The 14 Best Wrinkle Creams We’ve Tested That Actually Do What They Claim

Best Overall

MARA SeaDream Firming Algae Creme Moisturizer with Sea Moss + Peptides

$64 at Sephora View on Themarabeauty.com $64 at Revolve

Active Ingredients: Bio-active plant peptides, sea moss, vegan stem cells | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We were extremely pleased with how beautifully this pick from Mara increased the skin firmness and elasticity, and, by the end of the testing period, our tester was sure it had helped reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles so that her skin looked smoother overall. 

Wrinkle-fighting attributes aside, it’s also a top-notch moisturizer, with a velvety texture that melts beautifully into the skin and adds tons of hydration, but never feels greasy. The only negative we could find is that some reviews noted that the texture isn’t for them, but our tester loved it.

Lisa, tester with dry skin: “Within the first week I experienced increased hydration. Then I began to notice improvement in firmness and elasticity and my skin appears smoother and more radiant with continued use. I recommended this to my mother immediately! "

Best Budget

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream

View on Lorealparisusa.com

Active Ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, vitamin E | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Legitimately good anti-wrinkle creams come at all price points. Exhibit A: This very wallet-friendly winner, that our tester felt worked even better than the (much) pricier option she had previously used. She started noticing its effects—including fewer wrinkles, increased firmness, and generally brighter skin—after about four weeks, and they just continued to improve after the fact. We’re also big fans of the all-day hydration, which never left combination skin looking greasy or shiny.

Stormy, tester with combination skin: “My skin looked and felt smoother after consistently using this cream. It helped reduce the wrinkles on my forehead and made my skin more firm and glowy.”

Best for Dry Skin

Alpyn Beauty Super Peptide & Ghostberry Moisturizer

$62 at Sephora View on Alpynbeauty.com View on The Detox Market

Active Ingredients: Ceramides, ghostberry, peptides | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We love this option for those with extra dry skin. Our tester couldn’t get over how well it moisturized her complexion, leaving it plump, supple, and even glowier (thanks, ceramides and peptides). She used it morning and night (per the directions) and also noted that it worked well with other makeup and skincare products. 

Even though the consistency looked pretty thick, she felt it still absorbed quickly and wasn’t displeasingly goopy. The one drawback? She really didn’t notice a ton of improvement in her fine lines and wrinkles, so this is probably best reserved for those whose signs of aging aren’t yet particularly prominent.

Best Firming

Caudalie Resveratrol Face Lifting Soft Cream

$59 at Sephora View on Lovelyskin.com

Active Ingredients: Resveratrol, hyaluronic acid, collagen | Skin Type: Normal, dry| Size: 1.6 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Another fan favorite, we found this to be equally good at improving the texture and firmness of skin as it was at generally moisturizing. It’s aptly named; it does, in fact, feel as silky as cashmere and left our tester’s complexion feeling super smooth. She noticed a visible improvement in firmness and plumpness (likely thanks to the resveratrol and hyaluronic acid)—and pretty quickly at that. As an added benefit, it also tamped down unwanted redness.

She used it in the morning as directed and appreciated that it layered nicely under makeup, sans pilling. While it didn’t affect our tester’s skin, some reviewers found it a bit intense for sensitive skin.

Chrissy, tester with combination skin: “It is the best face cream I have tried. It definitely did what it claimed to do. My skin feels plumper and silky smooth. I would say the hydration lasts all day and into the next.”

Best Brightening

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Retinol + Ferulic Wrinkle Cream

$77 at Amazon $77 at Sephora $77 at Drdennisgross.com

Active Ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol, rambutan | Skin Type: All | Size: 2 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The texture of this cream appealed to our inner Goldilocks—on cold, dry days it left skin hydrated and smooth, but it wasn’t too heavy to use on warmer, more humid days. Either way, the mousse-like formula soaked into the skin beautifully; we also appreciated that it came in a sanitary, easy-to-use pump-top jar. 

There was an immediate improvement in our tester’s skin texture and brightness; credit to the retinol in the mix. (And no, it didn’t cause any irritation.) We did lament that it wasn’t particularly effective against wrinkles but we still think it’s a winning choice if you’re looking for that instant lit from within look.

