The Best Wrinkle Creams for Aging Like Fine Wine (2024)

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 5:41 p.m.

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Every line on your face tells a story, but if you'd rather leave some of those stories untold, then the best wrinkle creams might help smoothen things out. We're not saying these recommendations will leave you completely wrinkle-free, but these are some of the best options for slowing down the signs of aging on the skin.

When it comes to anti-aging skin care products—or any skin care in general—active ingredients are key. “I kind of like to break it down with anti-aging ingredients: What happens with age that these ingredients can prevent?" Dr. Muneeb Shah, also known as the “DermDoctor,” a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the new skincare brand Remedy, says. “So, loss of collagen and elastin, thinning of the epidermis, slowing down of skin cell turnover…anything that's going to support collagen and elastin is going to be beneficial with aging.”

After months of testing anti-aging products (and some overall guidance from the good doctor), we narrowed down our medicine cabinet to the top 12 best wrinkle creams for nearly every skin type and issue.

The Best Wrinkle Creams for Men, According to GQ

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  • Which Skincare Ingredients Are Proven To Reverse Signs of Aging?
  • How We Tested
  • The Best Wrinkle Cream Overall: Jaxon Lane Relax and Repair

    Jaxon Lane

    Relax and Repair

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Affordable
    • Good for sensitive skin
    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • People with oily skin might find it too heavy

    It's amazing how many research-backed anti-aging ingredients are contained in this $36 face moisturizer for men. It's proof that you don't have to spend $100 to start your own anti-aging skin care routine (there's a reason it won a GQ Grooming Award. The ingredients include niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and botanical extracts from ginseng and Indian pennywort. Guys, especially those with sensitive skin types, will appreciate the lightweight formula, which is also fragrance-free.

    The Best Korean Skincare Wrinkle Cream: Cardon Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer

    Cardon

    Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Great for oily skin
    • Helps rejuvenate the skin

    Cons

    • Not heavy enough for overnight use

    Cardon is a Korean skincare brand that's a favorite of ours here at GQ Recommends. The brand won back-to-back GQ Grooming Awards in 2022 and 2023. We previously named this one of the best moisturizers for oily skin, but anyone can benefit from its potent formulation of niacinamide and botanicals. Apply this anti-aging moisturizer at night to the entire face and neck. For guys in their 20s and 30s who aren't quite ready for a retinol, make this your new everyday moisturizer.

    The Best Luxury French Wrinkle Cream: Beau Domaine The Cream

    Speaking of $200 luxury French skincare products, Beau Domaine is the result of a partnership between Brad Pitt and famed French winemaker Marc Perrin. Along with the brand's face serum and cleanser, this moisturizer gave my skin an undeniable glow-up in just four weeks. It contains patented antioxidants derived from grapes and other natural hydrating agents. It's a luxe unisex moisturizer and wrinkle cream, and one of the best I've ever reviewed. If you really love skincare and want rapid wrinkle repair with natural ingredients, then this cream is worth the splurge.

    The Best Retinol Cream: Dr. Loretta Concentrated Firming Moisturizer

    Dr. Loretta

    Concentrated Firming Moisturizer

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Helps with overall skin texture
    • Absorbs quickly
    • Only need a small amount per use

    Cons

    • Not heavy enough for an overnight moisturizer

    This dermatologist-founded brand makes some of my favorite anti-aging products. I recommend this wrinkle cream for anyone dealing with more than just fine lines—although it helps with those, too. It contains retinoid derived from vitamin A to fight wrinkles, improve overall skin brightening, and smooth out skin, while antioxidants such as Co-Q-10 support your body's natural collagen. The formula isn't oily at all, and I found it absorbed quickly into the skin. Just a couple small drops was enough to keep dryness at bay for my entire face.

    The Best Night Cream: Geologie Retinol Night Cream 0.1%

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    Geologie

    Retinol Night Cream 0.1%

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Comes in three strengths
    • Deeply hydrating

    Cons

    • Not for morning use

    If you prefer to apply skincare products at night, then go with Geologie's Night Cream. I love this product because it's available with three concentrations of retinol—0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%. You can start with the lower concentration in your 30s, and as your body gets used to the formula, you can increase the concentration for improved results. In addition to retinol, this moisturizer also contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

    The Best Morning Cream: Grown Alchemist Skin Renewal Day Cream

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    Grown Alchemist

    Skin Renewal Day Cream

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Absorbs quickly
    • Deeply hydrating
    • Boosts skin's moisture for a plumper, smoother appearance

    Cons

    • Screw cap design is annoying
    • A little pricey

    Are you a morning person that likes to apply skincare products in the a.m., fresh out of a shower? Then opt for this Grown Alchemist day cream. The formula contains niacinamide (vitamin B3), glycerin, peptides and botanical extracts from reishi mushrooms and echinacea. In our review, we found it to be a luxurious cream that absorbed quickly. It even contains green tea to help fight blemishes, making it a smart face moisturizer for acne-prone skin types.

