Used consistently and early, these line-softening picks from SkinMedica, Neutrogena, and EltaMD can do your skin a lot of good.
Swiping on a bold red lipstick, packing on a light-reflecting eye shadow, and feathering through unruly brows — makeup is full of moments of instant gratification. Skin care? Not so much, especially when we’re talking about face creams that are tasked with minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
But, before we delve into how long it takes to see a wrinkle cream’s effect, let’s discuss why exactly they exist in the first place. Nashville-based board-certified dermatologist and founder of Curcio Dermatology, Natalie M. Curcio, MD, says that as we age, our skin experiences two forms of aging: extrinsic aging (which refers to external or environmental causes of aging like pollution, smoke, and, most commonly, sun exposure) and intrinsic aging (or chronological aging, a genetically determined process that leads to loss of collagen and elastin in the skin). “Both types of aging lead to wrinkles, sagging, and other signs of maturity,” she says. Your skin is also likely to become drier with aging, which is due to decreased sebum production and cumulative sun damage, says Ava Shamban, MD, a Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Five Medical Spas.
While you can’t reverse signs of aging altogether — and we’re of the opinion that aging is something to celebrate, always — you can certainly invest in a wrinkle cream. These potent moisturizers are formulated with active ingredients and designed to temporarily improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles — all while making up for lost moisture.
There are three things to consider when it comes to wrinkle creams. 1) They have to be formulated with the proper wrinkle-reducing ingredients, like peptides, hyaluronic acid, retinol retinol (a.k.a. vitamin A), and ceramides, to name a few. 2) You won’t see results from most, if not all, skin-care products overnight, and your expectations have to be realistic. “If you are looking for benefits, including the improvement in skin tone, texture, redness, and reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, it usually takes 8 to 12 weeks of twice-daily application with a moisturizer to see results,” says Dr. Curcio. In other words, patience is truly a virtue. 3) The earlier you start using wrinkle cream, the better. “Used early and consistently, a wrinkle cream can reduce the appearance of many of the fine lines and wrinkles we see developing in our 30s that become more permanent in our 40s and 50s,” says Dr. Shamban.
That being said, if you’re looking for a more intensive method of minimizing wrinkles, Ontario-based board-certified dermatologist Patricia Oyetakin, MD, recommends combining your topical products with cosmetic procedures like Botox or laser resurfacing.
Best with SPF: Cosmedix Peptide-Rich Defense
Given that UV damage is a major factor in skin aging, Dr. Oyetakin says that daily sunscreen use should be regarded as an anti-wrinkle treatment. You get the best of both worlds with the Cosmedix Peptide-Rich Defense — it has SPF 50 and is packed with peptides, which Dr. Oyetakin explains are “biologically active amino acid molecules that have been shown to stimulate cell turnover, collagen, and elastin to decrease fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin texture.”
Best for Long-Lasting Hydration: SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
Dr. Shamban says the SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator is a lightweight formula that works well for those with reactive, sensitive skin since it’s fragrance-free. Aside from wrinkle-reducing peptides, the formula also uses hyaluronic acid to treat dry skin for up to eight hours — perfect for keeping your skin well-moisturized throughout the day or while you catch some zzz’s.
Best Night Cream: EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer
Your skin restores itself while you sleep and the EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer, as recommended by Dr. Shamban, helps facilitate the repair process. This lightweight, silky lotion is formulated with antioxidant-rich linoleic and thioctic acids to stave off the day’s free radicals as well as niacinamide to reduce redness and balance oil production. As for those wrinkles? Hydrolyzed rice protein stimulates cell growth and improves elasticity.
Best Lightweight Cream: Alastin Restorative Skin Complex
So, you want your cream to do its job, but you don’t want to feel anything in the process. Cue Alastin’s Restorative Skin Complex, which Dr. Curcio says contains a combination of peptides along with botanicals like trimella to increase collagen production and gently hydrate the skin. This lightweight formula is especially great for those looking to target dullness since it also includes brighteners like niacinamide and squalane.
