Here’s the juicy truth about anti-aging skincare: Prioritizing moisture can help the skin maintain a firm, bouncy appearance long after collagen levels start to decline. And the best collagen creams—which can moisturize, boost collagen production, and protect existing collagen—go a long way to make up for lost proteins.
Vogue’s Favorite Collagen Creams:
Best K-Beauty: Torriden Cellmazing Firming Cream, $28
Best Between Appointments: L’Oréal Paris Collagen Moisture Filler, $12
Best With Retinol: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24, $30
Best Gel-Cream: Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream, $20
Best Peptide Cream: Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide-Plumping Moisturizer, $49
Best Wrinkle Cream: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Cream, $185
Best Night Cream: Dr. Diamond’s Metacine InstaFacial Emulsion, $350
To find the right collagen cream for your routine, consider your goals. “For a quick hydration boost, opt for formulas with collagen,” Valerie Aparovich, a biochemist, certified cosmetologist-aesthetician, and the science team lead at OnSkin, instructs. While hydration alone can plump and boost radiance, firming and wrinkle reduction call for ingredients—like peptides and exosomes—that can penetrate the surface of the skin to stimulate collagen production in the dermal layers. And when it comes to preserving existing collagen, antioxidants are key.
And with that key to collagen creams, you’re ready to shop! Ahead, find an edit of the best of them, whether you’re in the market for a buzzy K-beauty find, a high-tech formulation, or the Elemis cream that started it all.
Best Wrinkle Cream: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Why We Love It: This is a favorite
Why We Love It: “This is a favorite for more advanced signs of aging,” says Kristina Collins, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon in Austin. “It addresses glycation, a key process that accelerates collagen breakdown, and helps restore firmness in thinning or sagging skin.” For the uninitiated, during glycation sugar molecules bind to structural proteins—such as collagen or elastin—that keep the skin smooth and firm. Signs of glycation include fine lines, wrinkles, laxity, uneven tone, a rough skin texture, and dullness, all of which the cream works to address. What’s more, it has a light, satiny feel on the skin that makes it easily layered and applied.
Key Ingredients: 18% concentrated proxylane, 4.25% wild fruit flavonoids, 0.1% glycyrrhetinic acid
Best For: Wrinkles, laxity, free-radical damage, radiance, fine lines, crows’ feet
Size: 1.7 oz
One of the most-recommended wrinkle creams on the market
Rich texture may be too heavy for oily skin types
Best With Retinol: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24
Why We Love It: One of Vogue’s top wrinkle creams for night, this drugstore formula was recently enhanced with a new triple collagen peptide. Designed to support elasticity and skin cell turnover, the ingredient works alongside a gentle retinoid complex, niacinamide, and vitamin B3 to provide a host of anti-aging ingredients. “Olay Regenerist is a fantastic drugstore-brand retinol for many reasons,” dermatologist Lauren Penzi, MD, previously told Vogue. “It penetrates deep into the skin surface to address fine lines and wrinkles, as well as smoothness, brightness, firming, dark spots, and pores.”
Editor’s Experience: “I love having a go-to drugstore pick for every beauty necessity—in case, say, I’m on vacation and forgot to pack my retinol cream. Where there’s a CVS, there is hope! This would be my pick in such a pinch: Its creamy, cocooning texture is a draw, and it leaves my skin softer by morning.” —Jenny Berg, contributor
Key Ingredients: Ginkgo biloba, mimosa, padina pavonica
Best For: Wrinkles, firmness, tone, hydration
Size: 1.6 oz
Silky, weightless texture that layers seamlessly under
Silky, weightless texture that layers seamlessly under the rest of your routine
Retinol concentration not disclosed
Affordable price point makes this an accessible cream
Best Classic: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Why We Love It: A longtime favorite amongst Vogue editors looking for a plumper, firmer glow, Elemis’s algae-infused cream inspired beauty shopping editor Kiana Murden’s “Ode to the OG Collagen Face Cream.” Developed in 2003, the formula is infused with sustainably sourced marine and plant extracts, including ginkgo biloba, mimosa, and padina pavonica. It hydrates, plumps, and repairs the skin while smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. And at the end of the day, the collagen cream standard-bearer feels great on the skin. “Like any of the leading luxury cosmetics on the market, a sensorial experience is a must, and Pro-Collagen Marine Cream certainly delivers,” Murden says. “Its silky cream texture feels weightless on the skin, layering well with other products in my routine.” And for those interested in UV protection, Elemis offers this cream as an SPF 30 sunscreen, too.
