No guarantees: Assessing safety and effectiveness

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies wrinkle creams and serums that you can buy without a prescription as cosmetics. This means they're regulated less strictly than medicines that require a prescription. Some of these products may be called cosmeceuticals, a term used to suggest they are part cosmetic and part medicine. But they are still considered cosmetics.

Because wrinkle creams and serums don't go through the same safety and effectiveness testing as prescription skin treatments, there's no guarantee they will reduce wrinkles.

Consider these points when deciding to use a wrinkle cream:

• Cost and results. A higher price doesn't always mean better results. An expensive wrinkle cream may not work better than a less expensive one.
• Strength of ingredients. Wrinkle creams and serums you can buy without a prescription often have lower amounts of active ingredients than prescription products. This means they may not work as well and results may not last as long.
• How often you use it. Many products need to be used once or twice a day for up to six weeks before you notice a difference. If you stop using them, your skin will likely go back to how it looked before.
• Side effects. Some products can cause irritation, rashes, burning or swelling. Certain products should not be used during pregnancy. To help prevent side effects, read and follow the instructions carefully. Products labeled "hypoallergenic" may lower the risk of allergic reactions, and those marked "noncomedogenic" are less likely to clog pores, helping to reduce the risk of acne.
• Different skin types. No product works the same for everyone. Something that works for a friend may not work for you.