Top 7 Best Facial Creams for Wrinkles

Finding the best facial cream for wrinkles can be such an exhausting process. And incredibly expensive.

There are so many choices out there. You should not overlook serums when you’re shopping for the best anti-aging facial cream. I’ll try to focus on accessible options.

More than that,

I want to emphasize that, when it comes to wrinkles, it’s about preventing them from appearing too soon, preventing the fine wrinkles from evolving into deep ones, it’s not really about treating wrinkles or making them disappear for good no matter how deep they are.

We’re trying to slow down aging signs but we can’t postpone it indefinitely.

It’s best to start young, I just wish I had been serious about moisturizing from an early age but when I was in high school no one was talking about moisturizing twice daily or wearing sunscreen daily. Back then, I was wearing sunscreen only on vacation.

Fine lines and wrinkles can start showing when we’re in our mid-to-late twenties. I started using under eye creams when I was about 25 years old.

Deep wrinkles require procedures that are handled by various professionals, including plastic surgeons, and the prices are scary.

We’ll be talking about my best finds for the best anti-aging facial creams, the ingredients that you should pay attention to when you’re buying the best facial cream for wrinkles, and lifestyle choices.

However,

I just want to mention that you shouldn’t neglect your neck and chest area, either. It’s a much larger area to cover so, the cream will run out quicker than you would expect if you only had to worry about the face.

The skin on the neck is so thin it definitely needs the same attention as your face does. It’s the same when it comes to wearing sunscreen daily. It’s not only about the face but the neck and chest area, too.

My Picks

1. Best Value: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream

Neutrogena has decided to capitalize on one of the most popular ingredients in the skin care world: retinol. It’s the start of their Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream. And it works perfectly but take it easy. You can only start by using it only 2 times a week and increase the pace gradually if you have sensitive skin. Those with a healthy skin barrier will adapt to the power of retinol more quickly. The point is that for a very low price you get one of the most effective creams for preventing fine lines and wrinkles.

2. Very Good: Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Night Cream

At a more expensive price level, we have the Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Night Cream. It’s an impressive anti-wrinkle cream with impressive ingredients: vitamin C (antioxidant), Rhamnose 5% concentration (anti-wrinkle agent because that tricks aging cells into producing collagen), adenosine (great for crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles) HEPES (exfoliates), and Vichy Volcanic Water with its impressive minerals. This is a best facial cream for wrinkles that’s perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

3. For Acne-Prone Skin: Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum

This anti-aging serum can be used twice daily but you can only use it in the evening if you want to prolong how long this 1 oz bottle lasts. Eminence is well-known for its natural ingredients. This serum is full of them: hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, rhubarb for its vitamin C and other vitamins, honey, aloe vera, algae extract, and BioComplex.

Top 7 Best Facial Creams for Wrinkles

There are two very important words that are mentioned when talking about wrinkles formation and prevention:

• collagen

• elastin

These are the fibers that give the skin its strength and elasticity.

When you’re looking for the best facial cream, you need one that has the right ingredients, those that will actually impact these two fibers.

I’m not going to venture into the very expensive territory of the best anti-aging facial creams and serums but I’m going to mention some of the most expensive ones, in case you’re curious to know about them.

My focus will be on the best facial creams for wrinkles that most of us can afford.

1. Tree of Life Anti Aging Serum 3-Pack

Let’s start with an unbelievable pack. It’s got a price that you wouldn’t expect from a pack that contains 3 anti-aging serums. There’s literally nothing like it.

It’s actually my top recommendation for the best facial cream for wrinkles even though we’re talking about a pack of 3 anti-aging serums and not a best anti-aging facial cream.

But it’s just too good and too affordable.

If you divide the price by 3, each one of these serums would effortlessly make it on my list for the best beauty products under $10.

What does the Tree of Life Anti Aging Serum 3-Pack contain:

• a vitamin C serum, 1 oz

• a retinol serum, 1 oz

• a hyaluronic acid serum, 1 oz

Those are top anti-aging ingredients. It’s great for all skin types, including acne-prone skin.

