How to Soften the Look of Wrinkles: What the Evidence Supports

Key Takeaways

• A cream has limits with wrinkles, but a few habits and ingredients may help lines look softer. Mayo Clinic says over-the-counter wrinkle creams “usually only make small improvements.”

• Visible fine lines and deeper wrinkles form differently. Fine lines often reflect dryness and sun exposure; deeper ones reflect collagen and elastin loss, so they tend to respond more gradually.

• Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and not smoking are the two habits with the most consistent support for limiting new visible lines.

• Among topicals, prescription tretinoin has well-established trial evidence for the look of sun-related wrinkles. Over-the-counter Retinol is gentler, and Mayo Clinic notes nonprescription products may not work as well.

• Give a new routine at least six weeks of consistent use before judging it, and a Retinoid longer.

The Short Answer

Home care has limits with wrinkles, but it can help them look less noticeable. Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, don’t smoke, moisturize, and add a Retinoid at night. Mayo Clinic lists these steps for slowing visible wrinkling, and a 2025 meta-analysis of eight randomized trials found that prescription tretinoin improved the look of both fine and coarse facial wrinkles compared with a vehicle cream (the same base without tretinoin).

Start by Looking Closely at the Line

“Wrinkles” covers a few different things, and the type you’re looking at shapes what’s realistic.

Fine Lines

These are shallow, crepe-like lines, often on the cheeks, under the eyes, and across the forehead. The 2025 tretinoin meta-analysis describes fine wrinkles as small folds in the upper layers of skin that are “typically caused by skin dryness and photoaging.” Because dryness is part of the picture, they’re the lines most likely to look softer when skin is well moisturized. Mayo Clinic notes that moisturizers “temporarily plump the skin, which makes lines and wrinkles less visible.”

Coarse, Deeper Wrinkles

Deeper creases, like set-in forehead lines or the folds around the mouth, sit lower in the skin. The same review says they “primarily result from collagen and elastin loss.” Collagen and elastin are the proteins that can help give skin its visible bounce and spring. These wrinkles can still look softer with consistent care, but expectations matter more here.

Lines Shaped by Movement

Cleveland Clinic explains that forehead lines, frown lines between the brows, and crow’s feet “develop because of small muscle contractions,” and that habitual expressions make wrinkles more prominent over time. The AAD notes that wearing sunglasses can help reduce lines caused by squinting.

Lines That Track Sun Exposure

Mayo Clinic says wrinkles are most likely to form on skin that’s often in the sun, “such as the face, neck, hands and forearms.” Cleveland Clinic calls sun-driven aging photoaging and explains that UV exposure “breaks down collagen fibers and leads to the production of abnormal elastin.” If your lines are heaviest on the side of your face that gets the most sun in the car, or on your chest and hands, sun is likely a big contributor.

What Makes Wrinkles More Visible

Mayo Clinic lists several contributors, some you can change and some you can’t:

• Age: Skin naturally becomes less elastic and drier, with less fat and collagen in the deeper layers.

• UV exposure: It breaks down elastin fibers and collagen, especially in people who sunburn easily.

• Smoking and air pollution: Both speed up visible skin aging. The AAD adds that smoking causes “a dull, sallow complexion.”

• Repeated expressions: Squinting, smiling, and frowning form small grooves that skin may stop springing back from as it ages.

• Family history: Genes “play a big part in the look and feel of your skin.”

Cleveland Clinic also notes that “Aging skin is also less able to retain moisture,” which is one reason the same line can look deeper on a dry winter morning than on a humid afternoon.

What the Evidence Says About Common Options

Most wrinkle creams are sold as cosmetics. Mayo Clinic explains that the FDA classifies over-the-counter wrinkle creams and serums as cosmetics, so they “don’t go through the same strict testing” as prescription treatments. That’s worth keeping in mind when a label promises a dramatic change.

Prescription Retinoids

Tretinoin is one of the most studied topicals for the look of sun-related wrinkles. The 2025 meta-analysis pooled eight randomized, vehicle-controlled trials with 1,361 participants and found improvement in both fine and coarse facial wrinkles. The underlying trials are older, published between 1988 and 2006, and the review notes that dryness, redness, peeling, burning, and stinging were common, “particularly during the initial weeks of treatment.” Mayo Clinic lists tretinoin and tazarotene by prescription, and notes that adapalene is now sold without a prescription.

Over-the-Counter Retinol

Retinol is a milder member of the same family. Mayo Clinic describes it as an ingredient used “to help smooth wrinkles and reduce discoloration,” and notes that irritation “often lessens over time.” The AAD points out that over-the-counter products aren’t required to disclose their Retinol percentage, and advises starting with the least intense formula every other night. If you already use one and want to know what layers well with it, see our guide to serums to layer with Retinol.

Moisturizers and Humectants

A moisturizer won’t change a deep crease, but it can make fine lines look softer in the short term. Mayo Clinic says that even though a moisturizer can’t prevent wrinkles, it can help trap water in the skin, which “may make small lines look less noticeable.” Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin are common humectants for this job.

