Article » How We Rate Wrinkle Creams
We started WrinkleCream.pro to reduce the confusion currently out there around wrinkle creams. We believe that educated consumers are the best consumers. We've developed a five star system that looks at five factors when evaluating wrinkle cream. A wrinkle cream can get a score of "zero", "half star" or "full star" for each factor.
The five factors we consider are:
- Effectiveness: Do users see noticeable improvements in skin appearance. Are wrinkles reduced, or are they simply covered up? Are there clinical trials to support product effectiveness claims? Does the company explain the scientific basis for the product and are these claims supported by independent scientific evidence?
- Ingredients: Are the ingredients fully disclosed? Do the ingredients include known anti-aging components, such as Glucosamine, Hyaluronic Acid, Marine Collagen, or Acetyl Hexapeptide-3? Are there natural ingredients included in the formula?
- Price: Does the company offer a free trial? Is shipping included? Can customers purchase an individual product or must they purchase multiple products? How does the price compare to other products with the same active ingredients?
- Customer Service: Does the company offer a money-back guarantee? Does the company have both phone and email customer service? How did the company respond to our customer service requests?
- Website: Does the company offer an easy-to-understand Internet site? Is it easy to find relevant ingredient and scientific information? Are there testimonials from actual users?
As a general rule, when you look at our recommendations, the following score ranges will tell you how much we recommend a product:
- Five Stars: Our Top Recommendations. These wrinkle creams scored 100% on each factor. We currently rate four products as five star wrinkle creams: Dermitage, Lift SP, and IQ Derma.
- Four and a Half Stars: Highly Recommended. Very close to a five star rating, but needs slight improvement in just one factor. Current 4.5 star wrinkle creams include: Athena 7 Minute Lift, LifeCell, and Revitol.
- Four Stars: Recommended. Wrinkle creams with four star ratings are still among our top choices, but are just a notch below our favorites. This is usually due to a high price tag, a few missing ingredients, or a poorly designed Web site. Current four star wrinkle creams are: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, MD Skincare Alpha Beta Face Peel, Strivectin SD, Murad Intensive Wrinkle Reducer, and Z Bigatti Re-Storation Skin Treatment.
- Three and a Half Stars: Above Average. Many products in the 3.5 star range showed encouraging results, but our editors have not yet completed a full review of the product. So consider these products ones that we think could move up the rankings in the future, but for now are in “wait and see” status. Note also that two of these products are not wrinkle creams. This category includes: Prevage by Elizabeth Arden, Relastin, Perricone Stimulcell, AlphaDerma CE, Avotone, and DermaScyne
- Three Stars and Below: Average to Below Average. These wrinkle creams either scored in the middle of our range on most categories or failed at one or more rating criteria. As a result, we cannot currently recommend these products fully. Three stars or below wrinkle creams: La Prairie Skin Caviar, Nano DNA, Apotek Cellular Repair Complex, Freeze 24/7, Promaxyl, 60 Second Facelift, Royal Gold Anti-Wrinkle Serum, and Cosmetic Surgery in a Jar.