13 Best Collagen Creams for Firmer Skin (Tested & Reviewed 2023)

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PSA: Collagen isn't doing what you think it is.

The idea of collagen creams seems magical. Like, we know that in your body, collagen is a protein that's responsible for firming and tightening your skin—so the more topical collagen, the merrier, right? Not exactly. Unfortunately, the molecules in topical collagen are too big to penetrate the skin's surface, so the collagen ends up sitting on top and just moisturizing your skin, says board-certified dermatologist Kristina Collins, MD—which, hey, isn't a bad thing! But if you actually want to encourage collagen production in your skin, you’ll want to look for a cream filled with tried-and-true collagen boosters too, like retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide, peptides, and AHAs.

Why? Because some formulas use ingredients that actually build collagen to subtly smooth wrinkles (like the ingredients above), while others use topical collagen and hydrating ingredients (hyaluronic acid and glycerin) to temporarily plump your skin. Both are great options, but undeniably different. So to figure out which formula is best for you, I chatted with Collins, as well as board-certified dermatologists Michelle Henry, MD, and Karan Lal, MD, on the best tested-and-reviewed collagen creams of 2023, ahead:

Keep scrolling for the full list of the best collagen creams below, personalized based on skin type, ingredients, and more—along with answers from the experts on how to choose the collagen cream for you and more.

This collagen cream was one of the first formulasI bought (I love drugstore skincare), and it still holds up as one of my faves. Why? Because it's loaded with brightening niacinamide (a collagen booster) and firming peptides ("the building blocks of collagen," says board-certified dermatologist Karan Lal, MD, puts it) that help trigger extra collagen and elastin production with use.

THE REVIEWS: "It took about two weeks of consistent use to see a difference, but my skin and fine lines are noticeably improved!" writes one tester.

Is this the priciest face cream I’ve ever bought? Yup! Do I regret it? Honestly, no—it's filled with so many collagen-boosting ingredients that have left my skin smooth as buttah that I seriously think it's worth it. The cream feels super rich—without feeling greasy—and is formulated with five types of hyaluronic acid that work both immediately and throughout the day to hydrate and plump the surface of your skin. And on top of its ~major~ hydration benefits, it's also packed with firming peptides, exfoliating glycolic acid, and brightening vitamin C, all of which are known to encourage collagen production the more frequently you use it.

THE REVIEWS: "I was skeptical about this due to the price but it actually worth it, a tester writes. "It made a huge difference in the fine lines around my skin and my skin feels more hydrated, plumper, and softer."

FYI: Vitamin C isn't just a superhero at evening out your skin tone (bye, hyperpigmentation) and protecting against cell damage (see: chaos-causing free radicals)—it's also great at repairing and rebuilding collagen in your skin. Which is why I love this cream from DHC, which uses a mix of brightening and collagen-boosting vitamin C, along with firming peptides and moisturizing plant oils. And despite its rich formula, testers swear that it felt lightweight and non-greasy on their skin, and even wore well under their makeup.

THE REVIEWS: "This is the perfect cream for your skin," writes a reviewer. "It has helped my chest lines smooth out and disappear. Sinks into your skin quickly and works amazingly. I will continue to purchase."

Most topical collagen is made with animal proteins (like those from fish), which isn't ideal if you adhere to a vegan skincare routine. So if plant-based is more your speed, try this Pacifica collagen cream, which uses a vegan, synthetic topical collagen to hydrate your skin, along with vitamin E to soothe, and vitamin C to brighten and boost collagen.

THE REVIEWS: "I started using this product to keep my skin ultra moisturized when using prescription retinol at night," writes one prouct tester. "My face always feels hydrated and looks plump in the morning. I have since tried two other more expensive products, and this Pacifica product produces better results at a much more affordable price."

Try this all-natural body cream from Juice Beauty to smooth fine lines and bumpy texture with brightening and exfoliating malic acid (from apples), along with firming and collagen-boosting peptides. Its rich consistency feels like a treatment for your whole body—ty, shea butter and sunflower seed oil—leaving you with softer, plumper skin over time.

THE REVIEWS: "Amazing body lotion!" one reviewer writes. "I purchased this product thinking it'd be a one time thing. I'm on my third bottle! I mostly apply it on my arms, decollete, and chest. My skin feels firm, soft, and smooth. Love it!"

