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With picks for every budget from
Texture changes, dark spots, crepey skin, and moisture loss are ordinary effects of aging. We’re all for embracing getting older, but the fact is there’s still a substantial market for anti-aging products, namely, wrinkle creams. So in the spirit of supporting all types of skincare journeys, we’re here to help you find the best ones.
According to dermatologist Diane Madfes, MD, wrinkles are a result of sun damage, sagging skin, and loss of elasticity. As such, the most effective products for treating them will directly address the causes. Deep wrinkles—those furrows most often noticed around your eyes, mouth, and on your forehead—are more stubborn, but they can be treated, too.
“Look for ingredients that are going to stimulate collagen and elastin, like retinoids, glycolic acids, and peptides,” says Madfes. “Remember to protect from future sun damage with UV blockers and DNA repair enzymes.”
We conducted hours of research on the best wrinkle creams, evaluating each formula on active ingredients, benefits targeted, and results. We also considered a variety of skin types and concerns—because although these formulas primarily address wrinkles, they often contain ingredients targeted to specific skin types as well. After consulting with board-certified dermatologists for their expert recommendations, we narrowed down our list to give you the best in show.
Best Overall: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
If we could only pick one wrinkle cream to use until the end of time, we’d go with Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni. It checks two of Madfes’s recommended boxes (retinol and peptides) to support collagen production, boost elasticity, firm sagging skin, and—more to the point—reduce the appearance of wrinkles as well as sun damage and dark spots.12
What’s more, this all-star cream contains ceramides and nourishing fatty acids from plant oils to minimize irritation from the retinol and replenish the skin barrier.3 It also promises to deliver a plumping effect and an all-around supple, healthy-looking complexion.
A-Passioni is undoubtedly expensive. Nonetheless, we stand behind it not only as one of the best Drunk Elephant products but arguably the best wrinkle cream out there today. And we love how the superfood-rich ingredients also target uneven skin tone, improving the look of dark spots over time.
Best Budget: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
On a budget? You can still get great results from an affordable formula. Case in point: RoC. Containing two of Madfes’s recommended actives (retinol and glycolic acid) this night cream resurfaces dull, dry skin while smoothing fine lines and supporting collagen production.4
Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Cream + Hyaluronic Acid
When it comes to over-the-counter retinol products, Neutrogena is a drugstore standby. The brand’s Regenerating Cream (which can be used daily) combines the vitamin A derivative with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to deliver plumping hydration while smoothing wrinkles.5
Best With Peptides: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Madfes recommends wrinkle creams with peptides as they help strengthen the skin while improving firmness and delivering a lifted look. To take it a step further, Olay blends amino acids with niacinamide (vitamin B3) to boost collagen production and radiance on photoaged skin.6 Use it at night to wake up to the best results. “Each morning, I woke up with hydrated skin, and no retinol-induced flakey patches,” our tester said.
Best Daytime: CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream with Sunscreen
Some would argue the best wrinkle cream is sunscreen, as it helps prevent lines from appearing in the first place.7 That’s why we love CeraVe’s Renewing Day Cream, which contains a gentle dose of line-correcting retinol, SPF 30 protection from the sun’s damaging rays, and barrier-replenishing ceramides to boot. Use it prior to makeup to allow the product to sink into your skin.
Best Overnight: Specific Beauty Radiance Repair Night Treatment
Before you hit the sack, slather on a thin layer of this reparative night cream. It contains wrinkle-reducing retinol, radiance-boosting antioxidants, and squalane to moisturize while keeping irritation at bay.8
Best for Crow’s Feet: The Inkey List Retinol Eye Cream
If you’re looking to target crow’s feet, your best bet is a retinol eye cream, like this supremely affordable pick from The Inkey List. It hydrates and plumps with hyaluronic acid, boosts radiance with vitamin C, and, thanks to the slow-release formula, reduces the appearance of wrinkles without the irritating effects of retinol.9
Best for Neck: bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Neck Cream
You don’t necessarily need a designated cream for your neck, but if it helps you remember to moisturize below the chin, we’re all for it. This one—which is best used at night on clean, dry skin—contains Bidens pilosa extract, a plant-derived retinol alternative that’s been shown to offer similar wrinkle-reducing effects.10
Best Repairative: Priori DNA Intense Recovery Cream
Dermatologists love this formula. “Priori DNA Intense Recovery Cream contains DNA repair enzymes, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C,” Madfes tells Byrdie. As mentioned, DNA repair enzymes can help prevent photoaging—but this doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen.11
Best Tightening: Yeouth Retinol Moisturizer
For a tightening effect, reach for this wallet-friendly moisturizer. It combines two of Madfes’s recommended ingredients for wrinkles (retinol and peptides), plus soothing green tea and plumping hyaluronic acid.
Best Firming: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Anti-Aging Moisturizer
Dr. Dennis Gross combines anti-aging retinol with bakuchiol and rambutan, resulting in a boost in collagen production to improve elasticity, minimize wrinkles, and deliver visibly firmer skin.12
Best for Sensitive Skin: Plantkos Phyto A Face Lotion
If your skin doesn’t tolerate retinol well, Plantkos Phyto A is a prime choice. It contains bakuchiol, an up-and-coming plant-derived retinol alternative that offers similar effects without any redness, stinging, or irritation.13
Best for Dry Skin: BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream
Thirsty complexion? Go with BeautyStat. It calls on hyaluronic acid to draw moisture from the air, bind it to your skin, and keep it hydrated for hours on end. Not only that, but ceramides replenish the skin barrier and support its moisture mantle. The lightweight formula is also great under makeup.
