While sagging skin is a normal part of the aging process, it’s understandable to want to treat it or slow it down. Using a skin tightening product is a convenient, easy and more cost-effective alternative to getting injectables or receiving other in-office treatments. A good one can be helpful with increasing elasticity, brightening, hydrating and more. The best skin tightening creams (like our top pick the Dr. Dennis Gross Intense Wrinkle Cream) contain ingredients to help stimulate the growth of collagen while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
According to dermatologists and plastic surgeons, sagging can happen due to a loss of collagen, elastin, fat, bone and muscle. To help tackle this, there are a variety of active ingredients that experts recommend like retinol, which can be incredibly effective at fighting signs of aging in your skin. “Retinol is an important ingredient that stimulates collagen, increases cell turnover, reduces fine lines, smooths wrinkles and improves skin tone and texture,” says dermatologist Dr. Ashley Magovern. Below, find more of the best skin-tightening creams that are worth adding to your skincare routine. (For a more targeted treatment, try one of our favorite neck-firming creams.)
Best Skin Tightening Cream Overall: Dr. Dennis Gross Intense Wrinkle Cream
Best Luxury Skin Tightening Cream: RéVive Perfectif Night Even Skin Tone Cream
Best Lightweight Skin Tightening Cream: Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection
Best Neck Tightening Cream: Neostrata Triple Firming Neck Cream
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Hydration: Tata Harper Water-Lock Moisturizer
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Plumping Skin: Doctor Babor Lifting Rx Collagen Cream
Best Skin Tightening Body Cream: Sol De Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Dry Skin: Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Face And Neck: Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Smoothing: Farmacy 10% Niacinamide Night Face Mask
Best Skin Tightening Cream Overall
A Do-It-All Product For Every Skin Type
Dr. Dennis Gross Intense Wrinkle Cream
Key ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol, ferulic acid, rambutan, evening primrose oil, almond oil | Skin type: Dry, combo, sensitive, dull | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 2.0 ounces
Dermatologist Dr. Nazanin Saedi says that retinol is her go-to ingredient when it comes to tightening skin. “It can help improve the appearance of elasticity, texture, pigmentation and wrinkles,” she says, adding that if you’re new to retinol, your skin may be sensitive for the first couple of weeks until you build up a tolerance. This moisturizer includes retinol along with bakuchiol, a natural retinol alternative that dermatologists love for its soothing feel and similar benefits. It also contains ferulic acid, an ingredient that Magovern is a big fan of. “Ferulic improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while restoring firmness and brightening the skin,” she says. Besides getting the benefits of powerful actives, users say they love the experience of spreading this thick, indulgent cream onto their skin.
Best Luxury Skin Tightening Cream
An Indulgent Option With Long-Term Benefits
RéVive Perfectif Night Even Skin Tone Cream
Key ingredients: Micro-encapsulated retinol, peptides, vitamin c, shea butter, ceramides, green tea | Skin type: Dry, combo, sensitive, dull | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 1.7 ounces
Though pricey, Révive’s expertly crafted Perfectif Night Even Skin Tone Cream features one of the most impressive ingredient lists you can find in a moisturizer—and is still less expensive than an in-office treatment. Between the instant brightening effect it gives thanks to the light pink tint and the powerhouse ingredients that benefit the skin over time, it’s one of my favorite products.
While we all know and love retinol as an expert-recommended ingredient for tightening skin, Révive uses a micro-encapsulated retinol that is embedded in its own carrier system, meaning its integrity is protected and it’s less irritating. The formula also includes vitamin C, green tea and ceramides—another ingredient Magovern loves for repairing the skin.
