Some people might think it’s a beauty myth but a skin-tightening cream can really make your skin firmer. You don’t believe me? I talked to the experts, who are always on the lookout for the newest products and are always testing and researching new launches to find the best skin-tightening cream.
Every beauty expert knows that the key to a radiant glowing base is to prep your skin well and use the best serums and moisturisers. If you want your skin to look its best, you need to focus on it, no matter how good your foundation is. There are a million and one things you can put on before your makeup, like toners, primers, and eye creams. But all you really need is a simple moisturiser and your favourite SPF, of course.
Why not do what a lot of famous makeup artists do and use skin-tightening face creams to help their famous clients’ skin look plump and toned? This will make this step work better. If you want to know what creams they use, you’re in luck! I asked some of the best makeup artists in the business to share their top picks and I also asked some skincare experts for their favourite formulas.
There are a lot of good skin-tightening creams to choose from, including high-end skincare brands that do wonders for your skin and affordable moisturisers that keep your skin smooth and hydrated. I even asked these beauty experts for their best tips and tricks on how to use skin-tightening creams, so you know exactly how to get the most out of them.
The best thing about these creams that tighten skin is that you don’t have to spend a lot of time getting ready or priming your skin before putting on makeup. This makes them easy to add to your daily skincare routine. Read on to learn more about the best creams for tightening skin, and get ready to shine like never before.
Do creams that tighten skin work?
Skin-tightening creams work by adding moisture to the skin, which makes it look fuller and less wrinkled. Also, products with vitamin C or retinoids, which stimulate collagen production, will help keep this effect going for a long time.
Is it safe to use skin-tightening creams?
Most skin-tightening creams are completely safe to use. If you see retinoids or exfoliating acids in a product, be careful not to use them with serums that also have active ingredients.
What to Look for in a Cream That Tightens Skin
The texture should be your first concern when picking a cream to tighten your skin. Do you like a gel that is light or a cream that is thick? You might like a lighter thinner texture if your skin is oily. If your skin is dry, you will need a thicker formula for hydration.
Also, be aware of any active ingredients that could make your skin sensitive or that might not work well with other ingredients or with your makeup.
How to Use a Cream to Tighten Skin
“I know most people start applying their face cream from the centre and then spread outwards, but I like to do the exact opposite and here’s why: most of us have dry cheeks since the skin doesn’t produce as much sebum there as it does other places like the T-zone. Therefore, applying most of the product to the cheeks and sides of your forehead will give you more hydration exactly where you need it,” says Paris-based makeup artist and expert Andreea Ali.
The Best Skin-Tightening Creams
- Best Skin-Tightening Cream for Dry Skin: Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask, £142
- Best Luxury Skin-Tightening Cream: Augustinus Bader The Cream, £240
- Best Affordable Skin-Tightening Cream: Olay Regenerist Day Face Cream, £15
- Best Skin-Tightening Cream for Plumping: Dior Capture Totale Super Potent Rich Cream, £99
- Best Skin-Tightening Cream for Fine Lines: iS Clinical Youth Complex, £158
1. Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream
Sisley-Paris Black Rose Skin Infusion CreamBest for brightening
Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream
£182
Formula: Cream
Key ingredients: Rosewater, glycerin, shea butter
“This cream from Sisley is one of my favourites. It’s a super-lightweight formula that’s great for creating radiance and a nice lifting effect,” says Ali.
- Feels and smells luxurious
- Expensive price point
2. Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask
Sisley-Paris Black Rose Cream MaskBest for dry skin
Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask
£142
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Formula: Cream
Key ingredients: Shea butter, grape leaf extract, rose oil
“I actually use this face mask as a moisturiser for super-dry or dehydrated skin,” Ali adds. “It plumps the skin and provides an immediate tightening effect. It’s truly an extraordinary product. I apply a small amount to avoid excess product on the skin, and then I continue with foundation. It’s probably my most effective trick when I’m working with someone who has very dry skin.”
- It can also be used as a mask
- May be too rich for all skin types
3. La Mer The Moisturising Soft Cream
La Mer the Moisturising Soft Cream 30mlBest for versatility
La Mer The Moisturising Soft Cream
£305
Formula: Cream
Key ingredients: Shea butter, algae, macadamia oil
“This La Mer product is my personal favourite skin-tightening cream,” says Ali. I use it on my clients and on my own combination skin. No formula has worked better for giving my skin lots of hydration, elasticity and radiance without that greasy feeling so many other rich creams can leave behind. This is a versatile all-year-round kind of moisturiser—it’s truly magic!”
- Doesn’t leave a greasy residue
- Expensive price point
4. Dior Capture Totale Super Potent Rich Cream
Dior Capture Totale Super Potent Rich Cream, 50mlBest for plumping
DIOR Capture Totale Super Potent Rich Cream
£99
Formula: Cream
Key ingredients: Glycerin, ceramides
“I adore the Dior Capture Totale Super Potent Rich Cream,” says London-based makeup artist and expert Nikki Wolff. “The formula is rich without being greasy, so it really plumps and firms the skin whilst also wearing well under makeup.”
Like this skin-tightening moisturiser Wolff advises applying serums and moisturisers on your face and neck with a gentle but firm sweeping motion. Smooth upward and outward. Any extra moments you can spend massaging during your application, your skin will thank you for. Remember to be gentle around the eyes and pay the jawline and lymph area extra attention.
- Instantly plumps skin
- Contains fragrance
