Over 18 months, The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested 90 products in 12 categories, conducted 3,000 lab tests, took 5,600 before and after photos on 820 female volunteers, ages 35 and older, and tallied more than 1,800 questionnaires from consumer testers.
The scientists at the Research Institute then conducted before-and-after evaluations using:
- Visia Complexion Analyzer that counts wrinkles and age spots, examines the skin's texture, and exposes any UV damage before it appears.
- Cutometer, which measures the firmness of skin.
- Chroma Meter, to read the color of age spots, dark circles, and red patches.
- Corneometer, which measures the moisture in the skin.
Best Eye Cream: Olay Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex ($42; drugstores)
This product ranked highest in the lab and proved to be a standout product for hydrating the skin. The Visia analysis also showed Olay to be one of the top performers on under-eye crinkles and consumer testers said Olay reduced their crow's feet, puffiness and under-eye bags.
Good Housekeeping's Anti-Aging Award Winners
Best Night Cream (tie):
L'Oréal Paris Advanced RevitaLift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair Night Creme ($20; drugstores)
Vichy Lift-Activ Retinol HA Night ($42; CVS)
Both treatments had impressive moisturizing scores and earned high praise from consumers for light textures and unobtrusive scents.
L'Oreal received the best overall consumer performance score, including the highest ranking from panelists for firming and reducing wrinkles. It's also reasonably priced at $20, and lab results showed it was the best for minimizing forehead lines and wrinkles.
Visia analysis showed that Vichy was best at evening out skin tone and addressing fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and nose -- two age-sensitive spots.
Best Anti-Aging Serum: Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum ($23; Target)
This product was a superior performer overall and shared the highest consumer score with the category's honorable mention. It's vitamin A and E-enriched and consumers gave it high marks for tone-evening and skin-firming properties. And in lab tests, Boots received a perfect score for firming.
Best Instant Wrinkle Smoother (tie):
Olay Regenerist Filling (Sealing Wrinkle Treatment ($19; drugstores)
Boots No7 Intensive Line Filler ($18; Target)
Olay ranked highest in the lab for reducing forehead lines, and came in first with consumers for minimizing wrinkles all over the face. Boots won for ease of use and performed slightly better than Olay on eye wrinkles.
Best Facial Moisturizer With SPF 15+ : Chanel Ultra Correction Lift Lifting Firming Day Cream SPF 15 ($150, department stores)
Best Body Sunscreen with SPF 30+ : Banana Boat Ultra Defense SPF 50 Lotion ($10, drugstores)
Best Body Lotion : Fresh Sugar Açai Age-Delay Body Cream ($65; Sephora)
Best Hand Cream with SPF 15+ : Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Hand Repair Creme SPF 15 ($56, department stores)
Best At-Home Peel : Boots No7 Advanced Renewal Anti-ageing Glycolic Peel Kit ($25, Target)
Best Facial Firmer : Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Growth Factor Extreme Neuropeptide Serum ($150, Sephora)
Best Instant Redness Reducer : Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder ($32.50, department stores)