If you have sensitive skin and want some gentle firming and smoothing, meet this rich cream from First Aid Beauty, which has all the essentials to soothe potentially irritated skin: niacinamide, colloidal oatmeal, and allantoin (a skin-softening ingredient found in the comfrey plant). It's also spiked with moisturizing collagen to temporarily plump up your skin, along with firming peptides to encourage collagen production over time.

THE REVIEWS: "I started using this, and I already love this brand for being sensitive-skin friendly, but they are super effective," writes a tester. "The cream firms while repairing and deeply hydrating your skin. Waking up after a thick p.m. application will have you looking brand new."

The star ingredient in this drugstore face cream is glycolic acid, a chemical exfoliant that not only smooths bumpy texture but also stimulates collagen production. Massage it on twice a day and its acid- and peptide-based formula will help encourage firmer skin and softer fine lines over time. And if you’re used to AHAs causing dryness, don't worry—you’ll get a mix of moisturizing shea butter and emollients to help offset some irritation and leave your skin with a dewy glow.

THE REVIEWS: "This cream is nothing short of a miracle," writes one reviewer. "My face and neck is firmer, my skin clarity is phenomenal—this will forever be incorporated in my daily skin regimen."

The key to getting firmer skin, according to dermatologist Karan Lal, MD, is a collagen cream like this one from Drunk Elephant. The lightweight gel-cream moisturizer uses nine peptides (!) that tell your fibroblasts (i.e., skin cells that make collagen) to go into overdrive and produce more collagen and elastin, says Dr. Lal. Which means slathering on this cream every night for at least six weeks can potentially lead to tighter, healthier-looking skin.

THE REVIEWS: "I have been using this product for years, and I want to emphasize how effective it is for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles," writes a reviewer. "It seems to plump the lines around the mouth and smooth lines on the forehead as well. Everything I would want in a moisturizer and more! 10/10."

This hydrating cream is a collagen-making machine, all thanks to the formula's added retinol. FYI: Retinoids increase cell turnover and speed up collagen production, which, in turn, subtly plumps fine lines and wrinkles over time. Just note that although this cream contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and vitamin E to soothe, it can still lead to some dryness and sensitivity at first. So make sure to start slowly by layering it over a hydrating serum or moisturizer one night a week for one week, two nights a week for two weeks, then three nights a week indefinitely.

THE REVIEWS: "So hydrating and soothing!" reads one tester's review. "Bonus: Bright, plump, smooth, young, fresh skin! I will NEVER use anything else. EVER! Never sticky. It absorbs quickly, irons out fine lines and wrinkles, and destroys the ones that try to creep up on you."

Lots of collagen creams are filled with rich moisturizers, which is great for dry skin, but can feel greasy and heavy on oily skin. Enter: Eadem's lightweight cream that combines collagen-boosting niacinamide and peptides with barrier-repairing ceramides to plump up your skin without leaving an oily residue. It also mixes in some squalane, a lightweight moisturizer naturally found in our skin, to give your face a little hydration (bc even oily skin needs it).

THE REVIEWS: "It's been a rebuy for me three times in a row," writes one tester. "It's thick without being heavy on my skin and has not—personally—caused any breakouts or irritation."

Not to get too science-y, but this silky-smooth moisturizer contains two really smart peptides, Argireline and palmitoyl, both of which encourage your existing collagen to work harder while promoting new collagen and elastin production for firmer, smoother skin. And, thanks to its added vitamin E, plant-derived collagen, and macadamia seed oil, it'll also majorly moisturize your skin without feeling too heavy.

THE REVIEWS: "This moisturizer is fantastic!" writes one reviewer. "As I'm getting older, I've started noticing more fine lines and dryness. This moisturizer is so hydrating. After applying my skin instantly looks softer, smoother and more vibrant."

This drugstore collagen cream is packed with moisturizers, like shea butter, vitamin E, and sodium chondroitin sulfate (a close relative to gold-star hyaluronic acid). Peep just some of the 45,000 positive reviews on Amazon who swear by this L'Oreal staple for softening their flaky, patchy, ultra-dry skin.

THE REVIEWS: "I bought a small jar to try, and I am now obsessed!!" writes one reviewer. "Made the wrinkle in between my eyes practically disappear. This cream is very moisturizing, and I am loving the results so far."