Editor’s Experience: “I’m with Kiana on her fandom of this iconic cream’s rich, silky texture. And though I know not everyone likes scented skincare, I’m a fan of the light floral fragrance. As I write this, I’m wearing the SPF 30 version. So my skin doesn’t only feel hydrated and smell like a spa; I’m getting sun protection, too.” —Jenny Berg, contributor
Key Ingredients: Ginkgo biloba, mimosa, padina pavonica
Best For: Wrinkles, firmness, tone, hydration
Size: 1.6 oz
Instantly hydrates, plumps, and smooths
The formula is fragranced, which may be a drawback for those with sensitive skin or who prefer fragrance-free products.
Best Korean: Torriden Cellmazing Firming Cream
Why We Love It: One of Vogue’s top
Why We Love It: One of Vogue’s top K-beauty products for mature skin, Torriden’s firming cream has a stamp of approval from board-certified dermatologist Jenna Queller, MD. “This is a beautifully formulated barrier-supporting moisturizer that focuses on hydration and firmness, two things mature skin consistently needs more of,” Dr. Queller previously said. Deeply hydrating but still lightweight, the formula combines topical collagen with peptides and amino acids to help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. “This improves overall skin smoothness and bounce, which we see decline steadily with age,” Dr. Queller said.
Key Ingredients: 5D collagen complex, peptides, amino acids, hyaluronic acid
Best For: Firmness, elasticity, pores, hydration, wrinkles
Size: 2.02 fl oz
Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that plumps and smooths
May not be hydrating enough on its own for very dry skin
Delivers hydration without a greasy finish
Layers well under makeup without pilling
Best Gel-Cream: Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream
Why We Love It: This Korean jelly cream has gone viral—and not only for its pink-tinted Instagram appeal. Infused with hydrolyzed collagen and elastin, as well as niacinamide and squalane, the radiance-boosting salve has impressed even the most discerning skin-care pros. “This contains humectants to hydrate the skin, squalane to support the skin barrier, and niacinamide, which helps improve tone and texture,” says Dr. Hadley C. King, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Aparovich adds her own ringing endorsement: “Featuring a dozen plant extracts derived from a diverse blend of fruits, berries, vegetables, and flowers, it’s an antioxidant powerhouse that helps protect cellular health, revitalize the skin, and promote a healthy glow, further enhanced by the brightening effects of niacinamide,” she says.
Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed collagen, niacinamide, squalane, hydrolyzed elastin
Best For: Radiance, firmness, restoring skin barrier
Size: 3.7 oz
Boosts radiance, improves tone and texture The jelly
Boosts radiance, improves tone and texture
The jelly texture can feel slightly tacky on the skin, particularly when layered with other products.
Can be used as a moisturizer or overnight mask
Best Peptide Cream: Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide-Plumping Moisturizer
Why We Love It: Promising to restore skin’s bounce and firmness, this peptide-infused moisturizer has an ingredient list that Dr. King stands by. “It contains humectants like glycerin to hydrate and plump the skin, and emollients like squalane to support the skin barrier,” she says. “It also contains anti-aging peptides that help stimulate collagen production and smooth fine lines.” Aparovich is also a fan. “This lightweight, non-greasy gel-cream is suitable for all skin types, delivering potent hydration and moisture and boosting plumpness and suppleness,” she affirms. In addition to the ingredients listed above, Aparovich notes that the product contains Pyrus malus (apple) fruit and Gigartina stellata extracts, which “soften the skin and raise its antioxidant capacity.”
