As an esthetician (and skincare junkie) I’m always hunting for ways to help others look and feel their best. One of the most common issues people bring to me may surprise you—and it has nothing to do with the skin on your face.
In fact, we spend so much time paying attention to the skin on our face that we often forget the rest of our body needs attention, too! That’s why people are always asking me about what they can do about skin that shows signs of aging on their neck, arms, and midsections.
As a woman approaching 40, I’ve been there! When so-called “body-tightening” creams started to trend like wildfire a few years ago, I was skeptical—but now that I’ve started to use one of these creams daily, I’m ready to weigh in with some expert info… and a recommendation on which product I think is worth your time.
A Tale as Old as Time…
Let’s face it: even if we take care of our skin and live a balanced lifestyle, there’s just no stopping the march of time. As we age, our skin loses density and elasticity, causing it to look weathered and crepey. This is particularly true in often neglected areas like the neck, upper arms, and thighs.
I can’t tell you how many people have come to me because they’re experiencing insecurity around the way their skin looks in these areas—but I have good news!
There are products that can help mitigate signs of aging skin all over your body by supporting collagen and elastin production (two fibers that keep skin smooth and supple) and protecting the lipid barrier that keeps our skin moisturized.
While diet and exercise (and a good sunscreen!) go a long way toward combating common signs of skin aging, a good body cream can really take you the extra distance, helping you look younger by restoring radiance and firmness to your skin. But are all body creams equal? In my professional opinion, absolutely not.
Super-Salve, or Snake Oil?
When I started noticing body creams claiming to be “tightening” or “skin firming” on shelves years ago, it struck me as wishful marketing—so, being a pro, I decided to do some research and ultimately gave a few different options a try.
Let me cut right to the chase: a product is only as effective as its ingredients. While products like Sol de Janiero’s Bum Bum Cream offer some benefits, they can be pricey for what’s actually under the hood (I mean, $48? Are you kidding me?).
Thankfully, I have found one body cream that simply works and is packed with potent, effective ingredients and botanicals designed to visibly firm skin while adding luster and smoothness. It’s Bliss’ Fabgirl Firm Skin Tightening Body Cream. The best part? It’s only $24.
The Right Stuff
The thing that first drew me to Fabgirl Firm Skin Tightening Body Cream (and the reason why I continue to use it every day) is its superstar roster of ingredients, chief among which are shiitake mushroom extract (to visibly improve skin firmness and elasticity), caffeine (to increase blood flow and naturally tighten the skin), shea butter (to intensely nourish and prevent dryness), and a very cool ingredient called sodium hyaluronate.
“What’s so special about sodium hyaluronate?” you may be asking. It’s a powerhouse moisturizer with a molecular structure smaller than common moisturizers like hyaluronic acid, meaning that it absorbs better into the skin and can hold 1000x its weight in water in order to provide lightweight, all-day hydration.
My Fabgirl Journey
With an ingredients list like this and a superstar blend of botanicals to boot, I was pretty confident in purchasing a tub of Fabgirl for just $24—and do you know what? I’ve never looked back. After a few months of using this stuff, my skin is smoother, tighter, and more lustrous all over. I’ve been recommending it to clients and friends left and right.
What I love most about it is that, even with all of these hard-working ingredients, Fabgirl doesn’t leave any film or stickiness after you put it on. Every time I use it, I find Fabgirl absorbs fast and gives my skin an immediate boost, meaning I’m reaching for my favorite deep v-neck more without any fear.
