Best Overall

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream Enriched

$78 at Sephora

$102

$78 at Nordstrom$102 at Macy’s

Key Ingredients: KOMB-Bounce complex, turmeric extract, niacinamide | Skin Type: Normal, Dry | Size: 1.7, 2.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Upon immediate application, our tester (with normal to dry, mature skin) found that this left her complexion smoother, more hydrated and glowing. It absorbed quickly, creating the perfect canvas for makeup as well. And by the end of the testing period, the fine lines around her mouth and chin, as well as her neck, had improved. She also noted that some residual redness from her rosacea was tamped down as well. The luxe texture, neither too light nor too rich, was also a huge attribute.

Worth noting: While our tester appreciated the subtle scent, individuals with sensitive skin should be aware that this product contains added fragrance. 

Heidi, tester with normal to dry mature skin: “This made my mature skin feel more plump, resilient, and healthy, and gave me a more even skin tone. I would definitely recommend this product, especially to those over 35.”

Best Overall, Runner – Up

MARA SeaDream Firming Algae Creme Moisturizer with Sea Moss + Peptides

$64

$52 at Amazon$64 at SephoraView 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 love this thicker, richer cream for nighttime use—it not only left noticeable improvements in terms of leaving skin smoother and more hydrated, but also boosted firmness and minimized the appearance of wrinkles over time. Still, despite the heavier consistency, our tester didn’t experience any clogged pores, and also noted that the formula can still be layered under other skincare. And by the end of the testing period, she found that her fine lines, especially the ‘11s’ between her brows, were greatly improved.

The only minor drawback? This comes in a jar without any kind of  applicator tool or spatula, so scooping it with your fingers can tend to get a bit messy. Still, it’s a small price to pay for the impressive results. 

Ashley, tester with normal-to-dry skin: “This is probably the best wrinkle cream I’ve ever used. It helped quite a bit with my fine lines—especially my 11 lines. I can see a visible difference in how my skin looks in the morning if I don’t use this product the night before.”

Best Budget-Friendly

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream

$26

$20 at Amazon$41 at Ulta

$28

$28 at Target

Key Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, glycerin | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This drugstore staple is an affordable choice that legitimately holds its own against the more expensive creams. It boasts two heavy-hitters—wrinkle-fighting retinol and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Our tester appreciated that it made her complexion look smoother in just two weeks and that it layered nicely under both makeup and other skincare products. Additionally, despite containing an ingredient notorious for causing irritation (ahem, retinol), it never caused any redness or sensitivity, nor did it lead to breakouts on her combination skin. It didn’t necessarily have any firming benefits, but the affordable price tag, coupled with legit results, makes this one product that’s definitely worth trying.

Saleam, tester with combination skin: “After two weeks of using this, I started to notice a smoother appearance in the texture of my skin, and my skin also felt more hydrated after consistent use.” 

Best for Sensitive Skin

InnBeauty Project Extreme Cream

$48 at SephoraView on Innbeautyproject.com

Key Ingredients: Peptides, bio-retinol, ceramides | Skin Type: Dry, combination | Size: 0.5, 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Wrinkle creams can be a challenging category for those with sensitive skin to navigate, as many of the more potent actives can also be highly irritating. I can attest to that issue firsthand; I’ve tried many formulas that wreaked havoc on my easily irritated complexion. Happily, that was hardly my experience with this super-gentle winner, which didn’t cause any tingling or burning. (It’s also fragrance-free, another boon for the sensitive set). To be totally honest, I didn’t notice a significant benefit in terms of improving wrinkles or firmness, but it did hydrate beautifully—both immediately after application and over time. It’s one of the best moisturizers I have ever used; the perfectly creamy texture is both lightweight enough for daytime use and rich enough for nighttime. Not to mention that it also imparts a beautiful glow to the skin, always a huge win in my book. The icing on the cake? A pump-top applicator meant that I didn’t have to worry about dipping my grimy fingers into a jar. 

Best for Fast Results

Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection Moisture Infusion Refillable Cream

$55 at Amazon$52 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 Firming

Caudalie Resveratrol Firming Moisturizer

$69

$56 at Amazon$69 at Sephora$59 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 it 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 Night Cream

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream

$48

$44 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 night cream for aging skin to add to your p.m. 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 applications. It plays well with other skincare products and is a perfect base under makeup.

Adi, tester 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 Lightweight

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

$28

$22 at Amazon$37 at Ulta

$42

$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 neck wrinkles. 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 Brightening

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Retinol + Ferulic Wrinkle Cream

$77

$59 at Amazon$77 at Sephora$77 at Dermstore

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, thanks 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

$145

$102 at Amazon$145 at Sephora

$145

$98 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 the formula’s gentleness on our skin, even 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 Smoothing

Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Total Repair Cream

$149

$135 at Amazon$149 at Sephora$149 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. 

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 Splurge

Skinceuticals A.G.E Interrupter Advanced

View on DermstoreView on Skinceuticals.comView 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 Expression Lines

The Outset Smoothing Vitamin C Eye + Expression Lines Cream

$42

$30 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 eye 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.”