Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

If it's smooth, bright, glowing skin you covet—and, let's be honest, who doesn't?—there are plenty of at-home and in-office treatments you can try. From procedures like microdermabrasion to dermaplaning and specialty serums like hyaluronic acid and retinol, they'll all provide some level of anti-aging benefits.

But what if you don't have the time for a multistep routine or the budget for one of the more expensive approaches? It doesn't matter where the lines are—around your eyes, adjacent to your mouth, or even down your neck—a simple wrinkle cream can help, says Debra Jaliman, MD, also a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

To ensure the cream or serum you're selecting is most effective, look for retinol, peptides, and niacinamide, she suggests. And make sure these ingredients show up in the beginning of the ingredient list, which indicates they appear in the product in a higher concentration than other ingredients lower down on the list.

And try to exercise patience if you don't see improvements—particularly if your wrinkles are deep and dark. "The results of wrinkle creams can take weeks to months for results to show," says Green. "For example, when it comes to retinoids, it typically takes three to six months of regular use before improvements are apparent with the best results occurring after six to 12 months," she explains. Other factors that can contribute to the effectiveness of wrinkles creams include your lifestyle and diet. "If you regularly smoke or drink alcohol, you are less likely to see results from the wrinkle creams," says Green.

Hoping to see those results sooner rather than later? Peep this list of hardworking wrinkle creams, all dermatologist approved.

Good skin care cream...My skin gets breakouts, spots, wrinkles, creases and needs extra care. I tried the Shiseido Wrinkle smoothing cream and noticed that it significantly improved my skin tone....I love using this wrinkle cream. It helps my skin hold moisture, keeps my wrinkles softened and my skin looks brighter.

What it is: A daily cream that intensely hydrates and visibly addresses wrinkles in just two weeks*.

Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily

Skincare Concerns: Fine Lines and Wrinkles, Dryness, and Loss of Firmness and Elasticity

Formulation: Cream

Highlighted Ingredients:
- KOMBU-Bounce Complex (Green, Brown, Red Algae plus Chlorella Extract): Fortifies skin's barrier to help prevent and minimize the look of wrinkles.
- Turmeric Extract: Helps minimize the look of wrinkles and tighten the look of skin.

Ingredient Callouts: Free of parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, sulfates SLS & SLES, triclocarban, and triclosan.<

No matter your skin-care priorities, it’s never a bad idea to incorporate products that prevent and treat signs of aging. “As we get older, our skin gets thinner and produces less collagen and elastin — which means it doesn’t repair itself as well and isn’t as plump or moist, which in turn causes our expression lines and wrinkles to stick around,” explains dermatologist Noelani Gonzalez, a specialist at Mount Sinai Health System. Wrinkle creams can be a great all-around product for navigating the skin’s natural aging process because the best ones will “provide support to your aging skin and deliver ingredients to the skin that help it better repair and renew itself,” she says.

To find the best wrinkle creams for preventing and treating fine lines, we spoke to Gonzalez and seven other dermatologists. Read on to find out what to look for in a wrinkle cream, or use the links below to jump straight to our experts’ picks.

Best overall | Best drugstore | Best for expression lines | Best with peptides and retinol | Best for dry skin | Best for oily skin | Best retinol-alternative | Best for the chest | Best for under eyes

What we’re looking for

Retinol: When it comes to fighting wrinkles, retinol is the gold standard. Morgan Rabach, a dermatologist at LM Medical NYC, says this derivative of vitamin A is the “No. 1 most important ingredient when looking for an anti-aging cream.” Dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum agrees, calling it one of the hardest-working products in your beauty arsenal for treating aging skin. That’s because retinol can help increase cellular turnover and encourage the formation of new skin as well as the production of collagen and elastin, all of which help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, according to Nussbaum. It helps fade discoloration, improve the appearance of pores, and repair UV damage. It can also be used to treat acne, so if you have acne-prone skin, choosing a wrinkle cream with retinol may help you manage two concerns at once. Retinol is not without drawbacks, however: It makes skin more sensitive to sunlight and tends to have an adjustment period marked by peeling, flaking skin. Still, the benefits usually outweigh the negatives. We’ve noted when a wrinkle cream’s formula includes retinol, as you shouldn’t double up if you’re already using a prescription retinoid. You should avoid retinol entirely if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Other active ingredients: Besides retinol, additional active ingredients can help with smoothing wrinkles. These include peptides, which dermatologist Karan Lal calls a powerhouse ingredient. Peptides, explains Lal, are bunches of amino acids that cluster together and serve as building blocks for proteins like elastin and collagen. “They help the skin heal, which is important for skin as it ages. Peptides help to restore some integrity to the skin,” Lal says. Other notable actives include vitamin C — a powerful antioxidant that helps with brightening and fighting free radicals, which break down skin cells and can cause wrinkles. Vitamin C can also help protect skin from sun damage, another leading cause of wrinkles. Chemical exfoliants, like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) can also help; common AHAs include lactic and glycolic acids, both of which are popular wrinkle-reducing ingredients. These remove dead skin cells and prepare skin to better absorb other products, like moisturizers.

