As we grow older, our skin tends to lose that firmness and soft texture that we once enjoyed when we were in our twenties and thirties. As time goes by, you may have noticed some fine lines around your eyes, thinning skin, and a sagginess that wasn’t there just months before. While there aren’t quite as many anti-aging products directed towards men as there are for women, there are men-specific products you can use that can help to combat the signs of aging. But considering the anti-aging skincare market makes billions a year on selling their products, you can imagine that finding the right one, the best anti-aging creams for men, can be a tough job, and one that can cost you a lot of money if you don’t know what to look for.
That’s where I come in. I’ve tested out several creams all claiming that they can help to reduce the signs of aging overnight. Many of the products I tested failed to show the type of results men are looking for. In the end, I narrowed it down to six creams that can have an impact on your crow’s feet, fine lines, thinning skin, and wrinkles. I’ve also put together a buyer’s guide, which discusses the type of active ingredients, nutrients, and vitamins and minerals you should look for when you’re shopping for a new anti-aging product, which will help you save both money and time that would otherwise be spent using a product that’s merely designed to moisturize your skin. Below, you’ll find a comparison chart that includes each of the six products, their active ingredients, how they rated, and other important information that will help you to determine whether or not a product is right for you and your skincare needs.
Anti-Aging Creams for Men Comparison Chart
Product | Skin Type | Day/Night | Active Ingredient | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anti Aging Retinol Cream | Dry Skin | Night | Retinol | |
Brickell Anti-Aging Cream | Sensitive | Day | Hyaluronic Acid | |
Stay Sharp Naturals Cream | Every | Day&Night | Glycolic Acid | |
RUGGED & DAPPER Cream | Every | Day&Night | Glycolic Acid | |
Kinbeau Eye Cream for Men | Every | Night | Hyaluronic Acid | |
NuOrganic Cosmetics Cream | Oily | Night | Magnesium, Aluminum Silicate Sodium Silicate |
Anti-Aging Retinol Moisturizer Cream
This anti-aging cream claims it can keep your skin hydrated for up to seventy-two hours. With the active ingredient retinol, the cream is designed to boost both elastin and collagen production in order to minimize the appearance of crow’s feet, fine lines, and wrinkles, resulting in skin that looks younger, firmer, and more radiant. Other important ingredients include jojoba oil, green tea, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid. This formula is paraben-free and designed for dry skin.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Hydrates for up to seventy-two hours
- Contains five active ingredients
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Not recommended for people with oily skin
Conclusion
This product contains organic and natural ingredients that are designed to firm the skin overnight. The cream should be applied once daily, to clean skin, and removed in the morning. This cream is thick, rich, and convenient to use, with results in as little as one month.
Brickell Men’s Revitalizing Anti-Aging Cream
This anti-aging cream specifically designed for men will reduce signs of aging including crow’s feet, fine lines, and wrinkles. This cream is perfect for men with sensitive, dry skin. The cream consists of a powerful blend of natural ingredients and contains hyaluronic acid, MSM, DMAE, aloe, and green tea. It’s also eighty-one percent organic. The cream can be used in the day and will help to hydrate and tighten the skin, instantly taking years off your face.
Pros
- Hydrates
- Daytime use
- Contains hyaluronic acid
- Perfect for sensitive skin
Cons
- Does not contain SPF protection
Conclusion
This is a powerful, anti-aging cream that’s designed for daytime use and contains natural ingredients. This cream is free of fragrances, petrochemicals, glycols, silicones, parabens, and sulfates. When used consistently, you can see results in as little as four to six weeks. Because it’s designed for daytime use, I recommend using SPF protection in order to prevent skin irritation and redness from harmful UV rays.