Editor’s Experience: “I will give extra points to a cream that has a bubblegum hue—who couldn’t use a little extra whimsy in their battle against wrinkles? That said, it’s not all about aesthetics here. This peptide cream has a light, soothing, cooling feel on the skin, and it hydrates in such a way that my skin feels pleasant little tingles for a few seconds after I’ve applied it.” —J.B.
Key Ingredients: Pro-collagen peptide complex, squalane, Pyrus malus (apple) fruit and Gigartina stellata extracts
Best For: Wrinkles, loss of firmness, plumping, restoring bounce
Size: 1.7 oz
Lightweight, non-greasy texture that’s suitable for all skin types
The gel-cream texture may pill when layered with other skincare
Best Between Appointments: L’Oréal Paris Collagen Moisture Filler
Why We Love It: This non-comedogenic formula infuses
Why We Love It: This non-comedogenic formula infuses the skin with plumping moisture while letting the pores breathe. Made with soluble collagen, the budget-friendly salve also has glycerin, shea butter, and frankincense extract, which can help improve elasticity. The cream is often recommended by the pros as one of the top—and most accessible—wrinkle fillers to keep the skin plump between procedures. “L’Oréal Collagen Moisture Filler is great for those averse or sensitive to using retinol,” Dr. Kenneth Mark, FAAD, FACMS, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and injectables expert, previously told Vogue. “This product relies on its rich, moisturizing base of shea butter and collagen itself [to fill wrinkles] instead of using retinol. Patients notice an improved appearance of wrinkles fast, in days to weeks, instead of relying on the more physiological, retinoid-induced collagen production that pans out over time.”
Key Ingredients: Collagen, glycerin, shea butter, frankincense extract
Best For: Wrinkles, hydration, elasticity, firmness
Size: 1.7 oz
Rich, deeply moisturizing texture that visibly plumps the look of wrinkles
The rich, buttery texture may feel heavy for those who prefer a lightweight moisturizer.
Non-comedogenic formula is safe for acne-prone skin
Best Night Cream: Dr. Diamond’s Metacine InstaFacial Emulsion
Why We Love It: “This is a high-performance cream that includes growth factors, peptides, and retinoids to support collagen synthesis and skin regeneration overnight,” says Dr. Collins. “I recommend it for patients who want a medical-grade night cream with visible firming effects.” The cream has a loyal following of celebrities, which is no small wonder. The product is the brainchild of Dr. Jason Diamond, a Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon whose client list includes Nikki Glaser and Kim Kardashian. Though the Emulsion—which has the consistency of a creamy gel—can be used on its own, it also works as part of a skin-rejuvenating system that includes the InstaFacial Infusion, a biomimetic collagen serum, and the InstaFacial Plasma Bioactive Growth Factor Serum designed to rejuvenate skin from within.
Key Ingredients: Hydroxypinacolone retinoate, Myristoyl nonapeptide-3, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl tripeptide-38, niacinamide, Nicotiana benthamiana hexapeptide-40 sh-oligopeptide-1, hyaluronic acid complex
Best For: Wrinkles, skin tone, hyperpigmentation
Size: 0.5 oz
Silky, fast-absorbing texture May not be moisturizing enough
Silky, fast-absorbing texture
May not be moisturizing enough for very dry skin, which may call for an additional cream on top.
Supports collagen production and skin renewal to visibly smooth, firm, and even skin tone
Best for Enlarged Pores: Biodance Pore Perfecting Collagen Peptide Cream
Why We Love It: When our friends at British Vogue want to consolidate their anti-aging routines for summer—see, fewer heavy products on the skin—they reach for this Korean cream. With 10 peptides and collagen water with a low molecular weight that enhances absorption, the product hydrates and leaves the skin with a radiant, glass-skin finish. Hypoallergenic and made without potentially irritating ingredients, the formula is ideal for sensitive, reactive skin; it’s even gentle enough to layer with active ingredients like vitamin C or retinol.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, collagen water
Best For: Minimizing pores, hydration, elasticity, smoothing
Size: 1.69 fl oz
Hydrating and smoothing formula that supports the skin barrier
The texture can feel slightly tacky
Improves the appearance of pores and skin tone
Source: www.vogue.com
