If the skin on your upper arms, stomach, thighs—or, well anywhere else—has seen tighter days, there is hope in a jar. The best tightening body lotion can offer a firming, toning fix, whether used alone or in conjunction with in-office treatments. “These lotions are designed to provide smoother, tighter, and more youthful-looking skin over time,” Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, explains. Harnessing firming ingredients such as peptides, retinol, and caffeine, many of the best body-firming lotions also deliver benefits that transcend tightening. “These products tend to contain ingredients that support collagen production while hydrating the skin and improving its texture,” Engelman notes.
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Ready to uplift your entire body? Read on for a list of dermatologist-approved lotions that can transform sagging skin with a tighter, more supple look—and carry you through the winter with a weather-defying gleam.
Nécessaire The Body Lotion
- Why We Love It: With a cocktail of five peptides that lend a firming touch to the skin, Nécessaire’s vitamin-enriched lotion has won over even the most seasoned skincare pros. Dr. Brendan Camp, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York and Long Island, notes: “Formulated with peptides to encourage collagen production, niacinamide to soothe the skin, and oils rich in antioxidants like vitamins C and E, this fragrance-free body lotion moisturizes, firms, and strengthens the skin.” One of Vogue’s top picks for smooth, glowing skin, the moisturizer also has a stamp of approval from New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss. “It’s a very beautiful and elegantly formulated body lotion with niacinamide that gets absorbed without any residue and leaves your skin feeling soft for hours,” she previously shared.
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, marula oil, glycerin
- Size: 6.8 fl oz
Alastin TransFORM Body Treatment
- Why We Love It: An ideal companion to a body-sculpting treatment, Alastin’s cream harnesses TriHex technology to stimulate collagen and elastin production. The tech-forward salve is also powered by Lipodrone, a patented ingredient that gives the skin a firmer, more toned appearance, and it has a dash of dill extract to improve the skin’s texture. Dr. Sara Hogan, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, D.C., is a fan. “The proprietary TriHex Technology is a compound of peptides that encourages collagen production, as well as the removal of damaged collagen,” she explains. “The gel cream also contains several moisturizers like hyaluronic acid, triglycerides, squalene, and glycerin, and antioxidants like Vitamin C and caffeine.” She notes that the formulation is lightweight and quick to absorb. “The product is designed for use on its own, but also enhances the efficacy of body contouring procedures,” she adds.
- Key Ingredients: TriHex technology, Lipodrone, dill extract
- Size: 6.0 oz
Skinfix Barrier+ Lipid-Boost Body Cream
- Why We Love It: Looking for an animal-friendly antidote to sagging skin? “This is a fast-absorbing, vegan body cream that’s filled with moisturizing ingredients,” Camp says. Made with shea butter and sweet almond, grapeseed, and jojoba oils, the cream is intensely hydrating. “It also has ceramides to nourish and hydrate the skin,” Camp notes. Unlike other formulations on this list, this particular cream doesn’t contain ingredients said to firm the skin on their own—but Camp explains that it helps maintain the skin’s overall health, which is crucial to a firmed-up appearance. “The aforementioned ingredients, along with moisture-retaining colloidal oatmeal, help heal and restore the integrity of the skin barrier,” he says. “A healthy skin barrier is essential for skin that is hydrated, firm, and plump.”
- Key Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, ceramides, sweet almond oil
- Size: 10 fl oz
Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment
- Why We Love It: Enhanced with retinol, which can increase collagen production to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, this skin-smoothing treatment is a go-to for Dr. Camp. “In addition to retinol, it’s infused with antioxidants like vitamin C. Plus, it has moisturizing ingredients like primrose oil and grapeseed oil, which can improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and eliminate dryness,” he says. Dr. Margarita Lolis, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey, previously shared more of the treatment’s superpowers: “This helps the tone and texture of your skin,” she told Vogue. “It’s also very helpful for keratosis pilaris in thighs and on the back of the arms.”
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, shea butter, evening primrose oil, vitamins C and E
- Size: 4 fl oz
Shani Darden Body Reform Treatment Serum
- Why We Love It: Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and Newport Beach, is quick to point out that it’s rare for a topical treatment to deliver dramatically firming effects on the skin. (For that, she’d recommend in-office cosmetic treatments such as Sofwave, Fraxel, or radiofrequency microneedling.) However, “The lotions that may show some benefit are those with retinol or retinal,” she says, singling out Shani Darden’s formulation as a favorite. “It contains retinol to boost cell turnover and improve skin texture and quality,” she says. “Meanwhile, kojic acid brightens and reduces hyperpigmentation, while green tea provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, 2% Granactive retinoid, Hydronesis
- Size: 4 fl oz
Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion
- Why We Love It: Dr. Murphy-Rose is also fond of Naturium’s retinol-enriched cream. “This combines retinol with hyaluronic acid to plump and firm the skin,” she notes. “It also has squalane to support the skin’s protective lipid barrier.” The lotion contains an encapsulated form of retinol, which means that the ingredient is released slowly over time to avert the risk of irritation. As such, retinol rookies may consider starting with a gentler formulation like this one, which is also fragrance-free.
