These Collagen Creams Actually Plump, Revitalize, and Renew Your Skin (2024)

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Marine extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, shea butter | Skin Type: Dry, combination, oily skin | Size: 0.5, 1.69 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

As far as collagen-stimulating moisturizers are concerned, the Elemis Marine Cream sits high on our list because of its ability to improve skin texture and deliver the hydrating properties dry skin types need. It leans on multiple marine extracts to deliver immediate hydration while boosting firmness and elasticity and minimizing the look of fine lines over time. Skeptical? The results are backed by independent clinical trials. Notably soft and cushiony, Marine Cream also contains nourishing shea butter, calming vitamin E, and the fan-favorite antioxidant vitamin C to help boost radiance and even skin tone. While this product doesn't offer any sun protection, there is an SPF 30 version. (Yes, it is that girl.)

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, collagen | Skin Type: All, sensitive | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This wallet-friendly favorite by L’Oréal contains nourishing shea butter and collagen to hydrate the skin and temporarily plump fine lines. It gives the skin a more lifted appearance when you use it frequently and its consistency is also something to marvel at. It’s lightweight in texture, absorbs quickly, and cushions the skin. We like to reach for this cream at nighttime, taking extra care to massage its quick-to-melt texture into our skin and chest, or when we need a ton of hydration when layering with retinol and other actives.

Key Ingredients: Collagen peptides, niacinamide, glycerin | Skin Type: Combination, mature, dry | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Drugstore collagen moisturizers don't get the credit they deserve. Rich in skin-firming ingredients like collagen peptides and tremella (snow mushroom) extract, it'll leave you looking healthy, luminous, and fresh. And while it is supremely nourishing, the texture is actually quite light. It can be a bit greasy on the skin, so if you have oilier skin, you might want to skip this one. Dry and sensitive skin types, this collagen cream is a must-have for a surplus of hydration.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, French kumquat extract, Tahitian noni leaf | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You're wise to wear sunscreen during the day—every day. To combine the effects of sun protection and enhance collagen production with one moisturizing product, reach for StriVectin Super-C. This nongreasy moisturizer offers SPF 30 protection against photoaging, while vitamin C promotes collagen production, fights free radicals, and revitalizes dull skin. Sunscreen and vitamin C are a powerhouse pair against sun damage and wrinkles, and this cream is your one-and-done morning skincare step.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: Mature, dry, normal | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

According to Dr. Garlapati, retinoids (including over-the-counter retinol) are the gold standard for their ability to stimulate collagen production. This affordable face cream combines retinol with hyaluronic acid to deliver long-lasting hydration while working to firm the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. We also like that it absorbs quickly, goes on smoothly, and elevates our nighttime skincare routine with its rich consistency.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, lactic acid, squalane | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that not only protects collagen breakdown from UV damage but also stimulates collagen production," says Dr. Garlapati. To add this all-star ingredient to your routine, go with Dewy Deep Cream. It’s nonsticky, doesn’t pill, and helps replenish dull skin. This cream combines vitamin C with its antioxidant buddy niacinamide, plus lactic acid for gentle exfoliation and squalane to moisturize and replenish the skin barrier. It can be a bit too dewy for those with already oily skin, though, so keep this in mind before buying.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, peptides | Skin Type: Dry, mature, normal | Size: 0.5, 1, 1.7, 5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A skincare favorite for a reason, Charlotte Tilbury's Charlotte's Magic Cream is full of nourishing oils to leave the skin primed for makeup and a soft glow. There's also hyaluronic acid and vitamins C and E to boost the skin's natural collagen formation, leaving your skin looking firm, and balanced. We love applying this one during the daytime, as it sits beautifully underneath makeup and gives base products like foundation and concealer a luminescent sheen. There are plenty of oils in this formula that keep things plush and hydrated, but they may be comedogenic for those who are prone to acne. Be sure to read the ingredient list to make sure it doesn’t contain anything that can break you out.

Key Ingredients: Peptides, vitamin C, vitamin E | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Before bed, slather on this ultra-moisturizing face cream. It contains vegan collagen (in the form of peptides), along with vitamins C and E, to not only quench thirsty skin but also plump, firm, smooth, and even out your complexion. Although some customers don’t like that it takes longer to absorb into the skin, we do like this pick’s thick consistency—essential for a night cream—and its subtly sweet, floral scent.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If it's firmer skin you're after, Murad's Youth Renewal Night Cream is your best bet. It combines collagen-stimulating niacinamide with multiple retinoids to enhance elasticity and reduce the look of fine lines. Another added benefit of this collagen cream’s inclusion of niacinamide? The ingredient can help improve hyperpigmentation and decrease skin roughness. The result of feeding your skin barrier with all of the above: Uncongested pores over time.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, squalane | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This cream contains a slew of skin-clearing and firming ingredients, including peptides, niacinamide, glycerin, and squalane. It's rich and nourishing, making it a wonderful option for dry, irritated, or lackluster skin in need of collagen-boosting properties. We also like that it’s free of alcohol and artificial fragrances. True to First Aid Beauty form, this collagen cream is made for sensitive skin types and is one we look to when our skin is feeling frazzled from the woes of retinol and active ingredients.

