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This Cream Noticeably Reduces Lip Wrinkles

There are many wonderful things about aging, but some people may want to combat the look of lip wrinkles that tend to occur with age and natural collagen loss. Of course, no one’s lips are completely smooth (we are all born with natural creasing on our thin lip skin!), but the creases can get more pronounced and numerous over time.

What causes lip wrinkles?

Like neck wrinkles or smile lines, lip wrinkles can crop up as you age and you skin loses plumpness. “Lips get their shape in part from collagen, and as we age, we produce less of it,” explains Gretchen Frieling, M.D., a dermatopathologist in Wellesley, Massachusetts. “UV damage, genetics and lifestyle factors such as smoking can also be culprits.” These can contribute to the formation of wrinkles, including vertical lines and lines above lips on the upper lip area, and for some, creases all around the mouth.

What are the best treatments for lip wrinkles?

There are several methods to help minimize and get rid of lip wrinkles, including home remedies, quick fixes, dermatologist procedures and more:

1. Exfoliate to smooth lip skin.

Exfoliating skin removes the outer layer of dry, dead skin to promote cell turnover, can make lips instantly look and feel smoother and plumper. Buff your lips daily with a clean toothbrush, a damp washcloth or a lip scrub to remove flakes and boost circulation. (You can also make a DIY lip scrub by combining a small amount of coconut or olive oil with sugar.)

2. Apply wrinkle-reducing lip products.

After exfoliating your lips, coat them in a thick layer of a hydrating efficacious lip balm or a serum with anti-aging benefits to lock in moisture plus fill lines and boost fullness with treatment ingredients. “Look for hyaluronic acid, peptides and fatty acids like cer­amides,” Dr. Frieling advises. Smooth on the product morning, evening and throughout the day as needed for maximum benefits.

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Treatment

Sugar Advanced Therapy Treatment

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Treatment

Credit: Fresh

In GH Beauty Lab testing, Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment reduced testers’ lip lines after four weeks of use, thanks to the effects of line-smoothing hyaluronic acid and nourishing grapeseed and jojoba oil. Or try an anti-aging cream developed for lips, like GH Beauty Lab test winner VENeffect Anti-Aging Lip Treatment. After four weeks, consumer testers experienced noticeable lip plumping in Lab assessments.

3. Try an immediate lip-plumping fix.

To get fast lip wrinkle-smoothing results, choose a lip plumper made with ingredients that moisturize to even out fine lines and minimize their appearance, like tinted lip balms, lip oils or moisturizing lipsticks. Lip color products that reflect light (think lip glosses or shine finish lipsticks) also help diffuse the look of lip wrinkles. Another makeup artist trick: Apply a dab of highlighter on your Cupid’s bow or on the center of lips over your lip color to catch the light, creating a soft-focus, pillowy effect.

4. Invest in lip filler.

If you have deeper or more numerous lip wrinkles, visit a dermatologist, who can recommend treatment options with both fast-acting and long-lasting effects. One of the most common is injectable lip fillers, which plump lips and smooth lines on and around the mouth. A dermatologist can inject fillers of hyaluronic acid (a substance that occurs naturally in the body), such as Restylane or Juvéderm, to help restore structure and shape as well as fullness, Dr. Frieling says. (The cost: $500 or more, depending on location; results last about six months to one year.)

5. Consider an in-office dermatology treatment.

Resurfacing lasers, which stimulate collagen formation, and injectable neurotoxins like Botox can also help diminish lines around lips.

How to prevent lip wrinkles

Lip lines are a naturally part of the anatomy, so there is no way to stop them from forming entirely. That said, you can help prevent wrinkles around the lips by avoiding smoking and protecting the fragile skin on and around the lips from UV damage. In addition to daily application of a broad spectrum face sunscreen that contains SPF 30 or higher around the lips, avoid sunburned lips and premature signs of aging by applying a SPF 30+ lip balm, especially when outdoors.

