The 13 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 Amazon $64 at Sephora View on Credo Beauty

Key Ingredients: Bio-active plant peptides, sea moss, vegan stem cells | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We were extremely pleased with how beautifully this pick from Mara increased the skin's firmness and elasticity. 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 appeared smoother and more radiant with continued use. I recommended this to my mother immediately!"

Best Budget

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream

$30 at Amazon $41 at Ulta $30 at Target

Key Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | 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 its consistency 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 for Dry Skin

Alpyn Beauty Super Peptide & Ghostberry Moisturizer

$62 at Amazon $23 at Sephora View on Alpynbeauty.com

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, ghostberry, peptides | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | 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.

Linda, tester with combination skin: "The cream was hydrating and lasted all day. I applied it in the morning and evening before bed. It was not greasy or oily. My skin is more plump, supple, and hydrated 24/7. I do have a glow that I believe was visible to others." 

Best Firming

Caudalie Resveratrol Firming Moisturizer

$69 at Amazon $59 at Sephora $69 at Nordstrom

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

Another fan favorite, we found this to be equally good at improving the texture and firmness of the skin as it was at hydrating, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a moisturizer for mature skin. 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 (not pictured): “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 Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol, rambutan | Skin Type: All | Size: 2 oz | 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.

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 Plumping

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

$140 $112 at Amazon $94 at Sephora $94 at Ulta

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

If you're looking for a collagen-infused cream, we love the hydrating aspects of this one—which has the added benefit of plumping the skin and at least temporarily minimizing the look of more subtle 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

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream

$48 $39 at Amazon $48 at Sephora $48 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, beta-glucan | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | 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 colloidal oatmeal, it’s super effective at hydrating and soothing the skin while protecting it from environmental stressors like pollution. 

Our testers loved how quickly it absorbed (especially those with extra dry skin). In the morning, they noticed calmer, less red skin that was so soft to the touch. While it is a smaller tube, we love it for on-the-go application. It plays well with other skincare products and is a perfect base under makeup.

Adi Giesey, beauty editor with sensitive skin (not shown): "I rely on my nighttime routine to do a lot of the heavy lifting regarding eliminating redness, relieving dry and itchy patches, and healing my visibly irritated skin barrier. I find that this cream does all three. Upon application, my skin immediately feels like it is giving a sigh of relief. It is almost as if you are getting all the benefits of using a thick balm but in a much lighter and user-friendly consistency."

Best Smoothing

Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Total Repair Cream

$145 $124 at Amazon $145 at Sephora $145 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Peptide, hyaluronic acid, squalane | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick from Kate Somerville is a legit quick fix for making skin appear smoother. (We attributed that to the formula's hydrating dimethicone and squalane .) It also worked great under other skincare and makeup products. But the best part was that every time our tester applied it, it left her with a supersoft, brighter complexion felt supersoft. 

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 Lightweight

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

$28 $18 at Amazon $37 at Ulta $25 at Walgreens

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, amino-peptide | Skin Type: Dry, normal, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | 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

$55 at Amazon $55 at Sephora $55 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Peptides, squalane | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | 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 Dermstore $185 at Skinceuticals.com View on Lovelyskin.com

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

Wrinkle creams are generally pricier 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 during the testing period, but she’s confident that the improvements will continue to get better and better with more use.

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 Amazon $184 at Dermstore View on Skinmedica.com

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

Twice-daily use of this yielded some seriously noticeable improvements in the face wrinkles department 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 Amazon $42 at Sephora $42 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Five types of hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Crow’s feet, the ‘11s’ between your brows, smile lines—these are all examples of dynamic wrinkles 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 by just how well this worked to target these particular types of lines. That would’ve been enough on its own, but it also imparted lots of hydration and left the skin firmer and glowier, making this one a real standout. It is best used solo, as it starts to 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.”