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While the best wrinkle cream can’t freeze time (if only), it can slow down aging effects for a fresher skin look. “Wrinkle creams play an important role in maintaining skin health and longevity while delaying the onset of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New York City.
However, not all antiaging products are created equal, and not all of them offer the same degree of antiaging benefits. “The effectiveness of wrinkle creams largely depends on their active ingredients,” says Dr. Shereene Idriss, board-certified dermatologist and founder of New York City’s Idriss Dermatology. “No cream is ever going to replace Botox and fillers, but wrinkle creams with the right active ingredients can help with the appearance of wrinkles over time.”
Which are the right active antiaging ingredients, exactly? And which creams or lotions are akin to a fountain of youth for the skin cells? Ahead, dermatologists share the best wrinkle creams for keeping skin soft and smooth for—if not forever—at least a little longer.
Vogue’s Favorite Wrinkle Cream Picks:
Featured in this article
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In This Story:
- Do antiaging wrinkle creams actually work?
- Dermatologist’s tip for picking a wrinkle cream
- What wrinkle cream ingredients to look for
- When should you start using a wrinkle cream?
- When to apply wrinkle cream in your skin-care routine
- What do dermatologists recommend to treat wrinkles?
- Do wrinkle creams work as well as in-office treatments?
- Do wrinkle creams help prevent wrinkles?
- What causes wrinkles?
- How often to use a wrinkle cream
- What to look for in a wrinkle cream
- Meet the skin experts
Best for Plumping: SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream
- Why We Love It: SkinMedica’s antioxidant-rich cream is one that Dr. Saami Khalifian, a double board-certified dermatologist in California, frequently recommends to patients with aging skin. “This luxurious cream is fabulous for hydrating and plumping the skin, helping to prevent and reduce wrinkles and giving it that soft, dewy look,” he says. “The hyaluronic acid in this formulation hydrates the skin from within and improves elasticity, while the high concentrations of antioxidants like vitamin C and E help protect your skin from environmental damage and free radicals.” The product can be applied morning and night, and Dr. Khalifian suggests a third use. “My hack for this product is to use it as an overnight mask when you really need extra hydration,” he says. “Apply a slightly thicker layer than normal before bed so you wake up extra dewy.”
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, omega-3 fatty acids
- Skin Benefits: Brightens and evens the skin tone, smooths out fine lines and wrinkles, hydrates and plumps the skin, provides antioxidant production
- How to Apply: Apply the cream morning and night to the face, neck, and chest. Follow with SPF in the morning.
- Size: 1.7 oz.
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| Hydrating, plumping, antioxidant-packed | May feel heavy, particularly on oily skin |
Best for Deep Wrinkles: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
- Why We Love It: RoC’s Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream is an editor favorite. The noncomedogenic cream features a blend of retinol, glycolic acid, squalane, and shea butter, making it a gentle option for those new to retinol. Vogue’s senior shopping beauty writer Kiana Murden calls the formula her favorite drugstore retinol, and she’s in good company. “The RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle cream, which can be purchased for about $30 at your local drugstore or Amazon, has been cited as an excellent option by nearly every dermatologist I trust,” she wrote. “With zero purging and its ease of use, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my trial—so much so that I’ve begun to recommend it to anyone new to retinol.”
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, squalane, shea butter
- Skin Benefits: Formulated to reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles during beauty sleep, the Deep Wrinkle Night Cream is expected to promote a firm, smooth, luminous complexion.
- How to Apply: According to RoC, this is best applied to the face and neck at night. The brand recommends using it every other night, then increasing frequency to every night once your skin is ready. Be sure to follow with sunscreen in the morning.
- Best For: Deep wrinkles, dry skin, combination skin, dull skin
- Size: 1.0 fl. oz.
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| Widely accessible, budget-friendly | Not particularly hydrating on its own |
Best With SPF: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30
- Why We Love It: Infused with SPF 30 for broad-spectrum sun protection, this algae-enriched cream is a dermatologist-recommended salve for sagging, wrinkled skin. Dr. Corey L. Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist in Alabama, says: “Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream is an elegant formula that reduces fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin firmness.” Steeped with nourishing botanical and algae extracts, the cream contains chlorella to calm and soothe the skin and padina pavonica for hydration. It also has ginkgo biloba for an extra dose of antioxidant protection, mimosa to tone the skin, and rose to calm the complexion and infuse the cream with a lovely, light fragrance. The sunscreen-moisturizer hybrid has a lightweight gel-cream texture with a silky finish; it’s perfect as a makeup base—read our full review here.