Headshot of April Franzino

Beauty Director

April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.

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Deputy Editor

Jessica (she/her) is a deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a longtime product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. She has over a decade of industry experience, previously as beauty editor at USA Today’s Reviewed where she launched the Beauty vertical and tested hundreds of products and has covered trends for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera. 

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This $22 Face Cream Is Proven to Hydrate Better Than a $400 Cult Fave

Regular moisturization is crucially important, according to Craig Kraffert, M.D., board certified dermatologist and founder of Dermstore. But it has to be the right moisturizer to actually heal severely dry skin. Dr. Kraffert says richer products — like thicker body creams in place of thinner body lotions — is key for quenching extreme dryness. Here are the ingredients our experts say makes a powerhouse body lotion that’ll actually hydrate parched skin:

✔️ Emollients: These are hydrating agents, and Dr. Kraffert says they are a must in lotion for dry skin since they prevent hydration loss while smoothing and softening skin. They come in the form of oils (plant, mineral or animal), butters (like shea and cocoa) or fatty acids.

✔️Humectants: By attracting water to the skin, humectants help increase the skin’s moisture content over time. Our experts love glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water and “creates a barrier for the skin, locking in moisture and improving texture,” says Dr. Engelman.

✔️Ceramides: Your skin’s lipid layer that locks in moisture and acts as a barrier against pollution, bacteria and signs of aging depletes as you age. “Ceramides help to restore the skin’s barrier by holding the cells together,” says Dr. Engelman. “As a result, skin feels smoother, plumper and more moisturized.” Look for skincare with ceramides or niacinamide, which helps skin increase natural lipid production.

✔️ Occlusives: While emollients and humectants hydrate, occlusives sit atop the skin and create a barrier to prevent further moisture loss and act as a shield against the hydration-robbing elements like wind and cold air. They come in the form of waxy or oily ingredients like petroleum, candelilla or carnauba wax, beeswax and cocoa butter.

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At 50, Jennifer Garner Swears by This $31 Retinol Eye Cream from Amazon

  • Jennifer Garner, 50, just revealed her favorite retinol eye cream that’s available on Amazon for $31.
  • The highly-rated anti-aging Neutrogena product was developed to target wrinkles and dark circles.
  • The actress says the cream helps her achieve a “younger” and “bright-eyed” look.

If you didn’t already know, Jennifer Garner is a skincare queen. She’s been a Neutrogena brand ambassador for years and still swears by their products. In fact, the 50-year-old recently revealed which eye cream has kept her looking and feeling so radiant—and frequent retinol users are going to love it.

According to the actress, the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream has been a staple in her regimen for quite some time now. “What I love is when you’re promoting cell turnover, what it does is it decreases lines and increases brightness and it increases fluidity in the skin and a flexibility in the skin which just means that it’s more plump looking, more alive looking, younger,” she told Prevention.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+

Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+

She added that the cream has been especially helpful with creating a “younger” and “bright-eyed” look that “you don’t even recognize [is] something you’re missing as you get older,” per Prevention.

If using ingredients such as retinol and glycerin around your eye area makes you nervous, just know that Jennifer was in the same boat. “It just didn’t make sense because they always say use everywhere but your eye area,” she explained. “[Neutrogena] did all of this work on it, and it is safe. Especially, you know I’m starting to get some lines and things, and so it just helps with those, and it helps keep more moisture and more brightness,” per Prevention.

Need more proof? The product has hundreds of 5-star-ratings on Amazon, and shoppers are more than happy with the results. Just take it from this rave review: “My complexion looks and feels better than ever. It’s so smooth and soft [and] looks younger. I’ve received a number of compliments, with one person wanting to know what I’m doing to my face, there’s definitely a change. I’m very pleased.”

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Sabrina is an editorial assistant for Women’s Health. When she’s not writing, you can find her running, training in mixed martial arts, or reading.