It will actually help with breakouts since retinol dissolves dead skin cells, unclogging pores, and preventing the occurrence of future breakouts.

How do you use the 3 anti-aging serums from the Tree of Life?

You can apply the vitamin C serum in the morning. The other two can be applied in the evening, first the retinol and then the hyaluronic to counteract the harshness of the retinol, which can irritate the skin and cause dryness.

Since the hyaluronic is perfect for moisturizing the skin, it should help a lot with maintaining the balance.

If you’re new to using a retinol serum, you might want to use it just 2-3 times a week in the beginning, let your skin become gradually accustomed to it.

After 4-6 weeks, you should be able to apply it daily.

Retinol will cause sun sensitivity so, don’t forget about wearing sunscreen.

All in all, you couldn’t be getting a better deal than these 3 best anti-aging serums from the Tree of Life.

2. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream, 1 oz

Another choice for the best facial cream for wrinkles comes from Neutrogena. It’s great at handling fine lines and makes the skin look younger.

Plus,

The price is quite good, pretty affordable compared to other best anti-aging facial creams and serums.

The ingredients really tell us everything we need to know:

• retional SA (sustained action) I don’t know if there are other manufacturers besides Nutrogena that claim the SA addition and I’m not aware how much more effective the retinol actually is thanks to that sustained action addition

• hyaluronic acid, which is good for preventing the irritation that the retinol might cause and for locking in moisture, making the skin plump

• glucose complex, which strengthens the skin barrier

Because it contains retinol, Neutrogena warns its potential customers that they might experience mild redness, tingling sensations, and flaky skin.

If the effects seem to much, you should apply this night cream once every other night until the sensations are reduced. Then, you can revert to daily use.

Don’t forget about applying it on the neck, too.

Apply your usual moisturizer after the Neutrogena has been absorbed.

For daily use, there’s the version with SPF 30. It’s called Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Daily Face Moisturizer with SPF 30, which is a moisturizer and sunscreen all in one with the truly important benefit of being a best anti-aging facial cream with a very affordable price tag.

Just be aware that the day version with the SPF 30 contains oxybenzone as an active ingredient, it’s completely chemical-based.

Check out my post on the best moisturizers with SPF if you want to learn more about the different types and what they can do for the skin, I also included two anti-aging moisturizers with SPF that don’t contain oxybenzone.

3. Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Serum, 1 oz

This is a serum that targets all kind of wrinkles, retinol SA being the main ingredient.

Apply your usual moisturizer after applying this anti-aging retinol serum.

It will target all kinds of wrinkles on the face and neck: crow’s feet, lines on the forehead, laugh lines, and under eye wrinkles.

You can definitely apply retinol around the eye area, right underneath. If you get it in the eyes, it will just sting a bit but there won’t be any other damage done.

It’s very effective for under eye wrinkles.

If you’re still not convinced that you should try the Neutrogena Retinol Serum, know that it can rival the performance of the Skinceuticals Retinol 1 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream, which is about 5 times more expensive.

If you’ve longed for a good retinol serum, look no further.

The Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Serum is totally worth of being on this list for the best facial cream for wrinkles even though it’s a serum.

If you don’t want a serum, then there’s the above night cream from the same manufacturer.

4. Amara Beauty Retinol Cream, 1.7 oz

The Amara Beauty Retinol Cream is a product that catches my attention for many good reasons and it’s indeed a best facial cream for wrinkles that I’m happy to talk about.

First, there are the ingredients that make you really stop and consider this best anti-aging facial cream:

• 2.5% retinol, which is a very high concentration

• hyaluronic acid

• vitamin E and B5 (niacinamide)

• jojoba oil

• shea butter

• green tea extract

This is a combination of ingredients designed to target wrinkles and lines while, at the same time, intensely nourishing the skin.

Don’t forget about the eye area and the neck.

It’s great for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

It takes a while for results to be visible, just have patience and continue using the Amara Beauty Retinol Cream.

Second, the price couldn’t be more affordable. It’s a skin care product accessible to many of us.

