Consider it or not, however one of the best skin-firming cream can assist you obtain near-magical results—ones that defy gravity by tightening and brightening pores and skin to an virtually Benjamin Button–like stage. After all, these lotions’ actual powers—extraordinary as they appear—are rooted in science and born in labs. There’s a exact method for what separates skin-firming lotions that really work from those who lag (or let’s assume sag) in delivering outcomes.

Our Prime Picks

In This Part

Under, a decent edit of one of the best firming lotions, as chosen by dermatologists and Vogue editors. From a firming cream for the neck to a skin-tightening cream for the abdomen, and a cellulite cream beloved by business insiders, the merchandise under ship the entire physique with a surge of firming hydration.

Finest Firming Cream for Neck: Neostrata Triple Firming Neck Cream

• Why we like it: Dr. Ashley Magovern, a board-certified dermatologist in California and a medical advisor for Dermstore, factors to this firming cream as the selection antidote for a saggy neck. Filled with professional amino acids, the formulation companies up the pores and skin within the delicate space between the chin and the chest; it additionally targets discoloration.
• Finest to be used the place: The cream was particularly formulated to be used on the neck and décolletage.
• Pores and skin kind: Regular, dry, or oily
• Key elements: NeoGlucosamine, NeoCitriate, pro-amino acid
• Dimension: 2.8 oz

Finest Pores and skin-Tightening Cream for Physique: Paula’s Selection Pores and skin-Smoothing Retinol Remedy

• Why we like it: Retinol can increase pores and skin’s tightness and firmness—plus, research have proven that it will possibly enhance the looks of cellulite, says Dr. Margarita Lolis, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based mostly in New Jersey. What’s extra, Lolis says, the lotion’s star ingredient will increase cell turnover. “This helps the tone and texture of your pores and skin,” she explains. “It’s additionally very useful for keratosis pilaris in thighs and on the again of the arms.”
• Finest to be used the place: The cream is suited to all-over physique use, although anybody with keratosis pilaris (or small bumps) could want to focus the applying wherever the bumps seem.
• Pores and skin kind: Pimples-prone, mixture, dry, mature
• Key elements: Retinol, shea butter
• Dimension: 4 fl oz

Finest Cellulite Cream: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Physique Cream

• Why we like it: Charlotte Tilbury’s rose-scented cream “helps brighten the pores and skin and depart it glowing,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist in New York Metropolis and New Jersey, noting that its hyaluronic acid and caffeine preserve the pores and skin hydrated, clean, and agency. Impressed by the model’s cult-classic Magic Cream, this for-the-body iteration is infused with Algactiv Uplift expertise to tone and tighten the pores and skin. It’s additionally been proven to scale back the looks of cellulite when used frequently over the course of eight weeks.
• Finest to be used the place: Therapeutic massage the cream onto all the physique, specializing in the abdomen and thighs. Not only a cellulite cream, this could additionally relieve joint stress. Strive utilizing round motions to therapeutic massage it across the ankles, kneecaps, wrists, and elbows.
• Pores and skin kind: These with uninteresting or dry pores and skin will recognize its hydrating, luminosity-inducing properties.
• Key elements: Caffeine, Algactiv Uplift, hyaluronic acid, shea butter
• Dimension: 6.7 fl oz

Finest Tightening Cream for Legs: Revision Skincare BodiFirm

• Why we like it: For tightening pores and skin on the legs and on the abdomen, Revision Skincare’s firming cream “is my go-to,” says Dr. Georgina Ferzli, a board-certified dermatologist in New York. “That is one in every of only a few lotions for body-tightening that really works.” She credit its elements—which embrace peptides, antioxidants, and proteins—for its effectiveness. Plus, it has glucosamine to assist enhance cell turnover and slough off lifeless pores and skin cells. “This enables the firmer, extra hydrated pores and skin to shine by,” Ferzli notes.
• Finest to be used the place: The cream can be utilized on areas all through the physique. The appliance could be targeted not solely on the abdomen or on the legs, but in addition on areas exhibiting crepiness and indicators of solar injury — each of which the cream could make much less noticeable.
• Pores and skin kind: Skinny, crepey, pores and skin exhibiting solar injury
• Key elements: iFirm expertise, caffeine, glucosamine
• Dimension: 3.8 oz

