Products

The quest for dewy, youthful-looking skin requires year-round commitment, and the best wrinkle creams deserve a place in one’s skin-care stash 365 days a year. But when fall and winter descend, those on a mission to defy gravity (and dryness!) have added incentive to hydrate wisely. According to Dr. Cheryl Karcher, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, “The best anti-aging or wrinkle creams help people stay hydrated and maintain a youthful-looking complexion during the fall and winter through a combination of barrier protection, support, and humectant hydration.”

What’s more, dermatologist-approved anti-aging creams help shield the skin against environmental damage in any weather. “Many anti-aging creams use SPF, antioxidant blends, and DNA repair enzymes to keep the skin barrier strong, which is important at this time of year,” Dr. Karcher points out. After all, the colder months bring drier air—both outside and inside, where indoor heating prevails. This makes it harder for the skin barrier to keep hydration in, which means that a top-shelf cream is a true ally through the season of falling leaves (and moisture levels).

However, not all anti-aging skin-care products are created equal, and not all of them offer the same degree of anti-aging benefits. “The effectiveness of wrinkle creams largely depends on their active ingredients,” says Dr. Shereene Idriss, board-certified dermatologist and founder of New York City’s Idriss Dermatology. “No cream is ever going to replace Botox and fillers, but wrinkle creams with the right active ingredients can help with the appearance of wrinkles over time.”

Which are the right active anti-aging ingredients, exactly? And which creams or lotions are akin to a fountain of youth for the skin cells? Ahead, dermatologists share the best wrinkle creams for keeping skin soft and smooth for—if not forever—at least a little longer.

Best for Deep Wrinkles: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

• Why We Love It: RoC’s Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream is an editor favorite. The noncomedogenic cream features a blend of retinol, glycolic acid, squalane, and shea butter, making it a gentle option for those new to retinol. Vogue’s senior shopping beauty writer Kiana Murden calls the formula her favorite drugstore retinol, and she’s in good company. “The RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle cream, which can be purchased for about $30 at your local drugstore or Amazon, has been cited as an excellent option by nearly every dermatologist I trust,” she wrote. “With zero purging and its ease of use, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my trial—so much so that I’ve begun to recommend it to anyone new to retinol.”
• Key Ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, squalane, shea butter
• Skin Benefits: Formulated to reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles during beauty sleep, the Deep Wrinkle Night Cream is expected to promote a firm, smooth, luminous complexion.
• How to Apply: According to RoC, this is best applied to the face and neck at night. The brand recommends using it every other night, then increasing frequency to every night once your skin is ready. Be sure to follow with sunscreen in the morning.
• Best For: Deep wrinkles, dry skin, combination skin, dull skin
• Size: 1.0 fl. oz.