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Consumer Reports Tests Anti-Wrinkle Creams

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - If you could erase the signs of aging, you probably would.

Americans spent more $800 million last year on anti-wrinkle creams.

But, is that money well-spent?

Consumer Reports ShopSmart tested to see if anti-aging creams can make fine lines and wrinkles disappear.

Photographer Cathy Pinsky often uses computer software to help people look their best.

"I'll use Photoshop to minimize the wrinkles, take out some of the crow's feet and my clients are thrilled. They just love that," Pinsky said.

Look at how the wrinkles disappear in this photo, but you can't just click away wrinkles in real life.

Consumer Reports ShopSmart tested to see how well anti-wrinkle creams work.

"We tested seven products with a really wide price range from $8 to $80," Jody Rohlena from Consumer Reports ShopSmart said.

The creams included big names like L'Oreal and Lancome as well as Equate from Walmart and the CVS store brand.

"We used an outside lab and a total of 79 people. The test took 12 weeks. The people applied two different creams in the morning, one on each side of their face," Rohlena said.

The lab took before and after photos for comparison.

Then, Consumer Reports' sensory panelists examined the results. Panelists also evaluated the creams to assess how they feel on your skin and their smell.

"All of the products smelled pretty good and they didn't leave much of a tacky residue behind. But, they didn't make that much of a difference," Rohlena said.

After 12 weeks, only one cream did a little better than the others. Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift was the winner, but it only helped about half the people in the test.

"The thing with wrinkles, once you get them, they're very hard to get rid of. So, the best thing you can do is prevent them in the first place," Rohlena said.

To do that, stay out of the sun as much as possible and wear sunscreen as well as a wide-brimmed, tightly-woven hat when in the sun.

Consumer Reports ShopSmart said moisturizing your skin day and night is also important to keep wrinkles at bay.

However, you don't need to use expensive anti-wrinkle creams.

Drinking plenty of water also helps to keep your skin looking healthy.

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Consumer Reports
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