The Collagen Creams That Actually Work to Smooth and Tighten Your Skin, According to Dermatologists and Cosmo Editors

Not all collagen creams have to be thick and oily. Air Angel from Dieux has a whipped, gel texture that absorbs into skin quickly without sacrificing major hydration. We've got glycerin, squalane, urea, and collagen-rich amino acids to thank for that—all of which add seriously lightweight moisture to your skin that won't aggravate acne-prone skin.

One Cosmo editor says: “My acne-prone skin breaks out over a lot of moisturizers, especially rich, collagen-boosting ones. But not Air Angel. This gel-cream seriously hydrates my skin but never feels heavy and didn't break me out a single time (and I've used up two full bottles)."—BG

Here's the thing about resveratrol: It's an antioxidant found in red grapes that's got major anti-inflammatory properties and helps protect against UV-induced oxidative stress. Basically, it's powerful for keeping your skin majorly healthy and plump, helping to fight off fine lines. Combined in this cream with moisturizing hyaluronic acid and collagen, it's a fab hydrator that also makes your skin look firmer over time.

One Cosmo editor says: "I love this lightweight serum for my acne-prone skin and when I need a major boost of hydration. It's loaded with a blend of resveratrol and vegan collagen for a load of anti-aging benefits. Plus, it's great for morning or overnight use, or both!"—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR

Jason Diamond, MD, is one of the most famous plastic surgeons in the entire world and is known for the work he does with celebrities. But if you can't get into an appointment with him, his Metacine line is a good second choice. We specifically love this cream that's formulated with both growth factors (fantastic for smoothing, plumping, and firming, as well as soothing inflammation), as well as peptides to promote collagen synthesis. I wouldn't call it a face lift in a bottle, but it's probably the closest you could get.

One Cosmo editor says: "This has all the key ingredients for collagen production, including retinoids, growth factors, and peptides. It’s the perfect night cream for anyone who wants to wake up with plump and juicy skin.”—LB

Wanna pack a whole lot into one product? Grab this moisturizer, which features a pretty stacked ingredients list filled with all of the best actives for anti-aging. We're talking collagen-boosting peptides, antioxidant-rich ferulic acid, moisturizing ceramides and hyaluronic acid, soothing bisabolol and allantoin—truly, it's got everything.

One Cosmo editor says: "In my 12 years as a beauty editor, I’ve learned that no topical can truly 'firm' your face, but this moisturizer makes skin so plush and bouncy, so it comes pretty damn close. It’s got specific collagen-boosting peptides, plus a boatload of other anti-aging ingredients that help support smooth, healthy skin.”—LB

This cream is loaded with brightening niacinamide (a collagen booster) and firming peptides ("the building blocks of collagen," says board-certified dermatologist Karan Lal, MD) that help trigger extra collagen and elastin production with use.

One Cosmo editor says: “This collagen cream was one of the first formulas I bought (I love drugstore skincare), and it still holds up as one of my faves."—MARISA PETRARCA, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY WRITER

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.

One shopper says: “I started using this, and I already love this brand for being sensitive-skin friendly, but they are super effective. 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 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.

One Cosmo reader says: “This is so hydrating and leaves my skin glowing."

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.

One shopper says: “So hydrating and soothing! 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).

One Cosmo editor says: "This has been my go-to moisturizer before makeup for years. Not only does it prime my skin, making it look hydrated and soft before makeup application, but it really helps soothe and protect my skin too. There's also zero pilling with my SPF or foundation. Freakin' love."—BG

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.

One shopper says: “I bought a small jar to try, and I am now obsessed!! Made the wrinkle in between my eyes practically disappear. This cream is very moisturizing, and I am loving the results so far.”