Our skin has many jobs — it protects us from external factors, helps regulate our body temperature and more. And over time, it’s natural for skin density and elasticity to decline depending on factors like gender, age, hormonal changes, ethnic background, lifestyle and weight.
With that said, the ultimate solution to reversing loose skin or dimpling isn’t one-size-fits-all. But there are some ways to give your skin some TLC to keep it in as close to tip-top shape as can be. One of them? Using a firming lotion.
“It can soften crepey skin, improve texture and tone of the skin, and decrease hyperpigmentation and photodamage,” says Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, founder and lead facial plastic surgeon of DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Boston and Palm Beach.
Along with DeRosa, Shop TODAY spoke with multiple dermatologists and skin care experts about what to look for in firming lotions. Based on their recommendations, we curated a list of the best lotions and creams to shop from buzzy brands like Palmer's, RoC, Clinique and more — starting at only $9.
Keep scrolling for a deep dive into must-have face and neck creams, including the best overall.
Best overall firming cream$undefined$15.19
Best hydrating cream$24.00$30.00
Best splurge firming lotion$undefined$220.00
But first, keep this in mind
Before you start your search, it’s important to note that results will vary from person to person. For example, someone with moderate skin aging may see more improvements than someone with a lot of loose skin after significant weight loss. Plus, different formulas are designed to target different skin types, areas and needs.
It’s also crucial to keep in mind that there are other good habits you should be practicing in addition to using firming creams — and that none of the products we recommend are a guaranteed solution.
“It’s important to remember prevention with sunscreen and healthy eating to maintain your skin’s optimum health,” says Dr. Kami Parsa, a Beverly Hills oculoplastic surgeon.
But back to the topic of the countless skin-tightening products out there. Before you get overwhelmed, take a deep breath: We’re here to help with expert and editor-favorite product recommendations.
Best firming creams
“I love this cream because, not only is it affordable, but it works. One of the main ingredients is coenzyme Q10, which acts as a strong antioxidant that helps to neutralize harmful free radicals that cause signs of aging,” says Elena Marotta, a skin care expert and the owner of BodyBrite Spa in Roslyn, New York.
“You will be pleasantly surprised at just how good it is at tightening skin and reducing the appearance of cellulite. I saw visible results within the first couple of weeks,” she adds.
A representative from Advanced Clinicals tells us that this product “uses a stable, proprietary form of retinol which enables us to use a very low percentage without causing irritation to the skin. It is ... designed for use on the entire body, so we use <0.1%. It is dermatologist-tested and clinically tested.”
Award-winning firming creams
After using various Palmer’s products for years, TODAY senior evening editor Sam Kubota couldn’t wait to try out this firming lotion. “I did try the product across my whole body and found that it was quite lovely — a little lighter than the traditional cocoa butter from Palmer’s but still had that great scent and kept my skin from getting ashy.
“I tried to use this lotion daily and put it on some stretch marks from recent weight loss and they definitely did seem a little less prominent.”
This tester-favorite is formulated with a combination of hard-hitting ingredients like retinol (for boosting elasticity) and ferulic acid (for targeting sun damage and sagging skin.
With those ingredients, it’s no wonder this body cream received and award during our Beauty Awards in 2024. Not to mention, our testers loved how the fragrance was light but noticeable enough to give you a little something.
"Living in a drier climate, I've tried so many moisturizers, from drugstore brands to some of the priciest ones on the market," says assistant managing editor, Amy Eley. "InnBeauty's cream is absolutely the best so far. It may be a bit pricier than what you'd get at your corner store but gives the glow and firmness you'd get from much more expensive options. I used it in the morning only to stretch the product out and it kept its effect on my skin the entire day. I noticed a huge difference when returning back to my more basic drugstore face moisturizer and am making this a staple in my daily routine."
This hydrating formula is also a Shop TODAY 2025 Beauty Awards winner for best firming moisturizer.
Best firming products for the face
“I wasn’t too hopeful that this would work, but I think it really does! I’ve only had it for a couple of weeks but I see a difference in that thin, saggy skin under my chin. It’s not as saggy and has actually firmed up,” shared one five-star RoC reviewer who identified herself as a “stressed mom and teacher.”
Plus, according to a brand study, 97% of users had a visibly tightened face and neck, and almost half of them reported visibly diminished neck lines, all after one week.
One of the many glowing reviews on Ulta’s website notes, “I have tried a zillion things under the sun, and nothing helps the lines on my neck — EXCEPT THIS! I use this in the morning after I wash my face and before I put on makeup, and again at night before I go to bed. I’m not even done with my first tube and have noticed a huge improvement. I don’t feel confined to turtlenecks anymore!”
Best neck and décolleté firming creams
One verified five-star reviewer on DRMTLGY’s site noted, “Only using this for a week, and I can already see a reduction in the wrinkles on my neck. The cream is hydrating and has a very nice silky finish. It is not greasy, so blending makeup down my neck is easy. It’s already in my cart for my next purchase!”
Based on the brand’s four-week clinical study of 50+ participants, 92% reported firmer neck skin, and 88% said horizontal neck lines were visibly improved.
What makes this product different? “It targets the environmental stresses such as pollution that help to deplete the skin elasticity,” Ross explains. He adds, “It is high in collagen-synthesizing ingredients such as l-glutamine and genistein.”
Best firming body lotions
I’ve been using this cream for months (along with the brand’s Quinoa Firming Oil) and truly can’t get enough of the warm fragrance and luxe texture that’s not too light or heavy.
The luxe, ultra-hydrating cream combines the energizing effects of caffeine with the lifting and the firming properties of ALGAKTIV™ UpLift, which is made up of plant-based polysaccharides that the brand says are clinically proven to help with anti-aging.
