Wrinkle creams are cosmetic skin care products that usually offers to diminish or reduce wrinkles and other blemishes on the skin to make people look younger.

The effect of most anti-wrinkle creams depend on the active ingredients that they contain. They can improve the condition of the skin as well as make in look better and younger in a variety of ways. Here are some of the common active ingredients found in most popular over the counter wrinkle creams.

Hydroxy Acids

Hydroxy acids are common active ingredients in most wrinkle creams that work as skin exfoliants. They try to remove old skin cells found on the outermost surface and stimulate the growth of new, smoother skin.

Three types of these compounds- alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and poly-hydroxy acids- are derived from sugar-contained fruits.

Because they are exfoliants and remove old, dead outer layer skin cells, hydroxy acids can increase the risk of sun exposure related skin damage. Users of wrinkle creams with hydroxy acid should also consider using sunscreen to provide protection against skin damage when going outside.

Retinol

Retinol is a fat soluble substance and a vitamin A compound. It is one of the first antioxidants to be widely used in non-prescription wrinkle creams.

What this compound does is to neutralize free radicals in the body which are unstable molecules of oxygen that is known to break down and damage skin cells and cause wrinkles.

Use of retinol and other wrinkle creams containing vitamin A derivatives should be avoided by pregnant women since they may increase the risk of developing birth defects.

Coenzyme Q10

Although the use of Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 in many wrinkle creams and their effectiveness still require further research and testing, it has become quite popular nonetheless.

One of the possible effects that CoQ10 has on the skin is by helping regulate the energy production in cells, in this case, on the skin. CoQ10 is also known to help prevent skin aging related to sun exposure by reducing the level of oxidation in the skin cells.

Copper Peptides

The use of copper peptides were primarily for treating wounds and skin lesions. But their effectiveness have later been known to cover treating skin wrinkles.

Copper peptides work by stimulating the production of collagen which is important for supporting and connecting together various body tissues such as the skin. Copper peptides are also known to help stimulate the natural remodeling of the skin especially in damaged areas.