve got dry skin, the Clinique Repair Wrinkle Cream may be for you: it blends a peptide complex with shea butter and hyaluronic acid, boasting anti-ageing and mega-moisturising abilities. The result? A lifted, plump and youthful appearance to your skin. If you aren’t a fan of rich creams, you’ll also appreciate its gel-like texture that instantly absorbs without leaving a sticky residue.

Featuring advanced pro-retinol and UVA/UVB protection, this affordable cream helps to improve the skin's plumpness and firming. As well as aiming to even out the tone of your skin, this clever product has been formulated with Elasti-Flex to increase elasticity.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is an all-time favourite. The formula features a smart cocktail of long-trusted ingredients that work hard to bolster your skin barrier and protect it from harsh weather conditions. With moisture retention maximised, you'll notice a plumper, smoother surface.

All the qualities of a luxurious and rich face cream without that heavy and thick feeling on the skin. Formulated with ceramides and six African oils, this little pot of whipped cream is all your skin needs to beat of those signs of ageing and environmental aggressors.

A brand known for it's dedication to skincare, this daily cream not only helps reduce the signs of ageing, it also continues to slow them down with it's SPF and UV ray protection.