Do any of the wrinkle creams, gels, potions, etc., especially the ones costing hundreds of dollars, actually medically remove wrinkles, and if so, how?
Yes, some of them can minimally reduce wrinkles, usually by either accelerating cell turnover (typically they have some sort of acid in them to remove top layers of cell, a weak peel basically) and moisturizing skin (dry skin looks more wrinkled).
None of these will replace a face lift. Nor will they replace a dermatologist applied chemical peel or dermabrasion. At best there will be some marginal improvement which, combined with feeling better about one’s appearance, will make a person look slightly younger. Maybe.
Really, what they’re best for it probably slowing the wrinkle process.
The ones that are actually effective can also be irritating.
Some of the effective chemicals to look for are:
retinol
retinyl palmitate
alpha hydroxy acid
beta hydroxy acid
AHA “fruit acid” (a form of alpha hydroxy acid)
They should also include a moisturizer and a sunscreen. Fragrance might be something to avoid, as these chemicals can irritate the skin so you don’t want to add another potential irritate over that.
Oddly enough (or maybe not) the most expensive are not the most effective.
I picked up a jar of L’Oreal Advanced RevitaLift Eye for about $14 at a local store for use on my emerging crow’s feet. I’ve been pretty happy with it so far, perhaps in part because I didn’t expect a facelift in a jar.
Of course, you should also eat well, stay hydrated, don’t smoke, etc. and otherwise maintain a healthy lifestyle for best results. Read the labels and follow directions. Do not overuse (see warning about irritation)
Wow Broomstick, that was a awesome answer.
I was going to mention that Oil of Olay has a number of products out (the regenerist line) that consistently perform better than many of the much more expensive brands.
Additionally, products containing matrixil have been showing very promising results - I know at the University of Toronto’s Medical School, matrixil is being touted as the only anti-age ingredient to use.
You can find matrixil in Neostrata’s Wrinke Repair (which is OTC in Canada, and may be available in the US from a dermatologist) and Nuxe Nourishing Anti-Wrinkel Cream and probably others.
ETA - matrixil is much less irritatating to the skin than the acids or retinol that Broomstick has recommended.
Recommended might be too strong a word here - I did some research on the subject when I hit 40 (yeah, big surprise I’d be worried about wrinkles) and that’s the results. I don’t know if maxitril was around then, or available then, or not. As always, your mileage will vary on these things. Additional research is always a good idea.
I’m 38 and still have acne. I have much less acne since I started using 10% glycolic acid twice a day. The other side effect is that I’m seeing improvement in the little wrinklies around my eyes after about 3 months of use.
So, I’m sold. Glycolic acid in a 10-12% concentration really does work. I used the Alpha Hydrox brand at first (12% in a 1-oz jar) that I got a Walgreens for about $14, I think. The 10% that I’m using now I found at acne.org, really cheap for 8oz it was around $20. It’s moisturizing, all the little peelies I had in the “dry” areas of my face are gone, and apparently the acid keeps the skin regenerating enough that the acne-causing bacteria is removed enough to curb my constant breakouts.
The less-wrinkliness is a huge added benefit!