Finest for Delicate Pores and skin: SkinCeuticals Physique Tightening Focus

• Why we like it: Made with peptides, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid to spice up hydration and elasticity, this SkinCeuticals cream is Ferzli’s decide for these with reactive pores and skin searching for a firming cream. “That is light and hydrating,” she says. “Even these with very delicate pores and skin appear to tolerate it fairly effectively.”
• Finest to be used the place: The cream can be utilized wherever pores and skin wants lifting, together with on the stomach, butt, knees, and thighs. It may also be smoothed over areas with stretch marks to attenuate their look.
• Pores and skin kind: Getting older, crepey pores and skin
• Key elements: Dimethicone, important oils, natural extracts, panthenol, peptides, salicylic acid, Vitamin E
• Dimension: 5 fl oz

Finest Excessive-Tech Cream: SkinMedica Agency & Tone for Physique

• Why we like it: Lolis notes that SkinMedica’s skin-tightening cream for the physique is powered by science and scientific knowledge. “Its expertise targets 5 pathways concerned in laxity and fats,” she explains. “It additionally has peptides and botanical extracts that assist keep pure ranges of collagen and elastin.” Plus, it has a stunning, light-weight texture that sinks shortly into the pores and skin.
• Finest to be used the place: Although it shouldn’t be utilized to irritated pores and skin, the citrus-scented cream can be utilized on another space of the physique the place pores and skin lacks texture, tone, or firmness.
• Pores and skin kind: All pores and skin varieties
• Key elements: Peptides, shitake mushroom, lemon balm, inexperienced microalgae extracts
• Dimension: 6 fl oz

Finest Décolletage-Firming Cream: Yon-Ka Phyto 52

• Why we like it: Firming, tightening, and intensely moisturizing, Yon-Ka’s botanical cream works in a single day to sculpt and contour the face— although Ferzli makes use of it in one other method. “It’s a dream cream for the chest and décolletage,” she says. “For the chest, the place we endure a whole lot of solar injury on very skinny pores and skin, the combination of antioxidants, pure oils, and hyaluronic acid assist to restore the pores and skin whereas additionally sustaining moisture.”
• Finest to be used the place: The cream was designed to agency pores and skin on the face and neck; it may also be used on the chest and décolletage.
• Pores and skin kind: Although Phyto 52 can be utilized on most pores and skin varieties, Ferzli cautions that it could be too oily for acne-prone facial pores and skin.
• Key elements: Important oil mix, vitamin E, aloe, beech bud peptides
• Dimension: 1.41 oz

Finest Firming Cream for Arms: U Magnificence the Sculpt Arm Compound

• Why we like it: Filled with proprietary “sculpting” expertise, U Magnificence’s arm cream companies and tightens the looks of the pores and skin. “It helps to scale back the looks of crepiness with out inflicting irritation,” says Garshick. To lock in moisture, she recommends following the arm-sculpting remedy with the model’s Tremendous Hydrator.
• Finest to be used the place: The cream was designed to tone the pores and skin of the arms, although it will possibly additionally agency up the neck and the décolletage.
• Pores and skin kind: The cream is most useful to these with skinny or crepey pores and skin.
• Key elements: Sculpting Siren Capsules (U Magnificence’s proprietary firming expertise made with marine extracts, probiotics, and ferments), retinol, vitamin C
• Dimension: 4 fl oz

Finest Firming Cream for Face: Elemis Professional-Collagen Marine Cream

• Why we like it: “This cream is straightforward to make use of and nice for delicate pores and skin,” notes Magovern. “It has a pleasant and light-weight texture, plus it has SPF 30 for solar safety.”
• Finest to be used the place: The wrinkle-fighting day cream is greatest used on the face.
• Pores and skin kind: With a skin-quenching formulation, the rose-scented cream is a salve for dry pores and skin particularly.
• Key elements: Mimosa, chlorella, padina pavonica
• Dimension: 1.6 fl oz

Finest Pores and skin-Firming Cream for Face and Beck: RoC Multi Correxion

• Why we like it: Enhanced with broad-spectrum SPF 30, the multipurpose drugstore discover has been clinically confirmed to enhance discoloration, dryness, crepiness, wrinkles, and dullness. “Some individuals discover ends in as early as 4 weeks,” Garshick notes. She provides that the lively cream accommodates Hexyl-R expertise, which helps agency up the pores and skin— but it surely’s nonetheless light sufficient for day by day use.
• Finest to be used the place: Along with on the face, the cream was designed to be used on the fragile space between the chin and the chest.
• Pores and skin kind: The non-comedogenic, oil-free method is suited to use on all pores and skin varieties, together with these which are oily or acne-prone.
• Key elements: Hexyl-R advanced expertise
• Dimension: 1.7 oz