Stay Sharp Naturals Anti-Aging Cream
This cream works for all skin types and contains a blend of natural ingredients that exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin cells and moisturize throughout the day and night. This product contains squalene, which is olive oil-based and designed to protect the skin from free radical damage, while the organic aloe will heal and soothe skin that’s red and inflamed. The active ingredient, glycolic acid, will help to exfoliate the skin and remove dirt, debris, and dead skin cells. Not only will the cream minimize fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet, but it will also help to brighten discolored areas of the skin, for a healthy, even-looking complexion.
This formula is packed with natural ingredients that are not only designed to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, but it can also soften the skin, thanks to the organic avocado oil. The vitamin C is designed to fight free radicals, which are linked to causing fine lines, crow’s feet, and wrinkles.
Pros
- Contains organic aloe
- Can be worn day and night
- Designed for every skin type
- Evens out complexion
- Avocado oil moisturizes the skin
Cons
- Can dry out skin
- Does not contain SPF protection
Conclusion
This product is designed for both day and night use and will help heal and repair damaged skin while minimizing fine lines, crow’s feet, wrinkles, and skin discoloration. Because it contains glycolic acid, it can be very drying to the skin for some users, in which case, applying the cream only once a day can help to prevent dryness and irritation.
RUGGED & DAPPER Face Cream for Men
This cream offers twenty-four-hour protection against dry and rough skin, thanks to the hydrating formula. This nutrient-packed, heavy-duty cream will restore moisture to the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, while also protecting the skin from the elements. The cream is designed for easy absorption and contains jojoba oil, glycolic acid, aloe vera, and vitamin E. This product is perfect for acne-prone skin, reduces excess oil, and helps to balance skin tone. This is a multi-action formula that can be applied twice daily. This formula is designed to fight free radical damage, while hydrating the skin cells by delivering vitamins that will restore and nourish collagen.
Pros
- Nourishes collagen
- Restores moisture
- Designed for dry and oily skin
- Provides twenty-four-hour protection
Cons
- Can clog pores
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a versatile anti-aging cream, one that works and one that’s gentle on the skin, then this cream is a great buy. However, for some people, this cream can clog the pores, which can lead to blackheads and breakouts. This powerful formula is designed to fight damage caused by free radicals while hydrating the skin and restoring collagen. The cream contains glycolic acid, aloe vera, vitamin E, and jojoba oil. This cream can be used for people with sensitive, dry, or oily skin, and can help to remove built-up dead skin cells while providing much-needed moisture.
Kinbeau Eye Cream for Men
This cream can help to turn back the hands of time by reducing the appearance of crow’s feet, fine lines, and wrinkles, and also helps to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. This cream should be used at night, so it can work for several hours while you sleep. The formula is highly concentrated and designed to treat the area under the eyes, face, and neck. After application, the skin will instantly look plumper, firmer, and younger. The main ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which can reduce the signs of aging in as little as one month. The cream itself will work for dry, oily, and sensitive skin.
Pros
- Reduces puffiness and dark circles under the eyes
- Firms the skin
- Works for all skin types
- Highly concentrated formula
Cons
- Can cause the skin to feel greasy if overapplied
Conclusion
This anti-aging cream is designed for nighttime use and is easily absorbed into the skin for instant hydration. This cream contains a variety of powerful, natural ingredients that can help to reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, and fine lines. Since the cream works for both oily and dry skin, you won’t have to worry about skin irritation or other unwanted side effects. According to the manufacturer, you can see results in as soon as six to eight weeks, with consistent use.
NuOrganic Cosmetics 24K Gold Anti-Aging Cream
This cream will make your skin visibly smoother, softer, and plumper after the first application. It’s designed to battle fine lines and wrinkles by providing an instant lift and tightening the skin. This product contains magnesium aluminum silicate and sodium silicate. The sodium silicate forms a thin film that will cause the skin to contract as it dries. This is what creates a natural lift. The magnesium aluminum silicate is a type of mineral that naturally occurs and is derived from smectite clay. The mineral’s absorbent properties allow the cream to absorb any type of excess oil, which makes it perfect for people with oily skin. These oil-absorbing properties give the skin a natural matte finish. This product contains 24K gold, vitamin C, and apple stem cells, all of which work together to give your skin a flawless look while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Pros
- Eliminates puffiness
- Firms skin
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines
- Contains 24k gold
- Designed for daytime use
Cons
- Does not contain SPF protection
Conclusion
A luxurious anti-aging cream that contains 24k gold, this product can provide the type of fast results that many buyers are looking for.