Alyson, tester with combination skin: “I noticed immediate results in how my skin felt—softer, healthier, and more supple. I haven’t noticed a dramatic change in wrinkles, but the vibrancy of my skin has markedly improved.”

Best Under Makeup

DR. LORETTA DR. LORETTA Firming Serum

$80 at Dermstore $80 at Nordstrom $80 at Skinstore.com

Active Ingredients: Retinoid, antioxidants | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While this facial moisturizer is meant to be used twice daily, our testers especially liked to use it in the a.m. Fast-absorbing, it worked great under makeup without any pilling at all. It was especially effective at improving plumpness, evening tone, and boosting radiance—effects that all kicked in pretty quickly (great for those who want a little instant gratification). The wrinkle-smoothing effects definitely took longer and were more subtle, however.

Allison, tester with combination skin: “This layers great with sunscreen and makeup. It blends quickly into the skin and feels light.”

Best Plumping

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

$140 at Amazon View on Sephora $94 at Ulta

Active Ingredients: Mimosa, Padina Pavonica | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

We love the hydrating aspects of this cream, which had the added benefit of plumping the skin and at least temporarily minimizing the look of more superficial fine lines. The silky texture was another pro, as was how gentle the formula was on our skin, even when we applied it after microplaning. We were bummed that it didn’t do much to get rid of deeper, existing wrinkles long term, but the moisturizing and plumping prowess was very noteworthy.

Michelle, tester with balanced skin: “This product gives your skin a great layer of hydration and leaves it soft and supple throughout the day. With the hydration that it provides, I feel like it acts as a great barrier against new wrinkles and lines that may appear.”

Best Night Cream

Isdin Isdinceutics Age Contour Night Face and Neck Cream

$135 at Amazon View on Isdin.com

Active Ingredients: Antioxidants, melatonin, peptides | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.81 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Bedtime is a great time to tap into the powers of an anti-wrinkle cream; it’s when your skin is in a natural reparative state and can better utilize active ingredients. This is a winning choice to add to your nighttime routine—with ingredients like peptides and antioxidants, it’s super effective at hydrating and brightening the skin while protecting it from environmental stressors like pollution. 

It improved the overall appearance of our tester’s complexion after just a few weeks of consistent nighttime use. It is worth noting that the texture is somewhat lighter than many other night creams—we liken it to more of a serum-moisturizer hybrid—so that’s something to keep in mind if you typically like to use thicker, richer creams overnight.

Jodi, tester with combination skin: “I really noticed the changes in my skin most when I was on a video conference and couldn’t help but notice my skin was just overall improved, glowing and brighter. My skin never looked that great on video!”

Best Smoothing

Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Total Repair Cream

$140 at Sephora $140 at Nordstrom

Active Ingredients: Peptide, hyaluronic acid, squalane | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick from Kate Somerville is a legit quick fix for making skin appear smoother. (We attributed that to hydrating dimethicone and squalane in the formula.) It worked great under other skincare and makeup products as well. But the best part was every time our tester applied it, it left her complexion feeling super soft—and brighter to boot—after every use. 

FYI, It may have a slight tendency to clog pores, as we had some increased whitehead-esque pimples after use, but you can mitigate that by thoroughly cleansing with a good face wash.

Jordan, tester with dry skin: “The product was definitely hydrating and that feeling lasted all day. My skin appeared more filled and supple, too. Overall, I think my skin is smoother.”

Best Drugstore

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream

$38 at Ulta $28 at Target $26 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Per our previous point about price tags, this drugstore staple is another affordable choice that legitimately holds its own against the more expensive creams. It boasts two skincare heavy-hitters—wrinkle-smoothing retinol and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Our tester liked the consistency of it and how easy it was to spread onto the skin, although she did find it was better to use at nighttime (despite the instructions that say to use it twice daily).  It left the skin more hydrated, smoother, and plumper when used at night. But, in the morning/when layered under makeup, she felt that she needed to add a separate moisturizer on top to feel like the hydration would last.

Brenda, tester with combination skin: “This is a nice rich cream. It only takes a small amount, and it spreads evenly. It absorbs into the skin quickly and does not leave a greasy residue.”