- Key Ingredients: Ginkgo biloba, chlorella, padina pavonica, rose, mimosa
- Skin Benefits: Deeply hydrating, the cream protects the skin from UV damage and has been clinically proven to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in as little as 14 days.
- How to Apply: Use the cream every morning as the last step of a skin-care regime.
- Size: 1.6 oz.
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| Offers broad-spectrum sun protection | Some find the fragrance overpowering |
Best Nighttime Wrinkle Cream: Olay Retinol24 + Peptide Night Face Moisturizer
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- Why We Love It: “Olay Regenerist 24 Retinol Night Moisturizer is a fantastic drugstore brand retinol for many reasons,” says dermatologist Dr. Lauren Penzi. She highlights the drugstore cream’s ingredient composition and stellar results as reasons to add it to your nighttime regime. “It contains a blend of their proprietary retinoid complex, along with niacinamide and amino peptides that help to revive and rejuvenate the skin,” says Penzi. Not to mention, the cream is fragrance-free.
- Key Ingredients: Retinoid complex, niacinamide, amino peptides, vitamin B3
- Skin Benefits: “It penetrates deep into the skin surface to address fine lines and wrinkles, as well as smoothness, brightness, firming, dark spots, and pores,” says Penzi. “It also hydrates the skin and helps to maintain the natural skin barrier.”
- How to Apply: According to Olay, apply the cream to cleansed skin at night until fully absorbed. Follow with SPF in the morning.
- Best For: All skin types
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
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| Rejuvenates skin overnight, fragrance-free, dye-free | Can be slow to absorb |
Best for Sensitive Skin: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Intense Wrinkle Cream
- Why We Love It: When speaking generally about the best active ingredients for a wrinkle cream, Idriss says, “retinoids are the gold standard for increasing cell turnover, boosting collagen production, and smoothing fine lines.” However, retinoids are infamously irritating to some skin types, which is why a gentle iteration of the collagen-boosting ingredient is essential in a wrinkle-smoothing regime for sensitive skin. Dr. Dennis Gross’s cream contains a phyto-retinol blend that fuses retinol with botanical ingredients—including ferulic acid, which can boost the retinol’s efficacy—and soothing rambutan and bakuchiol. What’s more, the cream has a thick, cushiony texture that dries with a silky finish. All in all, it’s a pretty plush way to ease into retinoids.
- Key ingredients: Niacinamide, phyto-retinol blend
- Skin Benefits: The cream was designed to correct the signs of photoaging, which include fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and a dry and rough skin texture. Over time, it contributes to a softer, more hydrated complexion.
- How to Apply: Use the cream morning and night on clean, dry skin. For maximum results, the brand recommends using it after a serum and a daily peel, which can help ingredients from ensuing skin-care steps seep into the skin more effectively. As always—but particularly because the cream contains retinol, which can make the skin more sensitive to sun damage—follow the morning application with SPF.
- Best For: When used consistently, the cream can reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the forehead, between the eyes, and around the mouth in as little as two weeks.
- Size: 2.0 fl. oz.
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| Gentle and soothing on all skin types, cushiony texture | Some users report a slightly greasy finish |
Best Drugstore Wrinkle Cream: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream
- Why We Love It: Retinol and hyaluronic acid are the stars of this drugstore pick, which plumps up the skin for a rejuvenated look. The reparative cream is made with a light-stable form of retinol, which means that it can be worn day and night—still, it’s best to follow it with SPF in the morning. “Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream is a nice drugstore retinol option,” Hartman says. “Some may not like the fragrance, and if so, they can choose the fragrance-free option. It glides on the skin well and absorbs quickly.”
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid
- Skin Benefits: Although Hartman says that the infused hyaluronic acid provides an additional moisture boost, the retinol targets fine lines, dullness, and dark spots to reveal a more youthful complexion over time.
- How to Apply: According to Neutrogena, a pearl-sized amount can be applied to the face and neck twice daily.