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This Top-Tested Night Cream Firms Skin While You Sleep

When searching for a night cream, consider both your skin type and goals, then look for ingredients tailored to your complexion like the ones below, recommended by Dr. Sobel and Dr. McLeod:

✔️ For glowing skin, brightening acids (like glycolic, lactic and azelaic), retinol, vitamin C and niacinamide will help stimulate skin cell turnover, promoting radiance.
✔️ For aging skin, shop for night creams with proven anti-agers like peptides, retinol, epidermal growth factors and hydroxy acids (like glycolic) to help smooth wrinkles. Also look for protective antioxidants (such as vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 and niacinamide).
✔️ For dark spots and hyperpigmentation, choose products with brightening vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, licorice root extract or glycolic, kojic, lactic, azelaic and ferulic acids to help brighten and even skin tone.
✔️ For dry skin, seek out a richer formula like a cream or balm and look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, aloe and plant butters (i.e. shea) and oils (i.e. coconut) to replenish moisture.
✔️ For oily, combination or acne-prone skin, look for a lighter formula such as a lotion or gel in a formula that contains balancing and oil-reducing acids like salicylic, glycolic, azelaic and lactic; retinol can also help minimize breakouts.
✔️ For sensitive skin, try calming ingredients like allantoin, glycerin, bisabolol and cucumber extract, which soothe skin without irritating. Be sure to avoid fragrance, hydroxy acids, alcohol and petrolatum, which can irritate reactive skin.

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This $19 Drugstore Face Cream Visibly Reduces Dark Spots

dark spot correctors

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We updated this article in December 2022 to edit down existing product picks and add expert commentary and more information about each featured product, based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab.


When dark spots (a.k.a. sun spots, age spots or hyperpigmentation) pop up, they can make your complexion look uneven, less clear and even dull. Dark spots can appear on your face, hands and décolletage as a result of sun exposure, genetics, hormones and inflammation, says Howard Murad, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Murad Skincare, and often become more prevalent with age.

Instead of just covering them with concealer, seek out a dark spot corrector skincare product that can help fade hyperpigmentation for good. “Dark spot correctors are used to lighten and diminish skin hyperpigmentation resulting from acne, sun damage or an otherwise uneven skin tone,” says Alan J. Parks, M.D., dermatologist and founder of DermWarehouse in Columbus, Ohio. “They work by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for the production of melanin in the skin, and may also increase the rate at which skin cells renew themselves, ridding the skin of the dead, damaged cells faster and making way for fresh, new cells.”

Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists evaluate hundreds of skincare products every year, including ones that claim to correct dark spots, from moisturizers to night creams to serums and face peels. The products are analyzed both in the Lab using technical instruments over a set time period and with consumers at home, who provide feedback on factors like ease of use and look and feel of skin before and after application. Hundreds of data points are then collated to find the most effective products to remove dark spots on the face and body.

Our top picks:


Whether your dark spots are from the sun, post-acne scarring darkened by UV exposure or caused by melasma, read all about the best dark spot correctors that really work, as tested by the GH Beauty Lab and recommended by dermatologists.