With those two reasons, who needs more? Just try it and see how your skin reacts, that’s only for you to know.

I’m sure you’ll be amazed by the Amara Beauty Retinol Cream, it’s just a perfect choice for the best anti-aging facial cream.

5. Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Night Cream, 1.7 oz

The Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Night Cream is not an inexpensive best facial cream for wrinkles. It’s the opposite.

However, I love presenting various options so, here we are.

As always, let’s see what it offers:

• vitamin C

• Rhamnose 5% concentration, which is seen as a very good anti-wrinkle agent because it tricks aging cells into producing collagen as if the skin cells belonged to younger women – it’s definitely an ingredient that you don’t encounter often and it made me want to include the Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Night Cream among the best anti-aging facial creams and serums

• adenosine for energizing the skin’s surface, great for crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles

• HEPES for exfoliating dead skin cells

• and the usual Vichy Volcanic Water with its minerals that strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier

It works wonders for sensitive skin, there’s no retinol that might irritate or exfoliate it.

Apply every night, no moisturizer needed unless you have really dry skin and the Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Night Cream might not be enough.

6. Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum, 1 oz

The Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum is not cheap and that 1 oz (30 ml) bottle will be gone in no time but if you have the money then you might never want to give it up.

It will definitely become your best facial cream for wrinkles, even though it’s a serum.

You should apply it twice daily but even if you only apply it in the evenings, it should be enough.

In the mornings you can apply a normal moisturizer or a vitamin C serum and sunscreen or a moisturizer with SPF if you have to leave the house.

The list of ingredients is unbelievable:

• hyaluronic acid and this serum will definitely make your skin plump and restore its youthful look

• salicylic acid for exfoliation, acne prevention, pore reduction, and for brightening up the skin

• rhubarb for its vitamin C and other vitamins

• honey

• aloe vera

• algae extract

• and BioComplex, which is a combination of antioxidants, Coenzyme Q10, and Alpha Lipoic Acid, which is another antioxidant

Works for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone, as you can tell from the above list of ingredients.

7. InstaNatural Vitamin C Facial Toner Anti Aging Face Spray with Witch Hazel

For the price that this one has, you should definitely give it a try. As the name gives it away, this is not a best facial cream for wrinkles but it’s still an anti-aging skin care product.

I simply couldn’t move on without mentioning it. You should be aware of its existence and maybe make it part of yours.

I think it’s a great way to end this list for the best anti-aging facial creams and serums even though it’s an anti-aging facial toner.

But it has amazing ingredients, that’s enough reason for me to mention it here:

• vitamin C

• witch hazel, which helps calm irritated skin

• MSM, which helps with wrinkles and has anti-inflammatory properties

• lavender oil

• geranium oil

This is a facial toner. You spray it on the face after cleansing it. It can be sprayed on the skin twice daily.

Your skin is supposed to become more receptive to serums, moisturizers, and other skin care treatments. It’s good for all skin types, especially for acne-prone and dry skin.

Really Expensive Anti-Aging Serums

If you are interested in some of the most expensive anti-aging skin care products to see what they offer in terms of ingredients and expectations, here’s a short list:

• SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum has antioxidants, peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C, and so much more

• SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic the famous serum with its top 3 ingredients right in the name: vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid – all three antioxidants

• iS Clinical Active Serum is ideal for those who want to tackle both wrinkles and acne but it’s only for oily and acne-prone skin, unlike the above two who can be used on all skin types

• PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum contains hyaluronic acid, obviously, but also ceramides and niacinamide

What to Look for when Looking the Best Facial Cream for Wrinkles

Before talking about what you should look for, meaning the ideal ingredients to be found in the best facial cream for wrinkles, I just want to mention one ingredient that you shouldn’t look for.

You shouldn’t look for facial creams or moisturizers that contain collagen.

Collagen molecules are too big and they don’t penetrate the skin so, basically, you won’t get any benefit from it.

Instead of looking for anti-aging facial creams that contain collagen, which will most likely won’t have any impact on any wrinkles, it’s best to have a healthy diet, eating foods high in amino acids, like fish, eggs, dairy, seeds & nuts, beans, and lots of fish.

