15 Best Body Lotions for Aging Skin in 2024, According to Experts | Allure

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The smooth, taut skin on our arms and legs will change with enough time (not to mention sun damage), but there's good news: The best body lotion for aging skin can help minimize the look of lax, crepe-y skin when it appears, or even slow down its arrival. These nourishing formulas, which are typically infused with active ingredients like wrinkle-reducing retinol, firming peptides, and exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids, can be game-changing additions for your body-care routine for targeting existing fine lines and preventing future sagging. Plus, as with any body lotion, you can expect the conditioning and skin-softening properties of your average cream—just with the extra benefits of ingredients that refine texture and tone.

Below, scroll ahead to find the best body lotions, creams, and balms that board-certified dermatologists say help minimize crepiness, fine lines, and age spots.

La Roche-Posay

Amazon

Dermstore

Ulta Beauty

Why it's worth it: Skinimalism is in, and La Roche-Posay's Lipikar AP+ Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream is perfect for whittling down your skin-care regimen. Formulated for dry skin types, this hydrating cream smooths your roughest parts while being light and fast-absorbing enough for your face. On top of its lightweight texture, this moisturizing body lotion is fragrance-free, which bodes well for sensitive skin. “Lipikar has both moisturizers that help replenish the natural moisturizers that lessen with age and niacinamide that helps with discoloration and redness,” says Stephanie Saxton-Daniels, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Dallas, TX. A soothing blend of shea butter, prebiotic-rich thermal water, and glycerin plumps skin and minimizes the look of fine lines while niacinamide brightens and evens tone. Since this formula doesn't contain harsh actives, you can apply it day and night for 'round-the-clock conditioning benefits.

Tester feedback: Allure's deputy beauty director Elizabeth Siegel loves this multifunctional cream's rich yet quick-drying formula. Because it's formulated to be used on the face and body (if you so choose), the cream is just as effective in treating "a stubborn dry flaky patch on [her] hand—the result of her engagement ring rubbing against her pinky 24/7" as it is leaving behind "a pretty, natural dewiness" on her cheeks à la highlighter.

Key ingredients: shea butter, thermal water, glycerin, niacinamide | Fragrance-free: yes

Nécessaire

Amazon

Nordstrom

Credo Beauty

Why it's worth it: As its name suggests, Nécessaire's The Body Retinol contains retinol, but there's much more to this derm-loved formula. "Formulated with 0.1% retinol along with AHAs, peptides, vitamin C, and glycerin, this comprehensive body cream is one of my favorites," says Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, CA. "It boosts skin hydration and laxity, minimizes crepiness, and its fast-absorbing formula doesn't feel sticky." Since this potent serum contains multiple active ingredients, Dr. Shiraki notes it's best used at night: weekly at first and gradually increasing to every other night.

Editor's tip: The Body Retinol contains rosewater to offset retinol's notoriously pungent scent, but if you prefer fragrance-free formulations, try the peptide- and niacinamide-rich The Body Lotion.

Key ingredients: retinol (0.1%), AHA blend (glycolic acid, mandelic acid), vitamin C, peptides, niacinamide, rosewater | Fragrance-free: no

SkinCeuticals

Bluemercury

Why it's worth it: In terms of skin-healing ingredients, the SkinCeuticals Body Tightening Concentrate contains the works: hyaluronic acid for hydration, vitamin E to minimize free radical-related damage, and antioxidant-rich rosemary oil to moisturize, provide antibacterial protection, and even skin tone. Its gentle, fragrance-free formula doesn’t contain harsh active ingredients, so it’s perfect for sensitive skin types or for areas recently healed from post-procedure stitches and lasers. While its soothing ingredients work their calming magic, the brand’s proprietary tri-peptide blend and hydrolyzed rice proteins work together to boost elasticity and minimize skin sagging, which is why Kellie Reed, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Austin, TX, is such a fan. “I love the blend of powerful peptides to help reduce the look of fine lines and improves the appearance of firmness,” she says.

