The Best Anti-Aging Moisturizers for Mature Skin

Whether you keep your skin-care routine simple and streamlined or follow a diligent 12-step routine morning and night, there's one common product that unites us all: moisturizer. After all, no matter what your age or complexion concerns may be, everyone needs a good moisturizer.

So why not make the most of this simple step by using a face cream that goes above and beyond its call of duty? The dermatologist-approved picks here offer a host of youth-boosting benefits that will help you make the most of your face moisturizer. If you're seeking the best moisturizer for mature skin or just want to take a proactive anti-aging approach, they won't disappoint. (And then read up on the best anti-aging night creams to use during your p.m. routine)

Peptides have a special place in the anti-aging world, thanks to their efficacy coupled with incredible tolerability. Unlike many other collagen-boosting ingredients — retinoids, even vitamin C — which can often have irritating side effects, peptides are generally fairly well tolerated by everyone, notes Dhaval Bhanusali, M.D., a dermatologist based in New York City. (While you should always check with your ob-gyn, they're typically okay to use during pregnancy, too.) They're the star in this protein-rich moisturizer, which has a complex of nine different peptides, along with plant-based stem cell extracts. The formula is light yet hydrating, and thanks to the pump-top dispenser, you never have to stick your germy fingers into the jar. Consider this among the best face moisturizers for mature skin.

It's time to get personal with your moisturizer. Clinique's latest launch lets you choose from one of three bases (depending on how much hydration your skin needs). From there, add in one of five custom concentrates to address you particular complexion concern: pores, irritation, fatigue, uneven skin tone, or, our go-to, lines and wrinkles.

Consider this your basic moisturizer for mature skin ...amped up a few notches thanks to the addition of lemon fruit extract. The ingredient not only clarifies the skin but is also a natural source of vitamin C, a top-notch antioxidant to use in the morning as an added layer of protection from environmental factors such as sun and pollution. "Exposure to UV rays and pollution creates reactive oxygen species — or ROS — in the skin, which can damage your cells' DNA and lead to both signs of aging and skin cancer," explains Ted Lain, M.D., a dermatologist in Austin, TX,. "Vitamin C works to neutralize those damaging ROS, protecting your skin cells."

The more mature your skin gets, the more compromised the skin barrier can become, leading to a host of issues, including dehydration, irritation, and sensitivity. Enter this pick from First Aid Beauty, which might just be the best moisturizer for mature skin. Ceramides and linoleic acid repair that all-important skin barrier, while hyaluronic acid packs lots of hydration. All in a bouncy, lighter-than-air texture.

Related: How to Boost Your Skin Barrier (and Why You Need To)

Kale, spinach, and green tea aren't just good ingredients to put in your morning smoothie, they're also good things to put into your morning moisturizer. Those green superfoods are rich in antioxidants, delivering important protection from exposure to UV rays and pollution (which, unfortunately, we're all exposed to daily). They work to help firm and smooth skin in this hydrating face cream for mature skin. Plus, the 100 percent vegan formula is nice and hydrating, too.

A drugstore cult-classic, this wallet-friendly option earns big points not only for its peptide-rich formula that firms and smooths skin, but for containing the always-important SPF protection, too. Because let's not forget that you can use the best hydrating face cream for mature skin, but if you're not sporting sunscreen 365 days a year, all of your efforts are going to be futile.

You already know it's important to protect your skin from the sun's damaging UVA and UVB rays, but the latest studies point to the damaging effects of another type of light: high-energy visible light. Known as HEV, this is a different spectrum of light than what's emitted by the sun, and it includes the light from the screens of technological devices, explains Julie Russak, M.D., dermatologist and founder of Russak Dermatology Clinic in New York City. Who knew staring at your computer/phone/tablet all day could be damaging your skin? Luckily, this moisturizer has an antioxidant complex that safeguards your skin from that very light. It also has firming peptides, making it an amazing night or daytime moisturizer for mature skin.

Those with oily skin or who prefer lighter moisturizers will appreciate the refreshing texture of this gel. It's all about hyaluronic acid: "Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it draws water to the skin," says Emily Arch, M.D., a dermatologist at Dermatology + Aesthetics in Chicago. It then holds on to that moisture instantly (yes, the effects are immediate), making skin look and feel more hydrated and plump, making this a great morning moisturizer to use under makeup.

Given the featherweight and whipped texture of this cream, it's hard to believe just how many benefits it delivers, but trust, it does. The brand's patented blend of resveratrol (an antioxidant derived from grapes) and hyaluronic acid, and mahogany bark extract (which the brand touts as a vegan collagen alternative) firms and adds volume. It's coupled with shea butter to lock in moisture.

The star ingredient here is Persian silk tree bark. It functions as the shield of the plant, and is incorporated in this formula to energize skin. This SPF moisturizer provides a dose of hydration but still feels incredibly lightweight going on, and will play nicely under makeup, an important quality in a daytime moisturizer for mature skin.