- Key Ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, allantoin, shea butter
- Size: 8 fl oz
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Body Cream
- Why We Love It: Charlotte Tilbury’s special Algaktiv Uplift technology is one of the secrets behind her cult-classic Magic Cream—a celebrity-approved moisturizer that smells like roses and makes the skin look just as dewy and fresh. The skin-lifting technology infuses the brand’s body lotion, which also contains firming caffeine and hyaluronic acid. The multitasking product, which slides on with a rich, silky feel, can also be used as a hand cream or a cellulite treatment. What’s more, it’s dermatologist-approved. Dr. Marissa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey and New York City, previously told Vogue: “This helps brighten the skin and leave it glowing.”
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine, Algaktiv Uplift
- Size: 6.7 oz
Revision Skincare BodiFirm Contouring Body Lotion
- Why We Love It: “BodiFirm contains a unique lineup of ingredients that address both superficial and deeper components of crepey skin,” Hogan says. “This includes a prebiotic that supports the skin microbiome, moisturizers like squalene and ceramides, multiple antioxidants—including both green tea and caffeine—and peptides to stimulate collagen production.” The cream is also infused with special iFirm technology, designed to firm, lift, and tone the skin. “The formulation is a bit thick and needs to be massaged into target areas,” Hogan warns, adding that patience pays off. “It should be applied consistently for a few months for visible improvement in the appearance of skin laxity,” she says. But keep the faith! Dr. Georgina Ferzli, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told Vogue: “This is one of the very few creams for body-tightening that actually works.”
- Key Ingredients: Peptide blend, caffeine, glucosamine
- Size: 3.8 oz
SkinMedica Firm & Tone Lotion
- Why We Love It: “This lotion is great,” says Dr. Dara Spearman, a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Wayne, Indiana. “It helps firm the skin and its ingredients include caffeine and botanical extracts which are great for those looking to enhance the overall appearance of the skin. If used consistently, it has been known to diminish the look of crepey skin.” Lolis has also seen positive results from the firming formulation and previously told Vogue: “[This lotion’s] technology targets five pathways involved in laxity and fat. It also has peptides and botanical extracts that help maintain natural levels of collagen and elastin.”
- Key Ingredients: Peptides, shitake mushroom, lemon balm, green microalgae
- Size: 6 fl oz
Nivea Skin Toning & Firming Body-Gel Cream
- Why We Love It: Need to firm up in a pinch? Look no further than the shelves of your local drugstore. “This Nivea lotion is not only budget-friendly but it is packed with key ingredients which are great for the skin,” says Spearman. The formulation contains L-carnitine, an amino acid that has antioxidant properties and can exfoliate dead skin cells. It’s further enriched with CoQ10, which supports collagen and elastin production and has anti-inflammatory lotus extract to boot. “It also has a very lightweight gel consistency, which helps hydrate and tone the skin,” Spearman adds.
- Key Ingredients: CoQ10, L-carnitine, lotus extract
- Size: 6.7 oz
Clarins Body Firming Cream
- Why We Love It: Firm up the French way with Clarins’s rich, melt-into-your-limbs cream. (To get that melting effect, rub it between your palms before applying it.) The formulation is steeped in plant-based ingredients that smooth the appearance of sagging skin. What’s more, “This lotion contains shea butter and centella, which are awesome to improve elasticity and nourish the skin,” Spearman says. Plus, organic aloe vera extract adds a hydrating, calming touch.
- Key Ingredients: Organic petasites extract, organic mitracarpus extract, shea butter, aloe vera extract
- Size: 6.6 oz
Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm
- Why We Love It: Inspired by the healing powers of the ocean, California-based Osea infuses its body products with Alaria seaweed. The brand’s signature ingredient improves skin’s elasticity and makes it feel firmer overall. In this tightening balm, the seaweed melds with a softening blend of passion fruit seed, coconut, acai, and babassu oils. These work together to give the skin a hydrated, Malibu-beach-style glow and a tighter look. Pro tip: Layer the balm under Osea’s rich Undaria Algae Body Butter, a Vogue-editor favorite for transforming dry, crepey skin.
- Key Ingredients: Seaweed, passion fruit seed oil, coconut oil, safflower seed oil
- Size: 5 oz
What are tightening body lotions?
According to Spearman, “Tightening body lotions are products for the skin designed to enhance the appearance of loose skin by boosting its hydration, firmness, and skin elasticity.” Some of the ingredients typically found in tightening body lotions include collagen, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and retinol—which bring added benefits to the mix. “These are all great ingredients for those who are looking for anti-aging properties in the product, or who are looking to improve uneven skin texture.”
Do tightening lotions really work?
Want the bad news first? “Meaningful tightening of skin is not achieved with topical products alone,” Hogan says. “That said, ingredients in certain products—including retinol, lactic acid, and peptides—have been demonstrated to improve the appearance of mild skin laxity, or ‘crepey’ skin, and they can also improve uneven skin texture.”
What to Look for in a Tightening Body Lotion
When it comes to tightening body lotions, dermatologists agree that ingredients are the most telling predictor of a product’s efficacy. “You want to look for hydrating ingredients that will plump the skin, like ceramides and hyaluronic acid,” Engelman instructs. “Peptides and retinol are also really important ingredients to boost elastin and collagen, which help improve texture and tone.” Caffeine, a vasoconstrictor, is also key. “When applied topically, it helps reduce redness and inflammation, brightens the skin, and promotes blood flow,” she notes.
Meet the Experts
- Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist in New York and Long Island.
- Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York City.
- Sara Hogan, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the George Washington University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and founder of Cosmedica Dermatology in Washington, D.C.
- Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and Newport Beach and the founder of Skincare Junkie.
- Dara Spearman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