- Best For: All skin types
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
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| Can be used day and night | The fragrance isn’t for everyone |
Best Overall: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced
- Why We Love It: Cosmeceuticals—a budding category of beauty products that sit somewhere between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals—are on the rise. They differ from traditional beauty products in that they’re formulated to harness the power of biologically active ingredients to repair skin damage from within (as opposed to relying on a more surface-level approach). That said, these formulas are excellent for someone looking for serious, clinically backed results. One such brand is SkinCeuticals, which offers an efficacious lineup of dermatologist-backed antiaging skin-care solutions that rival what you might find in-office. Of its offerings, its A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced is one of the most sought-after, making it a top contender for the best wrinkle cream of 2025.
- Key Ingredients: 18% concentrated proxylane, 4.25% wild fruit flavonoids, 0.1% glycyrrhetinic acid, 3% hepes, 1% niacinamide
- Skin Benefits: Unless you have a scientific background, reading the above ingredient list may leave you with more questions than answers, so let’s break it down. The cream is formulated with potent ingredients that repair visible signs of aging impacted by glycation (a natural process that weakens collagen in the body). By doing this, one can expect smoothed wrinkles plus improved skin firmness and plumpness with consistent use.
- How to Apply: Apply the cream to the face, neck, and chest twice daily as the last step in your routine. Follow up with sunscreen in the a.m. to protect skin from sun exposure.
- Best For: All skin types
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
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| Uses potent ingredients to repair the skin from within | Some users note that it tends to pill |
Best for Beginners: Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Cream
- Why We Love It: Worden notes that Clinique’s wrinkle cream is an excellent over-the-counter antiaging skin-care product for younger skin. The oil-free, fragrance-free formula is designed to be safe for all skin types, and it provides intense moisture, especially to dry skin. The cream is infused with a whirl of softening, antiaging ingredients, including a peptide complex, hyaluronic acid, soybean seed extract, and shea butter. The cream can be used twice daily, once during the day and once at night.
- Key Ingredients: Peptide complex, hyaluronic acid, soybean seed extract, shea butter
- Skin Benefits: Expect this to “help plump up the skin without feeling too heavy,” Worden says. This formulation should not only visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles but also fortify the skin’s dermal structure.
- How to Apply: According to Clinique, this can be applied both morning and night, along with SPF during the day.
- Best For: All skin types, beginners
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
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| Oil-free, fragrance-free | Some users report that it tends to pill |
Best for Glowing Skin: Jan Marini Transformation Cream
- Why We Love It: “[This] cream goes beyond your normal antiaging cream,” Marino says. “This provides an instant glow and brings life back to dull, depleted complexions.” The illuminating face moisturizer contains patented growth factor technology, along with peptides, antioxidants, and alpha hydroxy acids to renew the skin. Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, glycerin, and soybean oil help balance out the formula and keep it gentle.
- Key Ingredients: Growth factor technology, peptides, antioxidants, alpha hydroxy acids, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, glycerin, soybean oil
- Skin Benefits: Crafted to deliver a glowy complexion, “this moisturizing cream is good for all skin types, from combination to dry, and helps reduce all signs of aging while stimulating the skin’s own collagen synthesis and aiding in micro-exfoliation,” she says.
- How to Apply: According to Jan Marini, this can be applied both morning and night to the face and neck.
- Best For: Dull skin, dry skin, combination skin
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
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| Silky texture, sinks in quickly | Some users wish the cream came with a spatula, so they could avoid sticking a finger into the jar |
Best Overnight Wrinkle Treatment: Isdin Age Contour Night Cream
- Why We Love It: Worden is a fan of Isdin’s overnight cream, formulated to repair, firm, and calm the complexion while you sleep. She highlights that the rich formula is packed with ingredients that help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, including carnosine—which has anti-glycation effects—and the plumping and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Dermatologist-tested and noncomedogenic, the night cream works on all skin types, and its benefits go beyond wrinkle reduction. The cream also evens tone while brightening the skin. Plus, it has helichrysum italicum extract to support the skin barrier and melatonin to protect it from oxidative stress.
- Key Ingredients: Carnosine, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, helichrysum italicum extract, melatonin
- Skin Benefits: Even though the carnosine works to reduce visible signs of aging, the other ingredients ensure the skin barrier is protected from daily aggressors and intensely moisturized.
- How to Apply: According to Isdin, apply this cream to the face and neck as the last step in your regimen.
- Best For: All skin types
- Size: 1.8 fl. oz.
