The 11 Very Best Wrinkle Creams (2024)

$140

Retinol: Includes retinol | Other actives: lactic acid, antioxidants | Size: 1 ounce bottle ($130/ounce)

Skinbetter’s hero ingredient is retinol, the gold-star anti-aging ingredient. In this formulation, retinol is combined with lactic acid, which minimizes irritation while still delivering the benefits of both. “With this, you get the brightening effects of lactic acid in addition to the anti-aging effect of retinol,” says dermatologist Samer Jaber, founder of Washington Square Dermatology. The silky, lotion-y texture is moisturizing and feels like an added layer of hydration while also delivering other benefits. After incorporating it into my routine — I use it every three days — I was surprised to find that my notoriously sensitive skin tolerated it well, especially when applied over a layer of moisturizer. (Jaber says that even his patients who have struggled with other retinoids find Skinbetter “very tolerable.”) That extra layer of product didn’t seem to change Skinbetter’s efficacy, either: In just a few short weeks, I’ve noticed my skin is brighter overall and some dark marks from pimples past have lightened up. My skin has an overall smoother look, which I imagine would be particularly helpful for wrinkles. The formula also contains a blend of antioxidants to help neutralize free radicals.

$28

Retinol: Includes retinol | Other actives: glycolic acid | Size: 1 ounce tube ($18/ounce)

If you don’t want to spring for the Skinbetter, RoC’s night cream is a good option. The drugstore product punches far above its weight, offering an effective but mild retinol along with glycolic acid to help with fine lines, wrinkles, and firming the skin. It has a similar consistency to Skinbetter (it’s maybe a touch thinner) and is moisturizing enough to use on its own. It’s also a dermatologist favorite. Dermatologist Carlos A. Charles, the founder of New York City–basedDerma di Colore, told us he typically suggests that patients use retinoids, retinol’s prescription-strength cousins, to treat wrinkles, but “in the over-the-counter world,” he says, “RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream can be used for those who prefer a milder retinol formulation.” Rabach agrees, adding that the RoC is gentle enough to use on more sensitive, wrinkly skin around the eyes. When using retinol, correct application is key to avoid irritating your skin (though irritation may still occur if you’re just starting out). DermatologistNoelani E. Gonzales advises you to start slow and apply a pea-size amount just two to three times a week, then work up from there.

$150

Retinol: Does not include retinol | Other actives: Peptides | Size: 0.5 ounce bottle ($260/ounce)

If you’re already using a retinol but want to continue to support your skin goals, or don’t want to use a retinol at all, this serum is a good option. It contains seven different peptides and has been clinically proven to reduce expression lines around the eyes, forehead, and mouth, with lots of participants seeing results after eight weeks. “It helps to soften the lines,” says Lal.

$115

Retinol: Does not include retinol | Other actives: Vitamin C, gingko bilboa | Size: 1 ounce bottle ($105/ounce)

One of dermatologist Dr. Bradley Glodny’s favorite anti-wrinkle ingredients is vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that’s often recommended for hyperpigmentation and brightening skin tone. The ingredient, he says, builds collagen and helps “fine lines and wrinkles begin to diminish and appear less obvious.” One of his favorite vitamin-C serums is Isdin Flavo-C, which he recommends applying in the morning right before sunscreen. “It rubs in nicely and doesn’t havean off-puttingodor like other vitamin-C serums,” he says. “Itcontains a mix of antioxidantslike ginkgobiloba,which can also help to protect your skin fromtoxins in the outside world.”

From $76

Retinol: Includes retinol | Other actives: peptides, hyaluronic acid | Size: 1 ounce bottle ($69/ounce)

This serum from Clinique contains both retinol and peptides that work together to boost collagen production and smooth skin. Lal calls it a good two-in-one product. “This is great if you don’t want to use multiple products,” he says. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate skin. The more hydrated skin looks, the less visible wrinkles will be, thereby reducing the look of fine lines. Despite being a lightweight serum, it’s hydrating enough to use on its own as a moisturizer, though you can layer it with a dedicated moisturizer for even more hydration.

