If you’re a lover of all things skincare, you probably know that hydration is a key part of any routine. Still, some skin concerns require a more sophisticated approach. Take crepey skin as an example. It’s most common among mature skin types, which as is, requires a little extra love.
“From a dermatological perspective, crepey skin is really a story about collagen, elastin, and hydration,” says board-certified dermatologist Pearl Ugwu-Dike, MD. “Collagen provides a skin with structure, while elastin allows it to stretch and return to its original shape. As we age, our production of these particular proteins slows down.”
She adds that dryness often makes crepey skin look worse even when the underlying changes are mild. To set our readers up for firmer, hydrated skin, I decided to put together a list of the best treatments on the market, as recommended by dermatologists. Keep scrolling for their top picks.
Best Treatments for Crepey Skin, at a Glance
- Best Overall: Beekman 1802 Milk Rx Body Advanced Better Aging Crepe Smoothing Cream
- Runner Up: Soft Services Software Update Retinol Body Serum for Fine Lines & Crepey Skin
- Best Lightweight: Dewsy Down Deep Body Lotion
- Best Splurge: Skinmedica Firm & Tone Body Lotion
- Best for Dry Skin: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Ap+m Triple Repair Body Moisturizing Cream
Best Treatments for Crepey Skin in 2026
Best Overall: Beekman 1802 Milk Rx Body Advanced Better Aging Crepe Smoothing Cream
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!”
Runner Up: Soft Services Software Update Retinol Body Serum for Fine Lines & Crepey Skin
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!”
Best Lightweight: Dewsy Down Deep Body Lotion
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.”
Best Splurge: Skinmedica Firm & Tone Body Lotion
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.”
Best for Dry Skin: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Ap+m Triple Repair Body Moisturizing Cream
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.”
Best Budget: AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion With 12% Lactic Acid Aha
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!”
Best Drugstore: Gold Bond Age Renew Hand and Body Lotion Ultimate Crepe Corrector
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.”
Best Fragranced: Revision Skincare Bodifirm
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
How We Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best treatments for crepey skin, we leaned heavily on dermatologist insights and our knowledge as beauty experts. We also considered several factors, including formula type, shade range, and customer reviews. We’re aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details.
Why Trust Who What Wear
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Since 2006, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
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