Editor's tip: Its light texture also has a cooling feel on skin to further ease any skin irritation, swelling, or sensitivities.

Key ingredients: hyalruonic acid, vitamin E, rosemary oil, tri-peptide, hydrolyzed rice proteins | Fragrance-free: yes

First Aid Beauty

Amazon

Nordstrom

Dermstore

Why it's worth it: If fragrances and harsh actives leave skin dry or itchy, opt for a gentle, moisture-focused moisturizer like First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Body Lotion. Its star ingredient is colloidal oatmeal, which is known for its skin-soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. Its fragrance-free formulation is especially great for moments when your skin might be irritated from more intensive ingredients like, say, retinoids.

Tester feedback: “This body lotion's formula is made for sensitive skin types like mine,” says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “Its oatmeal-based formula absorbs fast onto my skin as it soothes any post-waxing irritation and itchy spots.”

Key ingredients: colloidal oatmeal, squalane | Fragrance-free: yes

Fenty Beauty

Sephora

Fenty Beauty

Why it's worth it: Fenty Skin’s Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream leaves your skin with a glossy sheen worthy of photographs, but there’s so much more to its formula than its high-shine results. Fenty Skin’s buttery cream is an oil-based formula with intensive conditioning ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, and botanical oils. “It is a light formulation with powerful natural moisturizing oils such as Kalahari melon, sunflower, and jojoba, which are proven to be beneficial for nourishing the skin and maintaining the proper hydration needed,” says Calvin Williams, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Bedford, TX. “And with the power antioxidant effects of mango butter, this product has helped my patients achieve that soft, supple skin they've been wanting all along.” The soothing feel and moisture-replenishing formulation of this body moisturizer makes it perfect for anyone with itchy skin (just make sure you grab the fragrance-free option to avoid any synthetic fragrance-related irritation).

Tester feedback: “My legs tend to get incredibly dry and itchy in the winter, so a good body lotion is non-negotiable,” says interim shopping director Deanna Pai. “I was surprised that this thick, buttery cream absorbed quickly—so I didn’t have to wait to get dressed—but was still nourishing enough to keep my skin comfortable.”

Key ingredients: 7 oil blend (Kalahari melon, sorrel, baobab, sunflower, rice bran, coconut, jojoba), shea butter, glycerin | Fragrance-free: option available (fragrances: Fenty Fresh, Fenty Fresh Shimmering, limited-edition Toasted Marshmallow)

Charlotte Tilbury

Nordstrom

Ulta Beauty

Sephora

Why it's worth it: If your body-care concerns lean more toward tone rather than texture, try slathering on Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Body Cream. Sure, it contains skin-plumping ingredients like caffeine and hyaluronic acid, but the true discoloration-diminishing “magic” for this formula comes from antioxidant vitamin C, a well-known skin brightener that also doubles as an age spot eraser. Bye-bye, dark spots.

Editor's tip: Like the original Magic Cream for your face, this lotion is infused with frangipani flower extract for its floral scent and moisturizing properties.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, caffeine, vitamin C | Fragrance-free: no

Osea

Nordstrom

Bluemercury

Credo Beauty

Why it's worth it: Most of Osea's formulations, including the Body Balm, include a key superstar ingredient: seaweed extract. This particular ingredient contains a slew of amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals essential for plump, supple skin. This body moisturizer is technically a balm, but the conditioning formula has the texture of a dense lotion that is surprisingly quick to absorb into the skin. Though it's lighter in texture than other balms, its heavy-hitting conditioning benefits are powered by a mix of passion fruit seed, coconut, and safflower seed oils. “I like how this balm utilizes alaria esculenta seaweed to improve the appearance of skin elasticity and firms the look of skin,” says Dr. Reed.

