It’s an annoying yet inevitable part of life that as we age our skin’s collagen levels deplete, resulting in saggier skin, with fine lines and wrinkles becoming more visible.
Luckily there’s a whole host of smart skincare products available nowadays promising to put the spring back into your skin by hydrating, tightening and boosting collagen production.
Want to know which ones actually work? To find out, we sent a selection of skin-plumping serums and creams to our testers to use for a month before reporting back. Read on to see which ones got five star reviews...
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Best skin-plumping serums and creams for 2024
Kate Somerville Mega-A Skin Transforming Serum
An advanced new vitamin A product from celeb-favourite Kate Somerville, this has retinal encapsulated in tiny calcium particles, which help it absorb into the skin more effectively, giving you a sustained release over time with minimal irritation.
Head of shopping Zoe says: "I don't think I've ever had before-and-after pictures quite as good as ones from using this skincare product. Before, my skin was rough and prone to small blemishes. After a week the texture is mostly gone, there's less pigmentation, the fine lines around my eyes (mostly from dryness) have been reduced and I generally look healthier.
"I also had someone guess my age at five years younger than it is (I'm 32), so if that isn't a testament to its results, I don't know what is."
Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream
Promising 100 hours of hydration deep within the skin plus supporting your skin barrier with prebiotic peptides.See AlsoIs Aveeno A Good Skincare Brand? An In-Depth Review - ExpertBeaconThese Vitamin C Creams Deliver Brighter, Smoother Skin—Trust UsBest skin-plumping serums and creams tried and tested with 'filler-like results'
Beauty editor Laura says: "If you're looking for an ultimate everyday, suits-all face cream that's a pleasure to use and from a brand highly rated by dermatologists, this is the one for you. Skin looks and feels instantly smoother, brighter and healthier, and it doesn't feel like it's clogging pores. I know lots of other beauty editors who love this, too."
Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Creme
Now £43.50 from Lookfantastic (usual price £58)
This luxe moisturiser uses hibiscus and moringa extracts to boost collagen production, helping skin to look more firm, bouncy and lifted.
Tester Paula says: “I loved this. It made my skin dewy, firmer, plumper and brighter. I felt rejuvenated and more confident while wearing it. I usually have pigmentation but it definitely helped reduce around my cheeks. I was told my skin looked like I'd had a facial and one friend asked if I'd had fillers!”
Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Lift and Firm Day Cream
This Elizabeth Arden cream is packed with skin-replenishing ceramides, tetrapeptides and edelweiss extract, which are proven to firm, intensely hydrate, tighten and tone.
Tester Nutan says: “Very easy to use, and lovely and nourishing. I could feel the hydration. It left a smooth finish to my skin and left it feeling plump, fuller and hydrated. I have definitely seen an improvement in my sagging areas – I hope it continues! My daughter also commented that my skin looked more radiant.”
The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
A brilliant budget option containing multiple molecular weights of this super-ingredient to hydrate and plump different layers of the skin. It layers really well with other skincare, too.
Tester Sarah says: “A lovely product which left my skin feeling really soft and silky to touch. It locks in moisture and definitely plumps the skin. My skin looked clearer, more even toned, firmer and fresher. The glow up is ridiculous – I don't look dull anymore! This serum may be basic to look at but by God does it leave your skin looking radiant. Who needs high-end pricey products when you have this?”
RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Moisturiser SPF30
This claims to double the skin’s hydration levels and visibly reduced lines and wrinkles in just one week.
Tester Angie says: “Although a lightweight cream, this gives a very nice hydrated feel to my face and leaves it feeling very moisturised. It plumps out the skin well, with the exception of the area underneath one of my eyes where I have a deeper line. My skin looked firmer, lifted and more radiant, and I noticed a reduction in sagging and a more even skin tone.”
Revolution Pro Miracle Water Cream
A new lighter version of Revolution's bestselling Miracle Cream, and one that looks considerably similar to Charlotte Tilbury's Charlotte's Magic Water Cream.
Laura says: "If you want to reap the skin-plumping benefits of some of the other serums and cream in this list but have oily or blemish-prone skin, this new moisturiser might be the one for you. It disperses quickly into the skin without leaving any residue, yet still gives a smoothing effect."
Wonderskin Liquid Gym Face Serum
With a collagen-building formula and a cooling massager tip, this promises more tightened, toned and radiant skin in as little as two weeks.
Tester Sara says: “This is a remarkable serum – it does what it says on the bottle! The little rollerballs are cool on the skin and distribute the serum efficiently while also massaging. Skin feels instantly tighter and firmer, and over a couple of weeks I noticed a visible difference. I also saw some success on it plumping out my nasolabial lines, and I had comments that my face looked radiant! I shall be buying it when it runs out.”
Kelsey Raspberry Farms Full Bloom Plumping Concentrate
Now £68 from Debenhams (usual price £80)
A lifting and plumping face oil concentrate made using antioxidant and omega-rich raspberry seed oil.
Tester Victoria says: "The texture is lovely, very easily absorbed and perfect under make-up. Skin looked hydrated and plumper after use, and it gave me a radiant glow. On several occasions friends commented that my make-up looked different, with more of a glowing finish, and the only thing I’d done differently was using this underneath. Lovely product, highly recommended!”