Best for Dry Skin, Runner Up: ROSE Ingleton MD Skin Calming Booster
Developed by board-certified dermatologist Rose Ingelton, MD, this calming formula is ideal for those with dry skin looking to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In addition to hyaluronic acid, this multi-tasking serum includes niacinamide to promote skin barrier health, while also reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It’s a great retinol alternative for those with dry skin who might experience flaking or irritation from retinol products.
Best With Glycolic Acid: Skinergy Beauty Skin Guardian Moisturizer
Madfes is a fan of glycolic acid for wrinkles, as the AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) sloughs off dead cells to reveal smoother skin underneath. This moisturizer also replenishes the skin with plant oils and calms inflammation with soothing ingredients like aloe, green tea, and reishi.14
Best Re-Texturizing: MGSkinLabs Inc Essential Antioxidant Infusion
Developed by board-certified dermatologist, Michele Green, MD, this retinol active infuses a blend of antioxidants to help deliver plump skin with diminished visible lines and wrinkles. A pure concentration of vitamins A, C, and E help cell turnover and exfoliate skin gently overnight. We love how the formula includes botanic actives like lavender, geranium, and bitter orange to help address elasticity and texture without causing irritation. Although the product is expensive, we think it’s worth it, especially because the potent formula can be applied sparingly to achieve results.
“This formula has a velvety texture that sinks into skin immediately,” said Byrdie Senior Commerce Editor Jill Di Donato. “I love how it helps to correct discoloration as well as soften the appearance of lines, without irritating my sensitive skin.”
Best for Wrinkles and Puffiness: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream
This dermatologist-developed and dermatologist-tested eye cream contains hyaluronic acid—a true powerhouse—and is accessible and available over the counter at drugstores everywhere. We love how the formulation is both deeply moisturizing and also gentle, so it can even work for daily use.
Best with AHA: SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream
Dr. Madfes is a fan of wrinkle creams with alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids, and this luxury formula from SkinBetter contains both. AHA is in the form of lactic acid and glycolic acid, which help retexturize your skin and address dark spots4 while the retinol gets to work on smoothing fine lines and creases.2 The price might be hard to justify, but if it’s within your budget, you can count on noticeable results.
Best Serum: Senté Dermal Contour Pressed Serum
For a more concentrated dose of active ingredients, you might consider using a serum instead of a cream. We love this one from Senté. The hero ingredient is Heparan Sulfate Analog, the brand’s patented molecule that promises to repair the skin, soothe inflammation, and deliver a firming effect. It also contains brightening niacinamide and peptides to smooth fine lines and plump the skin.1
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Drunk Elephant A-Passioni, a brilliant moisturizer containing line-reducing retinol, collagen-supporting peptides, and barrier-replenishing ceramides. For a more affordable pick, consider a drugstore favorite, RoC Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, which combines retinol with resurfacing glycolic acid.
What To Look For in a Wrinkle Cream
Retinol
According to Kavita Mariwalla, MD, Byrdie Beauty & Wellness board member, this over-the-counter anti-aging ingredient has a proven track record of helping to stimulate collagen production to help smooth fine lines and deep wrinkles. Our best overall pick, Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream, is our favorite option containing retinol, but RoC Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream is a great budget pick.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
Not only does this category of exfoliating acids help to even out skin tone and texture, one of them in particular, glycolic acid, also has some collagen-boosting effects as well.15 SkinBetter AlphaRet Overnight Cream combines glycolic acid and its AHA cousin lactic acid to retexturize and smooth the skin.
Peptides
There’s a whole new category of peptides that help with skin elasticity and firmness, both of which play a role in the formation of wrinkles and deep wrinkles, too, explains Mariwalla. Not to mention that peptides also tend to be better tolerated and elicit less sensitivity than the retinoids and acids of the world. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sulpting Cream is an excellent choice for those looking for a product containing peptides.
Vitamin C
This vitamin is a triple threat, acting as a protective antioxidant and excellent radiance-booster while also helping to stimulate collagen production for smoother, less wrinkled skin.16 Priori DNA Intense Recovery Creme contains brightening vitamin C, plus reparative enzymes that give mature complexions a boost.
FAQ
Do wrinkle creams work?
If you choose the right formula that contains some of the tried-and-true anti-aging ingredients we mentioned, use it diligently, and have a little bit of patience—they will work. However, it’s important to remember that, 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.
At what age should you start using wrinkle cream?
The age at which you start seeing wrinkles will depend largely on external and internal factors, according to Mariwalla. That being said, she says that generally speaking, your mid-20s is a good time to start an anti-aging skincare routine, including a wrinkle cream.
How do you apply wrinkle cream?
For retinoid-based creams, 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 you’re using 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. Well-moisturized skin is plump skin, and wrinkles are less noticeable when skin is hydrated. 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 niacinamides, 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.
