As we age, collagen becomes one of the most important protein supports in any anti‑aging routine. Topical collagen has become a staple in skin care thanks to its reputation for reviving dull skin, reducing the look of fine lines and helping slow visible signs of aging. If you’ve been wondering why collagen creams and serums are so popular, it’s because many users notice firmer, smoother and more youthful‑looking skin over time.
Shop TODAY tapped leading dermatologists to explain how collagen benefits your skin and to recommend a few products that really deliver. Scroll on for everything you need to know about collagen, plus our top picks selected by editors over 35.
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What is collagen?
“Collagen is the main molecule in the skin that provides structure and support. Think of it like the frame of your mattress,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s department of dermatology.
“After the age of 30, collagen production starts to decline. This contributes to the fine lines and wrinkles, crepey appearance and prominent pores that occur with age,” he adds.
Put simply, collagen is a protein that helps lift, tighten and plump up skin, and over time, age and sun damage can break down the natural collagen in your skin.
How to choose the best collagen creams
If you are feeling overwhelmed searching for collagen creams, don’t fret. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban, MD says to consider the ingredients and your skin’s natural circadian rhythm when deciding which creams to choose. “Look for creams with collagen-boosting ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid and retinoids,” she explains.
Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, who is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology, agrees that paying close attention to the list of ingredients when searching for a collagen cream is key. “Ask yourself if you are looking for a product to act primarily as a moisturizer or if you are looking for something that offers additional benefits,” he says.
“Some products include hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, lipids like ceramide that maintain the health of the skin barrier, gentle exfoliants like lactic acid, vitamins and minerals like niacinamide, and sunscreen,” Camp explains.
In addition to ingredients, Shamban also recommends aligning your skin care routine with your biological sleep cycle. “Nighttime is when your skin repairs itself most efficiently, so opt for collagen creams with ingredients designed for overnight use,” Shamban says. “These products support your skin’s natural repair processes, helping you achieve the best results,” she explains.
Best collagen creams, according to dermatologists
Over 18,500 Amazon shoppers have given this bestseller a verified five-star rating, and the paraben-free formula is made with plenty of natural ingredients that help lend skin a gorgeous glow. While the elastin and collagen in the ingredient list will be familiar to many skin care aficionados, fatty acid-packed safflower oil plays an important role, as well.
“This moisturizer hydrates and softens rough skin cells with collagen and elastin proteins. Safflower seed oil also provides emollient benefits, coating and protecting the outer skin layer,” Zeichner says.
Boston-based dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch suggests giving this reasonably priced moisturizer a try, and it’s easy to see why. The lightweight day and nighttime cream offers complexions a healthy dose of hydration, plumps up skin and helps fill in lines and wrinkles.
One reviewer reported, “It helps smooth your skin and is a great pre-makeup base during the day and a nice textured night cream at night.” Not too shabby for around $10, right?
At just under $10 at Walmart and Target, this is one budget beauty find that rivals the more expensive competition with its powerful ingredients.
“The anti-wrinkle cream delivers skin-strengthening hydroxy acids to brighten and firm the skin along with collagen to help plump and hydrate,” Zeichner says. Bonus: Its formula also includes vitamin E, an antioxidant experts say helps protect your skin’s collagen and fortify its barrier.
Searching for the fountain of youth? This serum is about as close as you’ll get to it. The powerhouse product starts reducing wrinkles in 28 days and helps renew skin cells by giving you a smooth, lifted complexion. “It contains collagen peptides, along with niacinamide (vitamin B3),” Jaliman says.
Hirsch suggests trying this affordable collagen moisturizer that also contains other beneficial ingredients like vitamin C and green tea. The peptides in the product tackle fine lines and wrinkles, while several antioxidants protect your natural collagen and hydrate skin.
Plump skin is youthful skin, and Olay Regenerist’s collagen peptide cream moisturizer works overtime to hydrate, smooth and firm your complexion, tackling fine lines and wrinkles along the way.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Lupo gives it her seal of approval and notes that pentapeptide, the main ingredient, is pretty transformative and pairs well with another rock star ingredient, vitamin B3+ in the form of pore-minimizing niacinamide.
If you’re dealing with dryness, loss of elasticity or fine lines and wrinkles, this moisturizer is ready to come to the rescue. It works equally well for normal, dry and combination skin and is cruelty-free and gluten-free.
“This cream helps to hydrate and firm your skin and is good for aging skin. It also contains niacinamide, a potent antioxidant that helps with skin texture and improves the appearance of enlarged pores and dullness,” says Dr. Debra Jaliman, a New York City-based dermatologist and author of the book “Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist.”
Dr. Sejal K. Shah of SmarterSkin Dermatology recommends this protein-packed, hydrating cream for anyone whose anti-aging routine could use a boost of moisture.
“It contains a complex of peptides to moisturize and plump the skin. It also has Pygmy Waterlily extract, which is a source of antioxidants and nutrients, so it can help combat free radical damage and boost collagen synthesis,” she tells us.
