7 Best Collagen Creams Our Lab Stands By
These are the collagen creams that actually worked in our testing.
Reviewed by Chiara ButlerBeauty and Personal Care Lab Reviews Analyst
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It seems like almost every skincare product I see these days in my travels as a beauty editor is shouting its “collagen” benefits. But there is a lot of confusion about what the ingredient, a protein that's a building block of skin, can and can't do in topical formulas like creams. The truth: Collagen molecules are too large to penetrate skin, so they do not stimulate collagen production, explains Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann. Instead, they remain on skin’s surface, acting as moisturizers that can have temporary smoothing and plumping benefits, she adds.
So what collagen skincare products actually work long-term? Those that contain ingredients that stimulate collagen production, such as retinol and peptides, or help prevent its breakdown, like antioxidants.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream
- Best Value: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Moisturizer SPF 30
- Best for Aging Skin: Algenist Genius Sleeping Collagen
- Best for Wrinkles: Roc Skincare Multi Correxion Even Tone + Lift Moisturizer SPF 30
The GH Beauty Lab regularly tests skincare products that claim to increase collagen production, including moisturizers, using both Lab instruments to assess efficacy at reducing wrinkles and firming skin, as well as consumer tester feedback to evaluate ease of use, product attributes, and real-life effects. Below, read all about the best collagen-boosting creams on the market, according to GH Beauty Lab testing.
Pros
- Reduced wrinkles by 13% in Lab testing
- Increased firmness by 34%
- Raised skin hydration by 32%
- Not irritating
Cons
- Not as effective at minimizing dark spots
What made it a winner: No7’s night cream, which is formulated with the collagen boosters retinyl palmitate, a form of retinol, and peptides proved to be a powerhouse in GH Beauty Lab testing. It reduced wrinkles by 13% and increased firmness 34% over four weeks per measurements with the Visia Complexion Analyzer and Cutometer, respectively. The cream also upped skin hydration by 32% in six hours in testing with the Corneometer machine, but it wasn’t as strong at minimizing dark spots.
Testers said: They gave it top points for not irritating skin, soaking in fast, and having a pleasant texture that wasn't tacky or oily. Many testers commented on how moisturized their skin felt after use. One said it made her skin look “younger and supple.”
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Pros
- Reduced dark spots by 13.5% in Lab testing
- Firmed skin and evened tone
- Smooth lines
- Increases radiance
Cons
- Some testers wanted a richer formula
What made it a winner: This drugstore buy from Neutrogena, infused with the gold standard collagen-boosting ingredient retinol, was a star in the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging day cream test. In tests with the Visia Complexion Analyzer, it reduced dark spots by 13.5%, and measurably firmed skin and evened tone over eight weeks of use. Bonus: It also protects against collagen breakdown from sun damage with broad-spectrum SPF 30.
Testers said: The lotion was a tester favorite, earning high scores for enhancing skin’s radiance and smoothing lines. They praised its fast absorption, gentleness, and minimal scent, though some wished the formula was richer. "My skin looks younger and firmer,” a tester remarked.
RELATED: Best Moisturizers with SPF
Algenist Genius Sleeping Collagen
Algenist Genius Sleeping Collagen
Pros
- Increased skin firmness by 33% in Lab tests
- Raised skin moisturization by 28%
- Rich formula
Cons
- May not soak in fast
What made it a winner: Nourish mature skin by smoothing on Algenist’s balm-like formulation enriched with fortifying collagen, ceramides, and fatty acids, a top performer in the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging night cream test. Calculations with the Lab’s Cutometer device showed that it boosted skin elasticity and firmness by 33% over four weeks. Skin hydration also increased by 28% in six hours in readings with the Corneometer machine.
Testers said: “I could really tell a difference in my skin—it was more firm and moist 24/7,” one raved. Note that some users found the cream didn’t absorb quickly.
Roc Skincare Multi Correxion Even Tone + Lift Moisturizer SPF 30
Roc Skincare Multi Correxion Even Tone + Lift Moisturizer SPF 30
Pros
- Smoothed skin texture by 11% in Lab tests
- Reduced wrinkles and firmed skin
- Has SPF to protect skin against collagen degradation
Cons
- A few testers reported breakouts
What made it a winner: This SPF 30 moisturizer from Roc Skincare with collagen-protecting vitamin C came out on top of the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging day creams test for smoothing lines. Lab digital imaging with the Visia Complexion Analyzer showed it improved skin’s texture by 11% in four weeks; it also rated highly for diminishing wrinkles and firming.
Testers said: “It left my skin feeling plump and looking smooth,” a user reported. A few testers found it caused breakouts, however.
