The skin on your stomach starts out quite tight when you’re younger, but there are a lot of reasons why it can start to loosen and stretch out as you get older. If you lost a lot of weight and your stomach shrunk quite a bit, there could be loose skin left behind to deal with. Pregnancy is also something that stretches out the skin on your stomach. Many women find that their stomachs don’t look the same even after they’ve gone back to their pre-pregnancy weight.
If the loose skin on your stomach is making you feel self-conscious and prevents you from wearing things like short shirts or a bikini bathing suit top, you don’t have to ignore the issue and settle from the current condition of your stomach skin. There are different skin tightening creams that you can use regularly to improve the overall integrity and look of this area.
You might be apprehensive about skin tightening creams and whether or not they work. That’s why I’m here to help you navigate the various products that are available for this use. I’m only going to point you in the direction of the most effective and trustworthy products, so you can improve the look of your stomach and feel your best each day. Let’s get started as we have a lot to cover.
What Is Skin Tightening / Skin Firming Cream?
Skin tightening creams and skin firming products are designed with specific ingredients that will firm or plump up the skin with regular use. There is elastin in the skin that becomes stretched and loose, so applying things like collagen can help you bounce back to a level that increases your self-esteem. There are other ingredients that are beneficial, such as moisturizers that will hydrate and boost the overall health of your skin.
Which Cream Is Best for Skin Tightening for the Tummy Area?
Creams are a beneficial topical product because of their consistency. They have the ability to soak into the outer layers of your skin, providing a number of benefits. You'll find that products of this type don't often come in balms or very thick products that are hard to rub into those deeper layers. If you’re trying to determine what the best cream is for skin tightening in the tummy area, you’ll want to look for something that comes from a reputable brand and is made with high-quality ingredients. I’ll be covering some excellent creams coming up, and all of them are formulated and sold through brands that you can trust. There isn’t just one brand that people should trust. There are many that go to great lengths to provide quality options for people that care about their skincare and appearance. You can try multiple varieties until you get the results that you desire.
Do Skin Tightening Creams for Stomach Work?
Not all skin tightening creams work, but there are definitely specific options that can provide you with the results that you’re looking for. Some cheaper products may advertise that they can tighten the skin on your stomach, but results are lacking. If you invest in products that contain powerful ingredients such as retinyl palmitate, collagen, glycerin and gingko biloba, you should be able to make some changes for the better. Just keep in mind, it may take you some time to actually see the tightening of your skin. This is a large area of the body, and it can take weeks to see a substantial change.
What to Look for in a Skin Tightening Cream for Your Stomach
There are a number of things that you can look for in a skin tightening cream for your stomach that will increase your chances of seeing positive results. Let’s take a look at what you should watch out for.
The Right Ingredients
The ingredient composition in a skin tightening cream is what makes all the difference when it comes to actually being able to tighten your skin. Ingredients will vary from product to product, but there are some key components to look for.
Retinyl Palmitate (Form of Vitamin A)
Retinyl Palmitate is just one of four different retinoids that are used for skincare. All of them are derived from vitamin A and generally have similar effects. Retinyl Palmitate can speed up the cellular turnover process on the surface of the skin. The result is smoother and tighter skin that is free of wrinkles and sagging. It can also promote a more even skin tone. If you have stretch marks or discoloration on your stomach, this is a definite ingredient you should look for.
The antioxidant composition in Retinyl Palmitate protects your skin from free radical damage. If you’re prone to body breakouts, this ingredient can keep your pores clear and clean, so you experience healthier looking skin all over your body. Most people don’t experience any kind of unwanted side effects from Retinyl Palmitate, but you should watch out for things like peeling, redness and itching.