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| Noncomedogenic, suitable for all skin types, triple-action | Some users report a slightly tacky finish, others find the consistency too thick |
Best for Oily Skin: Revision Skincare Revox 7
- Why We Love It: Say you aren’t interested in targeting deep-set wrinkles but rather fine expression lines around the face. In that case, Revision Skincare’s Revox 7 oil-free, antiaging serum is for you. Just think of it as Botox in a bottle. In case you hadn’t noticed, seven is the magic number here. The formula has seven key peptides that reduce the appearance of seven types of expression lines, including crow’s feet, forehead lines, and marionette lines. The peptide-rich product also works to tone and tighten the skin.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides
- Skin Benefits: Specifically, Revox 7 seeks to diminish seven types of expression lines: forehead lines, frown lines, crow’s feet, bunny nose lines, laugh lines, lip lines, and marionette lines.
- How to Apply: According to Revision Skincare, apply one pump to expression lines around the eyes, forehead, mouth, and neck twice daily before moisturizer.
- Best For: Normal skin, combination skin, oily skin, sensitive skin
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
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| Visibly smooths fine lines, hydrating, and gentle | Can leave a slightly tacky finish |
Dermatologists’ Pick: Skinbetter AlphaRet Overnight Cream
- Why We Love It: Skinbetter’s AlphaRet Overnight Cream is by far the most recommended wrinkle cream, with the stamp of approval from Hartman, Greenfield, Shirazi, and Marino. In short, experts love it because it works well while being gentle on the skin. “It is a great retinol option for those who have had difficulty tolerating other retinols, and exfoliates in a gentle way,” Hartman explains. Because of this, Marino notes, “I can give this to the most reactive client, and they have no problem incorporating it into their routine.” She adds: “This product features Skinbetter’s patented AlphaRet technology, which combines retinoic acid with alpha hydroxy acids.” The formula also contains retinoic acid, which is the most active form of retinol, paired with lactic acid, which is both hydrating and brightening, she notes. The addition of glycolic acid further helps improve texture.
- Key Ingredients: AlphaRet technology, retinoic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, lactic acid, glycolic acid
- Skin Benefits: “The formula also contains peptides, which are the building blocks for our collagen and give support to our skin, and a combination of antioxidants to support healthy and reduce free radical damage, and it’s in a nourishing ceramide-rich base to counteract dryness and moisturize the skin, building off its skin-smoothing properties,” Marino says.
- How to Apply: According to Skinbetter, this should be applied at night to the face, avoiding the eye area.
- Best For: Dull skin, uneven texture, oily skin, combination skin, sensitive skin
- Size: 1.0 fl. oz.
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| Moisturizing, gentle | Not as widely available as some other products |
Best Plant-Based Retinol: Ren Clean Skincare Bio Retinoid Youth Cream
- Why We Love It: Nava Greenfield, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, recommends this moisturizer as part of a wrinkle-smoothing regime. Composed of 92% naturally derived ingredients, the gentle cream promotes firmer and more supple skin without irritation. Vegan and cruelty-free, the antiaging moisturizer is powered by the plant-based retinol alternative, Bidens pilosa, which is generally easier for sensitive skin to tolerate. It also has soothing and hydrating red microalgae and the antioxidant-packed olive leaf extract.
- Key Ingredients: Plant-based retinol, Bidens pilosa, red microalgae, olive leaf extract
- Skin Benefits: “I like this clean beauty product because it has a plant-based retinol alternative, Bidens pilosa, that minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, which allows you to layer it with another retinol product,” Greenfield says. Additionally, the red microalgae provide a lifting and smoothing effect.
- How to Apply: According to Ren Clean Skincare, one to two pumps of this cream can be applied both morning and night to the face and neck.
- Best For: Normal skin, combination skin, sensitive skin
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
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| Ideal for those who don’t tolerate retinol well | Though some users like the osmanthus fragrance, others find it overbearing |
Best for Tech Neck: U Beauty The Sculpt Neck + Décolleté Concentrate
- Why We Love It: After a depressing Teams meeting, I realized that something had to be done. Hoping to smooth out the neck wrinkles that the camera had picked up (glaringly, I might add), I picked up U Beauty’s new Neck + Décolleté Concentrate. The concentrate works in three phases: Initially, it creates a “tensor” effect, or a quick, visible reduction of wrinkle depth that equates to wrinkle-blurring. Next, its 4D hyaluronic acid sinks into the middle layers of the skin to support hydration. Then, over time, U Beauty’s SIREN capsule technology continually delivers fatty acids, peptides, and biometric plant extracts to target laxity and boost collagen production in the skin. This is all very high-tech, but on a practical level, I can say that the wrinkle-blurring results of stage one are swift and irrefutable. I now keep a bottle of this on my desk, and my meetings are all the smoother thanks to it—in more ways than one. I can’t wait to see what happens over time.