It’s also got both soothing and moisturizing ingredients that you’ll be familiar with, including glycerin, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, shea butter and rosehip oil. Having tried this product for ourselves, we can attest to how rich and instantly plumping the cream is on skin.
Best firming lotions for crepey skin
Combining nutrient-rich fatty acids, firming peptides and antioxidant-rich jojoba and botanicals, this vegan body moisturizer works to smooth your skin from head to toe.
Specially made to improve the appearance of crepey skin, this transformative body cream from StriVectin is loaded with proactive peptides and nutrient-rich extracts to visibly tighten and brighten your appearance. In fact, according to an eight-week clinical evaluation of the product, 94% showed an improvement in crepey skin, according to the brand’s website.
This one comes with a higher price tag, but it’s also highly recommended by Ross.
“This is a peptide- and caffeine-heavy formulation that helps to lift as well as work on the crepey texture of the skin. It also supports the skin’s microbiome, which will help prevent further loss of elasticity,” says Ross.
Best scented firming cream
Sure, it’s hard to resist Sol de Janeiro‘s delicious scents, but this bestselling body cream actually works! Guaraná extract gives your skin a caffeine boost and tightens its appearance over time, while cupuaçu butter’s essential fatty acids deliver plenty of hydration quickly. If that’s not enough to convince you of its effectiveness, just listen to the over 25,500 shoppers who gave it a near perfect five-star rating on the brand’s website.
One of them raved, “I’ve been using the Bum Bum Cream for a few months now, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. The scent lingers throughout the day, and I get compliments all the time. For the price it’s so worth it; do yourself a favor and buy it now!”
Best ultra-hydrating firming cream
The vitamins C and E, both antioxidants, support this deep hydration by helping make the skin more resilient against environmental dehydrators. In fact, the brand’s clinical study of more 110 women had more than 95% of them saying their skin felt more resilient and deeply hydrated, and that it looked visibly plump, after just one week.
Best firming night cream
Your skin won’t mind working overtime when it comes to this night cream from First Aid Beauty. A brand study showed that 90% of users reported softer, smoother and more supple skin after four weeks of use. This is thanks to powerful ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, which boosts skin’s natural moisture content and reduces fine lines, as well as niacinamide (which restores your skin’s natural tone, texture and bounce).
Best splurge firming cream
“This cream goes on silky smooth while firming up the skin and working to increase the production of healthy collagen,” DeRosa says.
She emphasizes its ingredients, including active peptides and dill extract (to helps boost elastin and collagen production and reduce the breakdown of existing collagen), linseed extract (to help visibly firm skin and reduce pigmentation) and key botanicals (to “support the production of hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans“).
How to find the right firming body lotion or cream
To start, look for a firming lotion that doesn’t just hydrate the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), but also works to improve the thickness and quality of the deeper layer of the skin (dermis).
Good-quality firming creams are typically slow-working, explains Parsa. These products usually “have active ingredients to increase collagen and elastin production while hydrating the skin. These include peptides, vitamin A derivatives such as retinols, vitamin C and niacinamide,” he adds.
There’s a reason we emphasize “slow working.” There’s another class of firming products that contain the ingredient sodium silicate. They’re designed to “work temporarily (few hours) and have zero long-term benefits,” Parsa explains, adding, “In fact, long-term use may be harmful to skin.”
It’s also important to start using a firming cream early to help maintain firmness and reverse the signs of aging as soon as possible. DeRosa adds, “No matter when you start using a firming cream, you can expect to see smoother, firmer skin that has better tone.”
According to DeRosa and Los Angeles-based celebrity aesthetician Joshua Ross of SkinLab, these are some of the key ingredients you should look for when shopping for a firming body lotion or other treatment:
- Peptides: These strengthen and create collagen.
- Retinol (and other vitamin A derivatives): Retinol is the gold standard ingredient that thickens the dermis and prevents thinning.
- Shiitake complex: These boost collagen synthesis and decrease its breakdown.
- Caffeine: This will increase blood flow and naturally tighten the skin.
- Acetyl tetrapeptide-2: This anti-aging bioactive peptide will support the production of new, healthy elastin.
- L-glutamine: This amino acid will help boost collagen synthesis.
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How we chose the best firming body lotions and creams
Shop TODAY enlisted the help of trusty skin care experts who shared their recommendations on products that work based on their experience. We took their advice on which key ingredients to look for in firming body lotions, creams and other products and researched ones that fit the bill. We also included positive reviews from customers who have used them.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on firming lotions and creams. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Arash Akhavan , is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of The Dermatology and Laser Group in New York. He specializes in non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures for the face, neck and body. He also tackles the detection and management of skin cancer and lesions.
- Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, MD, is a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and founder and lead facial plastic surgeon, of the DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Boston. She has several years of experience performing intricate facial surgeries and administering injectables.
- Elena Marotta is a skin care expert and the owner of BodyBrite Spa in Roslyn, New York.
- 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.
- Joshua Ross is a celebrity aesthetician and the founder of SkinLab. He specializes in non-invasive treatments to maintain healthy skin and manage the signs of anti-aging.
- Dr. Sejal K. Shah, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology in New York. She specializes in cosmetic dermatology and lasers, hair loss and ethnic skin.
- Our top picks
- Best firming creams
- Award-winning firming creams
- Best firming products for the face
- Best neck and décolleté firming creams
- Best firming body lotions
- Best firming lotions for crepey skin
- Best scented firming cream
- Best ultra-hydrating firming cream
- Best firming night cream
- Best splurge firming cream
- How to find the right firming body lotion or cream
- Frequently asked questions
- How do you add Shop TODAY as a Preferred Source on Google?
- How we chose the best firming body lotions and creams
- Meet the experts