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When it comes to anti-aging, we are as preventative for the face as we are permissive for the body. That is until signs of aging start to show up on the body. That’s when you consider switching your $5 body butter with a majorly anti-aging body lotion. Because the least it can do is plump up your skin and instantly reduce the look of wrinkles. But that’s not it. The best anti-aging body lotions take your body care routine to a whole new level. Retinoids, antioxidants, peptides -you name it, they have it! And trust me when I say that you can’t be too young to use an anti-aging body lotion.
Because, unlike facial aging, aging of the body skin is more subtle. It’s more visible on the neck, chest, and hands. But anything below that is more difficult to notice until it isn’t. We know that wrinkles, sagginess, loss of firmness, discolorations, thin skin, and overall dullness are signs of aging both on the face and on the body.
But skin thickness varies all over the body, which makes it difficult to pinpoint things. I mean, how on earth are you supposed to spot a wrinkle on your thigh? Right? Well, what made me reach for an anti-aging body lotion was the skin on my elbows.
I’m 37 and I’ve been indulging in anti-aging body care products for the last couple of years. I haven’t experienced major weight gain/loss. So I have no idea how that skin on my elbows got so wrinkly. So I’m doing my best to prevent the same thing from happening on my knees. The point is that you don’t have to wait for things to get out of control.
What To Look For in an Anti-Aging Body Lotion
Hydrating Ingredients
First things first, a body lotion is about elevating dryness and also preventing it. So a good amount of humectants and emollients is a must. Humectants refer to water-binding ingredients like hyaluronic acid. And emollients refer to moisture-enhancing ingredients like ceramides and squalane.
Anti-Aging Ingredients
Retinoids will be immensely helpful to have in your body lotion. But if you have very sensitive skin all over, go for anti-aging body lotions that contain vitamins and plant-based antioxidants such as vitamin C and resveratrol. They are more sensitive-skin-friendly. Additionally, anything exfoliating, such as glycolic acid, will also help maintain youthful body skin.
The Right Texture
Anti-aging body lotions have varying textures. Lotions are good for all skin types. Though lotions are mostly water-based and tend to be liquidy, thus more lightweight, creams are thicker and are better at keeping moisture in. So if you have dryness on your body, go for a creamier form. And even try thicker lotions that feel like body oils.
The Best Anti-Aging Body Lotions
If you’re ready to check out what’s out there, find below the best anti-aging body lotions.
1. HydroPeptide Firming Moisturizer Slimming Body Rejuvenation
This is the type of anti-aging body lotion you can safely use every day to ward off wrinkles and reverse their damaging effects. It doesn’t exfoliate or cause flakiness, but it infuses the skin with a variety of collagen boosters. First off, you have a very hydrating and moisturizing base made with both oil and water. Besides hyaluronic acid and glycerin, you have moisture trappers like ceramides, coconut oil, and shea butter.
But what makes it super effective against aging are vitamin C, signal peptides, and green tea. Vitamin C boosts collagen production and targets discolorations on the body whereas signal peptides help tighten the skin. In addition, the lotion has caffeine in it, which, though temporarily, reduces the appearance of body texture irregularities as well. The texture is feather-light, so you don’t need to worry about greasy feeling skin.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, peptides, niacinamide, ceramides
Size: 6.76 oz/200 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
2. Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment
This is a retinol body lotion for a whole body makeover. Retinol is one of the most effective anti-aging ingredients that stimulate collagen production, promote thicker, healthier skin, and reduce the look of wrinkles and age spots. And this body lotion offers all the benefits.
And it has regenerative antioxidants and moisturizing oils to eliminate any potential irritation from retinol. Vitamin C, and vitamin E, together with oils rich in fatty acids, provide antioxidant benefits to keep the body smooth, firm, and soft.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C, panthenol
Size: 4 oz/118 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free
3. Alpha Skin Care Revitalizing Body Lotion
Just like retinol, chemical exfoliants make great anti-aging ingredients. They smooth out the skin texture, nudge the skin into producing new collagen, and help with discolorations as well. And for that, this body lotion contains 12% glycolic acid.
As chemical exfoliants generally work by dissolving the bond that holds the dead skin cells together, they’re incredibly helpful in getting rid of skin flakes and overall dry and dehydrated skin. They also help with body acne and discolorations as well.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid
Size: 12 oz
RELATED: The Best Anti-Aging Hand Creams
4. Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion
Similarly, this body lotion also utilizes glycolic acid in a 17.5% concentration. I honestly don’t know what is it with Glytone and their fear of round numbers, but I digress. Glycolic acid is formulated into petroleum jelly but without the associated unpleasant feeling. The body lotion is majorly anti-aging as it helps smooth out skin texture and targets body discolorations and impurities.
It also has soothing allantoin and vitamin E for antioxidant benefits. Glytone has another anti-aging body lotion with a similar formula but with SPF. Glytone Daily Body Lotion Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 15 has a lesser concentration of glycolic acid but provides daily sun protection, which brings me to my next favorite.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, allantoin
Size: 8.4 oz/250 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free
5. Supergoop Glowscreen Body SPF 40
Before you skip, what is more anti-aging than sunscreen? Nothing! That’s why SPF should be present in your anti-aging body lotions if you’ve been lazy in the sun protection department. This body lotion combines moisture with antioxidants and adds a high SPF into the mix, which makes it the absolute best anti-aging body lotion that works! Because just like your face, you need to protect your body from UV light so that the skin starts to improve.
