Wrinkles and fine lines are a common annoyance as you age. With so many different wrinkle creams, lotions, serums, and treatments out there, it can be tough to decide what is right for your skin. Advertising promises so much and can often deliver so little. So, you might be wondering, do wrinkle creams really work? It depends on the specific ingredients and how often and how long you use them. Here are some of the best ingredients to look for when starting the battle against wrinkles:
Retinol. Retinol is actually a vitamin A compound and an antioxidant. Antioxidants are great for treating wrinkles because they neutralize free radicals. Free radicals in your skin are unstable oxygen molecules that can break down skin cells and can cause wrinkles.1
Hydroxy acids. There are multiple types of hydroxy acids and all of them can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Look for alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids or salicylic acid and poly hydroxy acids. These are also exfoliants which may remove the dead skin cells and stimulate the growth of new, more even skin.1
Vitamin C. This is another antioxidant that can help protect from sun damage, which often leads to new wrinkles.1
Coenzyme Q10 (sometimes just referred to as CoQ10). This ingredient may also protect against sun damage while reducing fine lines around your eyes. Products with this ingredient would be great if you find wrinkles around your eyes from squinting in the sun.1
Peptides. Look for peptides in products that fight wrinkles. They are also used in healing wounds and stretch marks.1
Tea extracts. Green tea extract may be the most popular, but black or oolong tea is also effective at fighting wrinkles because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.1
Grape seed extract. In addition to tea extracts, grape seed extract is also helpful in healing wounds and wrinkles.1
Niacinamide. This is related to vitamin B-3 and is a strong antioxidant. It may help improve skin elasticity and reduce water loss, because dehydrated skin may lead to wrinkles showing more heavily.1
If you’re looking for a new product to try to fight wrinkles, try our CLOSE UP Instant Wrinkle Reducer & Treatment.
Some additional things to remember when looking for wrinkle treatments:
You may think that a wrinkle cream that is more expensive will work more effectively, but that is not always the case. You’ll need to use a wrinkle cream multiple times a day over a period of time to determine its effectiveness for your specific skin type.1 Remember that a cream that works well for your friend may not work as well for you since our skin is all different. Watch for side effects and discontinue use if you experience irritation, burning, redness, a rash or any other side effects while using the cream or lotion.1
In addition to finding the best ingredients to fight wrinkles, you’ll want to adopt some lifestyle changes as well.
Protect your skin from the sun and always use sunscreen when outdoors, even in cloudy or chilly weather. Sun is often the number one reason that skin damage and wrinkles start to appear.1
Another big reason for wrinkles is smoking. It damages your skin by damaging collagen and elastin, two things that are crucial for plump and unwrinkled skin.1
Use moisturizer and stay hydrated. Dry skin can create or increase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.1
If you need help finding a customized skin care routine to fight your fine lines and wrinkles, visit your dermatologist.
Do you have wrinkles? What wrinkle treatments have you tried and how have they worked for you? Share your experiences with us by commenting below!
1 – Information from Mayo Clinic