Best for Forehead Lines: Irene Forte Prickly Pear Face Cream
Myoxinol, a bio-peptide extracted from hibiscus seeds, is the reason why the Italian-made Irene Forte Prickly Pear Face Cream works so well for wrinkles. The ingredient works in a similar manner as injectables by targeting deep-set forehead wrinkles and expression lines that pop up as we age. Plus, it contains hyaluronic acid, which Dr. Oyetakin says “temporarily fills in the spaces between collagen and elastin fibers, giving the appearance of smooth skin,” and vitamin E for a stronger barrier, and subsequently, less moisture loss.
Best for Traveling: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
Similar to its Best of Beauty-winning eye cream, RoC’s Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream is housed in a one-fluid ounce bottle, making it easy to tote around in a carry-on. Aside from convenience, Dr. Shamban says the cream contains retinol, which, if used on a daily basis, will deliver firm, glowing skin after several months. And, because over-the-counter retinoids are easier to tolerate, you may not feel the need to gradually phase this retinol cream into your skin-care routine as you would a prescription one.
Best Plumping Cream: Isdin Isdinceuticals Age Contour Night Face Moisturizer
Packed with wrinkle fighters like carnosine and niacinamide, Dr. Shamban says the Isdin Isdinceuticals Age Contour Night Face Moisturizer also has hyaluronic acid, which binds water to the skin cells, maintains the structural integrity of the skin’s tissues, and stimulates collagen production — all of which contributes to our skin’s thickness and firmness. When considering the “plumping” effect of hyaluronic acid in this nighttime moisturizer, Dr. Shamban says to think about the volume difference between a dry sponge and a wet sponge. “When wet, the sponge expands to occupy more space, giving a plumping effect,” she says. “This metaphor also applies to skin.”
Best for a Stronger Skin Barrier: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Dr. Oyetakin recommends looking for formulas containing both humectants and occlusive agents to maintain hydration and barrier function, and that’s exactly why she recommends the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. It contains hyaluronic acid, a humectant that pulls water from the middle layer of skin to the outer, along with dimethicone, an occlusive substance that prevents water loss.
Most Universal: Dr. Brandt Wrinkle Smoothing Cream 2.0
The Dr. Brandt Wrinkle Smoothing Cream 2.0 wins for best universal because it works for all skin types and seasons. It has a lightweight consistency that won’t feel heavy or greasy on oilier skin (or during the spring and summer), yet it’s spiked with mega-nourishing hyaluronic acid to keep dry skin happy (perfect for fall and winter). Wrinkles along the forehead, crow’s feet, and smile lines get the boot thanks to Dr. Brandt’s Filmatrix Technology, which creates a skin-like film that tightens the look of those lines.
No-Mess Pump Applicator: Neocutis BioSerum Firm
There’s something oh-so-pleasant about not having to dip your fingers into a tub to get your product out, and while we (always) preach about having clean hands before touching your skin, the pump on the Neocutis BioSerum Firm makes things a little easier to work with (and more sanitary). The twice-a-day cream comes recommended by Dr. Curcio, who says the formula combines growth factors and peptides for less visible fine lines and wrinkles.
Best-Smelling: Pixi Rose Ceramide Cream
Once you’re past the heavenly floral aroma that comes from the Pixi Rose Ceramide Cream, you’ll appreciate the supple skin it provides. It’s super-charged with ceramides, a type of fatty acid that “seals” the skin, reduces moisture loss, and improves barrier function, says Dr. Shamban. When combined with a humectant like glycerin, as is the case in this cream, Dr. Shamban says you’re getting a one-two punch of hydration and plumping up of fine lines and wrinkles.
Best for Oily Skin: Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer
It can be challenging to balance oil production while maintaining skin hydration, but Youth To The People’s Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer manages to check all the boxes. Antioxidant-rich green tea unclogs pores while kale leaves skin looking glowy, never greasy. Plus, the gel consistency lends itself to lightweight hydration — no sticky residue here.
Best for Dry Skin: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair
Both Dr. Oyetakin and Dr. Shamban recommend the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair. Not only does it come with an accessible price point, but the hyaluronic acid it contains helps to balance out the drying side effects of the retinol in the formula. It boasts a rich, creamy texture, making it perfect for quenching your skin’s thirst if you’re prone to dryness.