Editor's tip: Why stop there? If you desire even more glow (or your skin is feeling extra dry), we recommend following up this daily moisturizing lotion with Osea's fan-favorite Undaria Algae Body Oil. Its non-greasy formula immediately seeps in as it treats your skin with antioxidant-rich undaria seaweed extract and conditioning passion fruit, acai, babassu, and rice bran oils.

Key ingredients: seaweed extract, passion fruit seed oil, coconut oil, safflower seed oil | Fragrance-free: no

StriVectin

Amazon

Ulta Beauty

Sephora

Why it's worth it: StriVectin's Crepe Control Tightening Body Cream provides "tightening to the crepiness and sagging seen on the skin,” according to Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Memphis, Tennessee, says Crepe Control body cream won’t instantly provide noticeable results, but, with consistent use, its cocktail of antioxidant-rich jojoba seed extract, anti-inflammatory turmeric root extract, and conditioning shea, murumuru, and capuaçu butter blend will significantly improve the look of sagging skin.

Editor's tip: Looking for an in-shower treatment that'll boost your results? Then StriVectin recommends using the Crepe Control Exfoliating Body Scrub before applying this body lotion.

Key ingredients: jojoba seed extract, turmeric root extract, shea butter, murumuru butter, capuaçu butter | Fragrance-free: no

Perricone MD

Amazon

Dermstore

Target

Why it's worth it: Perricone MD's Cold Plasma Plus+ Fragile Skin Therapy Body Treatment is formulated to target crepiness and maintain skin laxity. In terms of ingredients, this fragrance-free body treatment contains the works: retinol to tone and texture, peptides to boost skin elasticity, and hyaluronic acid to soften and hydrate dry skin. This formula delivers these ingredients to the surface layer of your skin via Perricone MD's proprietary liquid crystal delivery, a system that allows for faster and deeper penetration of key ingredients.

Editor's tip: Perricone MD states that you can use this product during the daytime before reapplying SPF. However, since it contains an active ingredient that increases photosensitivity, our editors recommend reserving this treatment for your nighttime routine.

Key ingredients: retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-free: yes

Nivea

Amazon

Walmart

CVS

Why it's worth it: If you're on a budget, Dr. Shirazi suggests picking up a bottle of Nivea's Nourishing Skin Firming Body Lotion. "This nourishing body cream is formulated with CoQ10, vitamin C, and argan oil, the latter of which is rich in omega fatty acids," she says. Dr. Shirazi also loves its fast-absorbing, non-greasy formulation absorbs that makes skin feel incredibly soft.

Editor's tip: Though it provides intense moisture that'll soften up your driest parts, its formula has a milky consistency that quickly dries without leaving a greasy film on the skin.

Key ingredients: coQ10, vitamin C, argan oil | Fragrance-free: no

Versed

Amazon

Target

Versed Skin

Why it's worth it: Versed's Press Restart Retinol Body Lotion has a lightweight, gel-cream formula that Dr. Shirazi can't get enough of, but that's not her only reason for giving this lotion her seal of approval. "It contains a microencapsulated retinol that enhances penetration and reduces irritation," she says. To further counteract retinol-related irritation, this body cream is also infused with a soothing, moisturizing mix of cocoa butter, squalane, and vitamin E.

Editor's tip: This formulation contains a very minimal amount of retinol (0.01 percent) and is fragrance-free, so sensitive skin types shouldn't encounter irritation—but, as always, patch-test before slathering just to be sure.

Key ingredients: retinol (0.01%), squalane, cocoa butter, vitamin E | Fragrance-free: yes

Topicals

Amazon

Sephora

Topicals

Why it's worth it: The Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum contains multiple exfoliating AHAs to address textural concerns like bumps, flakes, and crepiness. This lightweight, milky moisturizer features glycolic and lactic acids, two of the most effective chemical exfoliants on the market, as well as an encapsulated retinol that slowly penetrates over time as urea hydrates, exfoliates, and neutralizes the feel of the active ingredient's notorious sting.

