If you’re anything like me, you probably see ads for wrinkle treatments and think how nice it must be to be a millionaire who can afford the time and money to look 20 years old forever. There are some luxuries in life, like weekly spa treatments and trips to Cabo San Lucas, that are solely for the wealthy. But are wrinkle treatments really only for those who grace the cover of People Magazine?

Fortunately, the answer to that question is no. We all deserve to take care of ourselves, and there are options that don’t require a million dollars. So, what are the options for everyday people like us?

Cosmetic surgery. Yes, cosmetic surgery can work wonders on wrinkles, and there are a wide variety of procedures available at various costs. If you can’t afford the money or recovery time to get a complete face lift, there are always feather lifts or other minor surgeries that offer significant wrinkle-erasing results. Feather lifts pull up the outer layer of skin with barbed thread to tighten the skin until it is smooth and wrinkle-free. This is a minimally invasive procedure that yields results for up to five years.

Botox®. We’ve all heard of Botox®. It’s all the rage in Hollywood these days. Basically, it’s just quick injections of a purified botulinum toxin, which serve to relax the facial muscles, prohibiting repeated dramatic facial movements that cause the skin to wrinkle over time. The major benefits to Botox® are the time treatment takes and the cost. Botox® is less expensive than cosmetic surgery, and injections can be made in a matter of minutes with minimal recovery time. This is definitely an option for the busy, everyday person. However, it is best to start Botox® treatments relatively early in life to achieve the best results by preventing wrinkles from ever forming.

Chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and other such wrinkle treatments are fairly effective at minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging by removing the dull skin cells from the surface of your face. Chemical peels dissolve the old cells off the surface of your skin, revealing fresh skin beneath. Microdermabrasion pretty much sandblasts the skin for a similar effect. The thing to remember about all of these treatments is that they are only able to minimize the appearance of wrinkles on the surface of the skin. They do not treat the underlying causes of wrinkles.

Wrinkle creams. If you have ever tried an over-the-counter wrinkle cream, you have probably been disappointed with the results. Many of the creams that promise to be a “face lift in a jar” or “the next best thing to Botox®” leave much to be desired when it comes to making those wrinkles disappear. The first thing to recognize when purchasing an anti-wrinkle cream is that price does not necessarily equal quality. An effective wrinkle cream should provide an inexpensive wrinkle-fighting alternative to pricey surgical treatments. But it should also offer the added benefit of nourishing your skin to keep it healthy and fresh. There are some very effective creams on the market today that offer significant wrinkle-removing results. Always look for the most natural ingredients, and particularly ingredients that act as antioxidants, skin tighteners, or collagen stimulators.

If you are disappointed with the results of your current wrinkle cream or are finally deciding that wrinkle treatments are not just for the rich, click here to find information on four of the top performing wrinkle creams on the market.