Best Lightweight Skin Tightening Cream
A Strengthening Solution For Oily Or Sensitive Skin
Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection
Key ingredients:Peptides, gamma proteins, squalane, hyaluronic acid|Skin type:Combo, oily, sensitive |Cruelty-free:No |Size:1.7 ounces
Made with a light and airy whipped texture, Peter Thomas Roth’s Peptide Skinjection Moisture Infusion Cream is packed with hydrating, plumping ingredients that won’t leave skin feeling greasy. The star ingredients, though, are the blend of 21 peptides and neuropeptides, which have been dubbed “nature’s Botox” by experts. Magovern and Saedi both advocate for peptides as they stimulate collagen and elastin production. The airy texture makes this a great option for oily, combo or sensitive skin types, too. It provides all the plumping benefits while delivering light, weightless hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid and squalane.
Best Neck Tightening Cream
A Luxe Pick That's Great For Delicate Skin
Neostrata Triple Firming Neck Cream
Key ingredients: Amino acids, shea butter, vitamin E | Skin type: Mature, dry, oily, combination | Cruelty-free: No | Size: 2.8 ounces
The skin on the neck can be one of the first places to show signs of aging because of how thin it is, so a special cream can be helpful for that area. “Designed specifically for the neck, I love that this product is enriched with pro-amino acids that work to firm the appearance of sagging skin,” says Magovern. While amino acids help repair damaged skin, the anti-inflammatory shea butter in the formula adds to its indulgent feel. Yes, it’s pricey, but a little bit goes a long way, and the potent ingredients help reverse visible signs of skin damage.
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Hydration
A Versatile Product With Hyaluronic Acid And Peptides
Tata Harper Water-Lock Moisturizer
Key ingredients: Macro hyaluronic acid, orange blossom peptides, pomegranate | Skin type: Dry, combination, oily | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 1.7 ounces
Chances are that if you know anything about skincare, you’re familiar with hyaluronic acid and its hydration benefits. The popular Water-Lock Moisturizer leverages macro hyaluronic acid, an ingredient designed to retain 1,000 times its weight in water to hydrate and smooth the skin’s surface. Other key ingredients include pomegranate spheres, orange blossom peptides and shea butter ethyl esters (derived from shea butter). I have dry skin and appreciate the non-greasy texture, lightweight hydration and how well it applies under makeup. It’s a great moisturizer to wear during the day.
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Plumping Skin
A Splurge-Worthy Formula Packed With All-Star Ingredients
Doctor Babor Lifting Rx Collagen Cream
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalene, marine collagen, tripeptide complex | Skin type: Dry, combination| Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 1.6 ounces
Doctor Babor’s Lifting Rx Collagen Cream is packed with powerful ingredients that work together to tighten the skin and give it a plump, dewy glow. “It helps with increasing tissue firmness, reducing the deep wrinkles and also strengthening the skin’s protective barrier,” says Saedi. Plus, Magovern cites its hyaluronic acid as an ingredient that produces longer-lasting results. “It draws moisture to the top layer of the skin to visibly plump, and it reduces the appearance of fine lines,” she says. Collagen and tripeptides also strengthen the skin, so trust that with this cream the results get better the more you use it.
Best Skin Tightening Body Cream
An Everyday Lotion With A Bright, Refreshing Scent
Sol De Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream
Key ingredients: Cacay oil, vegan collagen, plant squalane | Skin type: Dry, combination, dull, textured | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 8 ounces
Sol de Janeiro’s Beija Flor Elasti-Cream has a thick, smooth texture, providing intense hydration throughout the day. The formula includes cacay oil, a natural vegan ingredient with benefits similar to retinol. When used consistently, it can boost elasticity as well as hydrate and plump skin. Users say this has a strong scent, so you might want to purchase the mini size first to make sure the scent isn’t too overpowering.
