Best Lotion for Aging Skin (Face and Body)

The best lotion for aging skin is a fragrance-free moisturizer you'll use every day, plus at most one targeted ingredient: retinol for fine lines, or lactic acid for rough, dull skin. For your face, we'd start with Olay Retinol24 at night; for your body, AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion.

Below are seven picks: three for the face, four for the body, most of them drugstore.

Quick picks

Why aging skin gets drier and thinner-looking

It's mostly oil and water. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says skin makes less sebum, the oil that keeps it soft, as we age. By your 40s that output drops dramatically, and by age 60 nearly everyone has dry skin.

In your 60s and 70s, skin is also thinner and loses water more easily, the AAD says. Menopause speeds things up: as estrogen falls, skin can become dry, slack and thin.

That's why moisturizer matters most. The AAD says moisturizer traps water in your skin, and that extra moisture can reduce the appearance of fine lines. It also recommends using a face moisturizer and a body moisturizer, not one or the other.

Be realistic: the AAD says "You cannot get the results of a facelift from a cream."

Best face lotion for wrinkles

Your face is where most people want to soften the look of fine lines, so this is where a retinoid earns its place. If your skin is very dry or easily irritated, start with the plain moisturizer pick first.

Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

Best for: a first retinol, built into a night moisturizer. Drugstore.

What we love

• Olay calls it "a light cream that hydrates skin without feeling too thick or leaving a greasy residue."
• It pairs retinol and retinyl propionate with niacinamide, peptides and glycerin, according to the ingredient list.
• Olay says it's fragrance-free.
• Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Lupo told TODAY to look at Olay for a retinol night cream.

Keep in mind

• TODAY's product card there shows the stronger Retinol 24 MAX. We chose the standard one as a gentler start.
• Olay doesn't list the retinol percentage. The AAD notes that over-the-counter products aren't required to.

Key ingredients: retinol, retinyl propionate, niacinamide, peptides, glycerin.

How to use: a nickel-sized amount on clean skin at night, as Olay suggests. Wear sunscreen the next morning.

Check price on Amazon

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

Best for: a plain, fragrance-free face lotion, or a buffer on retinol nights. Drugstore.

What we love

• CeraVe says it combines niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and three ceramides, released slowly for "continuous hydration throughout the night."
• It's oil-free, non-comedogenic and free of added fragrance, according to the brand.
• Licensed esthetician Tiara Willis told NBC Select it's "an affordable and simple moisturizer that is soothing and helps maintain your protective skin barrier."

Keep in mind

• It's a light lotion. Willis suggests it for oily-to-combination skin, and the AAD says creams add more moisture than lotions. If your face is very dry, use a richer cream on top or instead.

Key ingredients: ceramides NP, AP and EOP, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, glycerin.

How to use: apply liberally to face and neck at night, as CeraVe directs. On retinol nights, it can go on after your retinol.

Check price on Amazon

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

Best for: a splurge face cream for anyone who wants to skip retinol. Splurge.

What we love

• Drunk Elephant says its nine signal peptides "bind moisture to skin—plumping, firming, and restoring bounce." The brand now calls it Protini Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer.
• It's free of essential oils, silicones, fragrance and dyes, according to the brand.
• NewBeauty's Britt Fallon says the gel-cream "feels more moisturizing than most other" gel-creams she's tried, and her skin "still feels hydrated and comfortable at the end of the day."

Keep in mind

• It's a splurge, and a gel-cream may not be rich enough for very dry skin.
• Fallon's one gripe: you can't tell how much is left in the jar.

Key ingredients: nine signal peptides, glycerin, marula oil.

How to use: morning and night on a clean, dry face, as the brand directs.

Check price on Amazon

Best body lotion for aging skin

Arms, legs and the chest are where crepey, dry-looking skin tends to show. Pick something you'll happily use after every shower.

AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion

Best for: rough, dry, dull-looking arms and legs. Drugstore.

What we love

• It's powered by 12% lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that AmLactin says "gently exfoliates to smooth dry, rough, or uneven skin."
• Lactic acid also holds water. A 2018 review of AHAs calls it part of the skin's natural moisturizing complex and "an excellent moisturizer," and notes it was less irritating than glycolic acid in one study.
• Fragrance-free, dye-free and paraben-free, according to the brand. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shoshana Marmon recommends it to NBC Select for dry skin. NBC lists it under its older name, Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

Keep in mind

• The label warns it may sting on sensitive or broken skin. Hold off on scratched or freshly shaved spots.
• AHAs make skin more sensitive to the sun. The label says to use sunscreen, cover up, and limit sun while you use it and for a week after.

Key ingredients: ammonium lactate (12% lactic acid), mineral oil, glycerin, dimethicone.

How to use: shake, then apply twice a day, as the brand directs.

Check price on Amazon

EltaMD Skin Restore Body Cream

Best for: very dry body skin that wants a rich, fragrance-free cream. Mid-range.

What we love

• EltaMD describes it as "a non-greasy, yet luxuriously rich and creamy moisturizer that visibly improves dry skin" and evens the look of skin tone.
• It's made with hyaluronic acid, mango butter, a ceramide and niacinamide, according to the brand.
• Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Annabelle Garcia told NBC Select she recommends it to her patients with mature skin.

