When it comes to aging, people will do just about anything to avoid looking older. From dying their hair, to having surgery performed, to investing in expensive wrinkle creams. However, despite the many infomercials you might see with people raving about how a cream made them look ten years younger than they actually are, many wrinkle cream studies contradict such claims.

Before you purchase any wrinkle cream, especially one that is expensive, it is important to read not only the promotional and informative literature that is provided, but the cream studies as well.

Consumer Reports Test Wrinkle Creams

In December of 2006, Consumer Reports performed studies to determine which wrinkle cream works best. Their results might come as a surprise, NONE of the creams showed results superior to sunscreen.

In the wrinkle cream studies, nine different creams, ranging in price from $38 to $335, were tested on at least 17 different women, all of whom had lighter skin and ranged in age from 30 to 70. For 12 weeks, each woman used a certain cream one side of her face, applying the cream according to the manufacturers instructions. On the other side of her face, each woman applied a generic moisturizer with sunscreen.

Prior to beginning the wrinkle cream studies, a photo was taken of the general crows feet area of each womans face. Additionally, an optical device was used to determine small changes in skin roughness and depth of wrinkles. These evaluations were repeated after the 12 weeks were over. These cream studies determined that overall, there was only a slight improvement in wrinkles on each participants face when using the wrinkle creams, regardless of the active ingredient. Ultimately, however, the creams are designed to prevent wrinkles, not eliminate the ones that are already there.

Most dermatologists conclude from wrinkle cream studies that sunscreen is more effective than wrinkle creams in preventing the development of wrinkles. This is because wrinkles occur as a result of ultraviolet light. Thus, the more time you spend in the sun, the more wrinkles you will have, regardless of the amount or quality of creams you use.

Soak Up the Sun-Safely, Of Course

While you could purchase an expensive wrinkle cream, the truth is that the most effective way to fight wrinkles is to wear sunscreen. By doing so, you will be preventing the damage that the sun does to your skin. So the next time you step outside on a sunny day, make sure to lather up.