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When what was once taut becomes looser, thinner, and a bit wrinkled, the best crepey skin treatments will give your skin a smoother, tighter appearance (with consistent use as directed by the brand, of course). As we age, our collagen and elastin levels begin to decline, leading to textural concerns including crepiness as well as other issues like fine lines, dryness, and discoloration.
Once signs of skin aging begin to appear—or before, if you prefer to take a proactive route—these over-the-counter topical treatments are beloved by board-certified dermatologists for their ability to minimize the appearance of crepey skin, among other texture and tone concerns. (Keep in mind that only in-office treatments, like ultrasound and radiofrequency microneedling, can create a really visible and dramatic change in laxity.) Below, explore our favorite expert-approved body lotions, creams, and serums for plumping the look of thinning, crepe paper-like skin.
Our Top Crepey Skin Treatments
- Best Overall: Alastin TransForm Body Treatment, $228
- Best With Retinol: Nécessaire The Body Retinol, $58
- Best for Sun Spots: Shani Darden Body Reform Treatment Serum, $58
- Best Lightweight: Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment, $32
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion, $18
- Best for Redness: Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion, $28
- Best Drugstore: Gold Bond Age Renew Crepe Corrector Body Lotion, $12
- Best for Dry Skin: SkinMedica Firm & Tone Lotion for Body, $165
Frequently Asked Questions
- What causes crepey skin?
- How can I treat crepey skin at home?
- Are there any professional treatments for crepey skin?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Alastin TransForm Body Treatment
Alastin Skincare
TransForm Body Treatment
Amazon
Alastin Skincare
Why it’s worth it: If there were such a thing as skin care that acts like shapewear, Alastin TransFORM Body Treatment comes close. This lightweight, fragrance-free lotion “contains a host of peptides to help promote collagen and elastin production, as well as caffeine, which work in tandem to firm and smooth the look of skin instantly,” says Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Toronto. While peptides alone aren’t new to the skin-care world, “this product contains them in a patented delivery system, which is really unique, to reduce the appearance of crepey skin,” adds Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. It also hydrates and nourishes the skin with shea butter, squalane, and avocado extract, giving it a plumper, healthier appearance.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: caffeine, peptides, dill extract, linseed extract, plantain leaf, shea butter
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best With Retinol: Nécessaire The Body Retinol
Nécessaire
The Body Retinol
Amazon
Nordstrom
Credo Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Retinol, the star of Nécessaire The Body Retinol, is one of the most recommended skin-care ingredients for mature skin, but especially for addressing elasticity. And according to bicoastal board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, there’s more that this formula has to offer beyond the active to boost the look and feel of your skin. It “combines retinol with exfoliating alpha-hydroxy acids to firm, tone, and reduce discoloration,” she says. As retinol promotes cell turnover and improves skin texture, a combination of glycolic and mandelic acids exfoliates the skin for a smoother texture. Beyond these key ingredients, the stacked formulation contains the works to transform the feel and clarity of your skin, including firming peptides, hydrating glycerin, and a tone-evening antioxidant duo of vitamin C and niacinamide.
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- Key ingredients: retinol (0.1%), glycolic acid, mandelic acid, glycerin, peptides, vitamin C, niacinamide
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sun Spots: Shani Darden Body Reform Treatment Serum
Shani Darden
Body Reform Treatment Serum
Amazon
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: Forgot to apply sunscreen one too many times and now dealing with sun spots? It happens, but you can tackle this form of sun damage with the Shani Darden Body Reform Treatment Serum. Dr. Murphy-Rose calls it a must-have for anyone addressing discoloration and hyperpigmentation for its intensive cocktail of antioxidants and exfoliators. “This serum contains a retinoid to boost cell turnover and improve skin texture, kojic acid to brighten and reduce hyperpigmentation, and green tea extract to provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,” she says. The retinoid is known as a granactive retinoid, which has a slow-release delivery system to minimize the sensitizing feel of the active ingredient.
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- Key ingredients: granactive retinoid (2%), vitamin C, kojic acid, green tea extract
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Lightweight: Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment
Paula's Choice
Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment
Amazon
Dermstore
Paula's Choice
Why it’s worth it: Though Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment is fueled by a hard-working blend of retinol, shea butter, and antioxidants, Dr. Murphy-Rose loves that it has a lightweight, nongreasy formula that can be slathered on before bedtime. “It has a deeply hydrating effect from shea butter, ceramides, and its antioxidant complex,” she says. “In combination with potent retinol, this formula defends against collagen breakdown and protects against signs of aging.”
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- Key ingredients: retinol, antioxidant complex, shea butter, ceramides
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion
Versed
Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion
Versed
Why it’s worth it: Trust us, when it comes to irritation-free formulas, Versed’s Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion truly lives up to its claims of mildness. “This is a great choice for those with more sensitive skin as it contains an encapsulated form of retinol alongside a retinol alternative, bakuchiol, to enhance skin quality and texture while firming,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. Vitamin E, squalane, and cocoa butter also make an appearance to soothe and moisturize.
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- Key ingredients: encapsulated retinol, cocoa butter, squalane, vitamin E
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Redness: Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion
Naturium
Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: If retinol tends to leave your skin a little red and blotchy, Dr. Murphy-Rose suggests trying the gentle Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion. It combines a slow-release, encapsulated retinol with hyaluronic acid to plump and firm skin while squalane supports the skin’s protective lipid barrier, allowing you to reap the benefits of the active ingredient with little to no irritation, depending on how sensitive your skin is.