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Dry Skin
A Luxurious Formula That Provides A Natural Glow
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, red algae, squalane, japanese purple rice | Skin type: Dry, combination, sensitive| Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 1.7 ounces
There’s a reason this cream has achieved icon status. Tatcha uses a special type of hyaluronic acid that has a low molecular weight, meaning it penetrates the skin more deeply. Another ingredient that makes this lilac-hued, velvety smooth cream particularly unique is its inclusion of Japanese purple rice. An ode to the founder’s east asian roots, the ingredient is rich in antioxidants that help protect skin from free radical damage and pollution. Users love the dewy effect it leaves behind, and say it works well under makeup—I even wear it on no-makeup days for a natural, glowy look.
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Face And Neck
A Multitasking Product That Works Day Or Night
Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream
Key ingredients: Vitamin A, chaga mushroom, fragmented hyaluronic acid | Skin type: Dry, combination, oily, sensitive, dull | Cruelty-free: No | Size: 1.7 ounces
Designed to be applied on both the face and neck, this cream smooths wrinkles, evens skin tone and blurs lines using a potent blend of active and natural ingredients. In particular, the brand uses phytomimetic vitamin A, a naturally derived botanical, which has an array of benefits including the ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. (It can also decrease hyperpigmentation and smooth texture by boosting skin cell turnover.) Plus, the formula is free of sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde and other potentially harmful ingredients, and comes in recyclable packaging.
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Smoothing
A Refreshing Overnight Mask For Fast Results
Farmacy 10% Niacinamide Night Face Mask
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, panthenol, upcycled blueberry seed oil | Skin type: Combination, oily, textured, acne-prone | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 1.7 ounces
Another personal favorite of mine is Farmacy’s Niacinamide Night Face Mask. Similar to other overnight face masks, it’s a more intensive treatment so you’ll likely see faster results. The hero ingredient in this cream is niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, which brightens, smooths, refines texture and helps regulate oil production. The light, gel-like texture feels refreshing on the skin and even has antibacterial aloe in the formula—making this a great pick for acne-prone individuals.
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Sensitive Skin
A Nourishing, Ayurveda-Inspired Formula
Ranavat Renewing Bakuchi Crème
Key ingredients: Bakuchi seed, lotus seed, triphala| Skin type: Normal, dry, combination, sensitive, dull | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 1.7 ounces
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Ariel Ostad is a huge fan of bakuchiol, and Ranavat’s luxe cream puts it front and center. “Skincare that has bakuchiol is a great starting point for skin tightening,” he says. “It behaves and targets the same receptors that retinol does, but does not have the side effect of inflammation and redness.”
This formula also contains lotus flower and adaptogenic ashwagandha, which work to leave skin—even more sensitive types—hydrated, soft and smooth. In the long term, it works to protect and strengthen the skin barrier for enhanced elasticity and that plumped, dewy look we all want.
Best Skin Tightening Cream For Oily Skin
An Exfoliating And Skin-Strengthening Night Cream
Typology L66 Exfoliating Night Cream
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, mandelic acid, pink grapefruit extract, lavender essential oil | Skin type: Oily, acne-prone | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 1.7 ounces
French brand Typology has it nailed when it comes to no-nonsense products that address specific concerns. The brand’s exfoliating night cream features one of Magovern’s favorite ingredients for tightening the skin: alpha hydroxy acids in the form of glycolic and mandelic acid. Ostad also calls out glycolic acid for its ability to help smooth skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Also good to know: This particular moisturizer works well for oily or acne-prone skin thanks to its lightweight gel-to-water texture and purifying lavender essential oil.
Best Skin Tightening Cream With SPF
A Lightweight Treatment That Includes Sun Protection
Supergoop Daily Dose
Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, l-carnosine, english oak bark extract | Skin type: Normal, dry, combination, oily, sensitive | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 1.0 ounces
While most skin-tightening treatments contain ingredients like acids or retinol that you’ll want to save for nighttime as they can increase sensitivity to the sun, this product can treat and protect thanks to the inclusion of mineral SPF. Similar to other options we highlighted, the formula contains collagen-boosting peptides and bakuchiol to smooth lines and wrinkles. It’s a great supplement to other treatments you plan on using at night—or moisturizers you might want to layer underneath this one. Plus, the lightweight, water-like formula comes in an easy dropper format and has a light beige tint that melts into the skin. I’m a big fan of this product, and it’s one of the few mineral sunscreens that won’t leave a white cast on my medium-toned skin.
