With dermatologist-recommended picks from Crepe Erase, Alastin, No 7, and more
When it comes to the signs of aging, it’s often the wrinkles and spots that get all the attention. But there’s another major issue that comes with time and is equally as responsible for making you look older than you are—sagging skin. At the root of the issue is a breakdown of collagen and elastin, the two proteins essential for firm, smooth, youthful skin. Think of collagen as the mattress frame and elastin as the mattress springs; when both are intact, you have a firm, supple bed, but as one or both start to break down, here comes sagging. And in the case of your skin, that means unwanted laxity and a generally droopy appearance.
Yes, this is a natural and to a certain extent, an unavoidable by-product of getting older, but other external factors (think exposure to UV damage, pollution, and even stress) can exacerbate and speed up the process. Enter the beauty of good skin-tightening cream. In choosing one, your best move is to pick a formula that contains, “ingredients that boost production and decrease the destruction of the three primary structural components of the dermis that improve skin tightness: collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans or GAGs,” explains dermatologist Dr. Julie Russak.
More specifically, that means antioxidants; topically-applied vitamin C, vitamin B3, and vitamin E enhance the production of collagen in the dermis, Dr. Russak says. Other good options include vitamin A derivatives (AKA retinoids) and peptides. The nice thing about skin tightening creams? There are formulas made for pretty much everybody part out there since, trust us, this isn’t an issue reserved to just your face.
We conducted hours of research to find the skin tightening creams worthy of a spot in your routine, testing some of the highest-rated products out there. We used these creams for weeks, taking note of how well they improved the overall appearance and texture of their skin. Our team then combined these results with our own research and dermatologist-recommended picks to compile this list.
Best Overall: Alastin Restorative Skin Complex
When a brand’s name is a play on the word elastin, you know you’re going to get some serious skin tightening benefits. We’re big fans of all of the products in this line, but for full-on firming, “this is an incredible option,” says Dr. Kathleen S. Viscussi, a board-certified dermatologist in Atlanta, Georgia. The star of the show is the proprietary TriHex technology. “Elastin, along with collagen and hyaluronic acid, are all essential components of our extracellular skin matrix that provide our overlying skin with support, volume, and moisturization. It makes this formula ideal for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and tightening the skin, resulting in a more youthful appearance,” says Dr. Viscussi. Plus, it’s also very moisturizing and contains a dose of protective antioxidants to boot.
Best Budget: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream
Tightening products are one skincare category that innately skews on the pricier side; credit the types of ingredients needed to make a formula effective. That’s why we appreciate that this night cream rings in at an affordable price… but yes, still gets the tightening job done. At work is a unique tightening ingredient that works super fast—so fast that you may even notice a difference after only a few weeks. Bonus: It’s also a great pick for anyone with sensitive skin, given that it’s both fragrance-free and contains soothing colloidal oatmeal.
Best Drugstore: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
There have been—are you ready for this?—more than one billion jars of this cream sold. Yes, billion with a “b.” The formula is rich in peptides, one of the ingredients Dr. Russak says are best to seek out in tightening creams because they stimulate the production of both collagen and elastin fibers. Plus, this also contains vitamin B3 which works on the surface of the skin to promote cell turnover and gentle exfoliation.2 This stuff works, it’s inexpensive, and you can get it at the drugstore. Enough said.
Best for Body: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
Don’t be fooled by the name—go ahead and slather this on all over your body, not just on your booty. Beloved by beauty editors and devoted users alike, use it on the reg for tighter skin. (And yes, on the bum that may translate to less noticeable dimples, too.) Caffeine-rich guarana extract boosts circulation, an essential component for firmer skin, not to mention that the buttery cream feels—and smells—so so good going on.3
Best for Arms: StriVectin Crepe Control Tightening Body Cream
Think of this as a body moisturizer but with major, major benefits. Sure, it hydrates, but it also visibly tightens and firms skin, improving the look of crepiness in one fell swoop, too. Use it on the backs of your arms or around your elbows, all of those weird little spots where skin can suddenly start to look droopy and wrinkly out of nowhere.
Best for Legs: Revision Skincare BodiFirm
Women who used this clinically-tested body lotion for twelve weeks saw an impressive 83% improvement in sagging skin and a 90% improvement in skin elasticity (as mentioned on the product page). Granted, it was used on the arms in that study, but in our experience, it has a similarly impressive effect on the thighs and butt. That’s thanks to the brand’s patent-pending iFirm technology, a blend of peptides, antioxidants, and a prebiotic, which is designed to help firm, tighten, and lift sagging skin, as well as smooth away the crepiness, says Viscussi, who is a fan. You’ll still have to do squats and lunges, but this can help you score a tighter rearview for sure; Viscussi goes on to say that it delivers visible results.
Best for Face: Fresh Black Tea Firming Corset Cream
Just like a corset will suck in, cinch in, and tighten your waistline, so will this cream for your complexion. A firming peptide, coupled with an antioxidant power couple of a black tea complex and goji berry extract, all work together in this formula. We also appreciate the cushiony texture and generous level of hydration that ensures this works well on all skin types, from dry to oily.
Best for Eyes: Alastin Restorative Eye Treatment
Like the overall face product, this eye cream also contains that patented TriHex technology that is unique in its ability to promote the growth of elastin. “Elastin is a key component for allowing the smoothing and tightening of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes,” says Viscussi, who counts this as another one of her favorites. But on top of those tightening benefits, the formula is also great for combating other peeper problems, think dark circles, and puffiness.