$27

Retinol: Does not include retinol | Other actives: vitamin B3, hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide | Size: 1.7 ounce jar ($12/ounce)

This cream is infused with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide, all of which work together to plump and smooth fine lines. Niacinamide is a star ingredient in the formula, and it works especially well for lightening dark marks. That means this product is ideal if you want to treat hyperpigmentation as well as wrinkles. Niacinamide also acts as a humectant, which prevents additional moisture loss — key for reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. “Slathering a moisturizer on every night will also help” plump wrinkles and fine lines, says Rabach, noting that Olay Regenerist’s thicker texture is particularly good for wrinkly skin that’s super-dry.

$348

Retinol: Does not include retinol | Other actives: Yam extract, soy isoflavones, shea butter, vitamin E, beeswax | Size: 1.7 ounce jar ($205/ounce)

Biologique Recherche may be known for its smelly-but-effective P50 toner, but celebrity esthetician Sarah Akram says the brand’s anti-aging cream is really good too. It’s designed for people with very dry skin and often recommended for pre- and postmenopausal women dealing with a loss of elasticity or extreme dryness. In addition to deeply moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and beeswax, it contains soy isoflavones, an antioxidant that’s said to counteract signs of skin aging by thickening the skin and addressing common concerns like hyperpigmentation and, of course, wrinkling.

$88

Retinol: Does not include retinol | Other actives: vegan collagen, peptides, vitamin B5 | Size: 1.7 ounces ($45/ounce)

Products formulated for mature skin tend to be heavier, the idea being that mature skin is usually dry and thus in need of more moisture. However, this isn’t always the case. Some people with mature skin are oily, so if that’s you, you’ll want to opt for a lightweight formula. I like this water cream from M-61, which contains a mix of vegan collagen, vitamin B5, peptides, and Kakadu plum. “It’s lightweight but hydrates,” says dermatologist Rachel Cheung. “The vitamin B5 draws in moisture to restore the skin barrier, while antioxidants protect from free radicals and peptides boost collagen production.”

$60

Retinol: Does not include retinol | Other actives: bakuchiol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid | Size: 1.7 ounces ($35/ounce)

If you have sensitive skin and are looking for a less irritating alternative to retinol, this moisturizer from Alpyn Beauty is a good option. It contains common anti-aging staples like peptides along with bakuchiol, a natural ingredient that works similarly to retinol. “It’s a plant-derived alternative to retinol that delivers the same collagen-boosting effects without the irritation,” Cheung says, adding that the formula contains moisture-barrier-supporting ingredients like squalane to help maintain and hydrate the skin.

$198

Retinol: Does not include retinol | Other actives: heparan sulfate analog, dermatan sulfate analog, chondroitin sulfate analog | Size: 1 ounce bottle ($198/ounce)

Celebrity facialist Candace Marino generally prefers serums to creams because they offer a more targeted approach. “Since serums are molecularlysmaller thancreams, they allow for better product penetration of the active ingredients,” she says. The serums can be layered with other night wrinkle creams for an additional benefit. She likes this cream-serum hybrid from Senté in particular, which she says helps firm and support skin from within and works particularly well for deep lines, especially on the chest area. It’s formulated with dermatan sulfate analog (DSA) and chondroitin sulfate analog (CSA) — a skin-firming duo that helps promote collagen and elastin production. Marino says it helps to “re-volumize lax, depleted skin,” and takes about four weeks of consistent use to see a noticeable difference.

$116

Retinol: Does not include retinol | Other actives: blueberry, pro-xylane, peptides | Size: 0.5 ounce jar ($200/ounce)

If you’re struggling with under-eye wrinkles, Nussbaum suggests splurging on the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex, which she calls one of her “favorite creams to combat those pesky wrinkles around the eyes.” She adds that “its balmy formula and optical diffusers reflect light away from the eye area, which is instantly illuminating.” But this stuff works below the skin’s surface to prevent future fine lines, too. It’s formulated with blueberry extract, peptides, and pro-xylane to “moisturize, nourish, and prevent future visible signs of aging, while boosting elasticity and fortifying the skin’s matrix, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s-feet,” Nussbaum explains.