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1

Best Overall Dark Spot Corrector Cream

Avon

Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream

Key ingredients Glycolic acid, peptides
Size 1.7 oz.
2

Best Value Dark Spot Corrector

L’Oréal Paris

Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30

Key ingredients Vitamin C, glycolic acid, retinol
Size 1.7 oz.
3

Best Dermatologist-Recommended Dark Spot Corrector

SkinMedica

Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum

Key ingredients Niacinamide, tranexamic acid
Size 2 oz.
4

Best Anti-Aging Dark Spot Corrector

Roc

Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30

Key ingredients Vitamin C, resorcinol
Size 1.7 oz.
5

Best Dark Spot Corrector Serum

Biopelle

Biopelle KNR Brightening Serum

Key ingredients Niacinamide, retinol, vitamin C, kojic acid
Size 1 oz.
6

Best Brightening Dark Spot Corrector

Dermalogica

Rapid Reveal Peel

Key ingredient Lactic acid
Size 0.1 oz. per tube (10 tubes total)
7

Best Dark Spot Corrector Night Cream

Algenist

Overnight Restorative Cream

Key ingredients Vitamin C, peptides
Size 2 oz.
8

Best Dark Spot Corrector for Dark Skin

BeautyStat

Universal C Skin Refiner

Key ingredients Vitamin C, green tea
Size 1 oz.
9

Best Dark Spot Corrector for Sensitive Skin

Olay

Regenerist Max Tone Serum with Vitamin C

Key ingredients Niacinamide, vitamin C
Size 1.3 oz.
10

Best Illuminating Dark Spot Corrector

Olay

Luminous Whip Face Moisturizer

Key ingredients Niacinamide, green tea
Size: 1.7 oz.
11

Best Hydroquinone Dark Spot Corrector

Palmer’s

Skin Success Anti-Dark Spot Fade Cream

Key ingredients Hydroquinone, retinol, vitamin C
Size 2.7 oz.
12

Best Targeted Dark Spot Corrector

Versed

Out of Sight Dark Spot Gel

Key ingredients Kojic acid, niacinamide, licorice extract, tranexamic acid
Size 0.5 oz.
13

Best Dark Spot Corrector for Acne Scars

ZitSticka

HyperFade Microdart Blur Patch for Dark Spots

Key ingredients Niacinamide, vitamin C, arbutin, licorice root extract, kojic acid
Size 0.12 oz.
14

Best Dark Spot Corrector for Wrinkles

SkinCeuticals

Metacell Renewal B3

Key ingredients Niacinamide, peptides
Size 1.7 oz.

How we test dark spot correctors

To find the best dark spot corrector products, GH Beauty Lab scientists conduct both rigorous clinical and consumer testing, recruiting women of all ages and skin types to assess the products’ results after at home use. In the Lab, their skin is scanned with the Visia Complexion Analyzer machine to measure changes in the size and count of dark spots, plus pores, skin texture and lines and wrinkles before and after weeks of use, as pictured.

Consumer testers also report their feedback on factors like ease of use, cosmetic properties (i.e. texture, scent), application and the look and feel of their skin following the testing period. The clinical and consumer data is then tallied to find the products that really perform.

What to look for when shopping for the best dark spot corrector

When shopping for dark spot correcting treatments, which can include serums, moisturizers and exfoliators like peels, our experts suggest look for terms directly addressing dark spots or “brightening” and “skin tone-evening” on the packaging. Dr. Parks recommends seeking out formulas that contain skincare ingredients like:

✔️ Vitamin C, an antioxidant that brightens skin
✔️ Niacinamide (a.k.a. vitamin B3), which slows pigment production)
✔️ Hydroquinone, which “interrupts melanin synthesis to even tone,” says Sara Hogan, M.D., a dermatologist in McLean, Virginia.
✔️ Retinol and alpha or beta hydroxy acids (like glycolic and salicylic acids), which increase skin cell turnover to get rid of hyperpigmented cells
✔️ Tranexamic acid, kojic acid, alpha-arbutin, cysteamine, azelaic acid, resorcinol, soy and licorice root extract can also lessen hyperpigmentation, Dr. Turegano says.

“The sun is one of the biggest contributors to developing and accentuating dark marks,” Dr. Turegano says, so applying a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen daily is a must in order to see a reduction in dark spots.

Dark spots are also common in deeper skin tones. “In darker complexions, the presence of more and larger melanosomes, organelles produced by skin pigment cells that contain skin color, increases the likelihood that hyperpigmentation, or unwanted darkening, can develop,” explains Dr. Hogan.

What’s the best way to use a dark spot corrector?

Most importantly, use a dark spot corrector according to the instructions on the product packaging, especially regarding frequency, which can vary from once to twice daily or one or two times per week for products like peels.