Now,

Let’s talk about the ingredients that you should pay close attention to:

• vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects the skin, while at the same time it boosts collagen synthesis and reduces skin damage – it’s the ingredient that everyone has been obsessed with for years, including me

• peptides – they’re extremely important because they trigger the cells to produce new collagen and elastin, the exact same things we need to keep our skin looking firm

• vitamin A, also known as retinol or retinoids – increases collagen production and it also helps with fading age spots and rough patches of skin however, the reduction in wrinkles can take up to 6-12 months of regular use and it’s not suitable for all skin types (they can easily cause skin dryness, flaky skin, and irritation, the skin must become accustomed to nightly use, and also increase skin’s sensitivity to sunlight, which is why you should wear products with retinol at night)

• vitamin E is another antioxidant that helps restore damaged skin, while plumping up the skin

• niacinamide (vitamin B3) not only reduces fine lines after prolonged use but it also has anti-inflammatory properties that benefit acne-prone skin and it reduces pore size

• hyaluronic acid attracts moisture into the skin, keeping it plump, and it also affects collagen synthesis, in a good way – it’s a good ingredient to have in the best facial cream for wrinkles and in a moisturizer for face for dry skin

• epidermal growth factor stimulates tissue repair and cell growth, encouraging the formation of collagen and elastin

• AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) promote collagen synthesis so, they’re not only great as exfoliants although that’s their primary use

That’s a long list of ingredients.

Unfortunately, even if a best facial cream for wrinkles/serum has the right ingredients, the important aspect is how it interacts with your skin.

And you must also be aware that most of these ingredients require prolonged use until you see any conclusive results and, once you stop using them, the fine lines and wrinkles will most surely come back.

Wrinkles Prevention – Lifestyle Choices

As we all know and heard since forever, it’s always easier to prevent than to cure. The same thing can definitely be said about preventing wrinkles. It’s so hard to get rid of them, even those fine ones.

What I really believe is that, unless you have a lot of money, you can’t really get rid of deep wrinkles. Fine ones can be handled and managed to remain fine and not go deep. Some even fade completely.

Even with the best facial cream for wrinkles, we’re actually preventing wrinkles from forming instead of curing wrinkles.

For us normal people with very limited budgets, it’s all about prevention and postponing getting old. Which are the simple and not so simple things that anyone can do?

Let’s see:

• moisturize – there are moisturizers for all skin types, there’s no such thing that if your skin is oily, you shouldn’t moisturize – moisturizers keep the skin healthy and more elastic by preventing the water from leaving the skin, preventing it from becoming dry and damaged

• a vitamin C serum can protect the skin from environmental factors (pollution) and sun damage

• wear sunscreen daily SPF 30 or higher

• quit smoking – it’s definitely one of those things that anyone knows by now – smoking seriously ages the skin, the chemicals in tobacco smoke damage collagen and elastin, deprive the skin of oxygen and nutrients, and there’s the smoker’s pucker, which are the lines that appear above the lips caused by the muscles used for inhaling the smoke

• alcohol drinking is not exactly encouraged, either, at least not in excess, because it dries out the skin – drink plenty of water when drinking alcohol to balance it out

• don’t frown, at least don’t frown too much, I won’t say don’t laugh because that’s absurd, laughing lines and wrinkles around the eyes are the price you’ll have to pay for enjoying yourself but frowning never comes from enjoyment so, it’s useless

• eat foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids – basically lean meat, fish as often as you can, all vegetables that you can get your hands on, all kinds of green stuff, fruits and more fruits, eggs, dairy, and let’s not forget about nuts and seeds – not too many sweets, especially as we get older

• drink plenty of water

• sleep at least 7 hours a night

• wear sunglasses to prevent wrinkles around the eyes and between the eyebrows

It’s definitely important to find the best facial cream for wrinkles, our skin needs all the help it can get but, I still think, that our lifestyle choices should actually be our main focus, everything else is props.