Topical products may not solve some skin problems, but for some concerns active ingredients, specific application methods and consistency in use can help. While there is no “cure” for cellulite, a good cream can help with skin texture and appearance, as long as you choose one with the right formula and use it correctly. Look for ingredients like vitamins, cocoa butter, and shea butter that can help increase collagen production in the skin. Our pick for the best cellulite cream is from Sol de Janeiroand an excellent choice for mature skin is Clarins’ Body Fit Gel Cream.
The best cellulite creams are designed to hydrate, plump and improve the overall appearance of the skin.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
Cellulite cream is generally designed to be a skin-plumping treatment, but it can also be an all-over moisturizer. We considered a range of skin types, concerns and lifestyles when making our product selections and included both luxury products and more affordable options. Below, find the best cellulite creams, according to the insights of a plastic surgeon and a lymphatic drainage practitioner.
This TikTok-viral cream is loved for its delightful pistachio, vanilla and salted caramel scent along with its soothing and firming properties. Enriched with caffeine-rich guarana extract (an ingredient found in the Amazon that has five times more caffeine than coffee), cupuaçu butter, açaí oil and Brazil nut oil, it helps deeply hydrate skin and protect against environmental damage. No wonder the brand says one Bum Bum cream is sold every six seconds.
This affordable cocoa butter-based cream is designed to deeply hydrate and improve skin elasticity. Made with collagen, elastin, Q10 and vitamin E, this rich cream is highly healing and helps protect the skin barrier. Since it’s packed with antioxidants, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks, making it especially popular among moms-to-be and new moms.
Augustinus Bader
Augustinus Bader The Body Cream
Made with the same ingredients as its award-winning face cream, this body care product from Augustinus Bader includes the brand’s Trigger Factor Complex, TFC8 – an exclusive blend of amino acids, vitamins and peptides developed by a stem cell biologist and regenerative medicine physician on from three decades of research. This incredibly rich cream intensely hydrates and softens, while improving skin tone and texture thanks to plant-derived shea butter and bisabolol. The fragrance-free formula is gentle enough for sensitive skin, and those with dry skin will also love the thick, buttery texture.
Clarins
Clarins Body Fit Active
This reformulated version of Clarins’ famous gel-cream blends organic matcha tea extract, caffeine, quince leaves, organic aloe vera, organic coconut oil and organic peppermint water to reduce the appearance of dimpled skin. It also features the brand’s cryo-active technology, which provides a cooling sensation to the skin. LA-based lymphatic drainage practitioner Karina Mello sees improvements in clients’ skin when they use this firming and lifting gel, and she also loves how quickly it absorbs into the skin.
U Beauty
U Beauty The Sculpt
U Beauty’s The Sculpt Arm Compound features marine extracts, probiotics and the brand’s signature complex known as the Siren Capsule, which includes vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acids and retinol. In addition to helping to tighten loose or chapped skin, this formula boosts hydration and neutralizes free radicals. If you plan to wear it during the day, be sure to put a sunscreen over it, as retinol can increase sun sensitivity. The product also comes with refillable packaging.
Soft Services
Soft Services Software Update Serum Retinol
With 0.25% retinol, this nighttime body treatment is designed to accelerate skin cell turnover while helping to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. The formula also includes brightening and moisturizing ingredients such as 5% niacinamide and 3% glycerin.
POPULAR
This whipped body butter contains a trio of shea, cocoa and mango butters, as well as vitamins A and E. Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, it improves skin tone and texture – and glides on like butter, melting into the skin upon application . Reviewers also love the refreshing and invigorating citrus scent.
Made with avocado extract, shea butter and pink pepper to nourish the skin, this firming cream is marketed for the stomach, but can be used anywhere else on the body. Mello is a fan of the product and says she saw a difference after just three to four days of continuous use on her thighs (she notes that it takes about two weeks to see results with most other cellulite creams).
With its unique hybrid oil-cream texture, this milky formula is incredibly soothing. Thanks to its blend of surfactants, emollients and probiotics, it helps boost moisture levels and promote ceramide production. The fragrance-free, essential oil-free lotion targets dry skin, visible scarring, chapping and redness.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we are always diligently researching solutions for a wide range of skin concerns. We cover topics ranging from the best body scrubs to the top electric razors for women.
The author of this story Jayme Cyk is a regular beauty contributor. She has over a decade of experience writing for publications such as WWD, Violet Grey, Vogue.com and more.
This story was assigned and edited by associate editor Jane Sung, who leads the beauty and grooming section.
Cyk interviewed two experts, Dr. Lara Devgan MDboard certified plastic surgeon and Karina Mello, a lymphatic drainage practitioner based in Los Angeles. Each gave their recommendations and insights on what to look for in a cellulite cream.
How we chose the best cellulite creams
To find the best cellulite creams, we gathered key ingredients and suggested application techniques based on expert knowledge.
Treating the appearance of cellulite requires more than a basic topical cream, which is why we chose options with active ingredients.
We carefully evaluated the texture of each product, looked at a range of price points and made sure to consider different skin types.
Our experts shared recommendations based on their personal and professional experiences, and we carefully reviewed customer reviews to ensure each product delivers on its promises.
How to choose an anti-cellulite cream
Plastic surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan says cellulite is caused by the depletion of collagen in the skin. Here’s what experts say to consider when looking for the best cellulite creams.
Components
Devgan recommends formulas containing vitamins D, C, E, A and K to help protect barriers and hydrate and potentially increase the skin’s resistance to cellulite. Retinol and retinoids improve skin cell turnover and can be helpful in giving the skin’s surface a more even appearance, while azelaic acid, vitamin C and ascorbic acid work to treat an uneven tone. “These are all ingredients that act as brighteners and clear free radical damage,” she says. Mello looks for ingredients like menthol, acai and caffeine because they help stimulate and activate blood flow.
Texture
While it’s mostly down to personal preference, Devgan recommends oil-based products because they work best to improve barrier protection while locking in moisture and hydration—though creams can be just as effective. “Products that have more of a cream base are partially water-based and may absorb more quickly into the skin,” she says.
Skin type
Mello says different skin types should look for different textures. For example, those prone to acne or body bumps may prefer a light texture like a gel. If you have sensitive skin, choose a fragrance-free formula. The drier your skin is, the thicker you’ll want your cream to be—and those with particularly dry skin may opt for a body butter instead of a traditional cream.
