Wrinkle Smoothers Creams: How Do they Work and How Long Do They Last?
The joy of instant gratification is the enemy of patience. Unfortunately you can’t get the pay-off without the work, especially when it comes to beauty (unless, of course, you’re Jessica Alba). So when you see “instant face lift” or “timeless beauty in a bottle” – you may cringe like me because you know you are considering forking over $50 for yet another cream that will get pushed to the back of your cabinet. But do some work as they claim??
There are a few instant wrinkle smoothers which contain hyaluronic acid that are supposed to penetrate the skin. I must say I have used a few of them and felt they did nothing for me past the time it takes them to dry. I didn’t see any improvement over time either. I have tried the Dermavance line and felt I saw no improvement, although a few friends swear they did. Obviously not all products are going to work for all people, but they should show some improvement which can be seen by comparing before and after photographs. If you don’t see any improvement within the first 15 minutes of applying an instant wrinkle cream (not an anti-aging cream), it is probably not working for you. However, there are several that use more long term ingredients that boost collagen, correct color imbalances, and increase cell turnover. These products usually results in a few weeks. These types are not so “instant” but represent the majority of wrinkle creams are the market today. I believe they are most effective than going for an overnight improvement.
Anti-aging creams are a different matter. They improve and prevent. The top products on the market today are:
- SkinMedica TNS Recovery Complex
- SkinCeuticals Serum 15 AOX
- Cellex-C Skin Firming Cream
- Kinerase Cream
Some good OTC creams are:
- Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream (retinol). It isn’t “instant” but it does work; results are usually seen after a few weeks of use.
- Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Serum: A little more intense than above, but also works.
- RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle: (retinol and DMAE). Not instant either, but it works in a few weeks.
I honestly feel that staying moisturized and staying away from matte foundations can disguise wrinkles more than most of the “instant” products on the market today. Heavy use of powder, including mineral powders, can also leave wrinkled or peeling skin looking even drier. The results of these products usually only last as long as you use them. Obviously, prescription strength products which penetrate the skin will have longer lasting effects, but one must keep maintaining in order to retain. Unfortunately, we’re all going to age no matter what we use but prevention, correction and a good diet (and exercise!) will do us all well. Remember to eat a diet high in anti-oxidants (salmon, blueberries, nuts, tomatoes, greens) and drink plenty of water. And if that doesn’t work on its own, break out the Botox!
Let me know if you have any favorite wrinkle serums or creams. I would love to hear your thoughts on what you have tried. I am always looking for a good product :)
Marianne
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I have heard creams with MSM can work because they have silica and sulphur which can repair skin structure. Haven't tried them yet.
I’ve tried all of the above but I keep going back to Revive Renewal Cream. Nah, I don’t spend 200 bucks a jar anymore I buy the .5 samples jars on line for $20 on ebay, lasts 2 plus or so months (and is fresher!). I do have a cheap love which is a small roll on combination of acids from skin laboratory. With this I just pick my spots then roll it on a few minutes before showering. Yeah, I’m lazy, half the time I don’t bother removing whatever is on my skin (last nights Revive) before I roll it on. I’m a fair blonde with fine lines & freckles. Freckles where cute was a kid but not as a geezer of 45! YIKES! This helps keep them at bay. A few months ago I did a skin care trial for a major OTC manufacturer, almost cried when I had to send back the rest of the product… a good thing is hopefully coming soon!!
KAT
I have tried topical MSM but didn't have enough to do a full review. Wish I did though!
Kat, Lucky you! But how unfortunate to have to give it back. It's like taking candy from a kid. Absurd!