- Key ingredients: Ectoin, hexapeptide, 4D hyaluronic acid
- Skin Benefits: The cream is meant to improve the density of thin, crepey skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Overall, it makes the skin on the chest and neck appear more lifted and contoured, and it can boost hydration instantly and collagen production over time.
- How to Apply: Using upward strokes, apply the cream to the neck and chest morning and night. The brand recommends starting at the décolleté and moving up toward the jawline.
- Best For: The cream is best for smoothing the skin on the neck and chest—and, in my opinion, for making on-camera meetings a tad more pleasant.
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
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| Hydrates, firms, visibly lifts the skin, fragrance-free | Like most wrinkle creams, this is most effective when used in conjunction with in-office procedures |
Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles: Perricone MD High Potency Growth Factor Firming Lifting Eye Serum
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- Why We Love It: Dermatologist Elyse Love names this Perricone MD formula as one of the best eye creams for wrinkles. Why? She says, “This gentle and lightweight eye serum contains growth factors to increase hydration and firmness of the skin.” An advanced ingredient known to promote cell healing and rejuvenation, growth factors are clutch for boosting collagen and elastin levels. The formula also contains niacinamide, which brightens the skin around the eyes; an infusion of DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) helps improve the skin’s firmness and elasticity. The lightweight, serum-like cream sinks readily into the skin, making it easy to layer under moisturizer or makeup.
- Key Ingredients: Growth factors, niacinamide, DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol)
- Skin Benefits: This ingredient cocktail comes together to brighten dark circles, even tone from hyperpigmentation, and plump and reduce sagging along the undereye.
- How to Apply: According to Perricone MD, apply the serum to the eye area using your ring finger morning and night.
- Best For: All skin types
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
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| Hydrating, firming, lightweight | Some users note that the pump can dispense too much product |
Best Retinol Cream: Alastin Renewal Retinol
- Why We Love It: Dr. Azadeh Shirazi’s pick is the Alastin Renewal Retinol cream that’s powered by its rejuvenating namesake ingredient to improve skin tone and texture. According to Shirazi, this cream offers the advantage of “retinol encapsulated in a solid lipid to improve the delivery of retinol.” What’s more, this cruelty-free, noncomedogenic, and hypoallergenic cream is infused with oat extract and silver mushroom to soothe the skin. The formulation is also available with two retinol concentrations—0.25 and 0.5 strength—so those unaccustomed to retinol can start with the lighter iteration.
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, oat extract, silver mushroom.
- Skin Benefits: This is “formulated with oat extract and silver mushroom to calm and soothe the skin reducing irritation,” Shirazi explains. “It’s paired with coenzyme Q-10, an antioxidant to boost and protect the activity of retinol.”
- How to Apply: According to Alastin, one pump of this treatment should be applied each evening. The brand recommends incorporating two to three times per week until tolerance increases.
- Best For: All skin types
- Size: 1.0 fl. oz.
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| Noncomedogenic | Has the potential to irritate some sensitive skin types |
Do anti-wrinkle creams actually work?
Yes, wrinkle creams do actually work to smooth, plump, and firm the look of skin over time. However, experts emphasize that continual use and choosing one with a host of rejuvenating ingredients is key. And that’s not all: Pairing your antiaging regimen with a cleanser, vitamin C serum, and the best sunscreen for face (for starters) is key to achieving your skin goals.
A dermatologist’s tip for picking a good-quality wrinkle cream
When dermatologist Dr. Lauren Penzi must recommend a wrinkle cream, she looks for three qualities. “The most important is the type and quality of ingredients, as this will dictate efficacy in minimizing wrinkles,” she says. Next, “the vehicle [or] formulation, as this will dictate if it is a good choice for your specific skin type. And third, price point, as there should be an effective yet affordable option for everyone.”
What ingredients to look for in a wrinkle cream
Peptides, growth factors, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid are the ingredients experts say comprise the best anti-wrinkle creams, along with retinol. Here are some more important ingredients dermatologists highly recommend to minimize fine lines and wrinkles:
- Vitamin A: “An effective wrinkle cream will soften fine lines and wrinkles on the face while also boosting moisture in the skin,” says Dr. Corey L. Hartman, whose top ingredient endorsement is the vitamin A derivative retinol, which he dubs the gold standard ingredient. “Their benefits are numerous and unparalleled, and are arguably the most important step that you can take for overall skin health and antiaging after sun protection factor.”