Editor's tip: This formula is packed with active ingredients, so you may feel a slight tingle upon application. That's a sign of the additives doing their job, but we recommend sensitive skin types opt for something gentler, like Topicals' Like Butter Mist.

Key ingredients: glycolic acid, lactic acid, retinol, urea | Fragrance-free: yes

True Botanicals

Nordstrom

Credo Beauty

The Detox Market

Why it's worth it: Retinol is a top-tier ingredient for mature skin but can be quite harsh on sensitive skin. In place of retinol, True Botanicals' Phyto-Retinol Body Lotion utilizes intensive peptides derived from cranberry extract called peptilium that firm and tighten skin. This smoothing formula makes skin look and feel suppler through its proprietary peptides alongside antioxidant-rich rosehip oil and sea buckthorn extract.

Editor's tip: Though it contains ingredients that provide similar elasticity-boosting effects, this body lotion doesn't contain a trace of retinol, so feel free to apply both day and night for maximum moisture.

Key ingredients: peptilium (cranberry extract-derived peptides), rosehip oil, sea buckthorn extract | Fragrance-free: no

Augustinus Bader

Nordstrom

Dermstore

Revolve

Why it's worth it: If you're all about having the creme de la creme, Augustinus Bader's The Body Cream is for you. It's an Allure Best of Beauty Award winner in our Splurge category for its rich, custardy formula that treats skin with the brand's proprietary blend of amino acids, peptides, and vitamins called TFC8. Along with its signature ingredient complex that promotes cellular turnover, this body butter is infused with soothing bisabolol and moisture-sealing shea butter.

Editor's tip: Your hands are especially susceptible to heightened signs of skin aging, so keep them covered with Augustinus Bader's The Hand Treatment. It contains TFC8 to promote skin softness and buoyancy as vitamin E provides antioxidant protection against free radicals.

Key ingredients: TFC8, bisabolol, shea butter | Fragrance-free: yes

Chantecaille

Bluemercury

Chantecaille

Why it's worth it: If you're into all things luxurious (and/or rose-scented), you'll adore Chantecaille's Rose de Mai Body Cream with Retinol. This buttery formula boasts fragrant (and soothing!) rosa damascena flower water as its second ingredient—alongside shea butter and avocado extracts for enhanced softness. This dense body cream's main ingredient is an encapsulated form of skin-firming retinol that releases slowly throughout the night to minimize irritation.

Editor's tip: Sure, you can slather this thick body cream on your hands as a retinol treatment, but if you want a faster-drying formula that won't leave your palms slippery, Chantecaille's Retinol Hand Cream will do just the trick.

Key ingredients: retinol, rosa damascena flower water, shea butter extract, avocado extract | Fragrance-free: no

As we all know, aging is a wonderfully natural process that affects every part of our bodies, including our largest organ, the skin. But before we get into treatments, it's important to understand what's happening inside your body.

As you mature, your skin's once-supple texture becomes more lax due to the loss of collagen, according to Dr. Shirazi. Collagen is the main protein that acts as the scaffolding for your body's connective tissues, including your skin, and as you age, your body's natural supply depletes. This depletion leads to the formation of wrinkles, crepiness, and skin sagging. "Crepey or loose skin, particularly on the abdomen, upper arms, back of the hands, and thighs, known as skin laxity, becomes more pronounced with age," explains Dr. Shirazi. She also notes that the loss of collagen around blood vessels, particularly in areas with lots of movement, like the backs of your hands, can increase bruising without memorable trauma to the skin. "This is common on the hands and back of arms, known as actinic purpura," she adds.

Another visible change? As you age, your skin's ability to retain moisture and produce much-needed oil also diminishes, according to Dr. Shirazi. This leads to a drier, rougher texture and pronounced wrinkles—while we can't reverse these processes altogether, we can mitigate them with the right body lotion.

