Dermatologists Say These Wrinkle Creams Actually Work (2025)

This cream contains hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate, amino peptides to firm, as well as niacinamide—a potent antioxidant that helps improve the appearance of enlarged pores and dullness, says Debra Jaliman, M.D., board-certified dermatologist. It also doesn’t hurt that the brand is trusted by celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, Drew Barrymore, and Quinta Brunson.

What an editor says: I have been using the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream for four years now. My mother, who’s in her late 60s, has used it for longer. I appreciate the thick consistency that locks in moisture; more importantly, I love that it doesn’t irritate my sensitive, acne-prone skin. We also love that it’s at a great price point, unscented, and free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic dyes.

How to apply: Use daily, morning and night on clean, dry skin.

This product “has the needed retinol to treat and prevent wrinkles, along with effective hydrating ingredients to minimize the irritation that most will experience with retinol-containing products,” says Dr. Ilyas. Made with pure RoC retinol, it’s quite potent. It’s also oil-free, non-comedogenic, and under $12. Plus: It’s Prevention’s pick for the overall best retinol cream, and it boasts tens of thousands of five-star ratings on Amazon.

What an editor says: This RoC wrinkle cream is another household favorite that gets rotated into my skincare regimen regularly. The tube packaging makes it easier to place the cream exactly where you want it, plus it’s mess free. It’s also ultra moisturizing, thanks to ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, and squalane.

How to apply: The brand recommends first applying this product every other night to evaluate your skin’s response to the formula and then gradually increasing frequency to every night.

Specifically formulated to address signs of sagging, this rich, quick-absorbing cream from Shiseido firms skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Raspberry extract and rose apple leaf extract help to maintain visible tightness in the skin and protect it from external stressors.

“Retinoids are not always well tolerated,” Catie Boucher, D.C.N.P., founder of SavvyDerm tell us. “It’s completely normal to experience peeling, redness, and purging when starting a retinoid, which can lead many to quit using them.” This multi-level line, which offers three increasing strengths of pure retinol (from 0.1 to 1%) offers the option to work up slowly without risk of irritation.

Retinoids are notoriously drying, but this wrinkle cream from Dr. Dennis Gross won’t risk drying out already dry-leaning complexions. Using Phyto-Retinol (a combination of soothing botanicals like bakuchiol, rambutan, and ferulic acid with a gentle retinol) and hydrating niacinamide, this ultra-rich wrinkle cream balances the collagen-boosting ingredients with moisturizing ones to keep your skin soft, smooth, and glowing.

What a reviewer says: “ I’m 62 years old and have sun damage, dry skin and occasional rosacea. I am quite impressed with the results [of this cream],” said one content shopper. “I made a commitment to use it every evening. I wash my face thoroughly, use an LED mask for six minutes, apply the alpha peel, then finish off with the cream. In the morning, my skin always feels smooth and firmer. Very visible results. My skin looks pretty amazing now. I’m into my second month using these products and will continue with this routine.”

How to apply: The brand recommends both morning and evening use daily and deems it safe enough for sensitive skin.

“While retinoids are often touted as the fountain of youth, they can have some drawbacks,” says Boucher. Namely, they can be too drying for sensitive or acne-prone skin. That’s why her go-to wrinkle cream with retinol for sensitive skin is this choice from AlphaRet, which she boasts has an “excellent tolerability profile,” due to its skin-barrier protecting ingredients like lactic, glycolic, and hyaluronic acids, as well as ultra-hydrating niacinamide and protective peptides. By harnessing AlphaRet, the brand’s unique combination of AHA and retinoid, this nightly cream works hard to help hydrate rough, dry skin while the retinoids lessen wrinkles and strengthen the skin barrier.

What a reviewer says: “I use this nightly and it never irritated my skin the way tret did. This product was recommended by my esthetician,” wrote one reviewer. “It has improved my skin tone and texture. I have been using it for over a year now. I appreciate being able to read about the research behind the product and that there were clinical trials. It’s a bit pricey, but overall I highly recommend it.”

How to apply: Apply a thin layer to clean, product-free skin nightly, avoiding the eye area.

This is a retinol product that helps bring new skin cells to the surface while encouraging new collagen growth over time, says Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D., board-certified dermatologist. Because of its potency, though, she doesn’t recommend it to those with sensitive skin.

What a reviewer says: “I have frown wrinkles on my forehead, and I can visibly see those wrinkles looking softer than before,” one shopper explained. “Not to mention this product gives so much hydration at night. It’s a bit on the oily side, but I think that’s the point to give that night-long hydration. I love this night cream, and it has become part of my routine.”

How to apply: Use nightly on cleansed face and neck, applying a pearl-sized amount evenly in gentle massaging strokes until fully absorbed.

Dealing with acne scars or sun spots? This serum will help brighten your complexion as it prevents future pigment formation, says Emmanuel Loucas, M.D., a Manhattan-based board-certified dermatologist. Chalk it up to its blend of antioxidant-rich vitamin C, exfoliating glycolic acid, and skin-lightening hydroquinone. Plus, it works well for all skin types and tones.

What a reviewer says: “Noticing dark acne scars starting to lighten,” wrote one reviewer. “I haven’t had any cystic acne since I started this new skincare journey,” another said. “My skin looks almost normal again. The spots of hyperpigmentation are definitely fading. My skin texture is improving.”

How to apply: Use daily, morning and night, after cleansing. Massage into face, neck, and chest.

