The Best Ways to Cover and Conceal Deep Wrinkles

Co-authored by Lydia Shedlofsky, DO and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

As we get older, our skin tends to lose elasticity, leading to more wrinkles. While wrinkles certainly aren’t a bad thing, there may be times when you’d like to cover them up or lessen their appearance. There are a few products and tricks you can use to cover deep wrinkles to look and feel your best every day.

1

Try an anti-aging cream.

Look for creams with retinoids, or vitamin A. These anti-aging products will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and give your skin more elasticity.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Kaveri Karhade, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 11 January 2021.}^{[2]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
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- Use caution with anti-aging creams—if the product burns or stings, you might be having a bad reaction. Wipe it off and try something else.^{[3]
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  Trustworthy Source
  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  Go to source}
- Only use 1 anti-aging product at a time. If you use multiple, you could irritate your skin.^{[4]
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  Trustworthy Source
  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  Go to source}

2

Moisturize your face every day.

Give your skin some hydration to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Use a facial moisturizer on your face every morning and evening to soften your wrinkles over time.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.}^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source}
- Keep your body hydrated from the inside out by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
- If you have wrinkles on your body, you can use a body lotion to moisturize every day.

3

Protect your skin from the sun.

When you go outside, wear SPF 30 or higher. You can also wear sunglasses and a large hat to help protect your skin when the sun is the brightest.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
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- Sun damage can really enhance the appearance of wrinkles and make your skin look older.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
  Dermatologist
  Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.}
- Even if you already have wrinkles, protecting your skin is super important. Harsh UV rays can make your wrinkles deeper and more pronounced over time.

4

Prepare your skin with a hydrating primer.

Rub a pea-sized amount of primer into your skin for extra moisturizer. Primer helps to close your pores and smooth out your skin, which makes your makeup last longer. Let the product soak into your skin for just a few minutes before you do the rest of your makeup.^{[9]
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- Focus the primer on the areas of your skin that tend to crease the most, like your under eyes and around your mouth.
- Look for primers that say “hydrating” and “photo finish.”

5

Use a light foundation.

Look for a light-coverage foundation that won’t enhance creases. Find products that say “anti-aging,” “wrinkle coverage,” or “light coverage” for the best results.^{[10]
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- When you put your foundation on, try to use a light touch and blend it in with a beauty sponge. That way, your skin will look smooth and airbrushed instead of cakey.
- If classic foundation is too heavy, go for a BB cream or a tinted moisturizer instead.

6

Try a medium-coverage concealer.

Use a concealer that won’t sit heavily on your skin. Look for products that say “light coverage” and “wrinkle-reducing” to keep your skin looking smooth and soft.^{[11]
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- With a concealer, less is more. Try to focus on areas that really need it, like your under eyes, and keep it off the rest of your skin.
- Blend your concealer in with a beauty sponge to keep it looking light and natural.

7

Blend your products into fine lines.

Use a fluffy brush to push your makeup into the lines on your skin. When foundation and concealer sit on top of your wrinkles, it makes them look more pronounced. Before you finish up your routine, make sure you’re really blending out your makeup in small, circular motions.^{[12]
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- This is especially important for smaller, thinner wrinkles, like around your eye area or lips.

8

Prep your lips with concealer.

Before using lip color, add a thin layer of concealer to your lips area. This will give you a nice, smooth base and help fill in any deep wrinkles before you apply the rest of your makeup.^{[13]
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- Glossy lip colors will reduce the appearance of wrinkles more than matte shades.
- Nude lip colors tend to blend in well and help smooth out the appearance of wrinkles around your mouth.

9

Set your makeup with a translucent powder.

Use a fluffy brush or beauty blender to dust on a light layer of powder. Translucent powder is clear, so it won’t settle into your wrinkles like a colored powder would.^{[14]
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- Focus on adding powder to your under-eye area and your T-zone (your forehead, chin, and nose). The less product you can use, the better!
- If you’re going somewhere with flash photography, go easy on the translucent powder. Flash photos can highlight the powder on your face, making it look brighter and whiter than it actually is.

10

Add a setting spray on top.

Spritz setting spray on top of your makeup for a more dewy look. Setting spray not only keeps your makeup in place, but it can help give your skin a more dewy, glowy look.^{[15]
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- Setting spray will also help keep your foundation and concealer in place so they don’t melt off of your wrinkles throughout the day.
- Setting spray isn’t strictly necessary, especially for an everyday look. Save it for when you want to wear your makeup for a long time.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can you reverse deep wrinkles?

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist
Dr. Lydia Shedlofsky is a Resident Dermatologist who joined Affiliated Dermatology in July of 2019 after completing a traditional rotating internship at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduation, she moved to Beira, Mozambique, and worked as a research assistant and intern at a free clinic. She completed a Post-Baccalaureate program and subsequently earned a Master's Degree in Medical Education and a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO

Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Yes. You can treat deep wrinkles with professional chemical peels. However, there are side effects and risks involved with these stronger chemical peels, including scarring and pigmentation loss.