Collagen
Collagen can be taken orally for skin benefits, but it’s also included in a lot of topical products as well. If you’re attempting to tighten the skin on your stomach, make sure collagen is a main ingredient. It positively affects skin elasticity and hydration, which are both very important for getting the flat and smooth look you’re craving. Collagen can help your skin retain water, which makes your stomach look tighter overall. There won’t appear to be loose skin or wrinkles to worry about.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba comes from a tree that is native to China, and it has a lot of beneficial properties for whole body health as well as for your skin. It is a powerful antioxidant, so it will protect your skin from sun damage and other irritants. It can also hydrate the skin, promote more even skin tone and tighten loose skin. It also increases collagen production in your body. Ginkgo biloba decreases inflammation in the body and at surface level.
Glycerin
Glycerin is an important skincare ingredient that increases the amount of moisture that’s present in aging skin. It will also pull your outer layer of skin away from the second layer, creating a tighter surface area. This will also reduce the appearance of wrinkles, sagging, fine lines and stretch marks. It’s also a great toner if you experience body breakouts.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Tocopheryl acetate is a form of vitamin E that contains natural antioxidants and skin conditioners. It can help heal the skin, but also help to diminish signs of aging. It adds moisture to your skin but will also strengthen the skin’s protective barrier.
Quality of Product
High quality ingredients translate to a high-quality product that will be effective for what you want it to accomplish. Don’t always settle for the cheapest product you can find. This usually means that low quality ingredients have been used from untrustworthy sources. There may be contaminants and toxins in the product that could negatively affect your skin rather than help it. Invest in a quality skincare product that you can add to your routine with the goal of tightening the skin on your stomach.
Brand Transparency
When you’re interested in a specific product for skincare, take a good look at the brand that makes the product. Ensure that they are honest about what ingredients they use, where those ingredients are sourced, what makes their product the best option, what customers have said about their products and information about third-party testing that may have been used.
User Success Stories / Positive Experiences
In order to get a good idea of how well a product works, you can turn to the user's success stories to see what other people have achieved with its use. Reading about positive experiences will boost your confidence level in a product. You can also read the bad reviews. There may be products that you’re interested in, but it turns out that they weren’t effective, or people had bad experiences with them. Remember, a skincare brand is only going to tell you the good things about their product. If there’s a chance that a product isn’t going to work, you’ll only find that out from customer reviews.
The Five Best Skin Tightening Creams for Your Stomach
#1. Dermelect LIPO-CONQUER Body Toning Cream
Dermelect LIPO-CONQUER Body Toning Cream is a great skincare option for things like sagging arms, thighs and love handles. Ginkgo biloba is used as a main ingredient to replenish moisture and enhance skin renewal. Caffeine will smooth out the appearance of puffy skin as well as stretch marks and dimpling. Vitamin A (also known as retinol) exfoliates dead skin cells, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Read our review of Dermelect here.
Pros
- Dermelect does not use animal testing for any of their products
- Made with natural ingredients
- Replenishes moisture
- Enhances skin renewal
- Exfoliates with vitamin A
Cons
- Key ingredients are detailed on the company’s website, but it’s not easy to find all of the ingredients of this product
#2. Maelys B-Flat Belly Firming Cream
If you’re looking to tighten the skin on your stomach and reduce the appearance of stretch marks, Maelys B-Flat Belly Firming Cream is designed to promote smoother skin thanks to ingredients such as shea butter, avocado extract and pink pepperslim. Very safe for your skin, this product is free of artificial ingredients such as parabens and SLS.
Maelys recommends that you use this product twice per day for optimal results. You simply use a small amount of the cream and rub it into your skin. You may feel a slightly warm sensation after application, but that’s all that’s needed to achieve tighter skin on your stomach in as little as two months. Eighty-six percent of users claimed their stretch marks were less noticeable with regular use. Ninety-three percent felt the skin on their stomach appeared smoother.