    The Best Upgrade Wrinkle Cream: Skinceuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced

    Skinceuticals

    A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Hydrating
    • Helps with skin renewal for reduced wrinkle apperance

    Cons

    • Expensive

    One of the newest products in this guide, this award-winning Skinceuticals anti-wrinkle cream does more than moisturize. It supports your body's elastin and collagen production, which means it can fight wrinkles at the source. It also contains more proven anti-aging ingredients such as niacinamide and licorice extract. While it's a pricey balm, it's worth it if you're fighting deep wrinkles. This is a good option if you don't tolerate retinol, although it would be a good complement to a retinol moisturizer, too.

    The Custom Moisturizer: Prose Custom Moisturizer

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    Prose

    Custom Moisturizer

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Offers custom formulations
    • Smells good

    Cons

    • Might not nail the formula the first time

    Prose takes customization seriously. For instance, the brand might add extra UV protection to your products based on your sensitivity, location, and the season. I recently tested the brand's new custom skincare regimen, and I actually liked it more than the famous Prose hair products. The vegan formula I received contains moisturizers such as glycerin and squalene, as well as anti-aging ingredients such as red algae, amino acids, and niacinamide. I normally prefer fragrance-free products, but I love the scent of this gel-like moisturizer, which is non oily. Like all of the best anti-aging moisturizers, it’s also cruelty-, phthalate-, and paraben-free.

    The Best Wrinkle Cream for Improving Skin Elasticity: Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Cream

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    • Timothy Beck Werth

    Kiehl's

    Super Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Cream

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Helps with evening skin tone
    • Plumps the skin

    Cons

    • Expensive

    Wrinkles and fine lines aren't the only signs of aging you need to worry about. Kiehl's multi-purpose anti-aging moisturizer was formulated with vitamin A, chaga mushroom extract, and hyaluronic acid to even skin tone and improve elasticity on the face and neck. Apply it every day to the face and neck and you should see a plumping and smoothing effect in four to six weeks.

    The Affordable All-in-One: CeraVe Skin Renewing Day Cream with Sunscreen

    CeraVe

    Skin Renewing Day Cream with Sunscreen

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Affordable
    • Has built-in SPF

    Cons

    • Can pill when used with certain other skin care products

    Tired of the sight of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots? You don't need to pay $200 for a luxe French face moisturizer (though we can recommend a few). This affordable drugstore brand face moisturizer is one of the few that combines broad spectrum SPF 30, for daily sun exposure, with retinol to protect and repair the skin. This day cream also uses hyaluronic acid to as the moisturizing agent, and it's suitable for all skin types. For a $28 product on Amazon, it's punching way above its weight class.

    The Best for Deep Wrinkles: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream

    RoC

    Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Also exfoliates the skin
    • Moisturizing

    Cons

    • Some find it to be irritating to the skin

    Need a concentrated dose of anti-aging ingredients in an affordable package? Not only does this wrinkle night cream contain retinol to fight wrinkles, but it also contains exfoliating glycolic acid to help with dark spots and other signs of aging. Additional moisture comes from squalane and shea butter. Suitable for men and women, we recommend saving this product for deep wrinkles.

    The Best Easy-to-Absorb Wrinkle Cream: Kiehl's Age Defender Cream Moisturizer

    Kiehl's

    Age Defender Cream Moisturizer

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Hydrating
    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • Some reviewers say it feels greasy

    Kiehl's anti-aging moisturizer for men contains two potent ingredients: salicylic acid and caffeine. The former is a powerful exfoliating agent, useful for more than just acne, and the latter helps to energize the sensitive skin under the eyes, just like your favorite eye cream. It also has additional botanicals and moisturizers and a subtle, masculine fragrance. The whipped-cream like texture is soft to the touch and absorbs quickly.

    Which Skincare Ingredients Are Proven To Reverse Signs of Aging?

    If you’re fighting wrinkles, it’s all about retinol, retinol, retinol. But what other ingredients will help give your skin a glow-up?

    “Retinol is probably the most studied ingredient over time for all the signs of aging,” Dr. Shah says. "Niacinamide is a great ingredient for this…Exfoliating acids like glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, can all be beneficial.”

    The Best Wrinkle Creams for Aging Like Fine Wine (2024)
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