I Tested All the New Topical Filler Serums, And These 9 Are My Absolute Favorite

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Ask any dermatologist or plastic surgeon and they'll tell you that the best way to fill deep wrinkles and plump and smooth your skin is with an injectable facial filler, like Juvéderm, RHA, or Restylane. And while they're absolutely not wrong—the results from face fillers are generally both instant and pretty damn dramatic—there are some downsides to injectable fillers that shouldn't be ignored.

For one, getting filler injected into your face can be painful and involve a bit of downtime (namely in the form of bruising or swelling). Fillers are also pricey (like $500 to $3000 depending on where you live and what areas of the face you're having injected). And then there's the whole filler migration and looking "over-filled" thing to consider. All of these downsides are reasons why wrinkle filling face serums and creams have taken off in the last few months. A topical alternative to injections, these products are like filler in a bottle—and lucky for you I've tested tons of them. Here's a sneak peek at some of my favorites:

Keep reading for the full list of the 9 best wrinkle fillers, according to my personal testing experience and insights from dermatologists Michele Green, MD, and Howard Sobel, MD.

HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator

I tried cheek fillers a few years ago, and while I loved my injector, I wasn't particularly blown away by the results. I found the whole experience to be kinda painful (like way more painful than a quick Botox prick) and once my filler settled, I was just meh about the look of my skin. So, as an alternative, I started using this topical hyaluronic acid serum. It's truly excellent at plumping up my cheek area and smoothing the fine lines around my eyes and mouth. In my experience it works best if you apply it twice a day everyday on damp skin, which is pretty low-commitment when compared to getting real fillers IMO.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, flower stem cell extract

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

One customer writes:"I’ve been using this for over a year and it works better than any other product I’ve ever used before. It is pricey, but it works! I will note that I have extremely sensitive and dry skin and it has never caused any irritation and absorbs really quickly."

DermInfusions Fill + Repair Serum

This wrinkle filler, which features four weights of hyaluronic acid along with niacinamide and peptide proteins, is inspired by the injectable hyaluronic acid fillers that dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross uses in his practice. It's an excellent choice for under makeup, since it really smooths out any textural issues.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide, ectoin

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

One buyer's review reads:“I didn't have a ton of expectations for this at first, but I can really see that my skin is more smooth, vibrant, bright, and plump from using this. I stopped using this for over a week to make sure this serum was the reason for my skin looking so good and then confirmed it was definitely this bottle. I'm on my second one now and I'm impressed."

Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster

Dr. Green loves this serum from Paula's Choice for filling wrinkles. "It contains six peptides to promote collagen synthesis and
firm the skin, plus it has hyaluronic acid to plump the skin further and temporarily smooth out wrinkles," Dr. Green says. I personally love how versatile the formula is. You can use it as a booster and add a few drops to your existing face moisturizer or even your foundation, or apply it to clean skin as a regular face serum. No matter how you use it, you're pretty much guaranteed smoother, tighter-looking skin.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, amino acids, hyaluronic acid

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

One satisfied customer writes: "Please do yourself a favor and buy this! I received it this morning applied around my eyes, and it seriously worked like magic! My lines all around were plumped, disappeared, and my hooded eyes somehow firmed up and I could see my eyeliner when I never do! I know, it’s pricey, but I promise you it’ll be magic," writes one reviewer.

Bio-Performance Skin Filler Serums

The science behind this wrinkle filler duo is impressive. At night, you apply the night serum in the blue bottle to deliver tiny, shrunken up hyaluronic acid molecules into deeper layers of the skin. In the morning, you apply to day serum in the white bottle to expand those hyaluronic acid molecules back to their original size (remember, hyaluronic acid is like a sponge so it can expand and contract based on water content). When those hyaluronic acid molecules puff up again, they push up the skin to fill in wrinkles and give your skin an ultra-plump look.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, red clover extract, cinnamon extract

• Usage: Morning and evening

One tester says: "I work in the beauty industry, and I know that the company does actual research on their products, so I gave these serum a try," one tester writes. "I have used them for three weeks faithfully and noticed a pretty significant improvement on my neck. It looks more supple and less (dare I say) “old”! By about 5 years!"

Collagen-Peptide Derma Filler Serum

A favorite of Dr. Sobel's, this wrinkle filling serum combines a vegan collagen complex, low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, and peptides to instantly soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles. "It fills in the space between skin cells to plump the skin and create a wrinkle-smoothing effect," says Dr. Sobel.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, ginseng extract, quinoa extract

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

One reviewer writes: "I was very surprised to find that the texture of this serum is more water-based with a low viscosity, which glides on and spreads out easily and evenly. After the first-time I applied it, it made my skin hydrated and supple without feeling greasy, tacky, or weighed down."