This product will give your face a younger, smoother fresher look. It works best for oily skin since the formula is designed to absorb any excess oils, leaving the skin with a matte finish. The gentle formula will not cause redness, irritation, or breakouts. This product can provide results instantly, as it dries, working to give the skin a tighter, smoother and firmer appearance, while keeping the skin hydrated and giving it a natural glow.
Anti-Aging Creams for Men Buyer’s Guide
Despite common misconceptions, anti-aging creams aren’t just designed for women. In fact, you’ll come across many products that are specifically designed with men in mind.
The skin is considered the first line of defense against irritants, pollutants, and the elements. Men can use creams and other types of skincare products to help reduce the signs of aging, but these products can also provide protection to the skin from dry weather, harsh winds, and the harmful UV rays of the sun.
There are many factors to consider before you purchase one of these skincare products. Even the type of job you have can have an impact on the product you choose and whether or not it’s right for you. Do you work outdoors? Is your skin constantly exposed to the sun? If so, then you’ll need to use a product that contains sunscreen, one that will prevent further damage to the skin, while also boosting collagen production and hydrating the skin.
A product’s active ingredients will also play a major role since these powerful ingredients are what really can have an impact on your skin and how effective treatment will be.
Do you have sensitive skin? If so, then there will be some products that you’ll want to steer clear of since side effects can cause red eyes, skin irritation, and rashes. Fortunately, there are products you can try that are specifically designed for people with sensitive skin.
Below, this detailed buyer’s guide will go over all of your options, to help you find a product that works, and one that can provide the type of results you’re looking for.
Collagen Production
Did you know that daily exposure to the environment can also have an impact on skin health and signs of aging? Pollutants, UV rays, and toxins can all cause serious damage to the skin over the years.
Fortunately, there are some nutrients you’ll find in products that can have a positive impact on skin health.
As an example, vitamin C is needed in the body in order to produce collagen. Collagen is the substance that increases the skin’s elasticity, giving it that nice smooth firmness. But as we grow older, the body begins to produce less and less collagen, which is when the first signs of aging begin to appear, typically under the eyes. You may have noticed that it now looks like you never get any sleep and you may be plagued with these permanent dark circles under your eyes. The thinning of the skin under the eyes is where it all begins. This is due to a lack of collagen in the area, which can instantly make a person look older. To combat this, you can use a product that contains vitamin C. This vitamin is also an antioxidant and when used topically, it can help to promote the formation of collagen in targeted areas.
Active Ingredients
As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to pay attention to the active ingredients, since it will have a big impact on how effective the product is and whether or not it will work well for your skin type. Below, you’ll find a list of many of the common active ingredients used in the leading anti-aging products.
Vitamin C
I briefly touched on the importance of vitamin C earlier, and how it can have an impact on collagen production. Because of this, it makes sense to use a product that contains this powerful vitamin and antioxidant. Not only will it boost collagen production, but it can also eliminate free radicals, which are unstable oxygen molecules that cause wrinkles.
Hydroxy Acid Types
This is a common active ingredient found in many anti-aging products. The different types of hydroxy acids include:
- Polyhydroxy acids
- Beta hydroxy acids
- Alpha hydroxy acids
These acids are exfoliating substances that will remove the top layer of dead skin, helping to stimulate skin cell growth, resulting in new, healthy, and smoother skin.
Retinol
Retinol consists of a vitamin A compound and it’s one of the first widely available nonprescription wrinkle creams, although there are stronger concentrations, however, these are only available with a prescription from your doctor.