But generally, when applying a dark spot corrector, “if it’s a serum or liquid form, it should be the first product that touches your skin after cleansing,” Dr. Turegano advises. “If the dark spot corrector is in a lotion or cream form, it can be applied after a serum.” Always follow up with a broad-spectrum SPF to prevent more dark spots from forming.

How can I remove dark spots permanently?

Good news: Dark spots aren’t permanent! Here’s how to fade hyperpigmentation, whether at home or heading to the dermatologist for a professional treatment:

  • Commit to a skincare regimen for at least one month. The topical dark spot correctors you use at home can really work, but “any at-home age spot-fading skincare product, like a serum, must be used daily as directed for at least four weeks,” explains GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D.
  • Wear SPF. “Strict sun protection is the best way to prevent hyperpigmentation,” says Janelle Vega, M.D., a dermatologist in Miami, Florida. Any dark spot correcting product must be used “along with a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen SPF 30 or higher to allow it to work and prevent further damage,” Aral says. Slather on face SPF every single day in any season and no matter what your skin tone. “Using SPF is still very important for darker skin tones,” adds Jenny Liu, M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.
  • Head to the derm. For stubborn spots, a dermatologist can offer faster, more high-tech solutions, like prescription or laser treatments. It’s always a good idea head to your dermatologist for yearly skin checks to be sure none of your spots are precancerous or cancerous.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

GH Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D., has overseen clinical and consumer skincare product testing in the GH Beauty Lab for 15 years, including products with dark spot correcting claims. In addition to earning M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, she recently added a professional certificate in sustainability management from Columbia University to her credentials. Birnur and the GH Beauty Lab scientists also conduct the brand’s annual Beauty Awards selection process, a yearlong effort for the team that involves assessing hundreds of products.

April Franzino is the Beauty Director at Good Housekeeping and has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing skincare-related content, utilizing the expertise of the Institute’s Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals. For this piece, April worked closely with the GH Beauty Lab to report on the Lab’s top-tested dark spot correcting products, as well as testing protocols and usage advice. She also interviewed dermatologist experts for their tips on how dark spot correctors work, how to shop for and use dark spot correctors and product recommendations.

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This $11 Drugstore Eye Cream Is Lab-Proven to Firm Sagging Skin

Good Housekeeping Beauty Director April Franzino has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing skincare-related content, utilizing the expertise of the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists and top industry professionals such as dermatologists and aestheticians. She is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, from cleansers to toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more. April works closely with the GH Beauty Lab to coordinate skincare product testing and translate test results into best-in-class compelling, factually accurate science-backed content for Good Housekeeping.

Good Housekeeping Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to help deliver fact-based, science-backed beauty coverage. Over the years, she has interviewed experts, written product reviews and tested hundreds of skincare products including cleansers, moisturizers, serums, oils, toners, sunscreens, exfoliators, professional treatments and more.

Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann oversaw the testing of eye creams. Since joining Good Housekeeping, Sabina has touched, researched, tested and evaluated thousands of products for almost a decade. In addition to the eye cream tests, she has carried out various studies from sunscreens (including formulas for sensitive and oily skin and mineral types), night creams, makeup cleansers and more. She also lends a hand when it comes to explaining skincare ingredients, like occlusives, and verifies product claims.

Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Chemist Danusia Wnek has been testing skincare products including but not limited to eye creams, serums, night creams, neck creams, facial oils and moisturizing creams for over seven years at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has experience in using specialized skin evaluation lab equipment to gauge changes in skin moisturization, firmness and facial features like wrinkles and texture before and after product use. She also regularly polls our consumer panel on their purchasing and product use habits as well as weighs in on the benefits of skincare ingredients like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide.

Marnie Nussbaum, M.D., is a dermatologist in New York City and clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Deanne Mraz Robinson, M.D., is a dermatologist in Westport, CT and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Mona Gohara, M.D., is a dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.

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