There are a lot of reasons you might reach for a firming body lotion. Maybe, you’re looking to firm up loose skin on your stomach, diminish the appearance of cellulite for smooth dimple-free thighs or reduce crepiness on your arms.

However, not all firming body lotions are created equal. For maximum results, the best skin-firming body lotion features active ingredients that are designed to support your specific skin goals. We’ll answer your questions about the best firming body lotions, including:

• How do firming body lotions work?
• How are firming body lotions different from regular lotion?
• What is the best body firming body lotion?

What Do Firming Body Lotions Do?

How firming body lotions work depends on their active ingredients. The best firming body lotions have a number of active ingredients that team up to help skin look smoother, plumper and firmer.

“Firming body lotions with peptides can help boost the production of collagen and elastin, which can result in firmer-looking skin,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger.

The best firming body lotions contain hydrating ingredients such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid that can help skin feel and look plumper by drawing in moisture into your skin cells. Chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acids could potentially smooth rough texture on the surface of your skin while retinol can help lessen the appearance of crepiness.

What can’t firming body lotions do? Well, they can’t fix cellulite permanently. “Firming body lotions aren’t going to alter the structure of cellulite under your skin like in-office procedures such as Qwo, VelaShape or CellFina can,” says Dr. Schlessinger. “But formulas that contain ingredients such as caffeine may help reduce the appearance of cellulite somewhat by providing a temporary tightening effect.”

The 5 Best Skin-Firming Body Lotions

SkinMedica GlyPro Daily Firming Lotion

This lightweight daily body lotion contains caffeine to help minimize the appearance of cellulite and glycerin to hydrate by drawing moisture into your skin cells. Glycolic acid, a powerful exfoliant, works to buff away the dead skin cells that cause rough texture, helping to reveal smoother-looking skin beneath. It also contains olive leaf extract, which research has shown can improve skin texture and hydration levels.

Epionce Renewal Body Lotion

This body cream features some of the same anti-aging ingredients as Epionce’s popular Renewal Facial Cream, including ceramides and fatty acids to help rebuild the skin barrier and enhance elasticity. It also contains rose canina fruit oil to help skin appear tighter and avocado oil and shea butter to seal in moisture for a softer, smoother-looking texture.

Replenix Retinol Smooth + Tighten Body Lotion

This potent firming body lotion is formulated to help sagging skin appear lifted, tight and taut. It combines the power of hyaluronic acid to plump skin with moisture with medical-grade retinol to help promote collagen production, as well as smooth wrinkles and fade age spots. Another key ingredient of this formula, making it one of the best skin firming body lotions, is edelweiss flower extract. This powerful antioxidant has been clinically shown to improve skin’s elasticity and thickness, resulting in the appearance of firmer skin.

Revision Skincare BodiFirm

The firming power behind this anti-aging body cream comes from iFirm, Revision’s own patent-pending technology that is created with a special blend of peptides and antioxidants. It’s formulated specifically to penetrate the thicker skin on your arms, legs, stomach and butt thanks to glucosamine, which helps exfoliate the skin’s top layer for more effective absorption. The result? Skin that looks firmer, smoother and more sculpted.

SkinCeuticals Body Tightening + Firming Concentrate

With more of a serum-like texture than a traditional lotion, this body treatment provides a cooling sensation to help you beat the heat, making it the best firming body lotion to reach for before you head to the beach or a day at the pool. It contains rice protein to help skin look and feel firmer with a tri-peptide blend to stimulate collagen production.

Do you want to learn more about the new injectable cellulite treatment, Qwo? Dr. Schlessinger’s practice participated in the clinical trials, so you can read all about Qwo and how it works.