Coenzyme Q10
This compound works to help minimize fine lines around the eyes, while also providing protection from harmful UV rays.
Grapeseed Extract
This all-natural extract possesses anti-inflammatory properties and is an antioxidant that promotes new skin cell growth and wound healing.
Teas
Tea extracts including oolong, black, green, and red tea contain anti-inflammatory properties and work as powerful antioxidants. Green tea and black tea are the most commonly found tea extracts used in anti-aging products.
Niacin Amide
This very potent antioxidant is closely related to vitamin B3 and works by reducing the loss of hydration in the skin and helps by improving the skin’s elasticity.
Peptides
Peptides are the building blocks of protein. Many anti-aging products will contain peptides, which are designed to improve and enhance firmness.
Antioxidants
These are compounds that will inhibit oxidation, which is a type of chemical reaction that will produce free radicals that can damage skin cells. Vitamins E and C can help to defend the skin cells against free radical damage.
Collagen
This is a type of protein in the skin that some anti-aging creams contain. While too large for the skin to absorb, this protein will do a great job of hydrating it.
Night or Day Creams
Do you want to use a cream that you can wear during the day or one you can apply at night, right before bed? Many men feel that night creams are more convenient and easier to use. For night cream use, all you need to do is wash your face before bed and apply the cream as directed. For creams designed for day use, make sure you use one that contains SPF, which will protect your skin from sun damage. Keep in mind, many types of anti-aging creams will increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV rays, so if your cream does not contain SPF protection, then you will need to apply sunscreen, before heading out for the day.
Creams Based on Skin Type
Many products will contain a combination of ingredients that offer different levels of sun protection and moisture-retention. Make sure you choose a cream based on your skin type.
Oily Skin
Creams that include SPF protection will not be a good choice for men who have oily skin. These creams often leave the skin feeling greasy and add shine to skin that’s already shiny. Avoid using thick creams or heavy products. Look for a formula that’s oil-free.
Dry Skin
Use a cream with SPF protection to protect dry skin. Heavier creams with SPF protection will work well for dry skin. If you have dry skin, you may also commonly deal with flaky or peeling skin, in which case, you will definitely benefit from exfoliating your skin once weekly and applying a moisturizer either before or after the cream has been applied and had time to dry.
Price
Just because you pay a higher price for a cream doesn’t mean it will work any better than a lower-priced product. Additionally, lower priced creams will not be any more effective. It ultimately depends on the active ingredients and how your skin and body responds to them.
Creams Versus Lotion
A lotion consists of a blend of oil and liquid. Lotion tends to be much lighter than a cream and also contains a higher percentage of liquid compared to oil. It’s also absorbed by the skin more easily than a cream. Creams are also a blend of oil and liquid, but they possess a higher percentage of oil. Creams are very thick and soft and are absorbed by the skin at a slower rate, compared to lotion. Because of this, many anti-aging products are available in a cream form, so your skin can absorb the cream slowly, over a period of several hours, instead of rapidly, like with a lotion. Additionally, many of these thick creams are designed for night use, so you can liberally apply them to the under-eye area and to other areas of the face that are affected by fine lines, without blending them in as you would with a lotion and instead, allow them to rest on the skin for slow absorption.
What are the Drawbacks of Using Anti-Aging Products?
The big drawback of using these types of skin care products is that they can be very irritating to the skin, even in people who don’t normally have sensitive skin. When applied to close to the eyes, they can also cause dry eyes, irritation, and red eyes. They can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which is why many of these products also contain sunblock. If your product doesn’t contain sunscreen, you can apply a light layer in the morning and reapply more in the afternoon, for full sun protection. In some people, application can cause peeling and redness, or inflammation. If you’re dealing with these side effects, I recommend applying less of the product, applying less frequently, or stopping the use of the product altogether.