Best Skin Tightening Treatment
A Targeted Treatment That Smooths Lines
Love, Indus Dual-Purpose Line Limiter
Key ingredients: Kokum, hibiscus extract, lotus flower extract, senna, mustard, mulberry, vegan collagen | Skin type: All | Cruelty-free: Yes | Size: 0.5 ounces
This is a targeted treatment for specific areas of the face and helps to prevents deeper lines; I use this overnight on my forehead lines and wake up to smoother and brighter skin. Rooted in ancient Indian wellness rituals, the brand incorporates ingredients like lotus flower extract, senna (a natural alternative to hyaluronic acid) and vegan collagen into its formula to enhance skin’s elasticity. To use, smooth the cooling metal tip onto areas of the skin—even the lips—where you want a blurring and smoothing effect.
MORE FROMFORBES VETTED
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written dozens of skincare stories. Neha Tandon, the author of this piece, is a regular contributor with over six years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle topics. As someone who has personally dealt with sagging skin and loss of collagen, she has tested many of these products firsthand to gain real-world insights. This story was edited by deputy editor Jane Sung, who has overseen beauty and grooming stories including the best neck-firming creams to the top sunscreens. In addition, Tandon gathered key insight and guidance from four industry professionals: cosmetic surgeon Dr. Ariel Ostad; plastic surgeon Dr. Usha Rajagopal; dermatologist Dr. Ashley Magovern; and dermatologist Dr. Nazanin Saedi.
How We Chose The Best Skin Tightening Creams
To select the best skin tightening creams, we took into account the active ingredients of top products, especially potent actives like retinol and bakuchiol that effectively work to plump, moisturize and smooth skin with minimal risk for irritation. Our final list is inclusive of different skin types and concerns, and features a range of price points for accessibility. Additionally, our experts chimed in with recommendations based on their own experiences, while customer reviews were examined for standout product traits and real-world insights.
What To Consider In A Skin Tightening Cream
There are plenty of options featuring varying ingredients, so choosing the right one can seem challenging. Here’s what to consider when choosing the right skin tightening cream for you.
Ingredients
Skin tightening creams aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution because there are a variety of concerns that may fall under the umbrella of tightening, from wrinkles, texture and fine lines to loss of collagen. To smooth out wrinkles and fine lines, you’ll want to look for retinol—or bakuchiol if you have sensitive skin. Peptide-rich formulas and niacinamide are helpful for those looking to strengthen their skin barrier, and alpha hydroxy acid can help those with texture issues. Vitamin C is known for its brightening benefits, but our experts also love it for its collagen-producing properties. For long-term results, however, the key is hydration. Look for hyaluronic acid and glycerin to draw moisture to the top layer of the skin, plump the complexion and reduce the appearance of fine lines over time.
Target Areas
The face, neck and body have distinct needs, simply because the skin in each place is different. The skin on the neck is ultra thin and fragile, thereby requiring something lightweight, whereas the skin on our bodies is thicker and requires a more nourishing formulation to deliver hydration to deeper levels of the skin. The face stands in the middle and can tolerate a range depending on your skin type.
Skin Type
Knowing your skin type is important before purchasing a skin tightening cream, as most of the products on this list tend to be pricier than the average moisturizer. While retinol tends to be the holy grail ingredient recommended by all experts, several recommend bakuchiol if you are prone to inflammation or redness. While those with oily or blemish-prone skin types may fear a moisturizer that prioritizes hydration, look for an option with alpha hydroxy acid to clarify pores while tightening them. Those who are prone to hyperpigmentation should choose a cream with vitamin C for a do-it-all solution.