The 12 Best Wrinkle Creams to Smooth, Repair, and Hydrate Every Skin Type
Thousands of customers praise these wrinkle creams for their effective anti-aging formulas.
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As much as we may not want to accept it, aging is inevitable—and our skin is one of the most obvious areas to show it. The good news is, some of the best wrinkle creams have powerful formulas that work to combat premature signs of aging, like fine lines and sun spots, and even to prevent them in the future.
Your best shot at maintaining a youthful, year-round glow is to have a few go-to anti-aging products in your skincare regimen, especially a wrinkle-fighting cream or two.
Do wrinkle creams really work?
The short answer is, yes. But the long answer is, it depends on your current skin goals.
According to Ted Lain, an MD, Austin-based board-certified dermatologist and chief medical officer at Sanova Dermatology, there are two types of categories that wrinkle creams fall under: collagen producers and hydrators. Before you can choose the best wrinkle cream for your skin, it’s important to understand the difference between the two types.
Collagen producers, says Lain, contain ingredients that increase collagen in the dermis, which is the second layer of the skin. These types of products can take months to make a noticeable difference, but the new collagen can last for years. Hydrators, on the other hand, contain ingredients that increase water content in the skin, plumping the surface and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While these types of creams can reduce the appearance of wrinkles relatively quickly, the effect also may only last a few hours.
Lain recommends looking for a couple of key anti-aging ingredients to narrow down your search for the best wrinkle cream.
“If you are playing the long game,” says Lain, “look for creams with retinol or retinaldehyde. Other ingredients that may help [long-term] include peptides and growth factors. If you need immediate reduction, look for creams that give you an ‘instant lift’ and contain hyaluronic acid.”
Where to Buy the Best Wrinkle Creams
In addition to deciding what type of wrinkle cream you’re in the market for, the best wrinkle cream for you will also depend on your skin type and budget, among other preferences.
With the expert’s advice in mind, we narrowed down the absolute best wrinkle creams to shop in 2020, according to online customer reviews. Whether you’re looking for a fix to dark circles under your eyes or an effective night cream for sensitive skin, there’s something to boost every anti-aging skincare routine below.
- Best Overall: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream, $23 (was $27)
- Best Retinol: Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Retinol Night Cream, $18 (was $20)
- Best Organic: Juice Beauty STEM CELLULAR Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer, $70
- Best Night Cream for Wrinkles: Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer, $25 (was $34)
- Best Value: Collagen Daily Face Moisturizer by L’Oreal Paris
- Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles: Olay Ultimate Eye Cream
- Best Gel: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cream, $16 (was $19)
- Best Gel Wrinkle Cream for Eyes: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Eye Cream, $14 (was $19)
- Best Luxe: Dermalogica Age Smart Super Rich Repair, $89
- Best for Sensitive Skin: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, $15
- Best for Forehead: TruSkin Retinol Moisturizer, $20
- Best for Neck: NeoStrata Triple Firming Anti-Aging Neck Cream
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A dynamic formula with an affordable price tag makes this the best overall wrinkle cream out there, according to thousands of glowing reviews. Neutrogena’s Regenerating Cream is praised for its ability to fade dark spots, plump skin, and leave an overall smoother surface in a matter of days. After using the wrinkle cream, one customer said, “the crow’s feet at my eyes and deep lines at my mouth are greatly reduced.”
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Retinol is a powerful, sought-after skincare ingredient for its anti-aging and skin-smoothing properties, and this night cream offers the strongest dose of retinol you can get without a prescription. Shoppers love how this formula targets deep wrinkles and gradually lifts and firms their skin with consistent use. “I have been using this for years and it is my favorite type of retinol; I use it twice a week and it really helps keep forehead lines at bay,” one reviewer wrote.
