If you love skincare, you have almost certainly heard of Elemis. The luxury brand was born in London, and although its reach now stretches far beyond Britain, its heart is still that spa-like, considered approach to skin. Founded in 1989 by Linda Steiner, Elemis has built a shelf of award-winning formulas that customers and editors keep coming back to — and it is easy to see why. The packaging feels thoughtful, the textures feel indulgent, and the whole range carries the sense of a spa treatment brought home. From a cleansing balm that takes the day off to a facial oil that feels like a small nightly treat, there is genuinely something here for everyone.
Byrdie beauty writer Austen Tosone put this list together after evaluating dozens of Elemis products, weighing each one on its formula, how it applies, and — most importantly — how well it actually delivers on its promises. These eleven are the ones that came out on top, chosen with mature skin in mind. Here they are, in her order.
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The Short Version
Short on time? These are the two picks Tosone calls out first: the Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, which dissolves makeup and grime and leaves skin clean with no filmy residue, and the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads, which exfoliate gently without stripping the skin. The other nine are just as considered — read on for the full list.
Top Picks
- Best Cleansing Balm: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
- Best Moisturizer: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
- Best Exfoliating Pads: Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads
- Best Eye Cream: Elemis Pro-Collagen Vitality Eye Cream
- Best Night Cream: Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial
- Best Face Oil: Elemis Superfood Facial Oil
- Best Face Wash: Elemis Facial Wash
- Best Body Oil: Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil
- Best Soothing Gel: Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel
- Best Primer: Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser
Best Cleansing Balm
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Taking your makeup off at the end of a long day feels better with the right product, and this is the one that makes the ritual simpler. The balm pairs elderberry oil and starflower oil to hydrate while it melts makeup away, and mimosa wax adds a layer of protection for the skin. Take a small amount, rub it all over your face, and watch the makeup start to slip away. Reviewers love that it clears makeup and unclogs pores without drying skin out — the formula is oil-forward, though, so if your skin runs oily, follow it with a water-based cleanser.
What we like: melts away makeup effectively; nondrying formula; unclogs pores.
One thing to keep in mind: may not be the best choice for oily skin.
Key ingredients: elderberry oil, padina pavonica, starflower oil, mimosa wax. Size: 3.5 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Moisturizer
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
For anyone still searching for a daily moisturizer that does it all, this one is worth a look. It is lightweight and hydrating, which makes it a natural last step in a morning routine, and it draws on three types of antioxidant-rich algae to keep skin smooth and healthy while targeting fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. The silky-satin finish boosts radiance without leaving you feeling overly shiny.
What we like: lightweight, hydrating formula; reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; silky-satin finish on skin.
One thing to keep in mind: strong scent.
Key ingredients: padina pavonica, porphydridium cruentum, chlorella vulgaris. Size: 1.6 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Exfoliating Pads
Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads
If you want an at-home treatment that takes about thirty seconds, these are it. The jar holds sixty textured exfoliating pads — a two-month supply if you use one a day — with lactic acid to help reduce dark spots and even out skin tone, plus enzymes that exfoliate deeply without irritation. Reviewers saw results within a few weeks, with skin looking noticeably smoother and brighter.
What we like: gentle physical and chemical exfoliator; improves skin texture and softness; boosts radiance.
One thing to keep in mind: pads can dry out if the jar is not tightly closed.
Key ingredients: patented tri-enzyme technology, lactic acid, probiotic ferment complex. Size: 60 pads. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Eye Cream
Elemis Pro-Collagen Vitality Eye Cream
For dark circles, puffiness, and crow’s feet, this is the eye cream to reach for — it is made to take on all three. The formula leans on natural ingredients, including nutrient-rich algae and elderflower extract, to rejuvenate the under-eye area, reduce puffiness, and firm the skin. It is light and nongreasy, so makeup layers easily over it if you apply it in the morning, and it helps improve the elasticity and firmness that so often become a concern around the eyes. Take a pea-sized amount and gently dab it around the eye with your ring finger, for minimal pressure.
What we like: minimizes dark circles and fine lines; improves skin elasticity and firmness; light, nongreasy texture.
One thing to keep in mind: can take time to see results.
Key ingredients: upcycled elderflower extract, padina pavonica, hawthorn and Arabian jasmine flower essence. Size: 0.5 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Night Cream
Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial
If your skincare wish list this year included a thick, dreamy moisturizer, this one delivers. Use it nightly as a moisturizer, or once a week as a skin reset — either way, the nourishing gel-cream formula, made with cocoa butter, which boosts hydration and elasticity, and banana flower extract, known for its calming and moisturizing properties, gives skin an instant pick-me-up as soon as it goes on. Massage a small amount onto your face — and neck — and let it do its work.
What we like: delivers deep hydration; nourishing gel-cream formula; helps improve firmness and elasticity.
