Everything you need to know about what causes crepey skin, plus the best at-home crepey skin treatments to consider.Everything you need to know about what causes crepey skin, plus the best at-home crepey skin treatments to consider.
In top dermatology clinics and on store shelves, crepey skin treatments are increasingly in demand. “I have a lot more patients coming in for crepey skin after or while being on a GLP-1,” notes Nicole Ruth, DO, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Of course, it’s not only Ozempic that’s creating fragile, crepe paper-like skin on body parts everywhere. There’s the rise of “tech neck” to consider, and other causes that far predate laptops and smartphones.
“Crepey skin is the result of both natural aging and external factors. Over time, our skin loses collagen and elastin, becomes thinner, and is less able to repair itself,” says Whitney Tolpinrud, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director at Agency by Curology. She adds that sun exposure plays a major role in the development of crepey skin, as do hormonal shifts, oxidative stress, and environmental damage. So, how does one keep it tight?
Vogue’s Favorite Crepey Skin Treatments
- Best Device: CurrentBody Neck & Décolletage Mask: Series 3, $510
- Best Affordable Night Cream: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Pressed Night Cream with Retinol, $40
- Best for the Décolletage: SkinMedica TNS+ Advanced Serum, $295
- Best for a Quick Fix: Revision Skincare D.E.J. Daily Boosting Serum, $230
- Best Post-Procedure: Alastin Skincare Transform Body Treatment with TriHex Technology, $220
Best Device: CurrentBody Neck & Décolletage Mask: Series 2
- Why We Love It: CurrentBody’s LED Neck and Dec Perfector is a Vogue verified (and dermatologist-approved!) tool for smooth, supple skin. Designed to target crepiness in the neck and chest, the flexible silicone mask is now outfitted with six light wavelengths—red (633nm), near-infrared (830nm), deep near-infrared (1072nm), blue (415nm), green (532nm), and yellow (590nm). Yes, that’s twice as many treatment options as the previous Series 2 mask—which means this pick is clinically proven to diminish the appearance of crepiness by stimulating collagen and elastin, as well as pigmentation concerns. “I remind my younger patients that the neck and chest are often the first areas to show your age, yet they’re often overlooked in our twenties and thirties,” says Dr. Ruth. “The CurrentBody Neck & Décolletage Mask is an excellent at-home complement to in-office procedures.” Plus, the latest upgrade offers customizable treatment options (like building routines and LED bulb control) through CurrentBody’s My Dose app. As an added perk, Dr. Ruth adds that these types of devices are particularly helpful during warmer months or post-holiday, when in-office laser treatments are off the table due to sun exposure.
- Device Type: Mask
- Target Treatment Area: Neck and chest
- Treatment Time: 10 minutes
- Specs: FDA-cleared, red (633nm), near-infrared (830nm), deep near-infrared (1072nm), blue (415nm), green (532nm), and yellow (590nm); customizable treatments via app.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Quick treatment time, clinically tested, FDA-cleared | Some users report that the battery fades rather fast; the device is not recommended for anyone with photosensitive disorders |
Best Affordable Night Cream: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Pressed Night Cream with Retinol
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- Why We Love It: L’Oréal’s Revitalift line packs each formula with potent, wrinkle-reducing ingredients, all at an affordable price point. Take, for example, the drugstore brand’s pressed night cream. Here, retinal targets fine lines, skin laxity, and hyperpigmentation. Meanwhile, niacinamide boosts overall brightening and skin barrier function. Plus, the product features a push-jar for extra hygienic application (AKA, no scooping product out of the jar with your fingers).
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin A, niacinamide
- How to Apply: Apply a pea-sized amount nightly to your face and an additional pea-sized amount to your neck.
- Size: 1.7 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating and anti-aging | Can cause initial dryness due to retinol |
| Hygienic push-jar design |
Best Drugstore Pickup: Gold Bond Age Renew Crepe Corrector Body Lotion
- Why We Love It: An unlikely TikTok phenomenon, this drugstore staple has gone viral. Its claims of clearing up crepiness within two days have content creators curious to test it out—but it’s recommended in clinics as well as on FYPs. Developed and tested by dermatologists, the easy-to-find skincare staple nourishes thinning skin with omega fatty acids, botanical ingredients, and vitamin E. According to Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Union Derm, vitamin E is an ingredient to watch in crepey skin solutions, as it “protects existing collagen from free-radical degradation while supporting new synthesis.” The lotion also contains peptides, which, according to Tolpinrud, can support skin firmness by boosting collagen and elastin.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, botanicals, omega fatty acids
- How to Apply: Apply daily to clean, dry, or slightly damp skin.
- Size: 14 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
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| Widely available | The texture is a bit too thick for some |
| Budget-friendly, generously sized |
Best for a Quick Fix: Revision Skincare D.E.J. Daily Boosting Serum
- Why We Love It: Lycia Thornburg, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and national lecturer based in Rapid City, South Dakota, says this Revision Skincare serum is a tried-and-true antidote to crepiness. Infused with a patent-pending sunflower sprout extract that was designed to boost cellular energy, “This is clinically proven to tighten and moisturize the skin,” she says. Dr. Thornburg isn’t the only industry insider who stands by the serum. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman previously told Vogue that he uses the skin-barrier-strengthening salve as the last step of his nightly skincare regimen. It also comes in handy for a quick, tightening fix during the day. The product can diminish the signs of aging in as little as 15 minutes, while its cumulative effects can lead to firmer skin in 12 weeks.
- Key Ingredients: Patented sunflower sprout extract, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, resveratrol, squalane
- How to Apply: Apply one to two pumps of product to freshly cleansed skin.