- Retinols: “[Formulas featuring] ingredients like retinol, growth factors, and peptides are going to take time to see improvement,” facialist Candace Marino says. “But overall, when you exfoliate and hydrate the skin, you will see less texture, more radiance, and more bounce to the skin, making it look more youthful.”
- AHAs: Penzi adds exfoliants to the list. “Low dose AHAs, like glycolic acid, act as a gentle exfoliator to smooth out the appearance of wrinkles.”
- SPF: Most importantly, make sure your skin is protected from harmful UV rays with consistent sunscreen use to stave off sun damage. “Doesn’t matter what wrinkle cream you are applying on your face at night,” esthetician Taylor Worden emphasizes. “If you aren’t applying SPF during the day to protect your skin, then you are wasting your time and money.” Even when summer is over, be mindful of your sun exposure and be sure to use a facial sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.
- Growth Factors: According to Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York and New Jersey, “growth factors serve as signaling molecules to stimulate the production of collagen, which in turn improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” She adds that they are generally well tolerated by all skin types, including sensitive skin.
- Peptides: Peptides help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by working to stimulate collagen production, Dr. Garshick explains. In this way, she says, “peptides can help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as firm and tighten the skin.” She adds that some peptides, such as argireline or matrixyl, can also help improve the appearance of expression lines by blocking the release of neurotransmitters through a mechanism similar to Botox. “While they do not deliver the same results as getting [Botox] injections, these peptides can also help to soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” she says. “Peptides can be used by all skin types but may be especially good for those who cannot tolerate a retinol and those with sensitive skin.”
- Vitamin C: “Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to protect the skin against free-radical damage,” says Dr. Garshick. “Since free radical damage can lead to collagen loss and worsen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, using vitamin C can help prevent wrinkles.” She adds that the antioxidant also contributes to collagen production, which is another way it helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Worden explains that by incorporating these rejuvenating ingredients into your regimen, you can expect the following results: fewer wrinkles and fine lines; even-toned skin; improved texture, dullness, and hyperpigmentation; and elasticity.
When should you start using a wrinkle cream?
“If your goal is to avoid all wrinkles, I would recommend starting one when you see the first signs of wrinkles, which is usually in your 20s,” Greenfield notes. “A cream will not prevent the formation of all wrinkles, but it can boost collagen production, an important step in anti-wrinkle skin care.” As you can never be too cautious, start with one active ingredient skin-care product at a time when testing new additions to your skin-care routine, instead of opting for multi-action products.
Shirazi shares a bit more helpful application guidance on using a face cream for wrinkles: “If you are starting a retinol, avoid or reduce your exfoliation until your skin gets acclimated. For those with sensitive skin, avoid a retinol with other potent actives like vitamin C or glycolic acid at the same time. Wait two to four weeks before adding one or the other. Some may not tolerate strong acids like glycolic or salicylic acid with a retinol. I suggest skipping the retinol the nights you exfoliate with a strong acid.”
When to apply wrinkle cream in your skin-care routine
Applying your chosen wrinkle cream isn’t much different than applying our favorite moisturizer. Generally speaking, it’ll be the last step in your skin-care regimen. However, because these formulas are most often packed with potent ingredients, it’s best to apply them according to the provided instructions.
What do dermatologists recommend to treat wrinkles?
“A personalized approach combining skin-care and professional treatments is essential for optimal, long-lasting results when treating wrinkles,” says Engelman. “I typically recommend a combination of daily sun protection and a retinoid to help boost collagen and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and peptides can also help to plump and smooth the skin, softening fine lines.” For more pronounced wrinkles, Engelman recommends adding in-office procedures—more on that below—to the aforementioned regime.
Do wrinkle creams work as well as in-office treatments?
According to Engelman, the best wrinkle creams are effective for enhancing skin texture, diminishing the appearance of fine lines, and maintaining skin health over time. “However, more pronounced wrinkles often necessitate more intensive interventions,” as treatments can provide more dramatic and long-lasting results compared to creams alone.
