The Wrinkle Cream Test

And cosmetic companies cash in, selling you expensive, anti-wrinkle promises. But does "expensive" mean you get the best results?

To find out, we put them to the test.

We started with a product that costs nearly $100 a bottle. Then, we found some cheaper alternatives to see if you can get the same results.

Keeping wrinkles at bay is a $300 million a year industry. According to retailers, Alpha Lipoic Acid face-firming activator is one of the hot sellers. It's by a very popular dermatologist named Nicholas Perricone. Two ounces cost $95.

Some Formulas 'Impressive'

Dr. Perricone wrote the best-selling book "The Wrinkle Cure", which advocates exercise, healthy diet, limiting skin-aging substances like nicotine, caffeine and alcohol, and using his specially formulated products which he calls Cosmeceuticals.

He sells his upscale line of products online and at retail stores such as Nordstrom and Sephora. He also has a popular TV show on PBS.

According to testimonials, women who buy the Alpha Lipoic Acid boast of clearer skin and less noticeable creases.

"I do think some of his formulations are very impressive," said Paula Begoun. Begoun is nationally known as the "Cosmetics Cop." She's been featured on numerous network TV shows and her years of cosmetics research have produced the best-selling consumer guides, "Don't Go To the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" and "The Beauty Bible".

Begoun says, in her opinion, some Perricone products do have value.

"But the notion that his are the only ones, and that they have to be that expensive -- absolutely not," she said.

Some Cheaper Alternatives

We asked for some less-expensive alternatives.

"The products I found for you -- was one from Clinque. Their Advanced Stop Signs. And one from The Body Shop. Their Vitamin C Supercharged Serum," Begoun said.

One ounce of the Body Shop formula, from the specialty retailer with the same name, sold for $20.

We found 1.7 ounces of the Clinique, which is sold at Sephora, Nordstrom and Bon Marche, for $35.

And we're also testing Perricone's 2 ounces, found for $95.

"What these all share in common, that I think has a lot of value for skin, is a great deal, a good compliment of antioxidants," Begoun said.

Antioxidants help fight cell damage that makes skin saggy and wrinkled.

We bought two bottles of the Perricone and changed the name to "Silk", and "Smooth".

The Body Shop product becomes "Velvet". The Clinique becomes "Satin".

Then, we transferred the products into identical bottles.

We found two volunteers at a baby and parenting store in Seattle.

Denise Wilson (who said she normally uses either Calendula Cream by California Baby, or Eucerin, a formulation by a European manufacturer for dry skin, both under $10), and storeowner Lyndsey Starkey. (She normally uses a $10 product by Oil of Olay.)

Our third volunteer is Lynn Johnson, who owns a landscaping business and spends a lot of time outdoors.

"I've used a lot of products", said Lynn, "and with a lot of them, I might as well use a hand cream."

Lynn normally uses a $30 Oil of Olay moisturizer and sunscreen protection.

We give Lyndsey the $95 product. Denise gets the $20 product. And Lynn gets two products -- The $95 product for the left side of her face, and the $35 product for the right.

We don't tell them anything about the contents or the price.

The women agree to use the products every morning for a month.

The Results?

After 2 weeks, they all notice their skin is smoother and softer.

"It feels softer," Denise said. "To the touch I can feel a little bit of difference, but when I look I really don't notice a big difference."

Lyndsey says, "this spot does seem to be improving a little bit," detecting slight improvement around her cheeks and nose.

And Lynn?

"I really haven't noticed much of anything, with either product," she said. "My skin feels good though. It does feel good."

Keep in mind, this is not scientific. Our objective is to use the products the same way you would at home.

After two more weeks, Denise says her skin feels much smoother, but she doesn't think it looks different.

"Appearance - I don't see anything. But it doesn't feel dry or flaky," she said.

But Lyndsey thinks they both show visible improvement.

"It seems to be kinda filling out a little- that the lines aren't quite as exaggerated as they might have been before," Lyndsey told Denise. Denise replied: "Oh! OK!"

Lynn saw improvements on both sides of her face but got better results with the $35 Clinque on the right, over the $95 Perricone on the left. She says based on the results, she would continue to buy the Clinque.

Lyndsey found noted improvement with $95 Perricone, the only product she tested. Based on her results she is thinking about switching to the Alpha Lipoic Acid in the future.

And Lyndsey also noticed improvement on Denise who used the $20 Body Shop product. Despite the visible observations and the improved texture and softness of her skin, Denise says she would rather stick with her Eucerin and Calendula Creams.

"Cosmetic Cop" Paula Begoun says she fully expected there would be no clear cut "best" product, because there is no such thing. Each women experienced smoother, healthier skin, because of the "formulas" - not the price.

"The most foolish game women play in the world of cosmetics, is believing expensive is better. It so is not the case," Begoun said.

Here are some other products that Paul told us would give beneficial results at a reasonable price: