We fairly and honestly review all the products on our site. At the same time, we permit brands featured on our site to promote our site and we may earn a commission if you buy through links we provide. Learn more about our review process.

2024's Top Five Moisturizers for Mature Skin

After 40, using the wrong moisturizer can hurt more than it helps. That’s why it’s especially important to find a product that has ingredients for YOUR skin. 

Most generic ‘one-formula-fits-all-ages’ kind of moisturizers aren’t designed for 40+ skin and mature skin requires mature formulations.

Aging seems to appear rather dramatically and suddenly in your 40s due to the onset of hormonal changes. Estrogen production declines slowly during perimenopause which typically starts in the mid to late 40s, then drops even more rapidly as menopause begins.

This leads to diminished thickness of your skin, increased dryness and less elasticity, resulting in sagging.

One key ingredient that helps combat these aging processes are Plant Stem Cells¹. You have probably heard about Stem Cells from TV, beauty magazines or dermatologists. In our opinion they are a must-have ingredient in your daily skincare routine if you are over 40.  

That’s because they’re not only effective, they’re also one of the few proven ingredients to help reduce the sign of aging and more. In fact, according to recent studies Plant Stem Cells “have shown significant potential to reduce wrinkles in the crow’s feet area of the face.”¹

So what does 40+ skin require on a daily basis?

We scanned the internet for moisturizers which contain KEY ingredients for 40+ skin in the hopes that our list will help you to buy the RIGHT product for your skin. Here is what to look out for:

A Quality Moisturizer Can:

• Reduce the appearance of wrinkles & fine lines

• Help fade dark spots & soften rough patches of skin

• Rejuvenate skin cells for firmer, tighter skin

Aid in minimizing breakouts & regulating oily skin

• Hydrate skin by promoting collagen production & cell renewal

 

What to Expect from a Quality Moisturizer​

While many women do notice changes in their skin texture and tone within just a few weeks, repairing damaged skin and smoothing lines and wrinkles takes time. Be cautious of unrealistic “overnight promises” from mass market brands. Your patience will pay off with the right product. 

Your skin is looking and feeling hydrated, soft, firm, and has a rejuvenated, gorgeous natural glow. You’re starting to notice your skin tone looks brighter and more smooth.

You begin to see a noticeable difference in the appearance of signs of aging – your skin appears more even and fine lines and wrinkles have softened. You may be receiving compliments from friends & family. You understand the importance of consistent, continued use for visible improvements & the prevention of additional signs of aging.

Moisturizers are a necessary staple in every woman’s skincare routine. Whether you call it face cream, day cream, or cold cream, its job is simple — to hydrate and bring moisture to your face. Indeed, in your younger days, that’s all you needed it to do.

But for any woman over 40, it’s no longer enough for soft, youthful, healthy-looking skin. An ideal moisturizer should also address the unique needs of mature skin with anti-aging and restorative ingredients, including:

Key Ingredients In A High-Quality Moisturizer

Plant Stem Cells have shown significant potential to reduce wrinkles in the crow’s feet area of the face.¹

This “super moisturizer” can relieve dry skin and hydrate the out layer of the skin! Which means maximum hydration and tighter, firmer, more healthy looking skin.²

Hyaluronic acid helps promote collagen and elastic production to plump and firm your skin while reducing wrinkles and fine lines.⁵

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that may be effective at reducing UV damage in skin. And vitamin E applied topically may help nourish and protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals. ³

Ingredients to Avoid

Artificial chemicals and toxins can limit your skin’s ability to naturally breathe, exfoliate, and even heal. Some can even worsen existing skin conditions, inflame, irritate, cause acne or eczema.

What Else To Consider When Buying A Moisturizer

Active ingredients to correct AND delay the signs of aging

Most moisturizers do nothing more than hydrate the skin, and protect against some future signs of aging. Studies suggest that hydration helps maintain the skin’s barrier and promotes regular melanin production, so it’s important, but it’s not everything. A good moisturizer will contain active ingredients that actually work together to correct signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin (not just delay them).

Money Back Guarantee Americans spend millions of dollars every year for youthful skin, and they still find themselves unhappy with an apparent lack of results. It’s better—and safer—to invest in a product that offers a 100% money-back, no-questions-asked guarantee to show the company’s faith in the potency of its product.

Top 5 Moisturizers of 2024

Based on our own extensive product research, focused on the MUST HAVE  ingredients we listed above, and consideration of numerous reviews by shoppers just like you, we’ve compiled a list of what we’ve found to be the top five products for 40+ skin.

Based on our own extensive ingredient research we’ve compiled a list of products we deemed to be most effective for women over 40

Pros

Cons

The Bottom Line

What makes this moisturizer stand out are the Swiss Apple Stem Cells combined with the other 3 must-have ingredients on our list at an unbelievable pricepoint. We rated this product as the #1 moisturizer on our list since quality products designed for women over 40 containing key ingredients like these are typically found at much higher price points.  With the ingredients it contains, customer reviews, and for its price point, the Apple Stem Cell Cream is a fantastic option, with almost unbeatable value. The Apple Stem Cells, combined with moisturizing and brightening ingredients, plus thousands of 5-star customer reviews, make it our top choice. Additonally, the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked, which shows us they stand by their product.

This cream currently is offering a 33% off promotion, which makes the already most affordable option on our list even more accessible.

Pros

Cons

The Bottom Line

Prédiré’s Age Defying Apple and Grape Stem Cell Lifting Cream is a great alternative to combat dark spots and wrinkles. It contains all the 4 main ingredients we deemed to be necessary to address 40+ skin problems.  On top of that it has incredible reviews online. The only downside is that the Stem Cell Cream is very expensive with a price tag of over $600 USD. Great choice for those with an unlimited budget.

Pros

Cons

The Bottom Line

If you love rich cream, GLO24K Instant Facelift Cream delivers. Boasting a multitude of active ingredients from many sources, this cream is a good alternative to our number 1 and 2. However, one big downside is the fact that this cream does not contain any plant stem cells which would have helped it get a higher score.

In summary, GLO24K is a decent alternative for its price, even though some key ingredients for mature skin are missing.

Pros

Cons

The Bottom Line

La Mer is one of the foremost luxury names in skin care. Enriched with La Mer’s Miracle Broth and Lime tea this luxurious day cream nourishes and calms the skin. At almost $500 USD a jar though, it’s certainly not the most affordable option for the average customer. That being said, loyal customers say it’s worth the price tag.

Pros

Cons

The Bottom Line

If you love rich creams, Zelens 3T Complex Anti-Aging Cream delivers. It absorbs quickly but leaves skin feeling hydrated all day.

Boasting 15 active ingredients from a multitude of natural sources, this cream also contains Apple Stem Cells – but at more than four times the price than our first choice, Fièra’s Apple Stem Cell Cream.

Still, the 3T Complex Anti-Aging Cream is a beautiful, luxurious-feeling rich cream and a lovely option for a daily moisturizer. It can be difficult to source but always available on the Zelens website.

Citations

1 https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?studies,journal=S%C3%96FW+J.
2 https://www.healthline.com/health/glycerin-for-face#benefits
3 https://www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-e-for-skin#other-vitamins
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5560567/
5 https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/hyaluronic-acid#benefits