Wrinkles
Supplements studied for wrinkles.
Overview
Topical Vitamin C carries the strongest evidence for wrinkles, with medium ratings across five studies. Creams or serums with 3–10% vitamin C used for three months or more may reduce wrinkles and improve skin firmness and smoothness, especially when combined with vitamin E or retinol.
Green Tea, Ashwagandha, Panax Ginseng, and Tyrosine carry low ratings with mixed or preliminary results. Green tea showed inconsistent visible benefits, though some combinations improved elasticity microscopically. Ashwagandha lotion improved wrinkles in one small study. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below for more detail.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Vitamin C | ★★★★★ | Medium |
| Tyrosine | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Panax Ginseng | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Ashwagandha | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
5 supplements for , and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
Vitamin CView supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Applying vitamin C creams or serums to the skin can help reduce wrinkles and improve skin appearance.
- Studies show using products with 3–10% vitamin C for 3 months or more makes skin look smoother and firmer.
- Vitamin C might also work better when combined with other ingredients, like vitamin E or retinol.
Browse 5 studies
RCTEvaluation of the anti-wrinkle effect of a lipophilic pro-vitamin C derivative, tetra-isopalmitoyl ascorbic acid2021n=69
A split-face trial in 69 women found 1–3% tetra-isopalmitoyl ascorbic acid cream for 8 weeks reduced periorbital wrinkles versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 69
Open-labelAn Open Label Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerance of a Retinol and Vitamin C Facial Regimen in Women With Mild-to-Moderate Hyperpigmentation and Photodamaged Facial Skin2016n=44
A 12-week open-label trial in 44 women found a retinol plus 30% vitamin C regimen improved hyperpigmentation and photodamage with mild dryness.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 44
RCTEvaluation of the anti-wrinkle effect of an ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch via a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study2016n=51
A double-blind trial in 23 adults found ascorbic acid microneedle patches improved crow's-feet photodamage versus placebo without irritation.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 51
Controlled trialTopical activity of ascorbic acid: from in vitro optimization to in vivo efficacy2004
Placebo-controlled studies found 3% topical ascorbic acid reduced oxidative stress, increased dermal papillae, and reduced facial wrinkles over 1–12 weeks.
- Effect
- Benefit
RCTUse of topical ascorbic acid and its effects on photodamaged skin topography1999n=19
An RCT of 19 adults found that topical ascorbic acid applied daily for 3 months significantly improved photodamaged skin topography, fine wrinkling, and tactile roughness versus vehicle.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 19
- Ages
- 36–72
AshwagandhaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is uncertain if applying ashwagandha helps wrinkles.
- A small study found that using a lotion with 8% ashwagandha extract daily for 2 months improved wrinkles, skin hydration, brightness, and tone better than placebo, but it did not change skin color.
Browse 1 study
RCTA Study of Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Lotion on Facial Skin in Photoaged Healthy Adults2023n=53
In 53 photoaged adults over 60 days, topical 8% ashwagandha lotion improved physician-rated wrinkles, hydration, elasticity, and transepidermal water loss versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 60 days
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 53
- Ages
- 18–60
Panax GinsengView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Early research shows that taking 3 grams daily of a mixture containing Korean red ginseng and other plant extracts for 24 weeks may reduce wrinkles compared to no treatment.
- However, it does not seem to improve skin firmness, moisture, thickness, or color.
- It’s uncertain whether the benefits come from ginseng or the other ingredients.
Browse 1 study
RCTRed ginseng root extract mixed with Torilus fructus and Corni fructus improves facial wrinkles and increases type I procollagen synthesis in human skin: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study2009n=82
In 82 women over 40, red ginseng with Torilus and Corni fructus 3 g/day for 24 weeks reduced facial wrinkles and increased type I procollagen versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 24 weeks
- Dose
- 3 g/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 82
- Ages
- 40+
TyrosineView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Tyrosine alone has not been tested for improving wrinkles.
- A small study showed that a skin cream containing tyrosine and other ingredients improved wrinkles and skin appearance after 3 months.
- It’s unclear if tyrosine was the active ingredient causing this.
Browse 1 study
RCTUse of topical ascorbic acid and its effects on photodamaged skin topography1999n=19
An RCT of 19 adults found that topical ascorbic acid applied daily for 3 months significantly improved photodamaged skin topography, fine wrinkling, and tactile roughness versus vehicle.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 19
- Ages
- 36–72
Green TeaView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if green tea helps reduce wrinkles.
- Some studies found that taking green tea extracts twice daily for two years did not improve visible signs of aging skin in women.
- But using a combination of green tea cream and oral green tea supplements for two months improved the skin’s elasticity under the microscope, even if it did not visibly change how the skin looked.
- Drinking a green tea drink every day for three months helped improve skin elasticity, smoothness, and moisture in middle-aged women compared to those who did not drink it.
- Overall, green tea might help the skin feel more elastic and hydrated, but there is no clear proof it reduces wrinkles yet.
Browse 3 studies
RCTGreen tea polyphenols provide photoprotection, increase microcirculation, and modulate skin properties of women2011n=60
In 60 women over 12 weeks, oral green tea polyphenols (1,402 mg catechins/day) improved photoprotection, skin microcirculation, and skin properties versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Dose
- 1402 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 60
RCTA two-year, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial of oral green tea polyphenols on the long-term clinical and histologic appearance of photoaging skin2009n=56
In 56 women (ages 25–75) over 2 years, oral green tea polyphenols (500 mg twice daily) slowed progression of photoaging skin changes versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 2 years
- Dose
- 1000 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 56
- Ages
- 25–75
RCTDouble-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of green tea extracts in the clinical and histologic appearance of photoaging skin2005n=40
In 40 women with moderate photoaging over 8 weeks, combined topical and oral green tea extract (600 mg/day) modestly improved clinical and histologic skin appearance versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Dose
- 600 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 40
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C | ★★★★★68% | 5 | 0 | 45% |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★36% | 3 | 0 | 27% |
| Ashwagandha | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 9% |
| Panax Ginseng | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 9% |
| Tyrosine | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 9% |