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How Do I Choose the Best Plumping Cream?

Kathleen Howard
Kathleen Howard

Plumping creams are anti-wrinkle products designed to plump the skin, diminish the appearance of wrinkles, and create a more youthful appearance. To choose the best plumping cream, carefully examine a product’s active ingredients. The most important ingredients to look for in a plumping cream are retinol, peptides, hydroxy acids, hyaluronic acid and coenzyme Q10. For a product to be effective, it should also contain moisturizers and humectants, which will plump the skin by holding in moisture. When selecting a product, you should consider the number of effective ingredients it contains as well as your budget.

Retinol is a compound, derived from vitamin A, that is commonly included in products aimed at reducing wrinkles. This compound works as a potent antioxidant and mild irritant. As an antioxidant, retinol protects the skin against free radical damage. Its irritating properties encourage cell turnover. Over time, retinol might diminish the appearance of fine lines and deeper wrinkles.

A pot of plumping cream.
A pot of plumping cream.

Peptides are also commonly included in plumping creams. The most commonly used peptides are copper peptides and oligopeptides. These compounds are believed to promote collagen production and make antioxidants more effective. Increased collagen production will enhance elasticity and make your skin appear more supple.

Hydroxy acids, including alpha, beta and poly hydroxy acids, are also effective in plumping and smoothing the skin. When added to plumping cream, these acids work as exfoliating agents. Hydroxy acids eliminate dead skin cells, reduce hyperpigmentation, and encourage new cell growth. As they irritate the skin, hydroxy acids might also cause slight inflammation and produce a temporarily plumper appearance. When used regularly, these substances might make the skin appear more youthful.

Plumping cream is designed to reduce wrinkles.
Plumping cream is designed to reduce wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid is an effective, but less common, ingredient used to plump the skin. This substance is believed to increase collagen production, which will increase skin elasticity and create a smoother appearance. Hyaluronic acid also works as a humectant. As it penetrates the skin, this substance will draw in moisture and make the skin appear fuller.

Plumping cream may help cover up wrinkles around the eyes in particular.
Plumping cream may help cover up wrinkles around the eyes in particular.

The last ingredient to look for in a plumping cream is coenzyme Q10. Research has indicated that coenzyme Q10 might reduce the appearance of wrinkles, especially around the eyes. This ingredient might also protect the skin against the sun’s damaging rays, which will inhibit the formation of new wrinkles.

In addition to wrinkle-reducing ingredients, a plumping cream should also contain moisturizers and humectants. When your skin is dry, it will appear thin, dull and more wrinkled. Effective moisturizers immediately give the skin a plumper, smoother appearance. Natural oils, aloe, cetyl alcohol, silicone and petroleum-derived products all work to hydrate the skin. Humectants like gylcerin, urea and glycolic acid will attract and hold in moisture.

Some plumping creams contain alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA), both of which promote new cell growth.
Some plumping creams contain alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA), both of which promote new cell growth.

To choose the best plumping cream, carefully evaluate a product’s ingredients. Expensive products are not always the most effective in reducing fine lines and plumping the skin. When shopping for a product, establish a budget and look for effective products within your price range. Once you have chosen a plumping cream, give the product enough time to produce results. While some plumping creams immediately improve the appearance of the skin after application, long term results might take several weeks to develop.

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    • A pot of plumping cream.
      By: Mi.Ti.
      A pot of plumping cream.
    • Plumping cream is designed to reduce wrinkles.
      By: michaeljung
      Plumping cream is designed to reduce wrinkles.
    • Plumping cream may help cover up wrinkles around the eyes in particular.
      By: Vera Kuttelvaserova
      Plumping cream may help cover up wrinkles around the eyes in particular.
    • Some plumping creams contain alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA), both of which promote new cell growth.
      By: Daria Filiminova
      Some plumping creams contain alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA), both of which promote new cell growth.
    • Plumping creams are designed to create a more youthful appearance.
      By: Piotr Marcinski
      Plumping creams are designed to create a more youthful appearance.