Pros
- Reduces the appearance of stretch marks
- Clinically proven
- Cruelty free product brand
- Clinical trials and consumer testing is used to confirm the integrity of Maelys products
- Decreases belly roughness
Cons
- Contains artificial fragrance, which can be irritating to some people
#3. TRULY Dulce De Leches Firming Boob and Belly Polish
This product from Truly Beauty is slightly different in that it’s a scrub / polish rather than just a cream. It’s designed to lift and tighten the skin on your chest and stomach with the use of hydrating coconut milk guarana. The goal is to tone, tighten, and smooth your skin while reducing the appearance of stretch marks and sagging. It’s made with .2% retinol to promote better cell turnover. Cocoa butter hydrates the skin to make it feel softer (while also protecting the skin against free radical damage). TRULY Dulce De Leches Firming Boob and Belly Polish is high in essential amino acids and vitamin C.
Pros
- Blurs fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration
- Cocoa butter is used to hydrate
- Protects against free radicals
- Tones, tightens and smooths the skin
- Contains natural ingredients like coconut and guarana
Cons
- Contains artificial fragrance
#4. Steel Fit + Tone Total Body Toning Lotion
You can use Steel Fit + Tone Total Body Toning Lotion to firm and contour the skin on your stomach (and body) thanks to high-quality, clinically researched ingredients. This product contains a variety of natural vitamins, herbs and botanicals that lead to healthier skin overall. It’s an advanced 24-hour moisturizing cream that helps you look your best when you’re not happy with how your skin looks.
Unislim is the main ingredient in Steel Fit + Tone Total Body Toning Lotion. It is a contouring ingredient that can reduce the amount of excess fat in a specific area. It contains Coffea arabica and Yerba Mate. Collagen has been added to help with the process of building back elasticity in the skin that can be caused by the normal aging process, poor diet, stress, etc. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 is a popular anti-wrinkle agent that stimulates the production of different types of collagens.
Pros
- A 24-hour daily moisturizing and body toning lotion
- Contains natural vitamins, herbs, and botanicals
- Firms the skin
- Does not cause redness or irritation
- Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Contains almond oil, making it unsafe for nut allergies
#5. Asam Beauty VINO Gold Skin Tightening Body Cream
Asam Beauty VINO Gold Skin Tightening Body Cream is a vegan product that can produce smoother and firmer skin on your stomach and other areas of your body. It contains a specially formulated slimming complex that works hard to target cellulite and stimulate circulation. Some of the main ingredients that hydrate, and firm are shea butter, cacao butter, vitamins E and B3 and aloe vera.
You simply apply this product to clean skin in both the morning and night for best results. There are other products that are part of this skincare line from Asam Beauty that allow you to target other areas of your body as well.
Pros
- Vegan body cream
- Provides tightening effects
- Targets cellulite
- Stimulates circulation where applied
- Contains shea butter and cacao butter
Cons
- Contains sweet almond oil, making it unsafe for nut allergies
The Bottom Line
There are so many different beauty products available right now that allow us to target the different areas of our body that we’re not happy with. From loose skin on our stomach to aging skin with wrinkles, there are ways we can turn back the hands of time, so we look youthful again. As we age, our skin will naturally loosen. There are other factors that can impact the elasticity of our skink such as pregnancy and weight loss. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to settle for how the skin on your stomach looks. If you’re not happy, you can look at some of the products that I’ve talked about in this article as a way to get started. There are plenty of other options as well.
Tips for Success
Looking for other ways to tighten the skin on your belly? Here are some of my tips for success that may be able to provide you with the results that you’re looking for.
- There are skincare devices that you can use on your skin that will promote increased collagen production and boost skin elasticity. They generally use massage and infrared light to achieve results.
- Increase the amount of protein that you eat each day. Protein promotes the production of muscle while increasing the firmness of your skin. Healthy sources include chicken, eggs, nuts and milk products.
- Exercise may have gotten you to this place if you’re dealing with excess skin because of weight loss but keep exercising to strengthen the muscles that are under your skin. Sit-ups and crunches are simple yet effective when it comes to reducing the appearance of sagging skin.
