These Are the 7 Best Wrinkle Treatments, According to Experts

Wrinkles are a natural and universal part of the aging process. “As we age, the healthy elastin and collagen fibers in our skin naturally break down,”

explains double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jaimie DeRossa. She adds that environmental and lifestyle factors—sun exposure, pollution, smoking—can exacerbate this deterioration.

Genetics also play a role in how and when fine lines and wrinkles develop. The truth is: No matter what a serum or treatment promises in practice, wrinkles are never completely eliminated.

However, there are ways to prevent and eliminate them. Learn more about the seven best ways to fight wrinkles—from tried-and-true ingredients to injectables—below.

Use Sunscreen

As the saying goes, the best offense is a good defense—and that applies to sunscreen and wrinkles, too. Sun exposure, especially UVA rays, is the primary cause of accelerated collagen and elastin breakdown,

Dr. DeRossa says. UVA rays can penetrate clouds and even glass, so it’s important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30, rain or shine, 365 days a year. Sure, it won’t help smooth out existing wrinkles, but it does prevent new ones from forming.

Use Vitamin C Products

Apply a vitamin C serum underneath your sunscreen to further improve the appearance of wrinkles. This powerful antioxidant works in two ways: “It supports collagen production and reduces damage from photoaging and the sun’s UV rays,” explains Dr. DeRossa.

(Not to mention, it helps reduce hyperpigmentation, too.) There are a number of different kinds of vitamin C available in over-the-counter skincare products, but L-ascorbic acid is the purest and most potent, which is what Dr. DeRossa considers when choosing a topical product.

Incorporate Retinoids into Your Routine

Perhaps no class of active ingredients has been better studied and praised for its wrinkle-fighting benefits than retinoids. Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A that stimulate collagen production and block the activation of enzymes that break down collagen, Dr. DeRossa says.

Options range from over-the-counter retinol serums to prescription retinoids. But no matter which you start with, your skin needs time to adjust to the active ingredients, Dr. DeRossa emphasizes.

(Retinoids are known for their irritating side effects, such as peeling, dryness, and redness.) “While it takes a while to see results, adding a topical retinoid will produce long-term improvements to your skin, including the refinement of fine lines and wrinkles,” she says.

Try a formula with added bakuchiol

Retinoids are great, but as mentioned earlier, they can be irritating. Also, they’re not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. That’s where bakuchiol comes in, a plant-based retinol alternative.

According to Dr. DeRossa, it affects the retinoid receptors in the skin, achieving the same effects as retinoids (including wrinkle reduction), but with fewer side effects. A 2019 study directly compared bakuchiol to retinol and found that bakuchiol was just as effective and less irritating.

Consider neurotoxin injections

Dr. Brauer highlights neurotoxin injections as an option for treating dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles caused by repetitive muscle movement). There are several brands on the market—Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and a few others—but they all contain botulinum toxin.

Dr. Brauer explains that the toxin blocks the release of neurotransmitters necessary for muscle movement and temporarily weakens or paralyzes the muscles. Neurotoxin injections can also help smooth static wrinkles—wrinkles that form permanently due to repetitive muscle movement.

Both experts we spoke to rave about their good results. The only downside? The treatment effects aren’t permanent, Dr. Brauer says, lasting an average of three to four months. Therefore, regular follow-up treatments are needed to maintain the wrinkle-smoothing effects.

Try microneedling

“Microneedling is a noninvasive procedure that punctures the skin with tiny needles, creating microtrauma,” Dr. Brauer explains. Your body’s natural healing response stimulates growth factors that ultimately lead to the synthesis of healthy collagen and elastin.

“Skin looks younger, tighter, firmer, and healthier,” he says. However, keep in mind that this isn’t a one-time treatment. The more you use it, the better results you’ll get, Dr. Breuer says. If you want more, you can also consider radiofrequency microneedling.

Dr. DeRosa explains that radiofrequency energy is introduced into the deeper layers of the skin, where it heats the tissue and further stimulates the production of new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.

Learn more about Fraxel treatments.

Dr. Breuer says Fraxel is the first non-ablative and ablative laser treatment ever developed. The non-ablative part means heating the deep layers of the dermis to stimulate collagen production over the long term;

the ablative part works on the epidermis and activates the natural healing process, both stimulating collagen production and reducing pigmentation, he explains, adding that the treatment is very effective for both fine and deep static wrinkles.

The treatment is long-lasting, so it can be done yearly or less frequently, depending on the condition of your skin.

FAQ

Which wrinkle treatment is the most effective?

From a topical skin care perspective, retinoids have the best, well-proven, and studied results. Neurotoxin injections are also very effective, but must be repeated to maintain results.

What are the latest ways to treat wrinkles?

Daxxify is a new neurotoxin injection that recently hit the market and is said to have longer-lasting effects than competitor Botox. What is the best way to treat deep facial wrinkles?

Neurotoxin injections can help eliminate deep wrinkles, although Dr. Brauer also recommends injectable fillers. “They can be implanted into the dermis and overlying the facial bones to add volume and reposition the facial skin.

This can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce skin sagging and volume loss,” he explains.