If you've noticed a few dark spots pop up on your body, these could be age spots. "Age spots, also known as liver spots or sunspots, can happen when the skin is [over]exposed to sun," explains Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Memphis, TN. Factors like genetics and lifestyle habits can also impact the formation of this form of hyperpigmentation, but you'll most likely notice them on sun-exposed areas of your skin like your face, neck, forearms, hands, and legs. "They can come up as raised growths that are tan-dark brown with a wavy surface, called seborrheic keratosis, or they can be flat," adds Dr. Shirazi.

Like any form of hyperpigmentation, these spots may be permanent, but lotions and creams with brightening ingredients (which we'll get to) can minimize their pigmentation. To make sure they don't intensify, we always recommend our golden rule to skin care: Wear (and reapply!) sunscreen every day.

There's nothing on the market that'll erase wrinkles, textural concerns, and hyperpigmentation entirely, but the best body lotion for aging skin can pack quite a few derm-approved ingredients to can tone down their look.

Retinol, also known as vitamin A, is known as one of the gold-standard ingredients for aging skin due to its fine line- and discoloration-reducing properties. "Retinols help improve the quality of the skin, lighten discoloration, boost cellular renewal, and stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production," says Dr. Shirazi. Due to its myriad benefits, Dr. Shirazi recommends adding this ingredient to your body-care routine. Keep in mind that it's known to irritate sensitive skin and heighten sun sensitivity, which is why it's pertinent for you to apply retinol at night and apply sunscreen during the daytime.

Both Dr. Shirazi and Dr. Patel say that alpha hydroxy acids, a group of chemical exfoliators also known as AHAs or fruit acids, are key to supple, firm skin. "Our skin cells become lazy with age, so exfoliating acids help promote cellular turnover and remove dead skin cells that build up on the outer skin layer," explains Dr. Shirazi. She recommends glycolic acid, an intensive AHA that unclogs pores, smooths skin, and even acts as a hydrating humectant.

Like retinol, glycolic acid is an active ingredient that can feel harsh on sensitive skin types, so opt for lower concentrations of the ingredient when introducing it to your skin or try gentler AHAs, like lactic acid. "[Lactic acid] removes dead skin cells, improves skin texture, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles," Dr. Patel suggests.

Overall, antioxidants are a wonderful addition to any skin-care regimen. But, like alpha hydroxy acids, "antioxidants" is an umbrella term for a group of molecules (including vitamin A, shouted out above) that neutralize the effects of free radicals, also known as oxidants, that are created from both your metabolism and external factors, like air pollution and sunlight.

One of the most popular antioxidants is vitamin C. On top of its antioxidant benefits, board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, based in New York City, previously told Allure this ingredient supports collagen production, acts as an anti-inflammatory, and minimizes hyperpigmentation. Since vitamin C can smooth skin, increase cellular turnover, and reduce the look of acne scars, it's the ideal daytime counterpart to your nighttime retinol and AHAs.

Another underrated antioxidant Dr. Shirazi suggests is coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant known for its anti-inflammatory, tone-evening benefits. "As an antioxidant, it helps protect and repair the skin by reducing oxidative stress from UV and environmental stressors," she explains. Beyond its antioxidant properties, she also notes that CoQ10 addresses discoloration like age spots and minimizes the look of creping skin by supporting skin barrier function, cellular turnover, and production of collagen and elastin, leaving skin firm and supple.

Peptides play a major role in supporting your skin's firmness and elasticity, as they are short chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the smallest molecules that make up the proteins in your body, so they're an important part of maintaining skin elasticity and structure. "These short-chain amino acids trick your skin into making collagen and elastin while also calming inflammation and boosting cellular renewal," says Dr. Shirazi.

What's more: Peptides are more productive than other skin-firming ingredients due to their smaller molecular size. Particles can only be so big in order to penetrate past the epidermis (the top layer of our skin), and since peptides are amino acids, and not proteins in and of themselves, they can penetrate the skin when applied topically, unlike, say, collagen.

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best body lotions for mature skin, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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