The simple truth is no magic lotion or potion will totally reverse signs of aging or stop the aging process. But if you want to slow it down—and generally improve the overall appearance of your complexion—there are wrinkle creams that can help. The key is to A: be realistic about your expectations and B: be patient. The best formulas won’t necessarily work miracles but certainly help minimize the look of fine lines, especially when used consistently over weeks/months/years. For the best results, “Look for ingredients that stimulate collagen and elastin, such as retinoids, glycolic acid, and peptides,” says dermatologist Dr. Diane Madfes, M.D. “And always remember to protect yourself from future sun damage with UV blockers and DNA repair enzymes.”
Given the sheer amount of wrinkle creams out there (and all of their appealing claims), it can be tricky to determine which ones work. That’s why we tested 21 wrinkle creams for eight weeks, spending nearly 700 hours working them into the skin. Our testers applied them once or twice daily, then weighed in on how their skin looked and felt at the end of the process, changes in texture and wrinkles, how hydrating the formula was, and the general experience of using the product. These 15 were the (wrinkle) cream of the crop.
Best Overall
MARA SeaDream Firming Algae Creme Moisturizer with Sea Moss + Peptides
We were extremely pleased with how beautifully this pick from Mara increased the skin firmness and elasticity, and, by the end of the testing period, our tester was sure it had helped reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles so that her skin looked smoother overall.
Wrinkle-fighting attributes aside, it’s also a top-notch moisturizer, with a velvety texture that melts beautifully into the skin and adds tons of hydration, but never feels greasy. The only negative we could find is that some reviews noted that the texture isn’t for them, but our tester loved it.
Best Budget
L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream
Legitimately good anti-wrinkle creams come at all price points. Exhibit A: This very wallet-friendly winner, that our tester felt worked even better than the (much) pricier option she had previously used. She started noticing its effects—including fewer wrinkles, increased firmness, and generally brighter skin—after about four weeks, and they just continued to improve after the fact. We’re also big fans of the all-day hydration, which never left combination skin looking greasy or shiny.
Best for Dry Skin
Alpyn Beauty Super Peptide & Ghostberry Moisturizer
We love this option for those with extra dry skin. Our tester couldn’t get over how well it moisturized her complexion, leaving it plump, supple, and even glowier (thanks, ceramides and peptides). She used it morning and night (per the directions) and also noted that it worked well with other makeup and skincare products.
Even though the consistency looked pretty thick, she felt it still absorbed quickly and wasn’t displeasingly goopy. The one drawback? She really didn’t notice a ton of improvement in her fine lines and wrinkles, so this is probably best reserved for those whose signs of aging aren’t yet particularly prominent.
Best Firming
Caudalie Resveratrol Face Lifting Soft Cream
Another fan favorite, we found this to be equally good at improving the texture and firmness of skin as it was at generally moisturizing. It’s aptly named; it does, in fact, feel as silky as cashmere and left our tester’s complexion feeling super smooth. She noticed a visible improvement in firmness and plumpness (likely thanks to the resveratrol and hyaluronic acid)—and pretty quickly at that. As an added benefit, it also tamped down unwanted redness.
She used it in the morning as directed and appreciated that it layered nicely under makeup, sans pilling. While it didn’t affect our tester’s skin, some reviewers found it a bit intense for sensitive skin.
Best Brightening
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Retinol + Ferulic Wrinkle Cream
The texture of this cream appealed to our inner Goldilocks—on cold, dry days it left skin hydrated and smooth, but it wasn’t too heavy to use on warmer, more humid days. Either way, the mousse-like formula soaked into the skin beautifully; we also appreciated that it came in a sanitary, easy-to-use pump-top jar.
There was an immediate improvement in our tester’s skin texture and brightness; credit to the retinol in the mix. (And no, it didn’t cause any irritation.) We did lament that it wasn’t particularly effective against wrinkles but we still think it’s a winning choice if you’re looking for that instant lit from within look.
Best Under Makeup
DR. LORETTA DR. LORETTA Firming Serum
While this facial moisturizer is meant to be used twice daily, our testers especially liked to use it in the a.m. Fast-absorbing, it worked great under makeup without any pilling at all. It was especially effective at improving plumpness, evening tone, and boosting radiance—effects that all kicked in pretty quickly (great for those who want a little instant gratification). The wrinkle-smoothing effects definitely took longer and were more subtle, however.
Best Plumping
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
We love the hydrating aspects of this cream, which had the added benefit of plumping the skin and at least temporarily minimizing the look of more superficial fine lines. The silky texture was another pro, as was how gentle the formula was on our skin, even when we applied it after microplaning. We were bummed that it didn’t do much to get rid of deeper, existing wrinkles long term, but the moisturizing and plumping prowess was very noteworthy.
Best Night Cream
Isdin Isdinceutics Age Contour Night Face and Neck Cream
Bedtime is a great time to tap into the powers of an anti-wrinkle cream; it’s when your skin is in a natural reparative state and can better utilize active ingredients. This is a winning choice to add to your nighttime routine—with ingredients like peptides and antioxidants, it’s super effective at hydrating and brightening the skin while protecting it from environmental stressors like pollution.
It improved the overall appearance of our tester’s complexion after just a few weeks of consistent nighttime use. It is worth noting that the texture is somewhat lighter than many other night creams—we liken it to more of a serum-moisturizer hybrid—so that’s something to keep in mind if you typically like to use thicker, richer creams overnight.