Editor-loved collagen creams
Vice president of Shop TODAY commerce, Jen Birkhofer, likes this alternative to heavy creams thanks to its travel-friendly packaging. This silky, glow‑boosting stick is especially great for dry skin. Shoppers rave that with regular use, the nourishing formula leaves their complexion feeling noticeably softer and more supple.
Editor Julie Ricevuto opts for this cream for its rich combination of hydrating ingredients. "It gives me that glass-skin look and my skin feels firmer, plumper and even a little bouncier after use." The formula is known to perform well on people with sensitive and dry skin, thanks to the mixture of hyaluronic acid and peptide.
This viral moisturizer contains hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, red algae and squalane to help provide a plumping effect and intense moisture, says the brand. One editor confirms it’s helped renew her overly dry skin.
“I recently received this moisturizer in a press kit from Sephora and it has been a lifesaver during these dry months. I mainly use it at night, and I noticed more hydration almost immediately —since using this cream, my skin has stopped flaking,” associate editor Shannon Garlin told Shop TODAY.
Sometimes, skin care products are just so good that they’re worth the splurge. This one has won the seal of approval of nearly 2,000 Ulta shoppers and is described as a lightweight, hydrating anti-wrinkle gel cream.
It’s known for minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and can also help firm up your complexion. Editorial director Adrianna Brach uses this one and says, "The gel texture is so luxurious and I can layer it with my serum."
While this product is on the splurge side, former commerce editor Rebecca Brown says it’s “so thick and creamy” and that the small bottle “lasts forever.”
“Unlike most creams I’ve tried, this one requires so little product. Once my face is clean, I’ll spray a toner to add a bit of moisture. Then I take maybe a dime-sized amount, warm it up in my fingers, and dot it around my eyes and marionette lines,” says Brown.
According to the brand, the collagen cream contains bakuchiol oil to help reduce fine lines and antioxidants to help brighten skin and reduce inflammation.
Sitting in my [Espinal]current beauty cabinet is this restorative formula made with stem‑cell conditioned media (SCCM) to help support faster skin repair. As someone with chronically dry skin, I’m always chasing hydration and this cream might finally be the answer my thirsty skin barrier has been looking for.
Collagen creams vs. collagen-boosting serums
The collagen your body naturally produces starts to decline as early as your 20s, so incorporating a product into your routine that provides similar benefits to collagen isn’t a bad idea, especially when you turn 30, according to Dr. Sandy Skotnicki of Bay Dermatology Centre.
Dr. Robert Anolik, a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, says creams with collagen (the most common form of “collagen creams”) are one such type of product. “Collagen creams do provide moisture, so enhancements in skin moisture and consequent smoother skin can result from collagen cream use,” he says.
But it’s important to differentiate between creams that simply contain collagen (which boast those wonderful plumping, line-smoothing benefits) versus collagen-boosting serums that contain active ingredients proven to stimulate your body’s production of collagen.
Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, a leading NYC board-certified dermatologist, explains ingredients like peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, amino acids and plant-derived or bio-engineered collagen “are essentially smaller protein fragments that can penetrate the skin barrier and tell the body to produce more collagen.”
Dr. Kami Parsa, a Beverly Hills oculoplastic surgeon, also told us in our previous reporting that these stimulating actives include amino acids like peptides and L-glutamine, as well as shiitake complex, which can also slow collagen’s breakdown.
He added, “It’s important to remember prevention with sunscreen and healthy eating to maintain your skin’s optimum health. None of these creams can replace a facelift or laser procedure.”
How we chose
We spoke with various board-certified dermatologists and an oculoplastic surgeon to learn about the ingredients of collagen creams as well as collagen-boosting creams. We included many of their recommendations across categories, including firming creams, serums, vegan options and more, along with highly-rated collagen creams with positive shopper reviews.
Meet our experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on products such as collagen creams. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Robert Anolik, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
- Dr. Ranella Hirsch, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Boston. Her specialties include laser surgery and cosmetic dermatology, often lecturing physicians on those topics.
- Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD, is a board-certified NYC dermatologist and author of “Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist.”
- Dr. Mary P. Lupo, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine. She practices in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Dr. Kami Parsa, MD, is a Beverly Hills oculoplastic surgeon. He specializes in both surgical and non-surgical procedures that address skin concerns around the eyes, including droopy eyelids and under-eye bags.
- Dr. Ava Shamban, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Althaea Skin, Ava MD Dermatology and SKIN FIVE.
- Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology, treating his patients for skin conditions like acne and skin cancer as well as cosmetic concerns with Botox and lasers.
- Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, is a leading NYC board-certified dermatologist, specializing in adult and pediatric general dermatology and cosmetic dermatology, including neurotoxins, fillers, chemical peels, and lasers.
- Dr. Sejal K. Shah, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at New York City’s SmarterSkin Dermatology. Her focus is on cosmetic dermatology and lasers, hair loss and ethnic skin.
- Dr. Sandy Skotnicki, MD, FRCPC, is a board-certified dermatologist and the medical director of Bay Dermatology Centre. She’s also the author of “Beyond Soap: The Real Truth About What You Are Doing to Your Skin and How to Fix It for a Beautiful, Healthy Glow.”
- Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist. He is Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
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