One thing to keep in mind: strong scent.
Key ingredients: cocoa butter, camu camu, banana flower extract. Size: 1.69 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Face Oil
Elemis Superfood Facial Oil
When your skin feels like it needs something extra, this is the bottle to reach for. The rich oil works as the last step in your routine, sealing in everything that came before it, and the nourishing formula helps skin look radiant thanks to moisturizing flaxseed oil and squalane. A little goes a long way — this oil is heavier than your average serum — and do not forget to bring it down to your neck as well.
What we like: gives skin a healthy, radiant glow; nourishing formula; soothes and refreshes tired skin.
One thing to keep in mind: very rich formula.
Key ingredients: flaxseed oil, daikon radish. Size: 0.5 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Face Wash
Elemis Facial Wash
This is a cleanser that does everything you would ask of one. It truly cleans skin and pores without feeling overly stripping, the formula is hydrating, and it is easy to use thanks to a handy pump that dispenses the perfect amount. White truffle helps soothe and support skin, while the enzymes gently exfoliate without damaging the skin barrier. Reviewers love that it cleanses deeply without drying skin out or causing irritation.
What we like: effectively cleanses dirt and impurities; boosts radiance; hydrating formula.
One thing to keep in mind: strong scent.
Key ingredients: white truffle, babassu, patented tri-enzyme technology. Size: 6.8 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Body Oil
Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil
Skincare talk usually stops at the face, but the rest of the body needs attention too. This body oil leaves skin feeling super soft and hydrated, built on monoi extract, known for its nourishing and aromatic properties, and frangipani extract, which helps replenish moisture. It has become a reviewer favourite for its lightweight, nongreasy formula and its lovely tropical scent, and it melts into skin beautifully. Use it on the body, hands, feet — even hair.
What we like: leaves skin feeling soft and supple; melts into the skin; can be used on body, hands, feet, and even hair.
One thing to keep in mind: product can be hard to dispense from the bottle.
Key ingredients: frangipani extract, monoi extract, cocos poria. Size: 3.4 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Soothing Gel
Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel
When muscles and joints ache, the whole day can feel off — and this gel is made for exactly those days, a more sophisticated, luxurious take on the pain cream you would find at the drugstore. Simply massage it onto sore areas after bathing. Three ingredients work together to bring relief: arnica and menthol help soothe and relieve strain, while camphor cools muscles and speeds up recovery. It absorbs quickly and delivers cooling relief right away to muscles that are going through it. Just remember it offers temporary relief, not a long-term solution to pain.
What we like: eases discomfort in joints and muscles; fast-absorbing formula; instantly cooling.
One thing to keep in mind: provides temporary relief, not a long-term solution to pain.
Key ingredients: arnica, camphor, menthol. Size: 5 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best Primer
Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser
Elemis built its name on skincare, yet this hybrid primer — half skincare, half makeup — stands out in the range. It gives skin a dewy glow and locks in moisture before makeup, using kombucha to visibly brighten the skin and green tea seed oil to soften and moisturize. Wear it alone as it is, or layer makeup on top and let the subtle glow show through the day. Reviewers also love that it leaves a silky finish on skin that never feels heavy.
What we like: gives skin a dewy glow; wears well under makeup; locks in hydration.
One thing to keep in mind: strong scent.
Key ingredients: kombucha, green tea seed oil, illuminating minerals. Size: 2 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
Best For Wrinkles
Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask
Skin around the eyes is among the most delicate anywhere, so it deserves its own dedicated care. This eye mask helps de-puff and hydrate the skin around the eyes, and its cooling texture wakes up tired eyes for a visibly firmer look while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, thanks to a combination of hyaluronic acid, watermelon snow algae, and bush clover. Reviewers love that it makes under-eyes look noticeably refreshed within a few days, and many also noted that the formula is safe for sensitive eyes.
What we like: smooths fine lines and wrinkles; brightens the eye area; de-puffs and hydrates.
One thing to keep in mind: thicker formula than the average eye cream.
Key ingredients: padina pavonica, hyaluronic acid, watermelon snow algae, bush clover. Size: 0.5 oz. Cruelty-free: Yes.
How This List Was Put Together
Austen Tosone is a beauty writer and content creator based in New York City. She has been writing about beauty online for a decade, samples dozens of products every month for work, and has interviewed beauty brand founders, celebrity ambassadors, and influencers about skincare, makeup, and hair. For this story, she read through dozens of reviews at various retailers and evaluated each product’s pros and cons — and she has personally tried and enjoyed several Elemis products on this list, including the Superfood Facial Oil and the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads. The story was edited by Shannon Stubbs.
Eleven products, one brand, and a routine that runs from the first cleanse of the morning to the last step at night. If mature skin is your starting point, this is a list built by people who know exactly what it needs.