Best Lightweight

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

$37 at Ulta $25 at Target $25 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, amino peptide | Skin Type: Dry, normal, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Wrinkle creams tend to be on the heavier side to really get to work on wrinkles, but this lightweight option is just as powerful and great for those who don’t love a super-rich cream. The creamy yet light texture was easy to apply and absorbed fast, leaving skin feeling hydrated, smooth, and supple. 

While the effects were on the subtler side, our tester did see some improvement in terms of firmness as well as wrinkles, particularly on her neck. However, it may not be moisturizing enough to use during colder, drier, winter weather.

Marissa, tester with combination skin: “While not a drastic change, this moisturizer did help minimize the look and feel of wrinkles by using it 2x a day. Between the consistency, easy application, absorption, and anti-aging benefits this is the best cream I’ve tried so far.”

Best for Fast Results

Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection Moisture Infusion Refillable Cream

$52 at Sephora $55 at Ulta

Active Ingredients: Peptides, squalane | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Patience is a virtue with skincare, particularly when addressing wrinkles. Still, for those who want a fast fix, this cream did offer some instantaneous results, helping to fill in and plump more minimal lines on contact. It left skin looking visibly hydrated and glowier, something our tester even noticed in photos. Just FYI, the cream’s texture is best suited for combination skin types; it’s likely too thin for those with drier skin but could leave oily skin looking a bit too glowy.

Jackie, tester with combination skin: “I noticed that after washing my face, I'd have some slight lines on my forehead, but this moisturizer smoothed over and plumped up to make them undetectable after application. The product was very soothing… I've had other lotions make my skin red or tingly, and this does not do that.”

Best Splurge

Skinceuticals A.G.E Interrupter Advanced

$185 at Skinceuticals.com

Active Ingredients: Fruit flavonoid blend | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Wrinkle creams tend to be pricier in general because they’re packed with actives. This one’s the most expensive we tried, and the results are worth the splurge. The first thing our tester noticed was an improvement in the texture of her skin. It felt wonderful after every use: soft, smooth, plump, insert other positive adjectives here. And, it only took a nickel-sized amount to achieve said benefits (aka you get a lot of product for the price).

It worked great morning or night (she even found that using it in the a.m. made the makeup she put on after look better). It didn’t improve her wrinkles much, but she’s confident that the improvements in texture will continue to get better and better.

Elena, tester with acne-prone, sensitive, combination skin: “The texture of my skin has been so, so soft since using this cream—plump, soft, perfect.”

Best for Sensitive Skin

SkinMedica Rejuvenating Hydrator

$184 at Dermstore $135 at Walmart $184 at Skinstore.com

Active Ingredients: Five types of hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: All | Size: 2 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Twice daily use of this yielded some seriously noticeable improvements in the face wrinkles department, all while also helping to hydrate and plump. Rather than relying on some of the more potentially irritating actives out there (cough, retinol), it uses five different types of hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture immediately and in the long term and create more supple-looking skin. 

Our tester loved how gentle it is while still being very effective. We did lament the expensive price, although the efficacy made it well worth it.

Stacey, tester with dry skin: “I had wrinkles on my nose and chin and this product reduced them drastically. I have deep wrinkles on my forehead and it’s starting to work on those, too. This product was made for my aging skin.”

Best for Expression Lines

The Outset Smoothing Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream

$42 at Sephora

Active Ingredients: Five types of hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: All | Size: .5 oz | SPF: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Crow’s feet, the ‘11s’ between your brows, smile lines—these are all examples of dynamic wrinkles that are caused by repeated muscle movement. It can be hard to target them with a topical cream (it’s where injectable neuromodulators, like Botox take the cake) but we were blown away with just how well this worked to target these particular types of lines. That would’ve been enough on its own, but then it also imparted lots of hydration, and left the skin firmer and glowier, making this one a real standout. Keep in mind it is best used solo, as it did start to ball up and pill when layered with other products.

Taylor, tester with combination skin: “This did everything: reduced lines and wrinkles, plumped, firmed, and left my skin glowy. I used it around my eyes, between my eyebrows, along my forehead, around my smile lines and it was effective at improving all of them.”