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- Key ingredients: encapsulated retinol, hyaluronic acid, squalane
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Drugstore: Gold Bond Age Renew Crepe Corrector Body Lotion
Gold Bond
Age Renew Crepe Corrector Body Lotion
Amazon
Why it’s worth it: Good things come to those who moisturize, especially when it only takes 48 hours to start seeing results (as the brand claims). Gold Bond Age Renew Crepe Corrector Body Lotion is a budget-friendly favorite that works fast to visibly smooth and firm crepey skin. “This drugstore pick gets its power from a concentrated blend of hydrating, emollient, and occlusive ingredients like glycerin, squalane, jojoba, and dimethicone that draw moisture into the skin, fortify the skin barrier to stave off moisture loss, and seal it all in to keep skin nourished longer,” says Dr. Yadav. It’s also hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, making it a gentle choice for sensitive skin.
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- Key ingredients: vitamin E, omega fatty acids, glycerin, jojoba
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: SkinMedica Firm & Tone Lotion for Body
SkinMedica
Firm & Tone Lotion for Body
Amazon
Dermstore
Why it’s worth it: Just like your morning coffee perks you up, caffeine can give your skin a much-needed boost, too. SkinMedica Firm & Tone Lotion for Body combines caffeine and coffea arabica seed oil with collagen-supporting green microalgae and shiitake mushroom extracts to visibly firm and smooth sagging, crepey skin. “This product has a blend of botanical ingredients like lemon balm extract and parsley extract, and has been shown to help with crepey skin and to improve skin texture,” says Dr. Woolery-Lloyd. It’s also deeply hydrating, thanks to emollients and moisture-boosting ingredients that help soften and plump dry, textured skin. “Crepey skin is often dry, which exacerbates its coarse appearance. Providing hydration and moisture to crepey skin can help dramatically improve its texture,” adds Dr. Yadav.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: green microalgae, shitake mushroom, lemon balm extract, coffea arabica seed oil, caffeine
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes crepey skin?
Crepey skin, at its most basic, is just another sign of aging. “Simply put, crepiness is caused by a loss of collagen and elastin, as well as many other components,” says Jennifer Gordon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas. “There isn't a straightforward answer. It's a combination of things, such as genetics, sun damage, pollutants, skin care (or lack thereof), weight loss or gain."
Dr. Murphy-Rose notes that cumulative sun exposure can cause significant skin damage, which largely contributes to the signs of skin aging, including crepiness, laxity, and wrinkles. “Dehydrated skin lacks the plumping effect of hydration in skin cells and can further contribute to the appearance of crepey skin,” she adds.
How can I treat crepey skin at home?
Your biggest line of defense is sun protection, according to our experts. “Sun protection is crucial to keeping skin healthy and youthful,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. “UV radiation causes DNA damage, increases free-radical production, and causes many signs of skin aging, laxity, and crepiness by triggering collagen breakdown and elastolysis.” The takeaway: Make sure you use sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF rating of 30 or more and wear protective clothing when you’re outside to maintain your overall skin health and keep your body’s largest organ in tip-top shape.
Our experts also note that properly hydrating yourself and your skin can keep crepiness at bay. “Hydration keeps skin more plump, improving its appearance,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. “Consume adequate fluids, limit intake of caffeine, alcohol, and other diuretics when possible, and apply a balanced, high-quality moisturizer that’s well-balanced for your skin every day.”
Along with daily habit changes, incorporating certain ingredients, such as retinol and vitamin C, into your body-care regimen will help diminish the look of crepiness. Vitamin A derivatives, like retinol and prescription-strength retinoids, increase production of collagen and elastin to prevent and reduce these signs of aging. Dr. Murphy-Rose adds that antioxidants like vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, and vitamin E neutralize free radicals and are essential for protecting your body’s natural supply of collagen and preventing wrinkles and laxity over time.
Are there any professional treatments for crepey skin?
If you want to take a more dramatic approach to treating your crepey skin, Dr. Gordon says that there are many treatment options to choose from at your trusted board-certified dermatologist’s office, but finding the right one for your skin is key for the best results. “There are many things that try to treat crepey skin, such as resurfacing procedures that incorporate certain lasers and microneedling, as well as skin-tightening procedures like smart liposuction, Ultherapy, and radiofrequency. However, there is no perfect concoction for many people. It is a very difficult issue to address,” she says.
Dr. Murphy-Rose says that one of the most popular crepey skin treatments she offers to her clients is Sofwave, “which uses high-frequency, high-intensity ultrasound technology to heat tissue just below the surface of the skin to powerfully stimulate collagen production,” she says. As a result, this procedure improves the overall quality of skin and prevents crepiness, laxity, fine lines, and wrinkles. “Another option is CO2 laser resurfacing, which improves crepiness by laser remodeling of collagen,” she says. “Non-ablative fractional resurfacing with Fraxel Dual is another great option with five to seven days of downtime, including redness, mild swelling, and roughness of the skin.”
Radiofrequency microneedling, another option Dr. Murphy-Rose recommends, uses tiny needles that penetrate the skin, causing microscopic wounds in the dermis. “Downtime after radiofrequency microneedling is approximately three to five days, and typically a series of treatments is recommended for the best results,” she explains.
Meet the experts
- Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City and Newport Beach, California.
- Jennifer Gordon, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas.
- Geeta Yadav, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Facet Dermatology in Toronto.
- Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Miami.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best crepey skin treatments, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance (or lack thereof), texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors, along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more about our reporting and testing process, read our complete review process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
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