My mom has freckles (she's a fairskinned redhead), she just lets them go. She said if she gets enough she'll look tan. ;)
Thank you girls for your tips and sharing your secrets ;)
Hi Marianne! I have been using (and very happy with) SkinMedica's Vit C Complex. Between Kinerase and SkinMedica TNS- which do you think is more effective? I do have to get telangietasias zapped around my nose now and then, so reading up on the TNS makes me a tad leery of anything that stimulates new blood vessel growth. I have sensitive/flushing skin.. How gentle is Kinerase? Scented or no? On another topic you posted about recently- lip plumpers.. I love the Lip Fusion product. I find it very moisturizing, and I've noticed a cumulative effect over the months I've used it. No huge pillows, but smoothed.
I like Kinerase, but the TNS is supposed to work better. Although I must say it is quite expensive. I do notice Kinerase makes my skin look and feel Kinerase doesn't work at all. I didn't notice mine had a scent at all to tell you the truth. I didn't know it came "scented" although there is a new version that has sunscreen in it. Maybe that's the scented one?
I have telangiectasias as well. I started getting a lot of them when I started using tretinoin with the Obagi system.
Thank you for the lip plumper tip. I know what you mean when they look smoother :) I noticed City Lips did that.
Thank you for posting, I love reading comments :)
Hi Marianne
Missing you on the YTF skincare forums...but love reading your blog. You are such an accomplished writer/communicator. Do you have a background in journalism?
I digress....favorite wrinkle serums, huh? This may sound absurd, but for me it's a heavy duty simple moisturizer aka Cetaphil cream. Plumps the skin...or rather...makes the skin appear plumper as it's smoother. One of the few which don't break me out, either.
I tried TNS recovery serum for several months...brought on MAJOR zits and I swear affected my hormomes, somehow. My hot flushes returned with a vengeance. A friend using it got strange periods. Something is not kosher with that product..
Avene Ystheal gel was too drying, the cream versionincuced acne. Avene Eluage is nice...but no overt discernable effects in terms of rejuvenation. i tried Vitamin C serum and this and that. Negligeable results...if ANY. Most of it wishful thinking.
But you know, the longer I look at people of "a certain age" the more I'm convinced that it's all laughable, anyway. Lotion & Potion wise speaking. The biggest factor in whether a person looks youthful or aged aren't wrinkles.
It's sagging.
And nothing short of a scalpel can address that.
I know tons of women with truly gorgous skin. Even texture, no sun damage ( hey, this is rainy England), few wrinkles....but do they look youthful? No, they are just middle aged or older women with really good skin.
Even if they address their n/L folds via fillers or add fat/fillers to their cheeks/ undereye area, they STILL don't look any younger. They may think so, their pals may tell them so to cheer them up ...but adding a filler to correct sagging just makes their face look rounder. Fatter, actually. Is a curiously round face young? On a baby, yes. But on a fully grown woman....hmmm. In London one can see a whole bunch of skinny women with strangely rotund, contourless faces marching around. And it's odd. Their hands are old, their eyes tell their age, their neck and chest is aged....but they have puffy lips,and unlined, partially or severely expressionless rotund faces. To me they look like a hybrid of ...something. But they sure don't look young/younger.
I am also singularly unconvinced about the prevailing "we loose fat in our face as we age" theory. Says....who? Why would we loose fat in the face as we age.... but everywhere else we retain it MORE. It doesn't make any sense. Good business for the filler people, of course, and it gives us the illusion we can "DO" something to combat aging. Which we can via surreptitious shots of Botox and in keeping young in our heads. But otherwise? Limited options. None found in a tube or jar. I'm sure of it.
What's "aging" us, really? To me, 95% of it it's "fat slippage" where, thanks to gravity, our fat pads in the face ( and everywhere else) head southwards creating joys such as jowls and n/l folds. Combine that with sloppier cell turnover, thinning skin, decreasing skin elasticity and inability to retain moisture ( never mind which moisturizer is slapped on top)...and voila, youth has gone. There is no serum to correct it.And I really don't think there ever will be. Unless we manage to stop gravity from occurring.
Bummer, ain't it?
Makes one wish one listened to these folks who bored us to tears when advising to enjoy our youth....whilst we still had it.
Before I ramble on even further, I'll say tootles...