- Size: 0.5 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
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| Fast-absorbing and clinically tested | Some users report a slightly medicinal smell |
| Can be used day or night |
Best for the Décolletage: SkinMedica TNS+ Advanced Serum
- Why We Love It: Another clinically tested pick, Dr. Thornburg points to SkinMedica’s TNS+ Advanced Serum as a proven pathway for improved skin texture and elasticity. “It’s particularly beneficial for the face, décolletage, and the neck,” she notes. It’s fast-acting, too: According to the brand, the serum can start to visibly tighten sagging skin in as little as two weeks. The product comes with a double pump that dispenses two crepiness-tackling solutions. One is TNS-MR, which blends growth factors and peptides to nourish the skin and support its functions. The other blend, Renessence Advanced, uses marine extracts and green microalgae to bolster the results of the growth factors while stimulating collagen and elastin production.
- Key Ingredients: Growth factor blend, peptide complex, marine extract, green microalgae
- How to Apply: Apply one to two pumps, morning and night to clean skin, after using your preferred toner.
- Size: 1.0 oz
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| Scientifically advanced ingredients | Some users report uneven distribution of the two serums via the double pump |
Best for Jawline: Isdin Isdinceutics Age Contour
- Why We Love It: Enriched with a tripeptide complex that increases hyaluronic acid levels in the skin for a firmer, plumper appearance, this contouring cream comes recommended by Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan. When it comes to combating crepiness, “I like this one for the neck and jawline in particular,” she says. “It’s firming, moisturizing, and layers well with other products.” The cream also has a velvety texture that makes applying it feel like a miniature spa moment.
- Key Ingredients: Tripeptide complex, Alteromonas ferment extracts, carnosine, hyaluronic acid
- How to Apply: Apply to dry, clean skin after using your preferred serum, and before sunscreen.
- Size: 1.8 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
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| Hydrates, firms, and softens the skin | Some users report a slightly shiny finish; others note that it tends to pill under makeup |
Best for Arms: U Beauty Sculpt Compound
- Why We Love It: In as little as six weeks, U Beauty’s Sculpt Compound promises to give arms a more contoured look, with tightened skin that shows a dramatic reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. Harnessing the brand’s Siren technology, the compound works by reducing fluid accumulation in the skin while supporting collagen production. And while it’s not a replacement for exercise (if only!), the cream has proven to contribute to a demonstrably more toned look when paired with exercise, as compared to toning up with exercise alone. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and New Jersey, previously told Vogue: “It helps to reduce the appearance of crepiness without causing irritation.” She recommended pairing it with U Beauty’s Super Hydrator for next-level results.
- Key Ingredients: Probiotics, marine bacillus extract, retinol, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, vitamin E, stabilized vitamin C
- How to Apply: Apply nightly to arms—though you can use this pick on hands and legs too.
- Size: 4 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Adds visible definition to the arms | Some users with very sensitive skin have reported side effects such as redness |
Best Post-Procedure: Alastin Skincare Transform Body Treatment with TriHex Technology
- Why We Love It: Designed to target crepey skin on the body, Alastin’s firming lotion is made with the brand’s TriHex Technology, which supports collagen and elastin production. Another patented ingredient, Lipodrone, helps the skin look more toned, while dill extract improves its texture. The brand recommends using the lotion after sculpting treatments to enhance results; it can also be used daily on its own. “This one’s excellent for helping with that thin, crepey skin we see on the arms and chest,” Dr. Henry notes. “It supports collagen and elastin production and makes a real difference if you use it consistently.”
- Key Ingredients: TriHex Technology, Lipodrone, dill extract
- How to Apply: According to the brand, use two to three pumps of product twice a day in the morning and evening.
- Size: 6 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
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| Enhances the results of sculpting treatments | Some users wish it were more moisturizing |
Everything You Need to Know
What causes crepey skin?
Crepey skin is primarily caused by cumulative sun damage and intrinsic aging, Dr. Ruth says. “Ultraviolet radiation breaks down collagen and elastin, the proteins responsible for skin’s structure and elasticity. Over time, the skin’s natural repair mechanisms slow, leading to thinning, dryness, and that characteristic, finely wrinkled texture,” she explains. Other contributing factors include weight fluctuations, hormonal changes, and environmental stressors like pollution or smoking, she says.
What to Look for in a Crepey Skin Treatment
Dr. Ruth notes that the most effective crepey skin treatments offer hydration, barrier repair, and active ingredients that promote collagen synthesis. “Look for formulas with retinol or retinoic acid, peptides, and antioxidants like vitamin C or niacinamide,” she says. She adds that hyaluronic acid and ceramides can help restore moisture and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. And if you’re looking to firm up the skin below the neck, “Body-specific formulations with urea or lactic acid can also improve texture and smoothness on areas like the arms, legs, or décolletage,” she says.
Are there any professional treatments for crepey skin?
“In-office procedures can significantly improve crepey skin, especially when combined with at-home care,” Dr. Ruth says. She says that fractional lasers, like Fraxel, microneedling with radiofrequency, and ultrasound-based treatments like Ultherapy or Sofwave stimulate collagen production at a deeper level. Injectable treatments, including PRP, PRF, and Hyperdilute Sculptra, can also thicken dermal tissue over time. Dr. Ruth also notes that dermatologists can tailor treatments based on the severity and location of their clients’ crepey skin.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to products for crepey skin, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, packaging, finish, and areas of the body they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Michelle Henry, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Skin & Aesthetic Surgery Manhattan.
- Pooja Rambhia, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Union Derm.
- Nicole Ruth, DO, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York.
- Lycia Thornburg, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and national lecturer based in Rapid City, South Dakota.
- Whitney Tolpinrud, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and medical director at Agency by Curology