No amount of retinol can help you if you keep exposing your skin to oxidative stress. If you’re familiar with Glow Screen, this is like that but for the body. It’s a super-light lotion that has a shimmery finish, which makes your body glow. And it has SPF 40 in it for major free radical protection. This is a chemical sunscreen by the way, so it will disappear into the skin. Slather all over for both long-term and short-term benefits in the form of smooth, soft, glowing skin.
Key Ingredients: SPF 40
Size: 3.4 oz/100 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan
6. Advanced Clinicals Retinol Advanced Firming Cream
This is the most affordable drugstore anti-aging body lotion you can use to improve body skin. It’s, of course, made with retinol to reverse sun damage on the skin and tighten it while improving your overall skin tone. This one is a pretty rich cream, and very occlusive, which will prevent transepidermal water loss.
It also has antioxidant-rich green tea, soothing chamomile extract, and anti-inflammatory aloe vera. The texture of the cream prevents scaling of the skin, which happens with retinol. Plus, no fragrance! You can use it locally on problematic areas like legs, and arms or you can also use it as an overall lotion.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, green tea extract, aloe
Size: 16 oz
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, fragrance-free
7. Caudalie Vinosculpt Lift & Firm Body Cream
When you think of body lotion, you think of a giant jar you can apply generously all over. But don’t be fooled by the horizontal packing as the amount you get is pretty standard and the formula allows a little to go a long way. This natural anti-aging body cream has the texture of a regular winter moisturizer, meaning that it’s thicker than lotion.
It’s geared more towards tightening the skin and reducing the look of sagginess. It’s packed with Caudalie’s signature antioxidants from polyphenols. It nourishes, moisturizes, and treats with grape seed oil. The French gem eliminates crepey skin and gives your skin a super soft, plump feel.
Key Ingredients: Grape seed extract, shea butter
Size: 8.4 oz/250 ml
Good To Know: Vegan
8. Replenix Retinol Smooth and Tighten Body Lotion
This is another anti-aging body lotion made with retinol, which sensitive skin types should be wary of. The super-light lotion is fast-absorbing thanks to its heavily humectant base made with different forms of hyaluronic acid. This instantly gets rid of any flakiness and dehydration on the skin. It also has light emollients like ceramides, and squalane to keep the skin surface soft and smooth.
It effectively targets wrinkles and sagging on the body with retinol and utilizes green tea, which is an amazing antioxidant that treats free radical damage on the skin. In addition, the lotion has resveratrol, another plant-based antioxidant, to undo sun damage, and caffeine to boost circulation and minimize the look of cellulite.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, ceramides, resveratrol, green tea
Size: 6.7 oz/200 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free
9. One Love Organics Botanical C Body Oil
Ever since I got a full body laser hair removal (the best decision of my life), I’ve been using body oils left and right. I get that some people are not a fan of body oils. They usually feel heavy on the skin and you can feel the residue even several hours after application. But nothing moisturizes and makes the skin glow as body oil does.
This one blends lightweight oils, and brightening vitamin C into a fast-absorbing formula that feels like lotion. Plus, it packs antioxidant-rich green tea seed oil. And it has papaya enzymes for super gentle exfoliation, which makes it an amazing anti-aging body oil to use all year round.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, papaya enzymes, green tea seed oil
Size: 4 oz/120 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan
10. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Pink Dream Body Cream
For all-over sensitive skin that can’t tolerate harsh actives, this might be the gentlest body lotion you can use to maintain healthy skin without irritation. The creamy lotion has the hydration booster hyaluronic acid in different molecular weights. And to prevent water loss, it has mango butter and watermelon seed oil.
To smooth out the skin, it has hibiscus extract, which is naturally rich in alpha-hydroxy acids like malic acid. This one won’t give you major exfoliation, which is what you want when you have reactive skin. The watermelon-scented body cream hydrates, moisturizes, softens and nourishes in the gentlest way.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, hibiscus extract, watermelon extract
Size: 8.4 oz/ 240 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
So these are some of the best anti-aging body lotions to maintain youthful skin all over. If you’re serious about your anti-aging body care routine and are familiar with active ingredients, try Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment. It works for most skin types and the formula is neither too gentle nor too strong.
If you want something anti-aging but are intimidated to try retinol body lotions, try HydroPeptide Firming Moisturizer Slimming Body Rejuvenation. It’s incredibly rich in antioxidants, has a pleasant texture, and is also easier to incorporate into any skincare routine no matter your skin type.
Here are a couple of tips to help you with your anti-aging body care routine. Exfoliation is good for your body as much as it is for your face. Try a weekly body peel to smooth things out and get rid of that layer of dead skin, which, when removed, literally reveals the color of your skin.
Additionally, don’t waste your exfoliating peel pads. Once you’re done using them on your face, swipe them on your hands, chest, or wherever for quick exfoliation.
You can try dry brushing weekly or monthly to stimulate circulation and as a way of physical exfoliation. It will also help your body lotion to better absorb into the skin.
If you’re ready to take things further in the body care department, check out the best body serums.