Key Ingredients: Amino acids, Neocitriate™ | Skin Type: Mature | Size: 2.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

You don't necessarily need a separate product for your neck, but if it helps you remember to moisturize the area, we're all for it. This neck cream calls on amino acids, which Dr. Garlapati says help the skin create collagen. It also contains Neocitriate, NeoStrata's patented molecule formulated to tighten, firm, and strengthen your skin. This neck cream has a loyal fan base too; multiple reviewers express how once they made the switch, this cream has been their go-to neck and decolletage cream for years on end.

Key Ingredients: Collagen, squalane, cacay oil | Skin Type: All | Size: 8.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For below-the-neck care, go with Sol de Janeiro. This super-rich and dense body cream is formulated with collagen (from amino acids), squalane, and cacay oil (a gentle retinol alternative) to not only moisturize but also improve your skin's elasticity. The brand's signature fruity-floral scent doesn't hurt, either. Plus, the cream is on the thicker side, so a little goes a long way when it comes to application.

Key Ingredients: Water, safflower seed oil, glycerin | Skin Type: Sensitive | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We’re big fans of this face cream from St. Ives, which boasts 100% natural moisturizers and collagen-boosting safflower seed oil to help promote a more refined glow. It’s certified cruelty-free by PETA and is also noncomedogenic, which means this product won’t end up being the culprit behind blocked pores (all the less potential for an unwanted breakout). We use this cream during the day and at night and we absolutely love how it locks in moisture without a film.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, marine collagen, retinol | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

In the case of this collagen cream, which did in fact garner a rep on BeautyTok first, we consider it one of the best because of its trio of collagen-enhancing ingredients. Marine collagen (a water-soluble peptide beneficial for aging skin and wound healing), hyaluronic acid, and retinol support the skin barrier and the looks of a refined texture-free complexion, with vitamin E adding soothing properties to it all. It is an Amazon bestseller, and it’s easy to see why. We recommend this ultra-hydrating pick to those who’ve Googled “fountain of youth product”—according to customers, this is it.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, collagen, hyaluronic acid | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.85 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Consider yourself low maintenance when it comes to skincare? Reach for this collagen cream, which is equal parts lightweight and rich, making it a must-wear for daytime and nighttime. It has retinol 1%, collagen, and hyaluronic acid 5%—everything you need to hydrate, firm, and balance out your skin texture and tone. We appreciate this product’s commitment to hygiene thanks to its sealed design, too.

Key Ingredients: Collagen peptides, ceramides, amino acids | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.5, 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Nothing beats the cushion of moisture OleHenriksen’s collagen peptide-packed moisturizer left our skin with when testing it. (We’re still thinking about it.) Unfortunately for us, we were trialing the mini size of this product—which went quick. But, there is a full size up for grabs as well that will leave the skin feeling bouncy, nourished, and hydrated. It felt firming on the upper half of our face, and softened our skin texture with its inclusion of ceramides. While we specifically likened its ability to moisturize our skin barrier without any added heaviness, this collagen-enhancing face cream helps target elasticity and wrinkles too.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, prickly pear polysaccharides, vitamin E, olive oil fractions | Skin Type: All, mature, sensitive | Size: 0.5, 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Irene Forte Rigenerante Prickly Pear Face Cream does a lot. One of the main ingredients in this moisturizer is prickly pear polysaccharides, which are extracted from hibiscus seeds and serve as an antioxidant that has proven to prevent collagen breakdown. It’s further supported by hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and olive oil to target the physical concerns of collage loss with what the brand likes to call ‘the Mediterranean diet for the skin.’

FAQ

• Is collagen cream the same as moisturizer?

  Collagen creams are a type of moisturizer, but not all moisturizers are collagen creams. Because they contain moisturizing ingredients that hydrate the skin, collagen creams can be considered moisturizers. And like other moisturizers, you can find different collagen creams that are best for certain skin types, such as sensitive skin or dry skin.

• How can I rebuild the collagen in my skin?

  Our skin loses collagen over time, which can cause sagging and wrinkles. Beyond using collagen creams to try to help restore the appearance of our skin, healthy lifestyle habits may contribute to slower collagen loss. Eating less sugar, quitting smoking, and using sunscreen regularly may be beneficial for slowing down wrinkles.

• What causes depletion of collagen in the skin?

  In addition to it happening naturally (losing collagen is a part of life), lifestyle choices can also contribute to the depletion of collagen. Among those, smoking, drinking, and a diet that isn't nutrient-rich "can cause the collagen and elastin in our skin to decrease, leading it to become rigid and less effective—thus causing wrinkles, uneven leathery texture in the skin, and breakouts," according to estheticians.