Finest Abdomen-Firming Cream: Caudalie Vinosculpt Carry & Agency Physique Cream

• Why we like it: Flooded with firming elements derived from grapes, Caudalie’s fast-absorbing cream has hyaluronic acid for further hydration. When used frequently, it will possibly tighten the pores and skin on the abdomen and waist — it additionally moonlights as a butt-sculpting cream.
• Finest to be used the place: Use the cream twice day by day, massaging it day and evening into the pores and skin on the arms, chest, abdomen, butt, and thighs.
• Pores and skin kind: The cream is especially hydrating and softening on dry pores and skin.
• Key elements: Natural grape water, grape seed polyphenols, iris extract, natural shea butter
• Dimension: 8.4 fl oz

Finest Thigh-Firming Cream: Nivea Pores and skin Firming & Firming Gel Cream

• Why we like it: When used twice a day, the light-weight formulation can agency up the pores and skin on the thighs and different areas in as little as two weeks. Making use of it frequently received’t really feel like a chore: The creamy gel formulation has a pleasing, cooling sensation because it’s massaged on—and it sinks into the pores and skin and softens it quick.
• Finest to be used the place: The cooling formulation works greatest on the thighs, abdomen, and butt, the place it ought to be utilized day by day.
• Pores and skin kind: The gel-cream is designed to be used on regular pores and skin.
• Key elements: CoQ10, L-carnitine, lotus extract
• Dimension: 6.7 oz

Finest Firming Cream for Crepiness: StriVectin Crepe Management Tightening Physique Cream

• Why we like it: StriVectin lotions are formulated with patented NIA-114 expertise, which harnesses the buzzy skincare ingredient niacinamide to strengthen the pores and skin barrier. It additionally has peptides and brightening elements to even out the pores and skin tone and depart the physique firmer and dewier suddenly.
• Finest to be used the place: It’s simplest in areas the place the pores and skin is saggy or crepey, reminiscent of across the knees and elbows.
• Pores and skin kind: The cream was particularly formulated for crepey pores and skin.
• Key elements: NIA-114 expertise
• Dimension: 6.7 oz

What’s a skin-firming cream and do they really work? 

“A body-firming cream refers to a cream designed to tighten and agency the pores and skin. Physique-firming lotions assist to handle the looks of pores and skin laxity and crepiness. And whereas they don’t seem to be going to ship surgical outcomes, they’ll work to enhance the looks of the pores and skin,” says Garshick.

“Physique-firming lotions work by stimulating collagen and elastin manufacturing, that are essential for pores and skin firmness and elasticity,” provides Lolis. “Pores and skin-firming lotions could also be efficient relying on the kind of lively elements, their focus, and the way effectively they penetrate the pores and skin.”

Methods to discover the best firming physique cream

Relating to discovering the best firming physique cream, “specializing in the ingredient profile is necessary,” says Ferzli. “In case you are somebody with delicate pores and skin, it could be too harsh to make use of firming lotions which have retinol in them, or a really excessive focus of antioxidant extracts. For delicate pores and skin, it’s best to search for physique lotions that concentrate on barrier restore and hyaluronic restoration. For these with harder pores and skin, go along with lotions which are potent in peptides and proteins for the physique.” Lolis provides, “The most effective formulation for you need to really feel comfy in your pores and skin and match into your day by day routine.”

What to search for in a firming physique cream

“These choosing a firming physique cream ought to take their particular person pores and skin kind and skincare issues into consideration,” Garshick notes. “The consistency of the formulation may be necessary to think about. For instance, these with dry pores and skin could go for a thicker, extra nourishing cream as in comparison with somebody with extra oily pores and skin. Moreover, it will possibly assist to think about different textural and sensorial properties, together with whether or not it has perfume or not. Some individuals choose to have perfume when making use of a physique lotion, whereas for these with delicate pores and skin it could be greatest to keep away from it.”

Which elements ought to be in a skin-firming cream?

The most effective elements in skin-firming lotions do fast work to sort out the indicators of growing old. “As we age, our pores and skin fibers—or collagen—grow to be weaker and fewer ample,” explains Ferzli. “We additionally lower our manufacturing of hyaluronic acid, whose principal job is to bind water within the pores and skin and bolster up our collagen and elastin fibers. With a purpose to assist forestall and reverse these modifications, we are able to complement the pores and skin with peptides that assist activate collagen and elastin renewal, antioxidants to fight the weather, and hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and different barrier restore elements to assist keep pores and skin hydration for a visibly smoother and plumper look.”