Best for Neck & Chest: Gold Bond Ultimate Neck & Chest Firming Cream
Ever look at someone’s face and think how young they look—and then look down at their neck or chest and are shocked to see wrinkles and saggy skin? Not only is the skin on your neck and décolletage very delicate and fragile, but it’s also often exposed to the sun, a major contributor to collagen and elastin breakdown. You can apply the same products you use on your face on the skin below your chin, but if you’re looking for a dedicated option, try this pick. Made for both your neck and chest, it also just happens to be one of the more affordable skin tightening products we’ve ever seen, yet consistently pulls in rave reviews. Users are repeatedly astounded at how well it works, even posting their own before and after photos in their reviews.
Best Serum: No7 Restore & Renew Face and Neck Multi-Action Serum
To get the most bang for your buck, opt for a serum over a cream; they’re more lightweight and contain a higher concentration of active ingredients. This particular pick uses the brand’s unique ingredient blends to help target not one, not two, but five different signs of aging—loss of firmness and sagging included. There are things such as peptides, retinyl palmitate, and skin barrier-boosting ceramides in the mix, all of which work synergistically—to treat the skin on both your face and your neck, we might add.
Best With SPF: Clarins Extra-Firming Wrinkle Control Firming Day Cream SPF 15
For the love of all that’s holy, you really should be using sunscreen with at least a broad-spectrum SPF 30 every single day. Because if you’re not, you’re just further speeding up the breakdown of collagen and elastin; sun damage and UV exposure directly correlate with saggier, looser, less tight skin. Enter the beauty of this day cream. It tightens the skin, yes, but it also evens out skin tone and imparts the best amount of lightweight hydration. It also contains SPF 15, a great option for skincare minimalists.
Best Splurge: SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum
This oldie-but-goodie is a must-have for pretty much every derm we’ve ever spoken with—Viscussi included, who lauds it for visibly improving the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin. (Not to mention that it’s also a staple in our medicine cabinet.) It’s super pricey, yes, but along with addressing sagging, it also addresses pretty much every other possible sign of aging. The secret is protein-rich growth factors (the first ingredient on the list), as well as peptides, antioxidants, and any other good-for-your complexion ingredient you can think of.
Best for Crepey Skin: Crepe Erase Intensive Body Repair Treatment
While many products make big promises about their ability to improve the texture of your skin, Crepe Erase actually delivers. This body cream calls on the brand’s TruFirm+ complex (a blend of plant extract) to promote elastin production, helping your skin look firmer and supporting its ability “bounce back.” It also contains peptides to promote natural collagen production,4 plus olive oil and cocoa butter to repair, smooth, and quench thirsty skin.5 It comes in a delicious citrus scent, but if you’re not a fan of fragrance, there’s an unscented version too.
Best K-Beauty: Peach & Lily Peptide Pro Firming Moisturizer
If you’re a fan of Korean skincare, this one’s for you. This moisturizer from Peach & Lily leans on a blend of peptides,4 amino acids,6 and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, promote collagen production, strengthen, and improve your skin’s natural elasticity. The lightweight formula also goes on smooth, absorbs quickly, and plays well under makeup. The only potential drawback is that the tub-style container isn’t as hygienic as a tube or pump bottle, as you have to dip your fingers in every time you use the product.7
Best With Retinol: Pond’s Rejuveness Advanced Hydrating Night Cream Vitamin B3 + Retinol Complex
Looking for something with retinol? This drugstore night cream helps smooth wrinkles, supports collagen production, and improves elasticity to promote tighter skin from the neck up.8 Just a heads up, it contains mineral oil, which is deprived from petroleum and might break out some skin types, though many people tolerate it just fine.9
Final Verdict
If sagging skin has got you down (pun intended), a good skin tightening cream can help. We’re big fans of the Alastin Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex Technology, a derm favorite that relies on, among other things, a blend of peptides to stimulate collagen and elastin production. For firmer skin on your face, try the Fresh Black Tea Firming Corset Cream; for your body, reach for the (yummy-smelling) Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. (Yes, you can use it on spots besides your booty.) And if you’re a drugstore devotee, don’t miss the classic Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, which also offers a host of other youth-boosting benefits.
What to Look for in a Skin Tightening Cream
Antioxidants
Antioxidants like vitamins C, B3 (niacinamide), and vitamin E can help boost collagen production, a key factor when it comes to scoring firmer, tauter skin. Some of our favorite antioxidant-rich formulas include Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream.
Retinoids
The powerhouse skincare ingredient can do no wrong. Just as vitamin A’s collagen-enhancing benefits are great for warding off wrinkles, retinoids are also great for making skin firmer and less saggy. If you’re looking for something containing retinol, go with Pond’s Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream.
FAQ
Do skin tightening creams work?
Yes, while results may not always be the most dramatic, Dr. Russak says skin tightening creams do work. If you choose a formula that contains ingredients that boost and protect the three structural components of the dermis (collagen, elastin, and GAGs), you can help slow down and improve the appearance of sagging, drooping, and laxity. Be sure to opt for a cream that’s formulated for the specific area you’re trying to address—such as the face, neck, or arms—for best results.
Are skin tightening creams safe?
According to Dr. Russak, yes, skin tightening creams are safe. Since they’re often formulated with collagen- and elastin-boosting antioxidants and peptides, they’re great for improving the overall health of your skin while targeting sagging and loose skin. However, skin tightening creams that contain retinoids may be on the harsher side, so be sure to patch test first and ease yourself into daily use if need be.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
