NO, they cannot. Anti-wrinkle creams are moisturizers. The “workhorse” of any over-the counter anti-wrinkle cream is its ability to hydrate the skin. As moisturizers, these products increase the water content in the most superficial layers of skin temporarily improving the appearance of very fine lines. “Anti-aging” ingredients are added to these moisturizers, which are then marketed as rejuvenating. Because the FDA considers over-the-counter skincare products as having no medical value, efficacy of these claims does not have to be proven. If you are looking for “the fountain of youth” in a bottle, you will not find it in over-the-counter skincare products.
