My morning facial ritual is a routine activity: wash my face with a gentle facial cleanser and apply moisturizer. But lately it's not enough. I've noticed fine lines appearing beside my eyes and around my mouth. Wrinkles at 30? No way!

The truth is wrinkles can not be seen by the naked human eye. What we see are the shadows made by the creases and folds on our skin. But for the majority of us this explanation is not comforting. All we want is to rid of those unsightly signs of aging. But how?

Each of the hundreds of anti-aging skin care product flooding the market today claim instantaneous results in eliminating wrinkles or reducing them over only a short period. An article from the Mayo Clinic, however, emphasized that results depend a lot on the active ingredients found in those anti-wrinkle creams and serums, specifically peptides like Argireline and Matrixyl.

Argireline, or Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (AH3), is a botox alternative which is topically applied on facial points instead of being injected subdermally. It is considered a safer option for those leery of using botox to smoothen wrinkled facial areas especially on the forehead and between the eyes. Instead of paralyzing muscles, AH3 relaxes muscle tensions in problem areas by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters that initiate and control the intensity of muscular contractions on the face.

Based on a clinical study published by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, AH3 was able to reduce the depth of wrinkles up to 30% after just 30 days of continued use, and a 17% reduction of fine lines around the eyes after only 15 days of treatment. What's more impressive is that the tests showed a 39% improvement in smoothness, 42% improvement in dryness and 45% improvement in overall skin tone. Regular use of the product and application of it limited only to those problematic areas can lead to positive results.

Another active ingredient found in anti-wrinkle creams and serums is Matrixyl, which is also known as Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3. Based on results from clinical studies Matrixyl has shown similar effectiveness levels as Retinol, which was one of the earliest ingredients used in anti-aging skin care products. Unlike Retinol, however, Matrixyl has been proven to repair sun-damaged skin without producing harmful side effects. In effect, it can be used as an alternative option for users who develop skin irritation from retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids.

These two synthetically-made peptides when combined with copper enhance wound healing. Copper is a naturally-occurring trace element found in every cell. They also stimulate production of collagen and may enhance the action of antioxidants.

When choosing the best anti-wrinkle cream, always remember to check the product's ingredients on the packaging label before you buy. Better yet, read wrinkle cream reviews with wrinkle cream ratings in them to find the best anti-aging creams and serums for your type of skin.

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Geoff Hopkins writes best antiwrinkle cream reviews for the best anti-aging creams and serums for all skin types. This and other unique content best antiwrinkle creams articles are available with free reprint rights.