Size: Because wrinkle creams tend to be very pricey, the amount of cream in the jar or tube is important too. We’ve factored in how much you’re getting — and, by extension, the cost per ounce — so you can decide which creams might give you the best bang for your buck.

Best overall wrinkle cream

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream

$130

Includes retinol | Other actives: lactic acid, antioxidants | 1 ounce ($130/ounce)

Skinbetter’s hero ingredient is retinol, the gold-star anti-aging ingredient. In this formulation, retinol is combined with lactic acid, which minimizes irritation while still delivering the benefits of both. “With this, you get the brightening effects of lactic acid in addition to the anti-aging effect of retinol,” says dermatologist Samer Jaber, founder of Washington Square Dermatology. It’s also well tolerated by sensitive skin; Jaber says that even his patients who have struggled with other retinoids find this “very tolerable.” Last, it contains a blend of antioxidants to help neutralize free radicals.

$130 at SkinBetter

Buy

Best drugstore wrinkle cream

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream

$22

$30 now 27% off

$22

Includes retinol | Other actives: glycolic acid | 1 ounce tube ($18/ounce)

If you don’t want to spring for the Skinbetter, RoC’s night cream comes highly recommended by the experts we spoke to. Dermatologist Carlos A. Charles, the founder of New York City–based Derma di Colore, told us he typically suggests that patients use retinoids, retinol’s prescription-strength cousins, to treat wrinkles, but, he says, “in the over-the-counter world, RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream can be used for those who prefer a milder retinol formulation.” Rabach agrees, adding that the RoC is gentle enough to use on more sensitive, wrinkly skin around the eyes. When using retinol, correct application is key to avoid irritating your skin (though irritation may still occur if you’re just starting out). According to dermatologist Noelani E. Gonzales, start slow and apply a pea-size amount just two to three times a week, then work up from there.

$22 at Amazon

Buy

$22 at Target

Buy

Best wrinkle cream for expression lines

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

Revision Skincare Revox 7

$136

$136

Does not include retinol | Other actives: peptides | 0.5 ounce bottle ($260/ounce)

Dr. Lal is a fan of Revision Skincare’s Revox 7, which contains seven different peptides and has been clinically proven to reduce expression lines around the eyes, forehead, and mouth, with lots of participants seeing results after eight weeks. “It helps to soften the lines,” says Lal. While this product is efficacious on its own, because it doesn’t contain retinol, it can be combined with a prescription retinoid to increase its effectiveness.

$136 at Amazon

Buy

$130 at Dermstore

Buy

Best wrinkle cream with peptides and retinol

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum

$99

$99

Includes retinol | Other actives: peptides, hyaluronic acid | 1 ounce bottle ($69/ounce)

This serum from Clinique, which comes recommended by Lal, contains both retinol and peptides that work together to boost collagen production and smooth skin. Lal calls it a good two-in-one product. “This is great if you don’t want to use multiple products,” he says. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate skin. The more hydrated skin looks, the less visible wrinkles will be, thereby reducing the look of fine lines. Despite being a lightweight serum, it’s hydrating enough to use on its own as a moisturizer, though you can layer it with a dedicated moisturizer for even more hydration.

$99 at Ulta Beauty

Buy

$99 at Sephora

Buy

Best wrinkle cream for dry skin

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer Cream

$27 now 15% off

$23

Does not include retinol | Other actives: vitamin B3, hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide | 1.7 ounces ($12/ounce)

“Slathering a moisturizer on every night will also help” plump wrinkles and fine lines, according to Rabach. She suggests Olay Regenerist for its thicker texture, which she notes is particularly good for wrinkly skin that’s super-dry. This cream is infused with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide, all of which work together to plump and smooth fine lines. Niacinamide is a star ingredient in the formula, and it works especially well for lightening dark marks. That means this product is ideal if you want to treat hyperpigmentation as well as wrinkles. Niacinamide also acts as a humectant, which prevents additional moisture loss — key for reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

$23 at Amazon

Buy

$22 at Walmart

Buy

Best wrinkle cream for oily skin

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

M-61 Hydraboost Collagen+Peptide Water Cream

$76

$76

Does not include retinol | Other actives: vegan collagen, peptides, vitamin B5 | 1.7 ounces ($45/ounce)

“It’s lightweight but hydrates,” says Dr. Rachel Cheung of this moisturizer from M-61 that contains a mix of vegan collagen, vitamin B5, peptides, and Kakadu plum. “The vitamin B5 draws in moisture to restore the skin barrier, while antioxidants protect from free radicals and peptides boost collagen production.” It’s also incredibly lightweight, a good option if you’re on the oilier side.

