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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. Read on to discover the best wrinkle creams our expert dermatologists and estheticians have actually tested and recommend—along with important ingredient callouts and application best practices.
Best Plant-Based Retinol: Ren Clean Skincare Bio Retinoid Youth Cream
Dr. Nava Greenfield recommends this moisturizer composed of 92% naturally derived ingredients to promote firmer and more supple skin without irritation.
- Key Ingredients: A vegan and cruelty-free, anti-aging moisturizer powered by the plant-based retinol alternative, Bidens pilosa, along with red microalgae.
- 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.
Best Drugstore Pickup: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream
“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 and hyaluronic acid are the stars of this drugstore pickup.
- 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.
Best Encapsulated Retinol: Alastin Renewal Retinol
Dr. Azadeh Shirazi’s pick is the Alastin Renewal Retinol cream that’s powered by the rejuvenating ingredient to improve skin tone and texture.
- Key Ingredients: According to Shirazi, this is powered by “retinol encapsulated in a solid lipid to improve the delivery of retinol.” What’s more, this cruelty-free, non-comedogenic, and hypoallergenic cream is also infused with oat extract and 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 co-enzyme 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.
Best for Beginners: Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Cream
Worden notes that Clinique’s wrinkle cream is an excellent starter for younger skin. It’s designed to be safe for all skin types, and it provides intense moisture, especially to dry skin.
- Key Ingredients: An oil- and fragrance-free cream infused with a peptide complex, hyaluronic acid, soybean seed extract, and 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.
Best for Deep Wrinkles: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
Of the best anti-aging creams, this pick from RoC’s Retinol Correxion lineup is an editor-favorite, along with its corresponding eye cream, which came recommended by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach to veil dark circles, crow’s feet, and puffiness.
- Key Ingredients: The non-comedogenic cream features a blend of retinol, glycolic acid, squalane, and shea butter to be effective, yet hydrating.
- 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 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.
Best Illuminating Cream: Jan Marini Transformation Cream
“[This] cream goes beyond your normal anti-aging cream,” Marino says. Good for all skin types, she continues, “This provides an instant glow and brings life back to dull, depleted complexions.”
- Key Ingredients: “It boasts a patented growth factor technology, along with peptides, antioxidants, and alpha hydroxy acids to renew the skin,” Marino explains of this illuminating face moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, glycerin, and soybean oil help balance out the formula and keep it gentle.
- Skin Benefits: Crafted to deliver a glow-y 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.
Best Overnight Treatment: Isdin Age Contour Night Cream
Worden is a fan of Isdin’s overnight cream formulated to repair, firm, and calm while you sleep.
- Key Ingredients: Worden highlights that this is “packed with what helps with fine lines and wrinkles,” though melatonin, carnosine, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and a skin-calming extract are featured in this rich cream formula too.
- 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.
Best Drugstore: Olay Retinol24 + Peptide Night Face Moisturizer
“Olay Regenerist 24 Retinol Night Moisturizer is my a fantastic drug store brand retinol for many reasons,” says dermatologist Dr. Lauren Penzi, highlighting its ingredient composition and stellar results as reasons to add it to your beauty cabinet.
- Key Ingredients: “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, it is fragrance-free.
- Skin Benefits: She continues, “It penetrates deep into the skin surface to address fine lines and wrinkles, as well as smoothness, brightness, firming, dark spots, and pores. It also hydrates the skin and help 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: Drugstore, all skin types
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Best for Dry Skin: Bliss Youth Got This Prevent-4 Pure Retinol Deep Hydration Moisturizer
This deep hydrator by Bliss came at the recommendation of Dr. Hadley King, and proves that an effective wrinkle cream doesn’t require a steep price tag.
- Key Ingredients: A silky, lightweight, clean, and vegan moisturizer powered by stabilized retinol and the brand’s Prevent-4 Complex composed of amino acids, peptides, squalane, and antioxidants.
- Skin Benefits: According to King, this “contains retinol to help stimulate collagen production and increase cell turnover, as well as antioxidants to help protect the skin from damage from free radicals. Also contains moisturizing ingredients to hydrate the skin, support the skin barrier and lock in moisture.” Over time, expect glow-y skin and refined skin texture.
- How to Apply: According to Bliss, this can be used both morning and night. Just apply SPF during the daytime.
- Best For: Dry skin, combination skin, oily skin
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Best for Makeup Prep: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
“It’s great for dry and aging skin, [and] goes on like shea butter,” says Worden of this Charlotte Tilbury formula. “It’s called magic for a reason.”
- Key Ingredients: “Charlotte Tillbury’s magic cream is packed with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and E,” says Worden; also included in this formula are a supercharged peptide complex, botanical oils, frangipani flower extract, glycerin, and aloe vera.
- Skin Benefits: Designed specifically for use backstage at fashion shows to prep models’ skin, the cream promises to instantly deliver a glowing, plump complexion and reduce the look of fine lines.
- How to Apply: According to Charlotte Tilbury, this can be applied whenever you need a radiance boost; start at your lower cheeks and sweep the cream outward and upward. It can be used as a day cream (before foundation) or as the last step in your nighttime regimen.
- Best For: Dry skin, normal skin, combination skin
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Best All-Around Pick: Skinbetter AlphaRet Overnight Cream
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 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.”
- Key Ingredients: “This product features Skinbetter’s patented AlphaRet technology, which combines retinoic acid with alpha hydroxy acids,” Marino says. “This formula contains retinoic acid (the most active form of retinol) paired with lactic acid, which is both hydrating and brightening, and glycolic acid to further improve texture.”
- 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.
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 product at a time when testing new additions to your skin-care routine, instead of opting for multi-action products.