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If you’re committed to all organic skincare products, this wrinkle cream will fit right into your regimen. Formulated with plant-based stem cells, this anti-wrinkle moisturizer is vegan and paraben-free so it checks all of the organic skincare boxes. One reviewer said it “provides superior moisture, smells incredible, and is not greasy or oily,” adding that the moisturizer also “absorbs beautifully and is fantastic under makeup!”
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As the name hints, this anti-aging wrinkle cream works to regenerate the skin’s surface overnight, penetrating 10 layers deep so you can wake up to smoother, plumper, and more hydrated skin. Customers praise this night cream for its rich application that doesn’t leave skin feeling greasy in the morning. One customer said it “goes on velvety smooth; when I wake up my face still feels moisturized!”
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This lightweight cream can be applied day or night to leave skin plump and moisturized, filling in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. One shopper wrote that this moisturizer has an “excellent silky texture that smells nice and leaves my skin feeling moist, soft, and supple.” Another recommended this cream for anyone who wants a “glowy, fresh look on a budget.”
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If you’re looking for an effective three-in-one wrinkle cream for your under-eye area, the Ultimate Eye Cream by Olay might be your best bet. Designed to fight fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles, this anti-wrinkle eye cream is for those days when you need to tend to tired eyes. Customers also vouch for the long-term improvements they see to their under-eye area with consistent use. One reviewer wrote, “This cream firms and hydrates that area so well, it's crazy. The wrinkles are fading; I absolutely cannot believe it!”
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Best for extra dry skin, gel creams offer intense hydration without producing additional oil on the skin’s surface. Neutrogena’s gel cream, in particular, is formulated with hyaluronic acid, an anti-aging big hitter that locks in moisture. Perfect for a quick boost of hydration, Neutrogena’s formula leaves your skin looking and feeling more supple. A reviewer sums up the product’s best features by saying it “smooths everything out, dries quickly, and isn't tacky or sticky.”
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If you want to treat your under-eye area to a cooling effect, then a gel wrinkle cream is the way to go. Because the under-eye area is delicate, the water-based formulas of gel creams are ideal for pumping the sensitive area full of moisture while remaining lightweight on the skin. The formula’s addition of hyaluronic acid helps boost the hydration capabilities, resulting in smoother under-eye skin.
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There are some skincare products that are well worth the splurge, especially when they help with anti-aging. This rich wrinkle cream, for instance, encourages your skin’s hyaluronic acid production, reduces the wearing down of collagen, and results in increased firmness and elasticity. “It keeps my skin hydrated, soft, and plump, especially after using retinol/retinoids,” wrote one reviewer, adding that it “feels so luxurious.”
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Developed by dermatologists, CeraVe’s skincare lineup delivers effective formulas at accessible prices. The renewing night cream lives up to those same ideals but also offers a reliable solution for sensitive skin. This cream is formulated with essential ceramides that not only restore and maintain the skin’s protective barrier but also protect it from external factors that can trigger signs of sensitivity. One customer wrote, “It is thick when you initially put it on but absorbs really well, leaving skin soft but not oily. It also plumps my skin up so that I look fabulous and hydrated in the morning.”
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Your forehead is one area that may require specific targeting in order to treat those pesky wrinkles. With retinol as the featured ingredient in this moisturizer, the TruSkin product might be just what you need to get the job done. In addition to retinol and hyaluronic acid, this moisturizer uses organic ingredients like jojoba oil and green tea and forgoes additional fragrances, dyes, and parabens. “I have had people ask if I have had Botox for my forehead and for my crow’s feet,” wrote a customer that’s been using this moisturizer.
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Another common area for visible wrinkles to develop over time is the neck. But with the right treatments, the skin around the neck can be lifted and tightened. This anti-aging neck cream uses a tightening formula to stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of sagging. It also utilizes an exfoliator to create healthier, younger looking skin. One shopper reported nearly instant results: “After a week, my neck was much less crepey and firmer.” While this neck cream is on the pricier side, many customers noted that a little goes a long way, making it worth the investment.