Yes, You Can Actually Treat Crepey Skin—Meet 8 Formulas That Work Like Magic

Our top choice for crepey skin is easily this Milk Rx Body Advanced Better Aging Crepe Smoothing Cream. It's fragrance-free, making it safe for sensitive skin, it's non-greasy, and it firms skin. "This contains the perfect combination of humectants like glycerin, polyglutamic acid, and collagen to hydrate the skin, in addition to emollients like triglycerides, squalane, ceramides and shea butter to support the skin barrier," says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD. "The milk protein exosomes strengthen the skin barrier and reneseed polypeptides increase collagen production."

Pros: Firms and smooths crepey skin, fragrance free, non-greasy

Cons: None

Key ingredients: Goat milk exosomes, COLLAGEN++, Reneseed™ Peptides

Formula type: Cream

Customer review: "I love this smoothing cream. It's so gentle and nourishing on my skin. It seriously helps so much especially in the colder seasons when my skin gets dry!"

If you've never heard of Soft Services, consider this your official introduction. "If moisturizer is about making skin look good today, retinol is about investing in what it looks like 6 months from now," says Ugwu-Dike, MD. This provides hydration for today with 3% glycerin as well as ongoing collagen support with 0.25% retinol, which is also going to encourage epidermal cell turnover." She adds that the lack of fragrance makes it a great choice for thosse with sensitive skin. . 

Pros: Targets fine lines and crepey skin, quick-absorbing, lightweight

Cons: Night use only

Key ingredients: 0.25% pure retinol, 5% niacinamide, 3% glycerin

Formula type: Serum

Customer review: "This product surpassed my expectations. For something so lightweight and quickly absorbed, the results were incredible. The skin on my chest is noticeably softer, smoother and brighter! Love!"

No one likes that post-lotion sticky feeling. Fortunately, there are formulas like this one from Dewsy that absorb fast while hydrating the skin. "Dewsy Bounce Back Body Cream is a great choice for crepey skin, as it delivers 0.1% true retinol, copper peptides, and five essential ceramides," says board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Journelle, Sapna Palep. "The brand’s Mini Molecule Technology delivers key actives in small enough molecules to penetrate body skin effectively to help stimulate collagen production and cell renewal for visibly renewed, hydrated skin."

Pros: Fast-absorbing, deeply hydrating, not sticky

Cons: Contains fragrance

Key ingredients: Five essential ceramides, Mini Molecule Technology

Formula type: Lotion

Customer review: "It absorbs well and does not leave a greasy residue on the skin. Skin felt hydrated well over 24 hours. The fragrance is light, clean, and fresh."

For those willing to splurge, SkinMedica's Firm & Tone Body Lotion does a great job at targeting loose skin. "SkinMedica Firm and Tone Body Lotion was engineered to target loose and sagging skin with peptides, shitake mushroom, lemon balm and green microalgae extracts shown to boost the production of natural collagen and elastin," says Palep. It may be on the expensive side, but the results are worth every dollar.

Pros: Firms and tightens, targets loose skin, good for all skin types

Cons: Pricey

Key ingredients: Peptides, shiitake mushroom extract, lemon balm extract, green microalgae extract

Formula type: Lotion

Customer review: "I love the smooth texture of this body lotion. It feels moisturizing on my skin and absorbs nicely without leaving a greasy feeling. My skin feels soft and looks healthy after use. I look forward to continuing to use it."

According to Palep, those with skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and rosacea can benefit from a formula like this one from La Roche-Posay. "La Roche Posay's Lipikar Balm AP+ has the National Eczema Association seal, and is gentle on skin," she says. "It helps boost moisture levels and calm irritated skin with a combination of ceramides, glycerin and shea butter." 

Pros: Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, long-lasting hydration

Cons: Can feel greasy

Key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, shea butter, Neurobioma

Formula type: Cream

Customer review: "I absolutely love this body cream. I am a fan of this brand. I can feel and see the difference in my skin. It doesn't just moisturize. It relieves dry itchy skin and has beneficial ingredients. Highly recommended. Superb."

Crepey skin requires gentle exfoliants, which is why derms recommend this Daily Nourish Lotion With 12% Lactic Acid Aha. "If you are going to reach for an exfoliant, look for one made for crepey skin that also has more rough, uneven texture," says Ugwu-Dike. "Lactic acid is one of my favorite ingredients for body skin because it exfoliates the buildup of dead skin cells while also functioning as a humectant."

Pros: Gently exfoliates, deeply hydrating, fragrance free

Cons: Increases sun sensitivity

Key ingredients: 12% lactic acid

Formula type: Lotion

Customer review: "I began using this lotion back in January this year, and when I say it has completely transformed the texture of my skin, I am not exaggerating. My skin has never been so soft while only using one body product. I'm obsessed and I have it on auto replenish. A must have!"

Good skin care doesn't have to come at a high price. Take this Age Renew Hand and Body Lotion Ultimate Crepe Corrector, for example. "What I like about it is that it's formulated around a surprisingly simple principle while hydrated skin looks smoother, plumper, and healthier," says Ugwu-Dike. "Ingredients like glycerin and hydroxyethyl urea attract moisture into the skin, softening the appearance of those fine, tissue-paper-like wrinkles."

Pros: Fast-absorbing, non-greasy

Cons: Some say results take a while

Key ingredients: Antioxidants, botanicals, omega fatty acids

Formula type: Lotion

Customer review: "This works! Even on the first use I noticed the crepey skin wasn’t as bad. I like that there is no fragrance."

Another splurge-worthy formula comes this lotion from Revision Skincare. "This is a great option for firming the appearance of crepey skin on the body," says King. "It contains antioxidants, anti-aging peptides and plant extracts to help the skin appear more firm and lifted, reduce the appearance of rough and crepey skin, and decrease the look of fine lines and wrinkles."

Pros: Firms and tightens, absorbs quickly

Cons: Expensive, contains fragrance

Key ingredients: Caffeine, glucosamine, adipose-targeting blend, iFirm™ Technology

Formula type: Lotion