Best Smoothing
Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Total Repair Cream
This pick from Kate Somerville is a legit quick fix for making skin appear smoother. (We attributed that to hydrating dimethicone and squalane in the formula.) It worked great under other skincare and makeup products as well. But the best part was every time our tester applied it, it left her complexion feeling super soft—and brighter to boot—after every use.
FYI, It may have a slight tendency to clog pores, as we had some increased whitehead-esque pimples after use, but you can mitigate that by thoroughly cleansing with a good face wash.
Best Drugstore
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream
Per our previous point about price tags, this drugstore staple is another affordable choice that legitimately holds its own against the more expensive creams. It boasts two skincare heavy-hitters—wrinkle-smoothing retinol and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Our tester liked the consistency of it and how easy it was to spread onto the skin, although she did find it was better to use at nighttime (despite the instructions that say to use it twice daily). It left the skin more hydrated, smoother, and plumper when used at night. But, in the morning/when layered under makeup, she felt that she needed to add a separate moisturizer on top to feel like the hydration would last.
Best Lightweight
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Wrinkle creams tend to be on the heavier side to really get to work on wrinkles, but this lightweight option is just as powerful and great for those who don’t love a super-rich cream. The creamy yet light texture was easy to apply and absorbed fast, leaving skin feeling hydrated, smooth, and supple.
While the effects were on the subtler side, our tester did see some improvement in terms of firmness as well as wrinkles, particularly on her neck. However, it may not be moisturizing enough to use during colder, drier, winter weather.
Best for Fast Results
Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection Moisture Infusion Refillable Cream
Patience is a virtue with skincare, particularly when addressing wrinkles. Still, for those who want a fast fix, this cream did offer some instantaneous results, helping to fill in and plump more minimal lines on contact. It left skin looking visibly hydrated and glowier, something our tester even noticed in photos. Just FYI, the cream’s texture is best suited for combination skin types; it’s likely too thin for those with drier skin but could leave oily skin looking a bit too glowy.
Best Splurge
Skinceuticals A.G.E Interrupter Advanced
Wrinkle creams tend to be pricier in general because they’re packed with actives. This one’s the most expensive we tried, and the results are worth the splurge. The first thing our tester noticed was an improvement in the texture of her skin. It felt wonderful after every use: soft, smooth, plump, insert other positive adjectives here. And, it only took a nickel-sized amount to achieve said benefits (aka you get a lot of product for the price).
It worked great morning or night (she even found that using it in the a.m. made the makeup she put on after look better). It didn’t improve her wrinkles much, but she’s confident that the improvements in texture will continue to get better and better.
Best for Sensitive Skin
SkinMedica Rejuvenating Hydrator
Twice daily use of this yielded some seriously noticeable improvements in the face wrinkles department, all while also helping to hydrate and plump. Rather than relying on some of the more potentially irritating actives out there (cough, retinol), it uses five different types of hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture immediately and in the long term and create more supple-looking skin.
Best for Expression Lines
The Outset Smoothing Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream
Crow’s feet, the ‘11s’ between your brows, smile lines—these are all examples of dynamic wrinkles that are caused by repeated muscle movement. It can be hard to target them with a topical cream (it’s where injectable neuromodulators, like Botox take the cake) but we were blown away with just how well this worked to target these particular types of lines. That would’ve been enough on its own, but then it also imparted lots of hydration, and left the skin firmer and glowier, making this one a real standout. Keep in mind it is best used solo, as it did start to ball up and pill when layered with other products.
What to Look for in a Wrinkle Cream
Active Ingredients: A wrinkle cream should have at least one active ingredient to do the wrinkle-smoothing work. A few good ones to seek out:
Retinol: According to Dr. Kavita Mariwalla, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York, this over-the-counter anti-aging ingredient has a proven track record of stimulating collagen production to smooth fine lines and deep wrinkles. Just note it can be harsh on sensitive skin, so you may need to work up to using it every day.
Peptides: There's a whole new category of peptides that help skin retain elasticity and firmness, both of which play a role in the formation of wrinkles and deep wrinkles, explains Dr. Mariwalla. Peptides also tend to be better tolerated and elicit less sensitivity than the retinoids and acids of the world.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a triple threat, acting as a protective antioxidant, excellent radiance boost, and a collagen production stimulator leading to smoother, brighter, less wrinkled-looking skin.
- Directions for Use: Consider where the new product fits into your existing routine and how it interacts with other products. Wrinkle creams with active ingredients like retinol should be applied before moisturizers that simply hydrate. Many wrinkle creams contain ingredients that increase sun sensitivity, so always follow it with facial sunscreen if you use it during the day. While many wrinkle creams are formulated for nighttime use, some lightweight creams can be used morning and night.
FAQ
Do wrinkle creams work?
If you choose the right formula containing some of the tried-and-true anti-aging ingredients we mentioned, use it diligently, and have some patience—they should work. However, no matter what type of wrinkle cream you're using, it's imperative to wear sunscreen (with broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection or higher) daily to ensure that sun damage doesn't thwart your wrinkle-fighting attempts.
How do you apply wrinkle cream?
For retinoid-based creams, Dr. Mariwalla recommends applying a pea-size drop of product to clean skin by dabbing it on your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks. If the product doesn't contain a retinoid, you can use about a nickel-size amount.
How can I improve my wrinkles?
The best way to improve wrinkles is to keep your skin moisturized. When skin is well-moisturized, wrinkles are less noticeable. In other words, moisturizers temporarily plump the skin, making lines and wrinkles appear less visible.
How do I get rid of deep wrinkles around my mouth?
Look for active ingredients such as niacinamide, retinoids, and vitamin C—all of which can improve the skin's texture and elasticity to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth.
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