Antioxidants and Other Supporting Ingredients

Mayo Clinic lists several other ingredients that may help the look of skin:

• Vitamin C: Used daily, it may help defend skin against sun and pollution, and it may help skin look more even, per Mayo Clinic. It degrades with light, heat, and air, so store it closed and cool.

• Niacinamide: A form of Vitamin B3 that Mayo Clinic says may help reduce visible signs of aging and help skin look more even.

• Bakuchiol: A plant-based ingredient that works like Retinol but is gentler, and Mayo Clinic notes it’s considered safe during pregnancy, when Retinoids are not.

• Azelaic Acid: Described as gentle, it may help rough-looking skin look smoother and help the look of discoloration and wrinkles.

Peptides show up in many formulas too. The tretinoin meta-analysis notes that studies supporting peptides and growth factors are often limited by small sample sizes, so treat them as supporting ingredients. Our roundup of peptide skincare products compares what’s in the common ones.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen has little effect on existing lines, but it’s the habit most tied to limiting new ones. The 2025 meta-analysis notes that, unlike intrinsic aging, photoaging “can be prevented by limiting sun exposure and applying sunscreen regularly.” Mayo Clinic recommends broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, year-round, even on cloudy days.

Quick Reference

A 12-Week Plan for the Look of Wrinkles

This is a starting framework for adult skin without a diagnosed skin condition.

1. Weeks one and two, set the base: Wash gently twice a day, moisturize morning and night, and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen every day to your face, neck, and the backs of your hands. If you smoke, this is the step with the widest reach; Mayo Clinic says quitting can still help your skin “even if you’ve smoked for years.”

2. Weeks three and four, add a Retinoid slowly: Apply a low-strength Retinol two or three nights a week, after cleansing and before moisturizer. The AAD advises using Retinoids only at night and wearing sun protection by day.

3. Weeks five to eight, build tolerance: If your skin feels comfortable, move to every other night, then nightly. If it stings, looks red, or flakes, drop back a step. Our guide to serums for wrinkles can help if you want a formula that pairs a Retinoid with hydrating ingredients.

4. Add a morning antioxidant if you like: A Vitamin C serum under sunscreen is optional, and can be added any time after week two.

5. Weeks nine to 12, assess: Take a photo in the same light you used on day one. Mayo Clinic says many products need daily use “for up to six weeks before you notice a difference,” and that skin will likely go back to how it looked if you stop.

Skip the Retinoid if you’re pregnant; Mayo Clinic notes Retinoids “should not be used during pregnancy.” Bakuchiol, which Mayo Clinic describes as safe during pregnancy, is one alternative.

How Long Before You Might See a Difference

Fine lines from dryness can look softer soon after you moisturize. Changes from a Retinoid tend to build over weeks to months of consistent use. Mayo Clinic notes that it may take “a few weeks or even months” of regular use before you notice any improvement, and some people see no change at all.

When to See a Board-Certified Dermatologist

Mayo Clinic suggests seeing a dermatologist if you’re concerned about how your skin looks. A visit makes sense if:

• You’ve used an over-the-counter Retinol consistently for three months and want something stronger

• Your skin reacts to every Retinoid you try

• You want to understand in-office options. Mayo Clinic lists chemical peels, laser treatments, and other procedures; cream and procedure do different jobs.

• A spot on sun-exposed skin looks different, bleeds, or doesn’t go away

A dermatologist can also prescribe tretinoin, which isn’t available over the counter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get rid of wrinkles?

Home care has limits here, but it can help them look softer. The steps with the most support are daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, not smoking, a moisturizer, and a Retinoid used at night. Prescription tretinoin has well-established trial evidence for the look of sun-related wrinkles, and in-office procedures are an option to discuss with a dermatologist.

Do expensive wrinkle creams work better than cheaper ones?

Not necessarily. Mayo Clinic notes that a higher price doesn’t reliably mean better results. What matters more is the ingredient, how much of it is in the formula, and whether you use it every day.

Is Retinol as effective as tretinoin?

Retinol is gentler and available without a prescription, but it has fewer large trials behind it. Tretinoin is backed by a 2025 meta-analysis of randomized trials for the look of sun-related wrinkles. Many people start with Retinol and ask a dermatologist about tretinoin if they want more.

Does quitting smoking help with wrinkles?

It can. Mayo Clinic notes that smoking “damages skin fibers, causing sagging and wrinkles,” and that quitting can help skin look healthier over time. The AAD adds that people who stop often notice their skin looks healthier.

Why do my fine lines look worse on some days?

Hydration plays a big part. Fine lines are partly driven by dryness, so dry air, a harsh cleanser, or skipping moisturizer can make them look deeper, while a well-moisturized face can make them look softer.

Related Reading

• How to soften the look of lip lines

• How to care for dry-looking skin on your face

• The best serums for forehead lines