$76 at Macy's

Buy

$76 at Bluemercury

Buy

Best retinol-alternative wrinkle cream

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

Alpyn Beauty PlantGenius Melt Moisturizer with Bakuchiol

$60

$60

Does not include retinol | Other actives: bakuchiol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid | 1.7 ounces ($35/ounce)

If you have sensitive skin and are looking for a less irritating alternative to retinol, Cheung recommends this moisturizer from Alpyn Beauty that contains common anti-aging staples like peptides along with bakuchiol, a natural ingredient that works similarly to retinol. “It’s a plant-derived alternative to retinol that delivers the same collagen-boosting effects without the irritation,” Cheung says, adding that the formula contains moisture-barrier-supporting ingredients like squalane to help maintain and hydrate the skin.

$60 at Amazon

Buy

$60 at Sephora

Buy

Best wrinkle cream for the chest

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

Senté Dermal Contour Pressed Serum

$198

$198

Does not include retinol | Other actives: heparan sulfate analog, dermatan sulfate analog, chondroitin sulfate analog | 1 ounce bottle ($198/ounce)

Celebrity facialist Candace Marino generally prefers serums to creams because they offer a more targeted approach. “Since serums are molecularly smaller than creams, they allow for better product penetration of the active ingredients,” she says. The serums can be layered with other night wrinkle creams for an additional benefit. She likes this cream-serum hybrid from Senté in particular, which she says helps firm and support skin from within and works particularly well for deep lines, especially on the chest area. It’s formulated with dermatan sulfate analog (DSA) and chondroitin sulfate analog (CSA) — a skin-firming duo that helps promote collagen and elastin production. Marino says it helps to “re-volumize lax, depleted skin,” and takes about four weeks of consistent use to see a noticeable difference.

$198 at Dermstore

Buy

$198 at Lovely Skin

Buy

Best wrinkle cream for under eyes

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex

$105

Does not include retinol | Other actives: blueberry, pro-xylane, peptides | 0.5 ounce jar ($200/ounce)

If you’re struggling with under-eye wrinkles, Nussbaum suggests splurging on the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex, which she calls one of her “favorite creams to combat those pesky wrinkles around the eyes.” She adds that “its balmy formula and optical diffusers reflect light away from the eye area, which is instantly illuminating.” But this stuff works below the skin’s surface to prevent future fine lines, too. It’s formulated with blueberry extract, peptides, and pro-xylane to “moisturize, nourish, and prevent future visible signs of aging, while boosting elasticity and fortifying the skin’s matrix, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s-feet,” Nussbaum explains.

$105 at Dermstore

Buy

$105 at Lovely Skin

Buy

Some more skin-care products for wrinkles we've written about

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

The best retinol wrinkle cream for beginners

$24

$25 now 4% off

$24 at Amazon

$25 at Walmart

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

The red light tool Carole Radziwill uses to restore collagen

$249

Buy at Amazon

Best wrinkle cream for deep forehead lines

An anti-wrinkle concentrate for people with dry skin

$45

$45 at Amazon

$45 at Ulta Beauty

Our experts

• Dr. Carlos A. Charles, founder of Derma Di Colore
• Dr. Rachel Cheung, dermatologist
• Dr. Noelani Gonzalez, dermatologist
• Dr. Samer Jaber, founder of Washington Square Dermatology
• Dr. Karan Lal, dermatologist
• Candice Marino, esthetician
• Dr. Marnie Nussbaum, dermatologist
• Dr. Morgan Rabach, cofounder of LM Medical NYC and Clinical Assistant professor of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital

get the strategist newsletter

Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts.

Email

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

What is the best cream for deep wrinkles on forehead?

Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream. ... .
RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream. ... .
Revision Skincare Revox 7. ... .
Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum. ... .
Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer Cream. ... .
M-61 Hydraboost Collagen+Peptide Water Cream..

How do you get rid of deep forehead wrinkles?

To get rid of forehead wrinkles, try retinol, moisturizing, and botox injections. To prevent future forehead wrinkles, wear sunscreen daily, stop smoking, and manage stress levels..
Wear sunscreen daily. ... .
Stop smoking. ... .
Manage stress. ... .
Use moisturizers. ... .
Try facial treatments. ... .
Get a Botox injection. ... .
Apply anti-wrinkle creams..

How can I get rid of deep forehead wrinkles without Botox?

Try Retinoids, the Ultimate Skin-Plumping and Firming Superheroes. Among all the available products, if there's one you buy, make it a retinoid. “A daily sunscreen and nightly retinoid can actually prevent the need for injectables,” says Lauren Ploch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Aiken, South Carolina.

Why are my forehead lines so deep?

Currently, anecdotal evidence suggests that the more likely connection is this: deep forehead wrinkles are a reflection of lifestyle factors (age, unhealthy diet, stress, etc.) that contribute to higher cardiovascular risk.