Instant FIRMx Temporary Face Tightener

The effects from this wrinkle filler may temporary, but they're pretty damn dramatic. A blend of silicates, seaweed extract, and vitamins B5, C, E create an tightening effect on the skin that visibly fills wrinkles and lifts loose, saggy skin for a super-snatched look. The application process takes a bit of time and getting used to (so please, read the directions before just slathering this stuff on your face), but the end result is totally worth the extra effort IMO.

• Key ingredients: Silicates, seaweed, antioxidants

• Usage: As needed on clean, dry skin

One happy shopper writes: "I was considering injectables but tried this instead and am super happy with the result. Of course my lines do not disappear 100 percent, but 75 percent is good for me!"

Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Plump Line Filling Bounce Serum

If you're all about quick results, this is the wrinkle filler for you. Many testers—myself included—noticed an improvement in fine lines and wrinkles within two weeks of making this a staple in their morning and nighttime routines. The magic? A fast-acting peptide that stimulates your skin's production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid plus moisturizing and brightening plant extracts. The formula did wonders on my horizontal forehead wrinkles and really helped to make the skin around my eyes less crepey too.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, red algae extract, turmeric root extract

• Usage: Morning and/or evening:

One buyer's review reads: "I'm in my late twenties now and have noticed that my face isn't as plump anymore. So I decided to try this, but I was a bit worried because sometimes anti-aging stuff breaks me out, but his one didn't! It has plumped my skin and made it more firm, soft, smooth! I'm so happy I bought it."

HA+ Replenishing Serum

Ourself's lightweight wrinkle filler uses something called "subtopical firming technology," which is basically the brand's proprietary blend of ingredients and ingredient vehicles that deliver actives into deeper layers of the skin (to mimic how an injectable filler delivers hyaluronic acid below the skin's surface). The result? More dramatic and long-lasting wrinkle filling instead of just a temporary plumping or hydrating effect.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamin C, niacinamide

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

A tester review reads: "This is one of the best serums I have ever purchased. It fight fine lines, is very hydrating and absorbs quickly. It is good for use on sensitive skin. No burning on application. It’s an excellent base to use before your moisturizer. I ordered the big size on sale so I got a discount. It is pricey but it is a good base to build on."

InterFuse Intensive Treatment Lines

Some wrinkle fillers are designed to be used all over the face while others, like this targeted treatment from Skinbetter, are intended to be used on problem areas where you're noticing uneven texture and deep lines. After applying my antioxidant serum in the morning, I smooth this lightweight cream on my 11's (the vertical expression lines between my brows) and on my crow's feet to help minimize the look of wrinkles throughout the day.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamin C, amino acids

• Usage: Morning and/or evening

A shopper writes: "This is brilliant for the eye area. My lines are barely noticeable and my skin looks so plump and hydrated. I've even used it on the deeper lines above my top lip and it works fabulously on those too."

Is there any product that fills in wrinkles?

Yes, there are topical serums that can help fill in wrinkles. Of course, these topical wrinkle-filling products aren't as effective as injectable facial fillers, but they can be a great alternative for anyone who is on a budget, isn't into the idea of needles, or is seeing fine lines as opposed to deeper wrinkles.

How can I plump my face wrinkles at home?

The best way to plump up face wrinkles at home is with a serum or cream with certain key ingredients specifically formulated to smooth skin texture and restore volume loss. These ingredients, according to Dr. Sobel and Dr. Green, include:

• Hyaluronic acid: A humectant that draws water and moisture to the skin to temporarily plump and fill wrinkles, says Dr. Sobel.

• Peptides and amino acids: When applied to the skin, peptides help transport molecules and compounds necessary for collagen production. Tetrapeptide is a popular peptide used in skincare that can stimulate the production of collagen to smooth the appearance of wrinkles along the skin. These effects are short-term and last for the duration that you are using the product, explains Dr. Green.

• Niacinamide and ceramides: These ingredients help strengthen your skin's natural moisture barrier so it can better hold onto hydration for a wrinkle-plumping effect, says Dr. Green.

• Retinol: The vitamin A derivative speeds up cell turnover and ramps up collagen and elastin production to firm skin and smooth the look of lines and wrinkles, says Dr. Sobel.

Meet the experts:

• Michele Green, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York, NY. Dr. Green is an expert in cosmetic treatments, including laser therapies and dermal fillers.

• Howard Sobel, MD is board-certified dermatologist based in New York, NY. Dr. Sobel is an expert in aesthetics, injectables, and cosmetic surgery and the founder of Sobel Skin Rx. He is also a dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC.

Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best anti-aging moisturizers to the best lasers for acne scars. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to anti-aging products and wrinkle filling serums and creams. She regularly tests and analyzes wrinkle fillers for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and estheticians to assess new formulas, brands, and technologies.

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