Idriss adds that a tailored combination of treatments is key for smoothing out wrinkles in a way that befits each individual’s needs. “Botox effectively relaxes muscles to diminish dynamic wrinkles, while dermal fillers restore volume to deeper lines,” she says. “Resurfacing lasers exfoliate the skin and stimulate collagen production, enhancing texture over time.” As another option, microneedling creates micro-injuries that trigger collagen production; Idriss sometimes combines this with PRP (or a platelet-rich plasma injection) for added benefits. “Ultrasound and radio frequency therapies also stimulate collagen for lifting and tightening effects,” she says. “Consulting with a qualified, board-certified dermatologist is essential to determine the best options for your specific skin concerns.”
Do wrinkle creams help prevent wrinkles?
“Wrinkle creams can help as a preventative measure to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, especially when they contain ingredients like retinoids, antioxidants, and peptides,” Engelman says. “Retinoids are particularly effective because they stimulate collagen production and increase cell turnover, which keeps the skin looking smoother and more youthful. Antioxidants such as vitamin C also help to protect the skin from free radical damage caused by UV rays.” And, of course, SPF reigns supreme. Idriss, who never hesitates to deliver straight-talking antiaging advice to her 1.1 million Instagram followers, puts it this way: “The number one thing you can do for prevention is to wear the damn sunscreen!”
What causes wrinkles?
“There are two types of wrinkles: static and dynamic,” says Deanne Mraz, MD, FAAD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in Connecticut. “Static wrinkles are the ones that appear even when our face is at rest, while dynamic wrinkles appear while the face is moving—for example, smile lines by the eyes when you’re grinning big.” She explains that frequent facial movements can ultimately cause static wrinkles, and the natural loss of collagen and elastin over time also contributes to the formation of wrinkles. “As the levels of collagen and elastin in our skin diminish, it makes the skin less structured, tight, and resilient to ‘bounce back’ after moving,” she explains. And while genetics do come into play, Mraz says, lifestyle factors that are largely within one’s control—such as UV exposure, smoking, diet, and skincare—play a large role in determining how quickly collagen and elastin degrade.
How often to use a wrinkle cream
According to Garshick, a wrinkle cream can be used once or twice a day, depending on its active ingredients. “For example, using a vitamin C cream in the morning and a retinol, growth factor, or peptide-containing product in the evening is a common, simplified routine for antiaging,” she says.
What to look for in a wrinkle cream
Mraz recommends looking for a wrinkle cream that works to repair existing damage while protecting the skin from free radicals, dehydration, and other factors that could contribute to wrinkle formation. Some specific ingredients she recommends in particular are broken down below.
- Exfoliating Acids or Retinol: A wrinkle cream with AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid or retinol will encourage skin-cell turnover rate, Mraz explains. This helps the skin shed dead, dull, damaged skin cells while stimulating the body s natural ability to produce new, healthy skin cells. “A wrinkle serum or cream containing these actives should be used at night to avoid any increased sun sensitivity they can cause,” she notes. And for skin types that don’t tolerate retinol well, she suggests bakuchiol as a plant-based alternative.
- Antioxidants: Antioxidant ingredients such as vitamin C and niacinamide help repair and protect the skin from cellular damage, Mraz notes. “Vitamin C is known for its brightening effects and supportive role in collagen synthesis, while niacinamide is soothing, improving skin texture and reducing redness and inflammation.”
- Hyaluronic Acid: “This is a super hydrator that won’t weigh your skin down,” Mraz says. “HA pulls in water to the skin and helps it hold onto it. It’s excellent for helping the skin regulate hydration levels which improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Meet the skin experts
- Dr. Nava Greenfield is a New York City–based and board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.
- Dr. Corey L. Hartman is a Birmingham, Alabama-based and board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology.
- Dr. Hadley King is a New York City–based and board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology.
- Dr. Elyse Love is a New York City–based and board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic treatments with a holistic approach to skin wellness.
- Candace Marino is a Beverly Hills–based celebrity facialist, otherwise known as The LA Facialist.
- Dr. Lauren Penzi is a New York–based board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Azadeh Shirazi is a San Diego–based and board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.
- Taylor Worden is a New York City–based celebrity esthetician and founder of Taylor Worden Skin.
- Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York City.
- Shereene Idriss, is a board-certified dermatologist, founder of Idriss Dermatology in NYC, and founder of the Dr. Idriss skin-care line.
- Dr. Saami Khalifian is a double board-certified dermatologist at SOM Aesthetics in Encinitas, California.
- Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical Center.
- Deanne Mraz, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University of Medicine.
