The anti-ageing cosmetics market is huge. But with so many options, you’re bound to come across your fair share of ineffective creams and others that my not be suitable for your skin.
Our lab experts have tested a range of popular anti-ageing creams using human participants, to assess their wrinkle reduction and moisturisation performance.
Products are selected based on availability at prominent bricks and mortar and online retailers. The majority of our test is made up of popular brands alongside some lesser-known alternatives.
We list the locations where we purchased each item, as products from the same manufacturer can vary slightly across retailers. Product names and branding are the same, but ingredients may be a bit a different. If you would like to purchase the specific anti-ageing creams used in our test, look for the relevant retailer in our comparison table and check the ingredients.
Price and usage costs
Like most cosmetics, anti-ageing creams are almost always sold at a significant markdown. These “sale” prices are a better representation of what you can expect to pay, rather than the recommended retail prices (RRPs).
We publish the sale prices at the time of purchase. All subsequent costs, such as daily and annual use, are calculated from the sales prices, not the RRPs.
Daily and annual usage costs are calculated on the manufacturer’s daily application recommendations – either once or twice.
Our test is made up of technical and subjective assessments from 30 human trialists, primarily between the ages of 40–65. Results are based on a 28-day use period, following manufacturer instructions for application frequency (once or twice per day).
Test products are applied to one side of the face, while the other uses a control cream for comparison. A single application is 1.54mL of cream, which is used to calculate the costs of using the product per day, year and per 100mL.
Wrinkle reduction
Wrinkled areas (crows feet) are 3D-scanned at the beginning and end of the test period, using a Primos machine. Wrinkle depth is measured and recorded at the beginning and end of the trial, to calculate any changes in the skin.
3D scans of wrinkles before (above) and after (below) the test period.
Moisturisation
Trialist’s skin hydration levels are measured at 5 different points on the cheek at the beginning and end of the test period and results are compared. We look for overall improvements in hydration using a corneometer.
A cornemoeter measures moisture content by applying a low voltage to the areas of skin used for testing. Then, it measures how well these areas hold an electrical charge – greater effectiveness equals more moisture.
Skin feel and application score
We collect personal feedback from participants regarding the cosmetic qualities, skin feel, ease of use and overall satisfaction during testing. This is based on; 1) the self-perceived efficacy of the cream and 2) the sensory properties.
Efficacy perception includes; how the trialists felt about the moisturisation, skin elasticity, skin smoothness and appearance of wrinkles. Sensory properties assess texture, perfume and how easy it is to remove each cream from its container to apply.
Skin feel
We extract a separate score solely for skin feel which is based on personal assessments from each test subject that cover the cream’s overall feel including stickiness and greasiness.
Packaging
This is a score for how easy it is to access and use the contents, as well as the package’s environmental impact. Products that retain residual cream which is difficult or impossible to access scored lower, because you are not able to use the whole product you paid for.
Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses.
Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they’re considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions.
Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong.
Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses.
Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they’re considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions.
Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong.
Matthew Steen is the Director of Reviews and Testing, which conducts all the testing for CHOICE. He has had a long and storied history in the consumer movement.
Matthew is driven to work at CHOICE for its constitutional mission and its dedication to making Australia more fair, safe and just.
Matthew represents CHOICE as a council member on the Standards Australia Council. He is also responsible for CHOICE lowering its environmental footprint.
Find Matthew on LinkedIn.
Matthew Steen is the Director of Reviews and Testing, which conducts all the testing for CHOICE. He has had a long and storied history in the consumer movement.
Matthew is driven to work at CHOICE for its constitutional mission and its dedication to making Australia more fair, safe and just.
Matthew represents CHOICE as a council member on the Standards Australia Council. He is also responsible for CHOICE lowering its environmental footprint.
Find Matthew on LinkedIn.
For more than 60 years, CHOICE has been fighting the good fight for Australian consumers.
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