This derm favorite is the only prescription-strength retinoid (adapalene) available OTC, and it treats everything from acne to discolorations to wrinkles. Apply a gentle moisturizer on top, since it acts like more of a treatment. If you experience irritation, apply your moisturizer underneath to provide a bit of a barrier.

What a reviewer says: “I am now flabbergasted! My skin hardly breaks out now!” one reviewer in her 60s wrote. “I have had acne for as long as I can remember. Thanks to this fabulous product, I have much better skin now. Hardly any acne! It seems to have purged my skin to a clearer state.”

How to apply: Use once every day. After cleansing, apply a thin layer all over your face. Follow up with an SPF moisturizer in the daytime, and a non-SPF moisturizer at night.

“With this cream, you don’t need to worry about whether or not it’s only going to help with puffiness or just improve crow’s feet because it really does do it all,” says Joel Schlessinger, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon. Its formula utilizes powerful growth factors to smooth and firm the eye area, while caffeine improves the appearance of puffiness and dark circles.

What an editor says: This eye cream is magical. I have been using it for months and can’t believe how much it’s reduced my under-eye puffiness, fine lines, and discoloration. I look so much more awake, even just putting it on bare skin with nothing else. However, I find it works best beneath makeup to help hydrate and smooth the under eye so concealer applies more evenly (and lasts longer!).

How to apply: Use once or twice daily, morning and night. After cleansing, apply to the skin area surround the eye, using a dabbing or patting motion, but avoid rubbing the delicate eye area.

Your neck is one of the first parts of your body to show signs of aging. This cream firms the area with unique ingredients for a trifecta of results. It helps tighten skin by boosting collagen production, exfoliates to fade dark spots, and hydrates with vitamin E and shea butter.

What a reviewer says: “It works,” one customer said. “Being on Zoom calls all day long and having to see myself on camera made me notice my saggy neck. I started using this at the beginning of the year and I love it. It actually works! My neck looks drastically different.”

How to apply: Apply morning and evening daily, gently smoothing over neck and décolletage. NeoStrata recommends applying it in an upwards motion from the bottom of the neck all the way up to the jawline.

Those who have oily or break-out prone skin have to be more careful about what they put on it. Dr. Dendy Engelman, M.D. previously recommended this retinoid-forward wrinkle filler which uses moisturizing peptides, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to help provide “smooth, glowing skin without irritation” and without causing breakouts.

What a reviewer says: “I’m in my mid-30’s and have been experiencing breakouts, especially around my chin area,” said one shopper. “I’ve been using this serum for about five months now, but since day one, I noticed a difference. Being a retinol serum, I expected some reaction or irritation, but to my surprise, my skin didn’t react negatively. I was genuinely amazed the next morning when I saw that my pimples had dried up while the rest of my face was glowing.”

How to apply: Kiehl’s recommends applying nightly after cleansing. If used in the morning, always use in conjunction with SPF.

To hydrate and protect the skin barrier from environmental stressors, turn to Cosmedix’s Harmonize Microbiome Boosting Moisturizer. Its formula contains a blend of fruit and plant extracts that protects and soothes both dry and oily skin types—making it ideal for those with combination skin. It also includes a probiotic called Lactococcus Ferment Lysate that supports the skin’s microbiome, strengthening its natural defenses.

What a reviewer says: “This is the only moisturizer that delivers the moisture I need without being too emollient or contributing to breakouts,” said a reviewer. “My skin has rebalanced and my texture has greatly improved. And the bonus is that it smells terrific.”

How to apply: Apply morning and night to freshly cleansed and toned skin.

With hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and vitamin E, this wrinkle cream from Kate Somerville moisturizes and plumps skin. Though it’s a clinic-grade formula, it’s safe to apply morning and night.

✔️ Scan the label. Our experts recommend formulas with these key wrinkle-reducing ingredients: Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) promote cell turnover, stimulate collagen production, and help to even out skin tone. Peptides are another important anti-aging staple that help to repair skin damage. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E help in the fight against free radicals (unstable molecules that can do major damage to your cells). Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, shea butter, and other hydrators can boost and lock in moisture, which will help reduce the irritating effects of anti-aging ingredients.

✔️ Know your skin type. “For those who have oily skin or live in humid climates, a lightweight cream with mattifying properties will prevent skin from becoming weighed down and shiny,” says Dr. Schlessinger. “On the other hand, if someone has dehydrated skin or lives in a dry, cold area, a rich cream is more appropriate for their regimen.”

✔️ Look for prime packaging. Ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, and peptides can become unstable and degrade when exposed to air or light, so any products that contain them should be packaged in dark opaque tubes, preferably with air-tight pumps, says Lela Lankerani, D.O., board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas.

Our team used and tested several products themselves, as well as consulted user reviews to choose the best wrinkle creams available today. We also sought out the expertise of the following experts to learn what to look for in a wrinkle cream and get product recommendations:

• Brendan Camp, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City
• Catie Boucher, D.C.N.P., F.N.P.-C., founder of SavvyDerm
• Erum Ilyas, M.D., a Pennsylvania-based board-certified dermatologist
• Joshua Zeichner, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City
• Debra Jaliman, M.D., New York City-based dermatologist and author of Skin Rules
• Joel Schlessinger, M.D., Omaha-based board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon
• Mona Gohara, M.D., vice president of the Women’s Dermatologic Society and member of the Prevention medical review board
• Emmanuel Loucas, M.D., Manhattan-based board-certified dermatologist
• Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D., board-certified dermatologist
• Lela Lankerani, D.O., board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas
• Hadley King, M.D., clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University
• Jeannette Graf, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.