You asked, and Rihanna listened, creating a moisturizer-SPF hybrid filled with collagen-boosting niacinamide and plumping hyaluronic acid to potentially reduce fine lines with continued use. It's completely invisible on all skin tones, says testers, so feel free to smooth it on as the last step of your skincare routine without worrying if you’ll have a white cast all over your face.

THE REVIEWS: "I have been using the Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer for a year and a half and I love it!" writes a user. "My skin stays soft, and I see less lines. I am 50 years old, and I always get compliments on my skin and get asked what I use on my face."

Collagen cream can hydrate your skin and help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, depending on the type of formula you choose. If your collagen cream only contains moisturizers along with its collagen, it's ultimately just a moisturizer. Why? Because collagen molecules are "way too large to be absorbed into the skin," says board-certified dermatologist Kristina Collins, MD. "You can think of it as an elephant trying to walk into an anthill—it's not going to happen."

But (!) creams that are also formulated with collagen-boosting ingredients, like peptides, vitamin C, retinol, and AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids, like glycolic and lactic acids) can promote collagen production and smoother skin over time. Which brings us to…

Whether or not collagen creams actually work depends on what benefits you’re hoping for. For example: If you're looking for a collagen cream that softens fine lines and wrinkles, you need a formula filled with ingredients proven to promote collagen production—which, sadly, doesn't include topical collagen. Dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, suggests looking for a cream packed with peptides, which have a tiny molecular size (unlike topical collagen) that can "get across the skin barrier to stimulate collagen." Other collagen-boosting MVPs? Vitamin C (which also brightens), AHAs (which also smooth), and/or retinol (which does literally everything above).

But if your main skin goal is to have it look and feel softer and plumper, then any collagen cream will help, since topical collagen essentially acts like a moisturizer. And, when paired with other humectants (i.e., ingredients that pull water from the air and into the skin), like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and urea, your collagen cream can even temporarily soften and "smooth" fine lines, resulting in a more ~supple~ and glow-y look.

Some collagen creams tighten skin, specifically those that contain "hyaluronic acid, peptides, retinoids, vitamin C, and antioxidants, like niacinamide," says Dr. Collin. Why? Because topical collagen can't tighten skin on its own (remember—just a moisturizer!), but added anti-agers, like the combo above, are proven to firm skin and boost collagen production over time.

Are you looking to smooth your wrinkles and help prevent future fine lines? Look for a collagen cream with retinol, which will increase the cell turnover in your skin to trigger new collagen and elastin production. But if you’re just in the market for a hydrating cream with small and subtle anti-aging effects, choose a collagen cream with peptides to help trigger new collagen production, or grab a collagen cream with hyaluronic acid to temporarily plump lines and give your skin a dewy finish.

Collagen can be synthetically made in the lab, but it's often sourced from animals or fish (often called "marine" collagen). Neither one is necessarily better than the other—it just depends on your personal preference. "If you are vegan or avoiding animal-based products, you should look for synthetic collagen sources," says Collins. Usually, the product packaging or its ingredients list will note if the collagen in the formula is vegan or plant-based, so make sure to read the writing—or just follow the breakdown above, where I noted which formulas were synthetic.

Once you’ve decided which type of collagen you want to try, along with your ~skin goals,~ figure out whether your skin is dry, sensitive, oily, or combination—which, ideally, you’re already doing any time you choose a new skincare product. If you’re working with oily skin, for example, you may want a lightweight collagen gel-cream, says Dr. Henry, while someone with really dry skin may lean towards a richer, thicker collagen treatment.

Marisa Petrarca is a contributing beauty writer for Cosmopolitan with over five years of experience researching and writing about makeup, skin, and hair, ranging from under-eye wrinkle treatments to face fillers. She discussed collagen cream with the three dermatologists featured in this story and dove into reviews and research to recommend the best products.

Marisa Petrarca is a contributing beauty writer for Cosmopolitan.com. In the rare case that she's not working on a story, you can find her testing new makeup, skin, or hair launches, binge-watching bad reality TV, or diligently working (but failing) to get her inbox to zero. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, POPSUGAR, and GRAZIA USA, among others. Follow her on Instagram for corgi photos and shameless self-promotion.

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