Keep in mind

• It comes in one 8 oz size, so it goes fast if you use it head to toe.
• It used to be called Moisture-Rich Body Crème, and some stores still list it that way.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, mango butter, a ceramide, niacinamide.

How to use: smooth onto damp skin after showering, every day.

Check price on Amazon

Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion

Best for: adding retinol to your body routine, on arms, legs and chest. Mid-range.

What we love

• Naturium says its encapsulated retinol works "to improve the appearance of skin texture, tone, and firmness," with soothing allantoin.
• Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Omer Ibrahim told NBC Select it has "a great texture that's rich but not too heavy" at an affordable price.
• Shea butter, safflower seed oil and hyaluronic acid are in the formula, and the brand's ingredient list shows no fragrance.

Keep in mind

• It's still retinol. Naturium advises a patch test and says to use it less often if mild redness shows up.
• Wear sunscreen on any skin you've used it on.

Key ingredients: retinol (encapsulated), allantoin, shea butter, safflower seed oil, hyaluronic acid.

How to use: a generous amount on the body, massaged in until absorbed. If you use it in the morning, follow with SPF on exposed skin.

Check price on Amazon

Gold Bond Age Renew Crepe Corrector Body Lotion

Best for: a budget-friendly, fragrance-free firming body lotion for crepey-looking arms and hands. Drugstore.

What we love

• Gold Bond says it "visibly firms and plumps aging skin" with seven moisturizers and three vitamins.
• Glycerin and petrolatum sit near the top of the ingredient list, and both are on the AAD's list of ingredients to look for in dry skin.
• Dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, according to the brand, which also says it won't clog pores on your face.

Keep in mind

• We couldn't open a named independent review, so these details come from Gold Bond.
• The brand's own figure is that 82% of users saw visible improvement in crepey skin in two days. Read that as a brand claim, not a promise.

Key ingredients: hydroxyethyl urea, glycerin, dimethicone, jojoba esters, petrolatum.

How to use: apply to arms, legs, hands and chest after bathing, while skin is still damp.

Check price on Amazon

How to choose a lotion for aging skin

Retinol or lactic acid?

The AAD says retinoids suit "mild fine lines and wrinkles." Its page says tretinoin, a prescription retinoid, "spurs faster turnover of surface skin cells and boosts collagen." Retinol is the milder, over-the-counter cousin, used for uneven tone and texture.

There's a catch. The same page says people with dryness or skin allergies "are probably not good candidates" for a retinoid. Start every other night with the gentlest formula you can find, use it only at night, and wear sunscreen by day.

Lactic acid is the better fit when skin feels rough or looks dull, especially on the body. Both raise sun sensitivity. The FDA found AHAs increased skin's UV sensitivity, which faded within a week of stopping.

Firming body lotion: what it can and can't do

A firming lotion can make skin look smoother and firmer, mostly by plumping it with water. Crepey skin that built up over years won't vanish from a lotion, so choose one you like enough to use daily.

Choose cream over lotion when skin is very dry

The AAD says creams and ointments add more moisture than lotions, and it puts lactic acid, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone and shea butter on its list of ingredients to look for. Dr. Ibrahim makes the same point for mature skin: drier skin usually does better with a heavier texture.

Fragrance-free, not "unscented"

The AAD recommends a creamy, fragrance-free moisturizer for skin in your 60s and 70s. "Unscented" products can contain a masking chemical that irritates dry skin.

Apply it within 3 minutes of bathing

Pat skin with a towel but leave it a little damp, then moisturize within three minutes, as the AAD advises. Keeping indoor humidity between 45% and 60% helps too. For more on building a full routine, see our skincare products for dry skin.

Patch test first

The AAD suggests a small amount on your inner forearm twice a day for four to five days. No redness or itch? Go ahead.

Best lotion aging skin: comparison

Skin that itches or stays dry despite daily moisturizer is worth a visit. The AAD notes that medications and medical conditions can also dry skin, and a dermatologist can tell you whether a prescription retinoid makes sense.

FAQs

What is the best lotion for wrinkles?

For fine lines on your face, a retinol night moisturizer such as Olay Retinol24 is our drugstore pick, because the AAD says retinoids suit mild fine lines. Any good moisturizer also softens the look of fine lines by plumping skin with water. Sunscreen every morning matters just as much; the AAD calls sunscreen and moisturizer the two most effective anti-aging products you can buy.

What's the best body oil for aging skin?

Oils such as jojoba and shea are occlusive, which means they seal moisture in. Dr. Ibrahim told NBC Select they also stand in for the sebum skin makes less of with age. Smooth a few drops onto damp skin after you step out of the shower, not into the bath: the AAD warns that bath oil raises the risk of slips and falls.

How long does a lotion for aging skin take to work?

You may see plumper-looking fine lines within a few days, the AAD says, but most anti-aging products take at least six weeks and some take three months. Use one product consistently before you judge it.

Can I use retinol and lactic acid together?

Not at first. Both can irritate, and the AAD advises focusing on one concern and one new product at a time. If you want both later, use them on different nights or on different parts of the body, and wear sunscreen.

Can I use body lotion on my face?

Sometimes. Gold Bond says its Crepe Corrector can be used on the face and won't clog pores. Check the label, though: if it doesn't say face, use a face product instead, especially around your eyes.

Moisturize on damp skin every day, add one targeted ingredient at a time, and wear sunscreen: that's most of what any lotion for aging skin can do.