The 6 Best Anti-Wrinkle Creams of 2023, Tested by Dermatologists and Beauty Editors

Consider this list your holy grail. It's a fact: As you age, your skin starts to sag, and that's totally okay. Despite society’s impression that wrinkles are unsightly, aging gracefully does exist. 

But if you tend to smooth out some fine lines (I get it!), you might want to consider adding an anti-wrinkle cream to your skin care routine. Let me explain why. 

"As you age, your skin naturally loses collagen and elastin. Therefore, treatments and products that increase collagen and elastin production are important in an anti-aging skin care routine," Plymouth Meeting Dermatology Associates said Nazanin Saedi, co-director of the Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center. 

This happens for two main reasons: the natural aging process and unprotected sunlight exposure. That's why it's important to choose a good sunscreen for your face and body. 

"Ultraviolet radiation from the sun breaks down collagen and elastin, which accelerates the aging process and can lead to pigmentation (such as sunspots and melasma)," explains Dr. Sadie. 

The best anti-wrinkle creams may contain active ingredients like retinol and antioxidants, which stimulate the skin to produce more collagen, remove dead skin cells and create new ones (more on this later). ! ). 

However, when using anti-wrinkle creams, it is important to remember that the results will not be immediate. As with most skin care products, it may take a few weeks for you to see results. 

If you want to see more dramatic changes faster, Dr. Sadie sought help from in-office treatments such as injections, energy devices and lasers. First, let’s find the best anti-wrinkle cream for you. With countless options on the market (and I mean hundreds!), it can be hard to narrow down the best ones for your skin. 

To help you, I spoke with three dermatologists and the beauty director of Women's Health to come up with a list of anti-wrinkle creams you'll love incorporating into your daily skin care routine. Here are the 13 best anti-wrinkle creams recommended by dermatologists and beauty editors. 

Neutrogena Rapid Anti-Wrinkle Repair Retinol Facial Moisturizer. If you don't want to break your anti-wrinkle cream budget, Neutrogena's Rapid Repair Anti-Wrinkle Cream is a great option, says Dr. Yadav. 

"I love this product from Neutrogena because it has a concentrated yet gentle formula, is easy to find, and is affordable." Not only does this cream contain retinol to target fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, but it also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. 

Moisturizing can plump the skin and smooth the appearance of fine lines, thus rejuvenating the skin. When to use: Slowly apply a pearl-sized amount to clean face and neck twice daily. RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream 

This is another option from RoC because their anti-aging products are just that good. “Retinol is the most effective over-the-counter anti-wrinkle agent, and RoC is a pioneer in the use of this ingredient,” says Underwood. 

He loves this nighttime treatment because it's a great, cruelty-free option and is also rich in glycolic acid to minimize the appearance of dark spots. This product also has excellent cell renewal properties if you're looking for a radiant complexion. As a result, you can see brighter skin after just four weeks. When to use: Apply to face and neck every other night, then gradually work your way into nighttime use. 

Restorative Skin Complex Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex Technology Winner of the 2021 Women's Health Skin Care Award, Dr. Saedi's cream is from Alastin because it's rich in ceramides, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. It also helps moisturize the skin, strengthen the skin barrier, and produce collagen, she says. 

The cream is formulated to support the removal of damaged collagen, creating space for the growth of healthier collagen and elastin. Additionally, it contains L-Ornithine and Hexapeptide-38 to restore volume to thinning skin, as well as other antioxidants to protect the skin from further damage, such as niacinamide to combat uneven skin tone. It's definitely more luxurious, but dermatologists agree it's worth every penny.

Usage time: Apply one to two pumps to face in the morning and evening. RoC Retinol Repair Eye Cream One of the first places where fine lines appear is in the eye area, but eye skin is very sensitive, so not all anti-wrinkle creams are suitable for use in the eye area. PhD. Saedi recommends using a cream designed specifically for this area. "[It should] contain plumping agents (hyaluronic acid or glycerin) to help smooth wrinkles and peptides to help increase collagen production," she explains. PhD. Saedi loves this cream from RoC because it combines retinol and glycerin. "Retinol accelerates the removal of old skin cells from the skin's surface, and glycerin helps draw moisture into the skin," she says. 

This eye cream brightens eyes and relieves puffiness after just four weeks. Usage time: Apply in small dots under eyes until absorbed. You can use it alone or under makeup in the morning and/or evening. Image Skin Care Ageless Total Repair Crème Image Skincare's Ageless Wrinkle Cream combats fine lines on the face, neck and décolletage. PhD. 

Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Facet Dermatology, likes that it's made with encapsulated retinol because the encapsulation process allows it to absorb more slowly into the skin. This in turn helps it penetrate deeper, allowing for a more effective treatment. In addition to encapsulated retinol, it's also composed of glycolic acid, one of the most potent alpha-hydroxy acids, says Dr. Yadav – and nourishing shea butter. When to use: Apply one raspberry to cleansed skin at night. 

To avoid irritation, add it to your daily routine once or twice a week and gradually increase to nightly use. Restorative Skin Care Revox 7 Your daily facial movements can also cause wrinkles to form when you smile, raise your eyebrows, or make other movements you didn't expect. This is normal. However, if you want to minimize them, Dr. Saedi's cream is from Revision Skincare. "Revox by Revisions features a powerful blend of peptides that help moisturize and smooth skin and reduce the appearance of expression lines," she says. 

This anti-wrinkle cream is suitable for all skin types but is ideal for people with sensitive skin. The oil-free formula also helps tighten skin while making it look firmer. When to use: Apply to clean skin once in the morning and evening before moisturizer. You can dab a pumpful of product onto expression lines around your eyes, forehead and mouth.