Slowing Down the Signs of Aging
- There are plenty of products out there that claim they can slow down the aging process. But the effectiveness of these creams can depend on the amount and type of active ingredients they contain, how often you use it, your current skin condition, age, and the extent of fine lines and wrinkles you want to treat. Effective anti-aging creams can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but they should not be the only method of treatment used to combat the signs of aging.
- Taking preventative measures to reduce further skin damage caused by the sun will be essential. Whether you want to wear sunscreen or you use the proper clothing to shield your skin from harmful UV rays, is up to you. Some men prefer to use both methods, in order to significantly reduce the signs of sun damage. When you’re choosing an SPF, go with at least SPF fifteen, which is found in many broad-spectrum products that are designed to block both UVB and UV rays.
- Moisturizing your skin daily will also help to minimize the signs of aging. When your skin is dry, the skin cells shrivel, which can worsen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While the use of a moisturizer can’t prevent wrinkles, they can help to mask creases and fine lines temporarily.
- Stop smoking. Smoking causes the blood vessels in the outermost layer of the skin to narrow and can also damage elastin and collagen, both of which are fibers that give the skin its elasticity and strength. Smoking can cause the skin to wrinkle and sag prematurely.
- Stay hydrated by drinking more water daily. The skin is made up of thirty percent water, so adequate water consumption can give your skin a rosy glow, making it look instantly firmer. It can also help to flush out harmful toxins and will prevent dry and flaky skin.
Usage Tips
The FDA classified anti-aging creams as cosmetics, not drugs. They are not considered to posses any type of medical value. Because of this, these products are not required to undergo extensive safety testing before they’re approved for public use. This means, there’s no guarantee that these over the counter products will work to reduce the signs of aging.
Before you start ordering a variety of new anti-aging creams online, consider the following:
Exfoliate
To see better, faster results, you’ll need to incorporate skin exfoliation. I recommend exfoliating your skin once a week. Doing so will remove built-up dead skin cells and debris, which will allow the product to penetrate deep into the skin.
Parabens
Look for products that are free from GMOs, parabens, and other types of ingredients that can be potentially harmful to your skin. While low-priced products do work well, many will contain these unwanted ingredients.
Scent-Free
Most anti-aging products for men are fragrance-free. But you will come across some products that are scented. Ingredients that are added to a product to produce a scent can have a reaction with your skin. Try to find a product that’s fragrance-free in order to prevent any unwanted skin reactions.
Low Dose
Nonprescription creams will contain a lower level of active ingredients compared to prescription creams. If you feel that the product you’re using is providing some results, but feel that a higher strength would be more beneficial, then speak with your doctor.
Consistent Use
Most anti-aging creams should be used one to two times a day for several weeks before you notice any results. Once you stop using the cream, your skin will not see any further improvement. Consistently using the cream will be the key in terms of seeing results, so you’ll need to commit to treatment.
Side Effects
Some products may react with your skin and cause redness, inflammation, rashes, burning, or irritation. Make sure you read the application and usage directions carefully before applying and stop treatment if you notice any of these unwanted side effects.
Skin Type Matters
Just because this cream worked well for a friend or family member does not mean it’s going to work well for you. No product will provide the same type of results for everyone. Your skin type and even genetics can come into play in terms of effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what to look for in the best anti-aging creams for men, you may still have questions concerning which cream you should purchase and why. Unfortunately, when it comes to anti-aging products, it can be a matter of trial and error, since not every product will work the same for everyone. Fortunately, the products that I’ve included here in my guide do have a reputation for effectiveness, although not everyone will experience the same type of results. However, each of these creams is gentle on the skin, hydrating, and can do wonders in terms of firming the skin and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. This buyer’s guide was created to help walk you through the different types of creams available, how to choose one that’s right for you, based on your skin type and sun exposure, and to help you find a product that will also work with your budget, so you can try more than one product, whether it’s for day or night use.