RELATED: Best Wrinkle Creams
Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing Eye Cream
Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing Eye Cream
Pros
- Increased skin firmness by 29% in Lab tests
- Boosted skin hydration by 41%
- Doesn't cause irritation
Cons
- May take time to absorb
What made it a winner: Best in the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging eye cream test, Lancôme’s luxe formula with collagen-protecting vitamin C effectively firms and moisturizes the eye area. The formula boosted skin firmness by 29% in four weeks and increased hydration 41% in measurements with the Lab’s Corneometer machine.
Testers said: Users found the cream non-irritating and liked the texture, though it didn’t soak into skin immediately. Skin was left "smooth and younger-looking from the very first use," a tester said.
RELATED: Best Eye Creams
No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck Multi Action Serum
No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck Multi Action Serum
Pros
- Visibly tightened and lifted skin in Lab digital imaging tests
- Absorbs fast
- Works on face and neck
Cons
- A few testers reported irritation
What made it a winner: No7’s serum with collagen-boosting retinoids and peptides won the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-aging neck treatment test for firming and lifting skin. Before-and-after images taken with high-resolution photography showed the most improvement in tightening and lifting neck skin over 12 weeks. (Note that it can also be used on the face.)
Testers said: “This made my neck more firm,” a tester marveled. Though some users noted that it irritated their skin, they gave it the best scores for its pleasant texture and soaking in quickly.
RELATED: Best Neck Firming Creams
Murad Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment
Murad Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment
Pros
- Made with a powerful form of collagen-boosting retinol
- 100% of testers found it made skin soft and moisturized
- Not greasy
Cons
- Thick formula may be too heavy for some
What made it a winner: Treat your body skin to the same age-fighting benefits as your face thanks to this GH Beauty Award-winning Murad cream containing retinal, a more powerful form of retinol to increase collagen production. A full 100% of testers found it made skin feel soft and look moisturized yet wasn’t greasy. Note that the buttery formula may be too thick for those who prefer lighter moisturizers.
Testers and experts said: “It has transformed my irritated skin, making it plumper and smoother,” Wizemann commented. Another user agreed, noting “my skin feels more supple and bouncy.”
How we test collagen-boosting creams
Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists regularly test anti-aging skincare products, including moisturizers. In Beauty Lab evaluations, products are assessed using instruments such as the Corneometer to measure hydration, the Cutometer to evaluate firmness, and the VISIA Complexion Analyzer to track changes in lines and wrinkles. Consumer testers also evaluate products for visible results, texture, scent, application, and ease of use. The products featured here include formulas that performed well in previous Beauty Lab testing, and those findings help inform our recommendations.
What to look for in collagen-boosting creams
Since collagen is a very large molecule, it has difficulty penetrating the skin's surface when applied topically, explains Lian Mack, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital Center in New York City. "Topical preparations containing collagen help the skin look smoother because they help it retain water," she says. "When skin cells are plump and fully hydrated, skin appears more supple and radiant."
"While applying collagen to the skin may not boost the amount of collagen within skin because it is unable to penetrate, there are ingredients that increase collagen production or prevent its breakdown," Dr. Mack adds. “Collagen rebuilding products help the skin look more youthful because the more collagen we have in our skin, the less sagging we see, along with fewer fine lines and wrinkles."
To stimulate collagen production and preserve existing collagen, seek out the following ingredients in leave-on topical skincare products including creams:
✔️ Retinol (vitamin A): “It stimulates collagen production and prevents the breakdown of collagen by blocking the activity of certain enzymes in skin," Dr. Mack says.
✔️ Peptides: “They act as messengers within cells, so they can signal our skin cells to create collagen,” explains GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler.
✔️ Vitamin C: This antioxidant “protects skin from free radicals, which prevents the breakdown of collagen from environmental stressors," Dr. Mack says.
✔️ Sunscreen: “UV light directly damages collagen in skin—sunscreens protect collagen by absorbing the UV light,” Butler explains. The GH Beauty Lab recommends applying a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher face sunscreen daily.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Senior Beauty & Style Director April Franzino has nearly 20 years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare-related content. For this piece, April worked closely with the GH Beauty Lab to report on the Lab's top-tested collagen-boosting skincare products. She also interviewed dermatologists for their expertise on the topic.
GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler has years of experience as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands. She conducts skincare category tests, including anti-aging serums, and provided an expert review of this article.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she’s been doing hands-on testing of beauty products since 2022. She also covers aesthetic treatments like injectables and lasers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. When not at GH, you can find her wandering the beauty aisles of the drugstore.
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