Firming

I hope that you've enjoyed my series on firming creams for your eyes, lips, face, bust and body. There are excessive amounts of these products on the market now, and truth be told, I am not completely sold on their effectiveness. They generally fall into a more of the anti-aging genre, so perhaps as gravity starts to take its toll, these items will come in more handy to fight the forces of nature. Below is my five-post round up on firming beauty products. If you have experience with any products in this category, please share them in a comment below.

• Firming Products For Your Bust
• Firming Products For Your Face
• Firming Products For Your Eyes
• Firming Products For Your Body
• Firming Products For Your Lips

Welcome back to my series on firming beauty products. Today's topic is body creams. Before we go any further, you need to know that no cream can actually remove cellulite. By following a healthy lifestyle you can shrink lipids, but topical creams will only work to stimulate your skin and temporarily help smooth the appearance of cellulite. Below are three that I've tried.

Benefit Jiggle Gel ($26) is a toning, firming, and hydrating moisturizer for your hips, thighs, tummy, arms, and booty. It claims to act as an "invisible girdle." I can't attest to it being quite that effective, but the mental image definitely worked to help me feel firmer. Simply smooth it onto your body and allow it to dry. I just read that it's also recommended to help reduce swelling after long flights, so it might be good for frequent fliers.


For two more body firming creams, read more

Since your lips and eyes have thin skin, they tend to show signs of aging more quickly than other areas of the body. Lip-firming products contain high concentrations of vitamins and anti-inflammatory agents, and they lessen the look of enlarged pores. Here are three products that have been recommended to me.

Pevonia Botanica Youthful Lip Cream ($46) sounds like the end-all, be-all lip-firming treatment. It's a great product for anyone who has yellow stains and/or fine wrinkles around their mouth from smoking. It contains SPF, timed-release retinol (to plump and smooth), shea butter (to moisturize and heal), and azelaic acid (to slightly lighten). Apparently, it also works great as a lipstick base. Apply twice daily and gently massage into the skin.

For two more firming and line-reducing lip creams, read more

Eyes are the windows to your soul, and they are also the first tell-tale sign of your age. Firming eye products are believed to tighten the skin around your orbital area to help smooth away the appearance of fine lines. They are generally light in texture and should be applied by tapping your ring finger in a figure-eight pattern. Here are three irritant-free firming eye products for sensitive eyes.

June Jacobs Firming Eye Repair ($64) is suitable for all skin types. It lifts, tightens, moisturizes reduces puffiness and minimizes the look of crow's feet. You'll instantly feel a cool and invigorating rush — and it happens to smell really good because it's made from a mixture of botanicals, and fruit and flower extracts.

For two more fab firming eye products, read more

Yesterday I told you a little bit about some firming bust creams, and today we're moving up on the body by focusing on creams to firm your face. Firming facial creams can help to minimize the appearance of your pores, and some can topically and temporarily suspend muscle contractions in your face — similar to what Botox does, but without the side effects.

Tracie Martyn Firming Serum ($185) is a favorite among celebrities, so I was really excited when I received a sample to test. I used it only a few times, but I found it to be calming, moisturizing, and brightening.

Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream ($77) is more for women in their 40s and up. The medium-weight cream has a very clean smell, and it claims to firm, tone and reduce those stubborn fine lines on your face. I found it to be soothing and it left my skin looking plump and smooth, but I didn't feel any particular sensation when I applied it, so it's hard for me to judge if it really worked.

For one more drugstore brand, read more

For those of you who worry about sagging skin on or around your breasts, these firming creams are designed to lift, tighten, and rejuvenate your bust contours by improving tone, texture, and firmness. These are great for new mothers, or for anyone looking for a topical preventative treatment.

Keep in mind that firming creams claim to hydrate, improve your skin's resilience and boost antioxidant and collagen production — but they aren't cure-alls, and their effects aren’t permanent. I've found a few bust-firming products below. These are items I haven't tested yet, but I can recommend these Apivita Express Bust Firming Mask Packets firsthand, which make your skin smell and feel baby soft.

Mama Mio Boob Tube ($38) is a product meant for new moms. Not only does it claim to soothe sore, itchy breasts and nipples, but it also prevents stretch marks and improves tone and firmness. If you have any friends who just had a little one, this is a great way to show some, uh, support.

Guinot Liftenseur Firming Bust Cream ($40) promises to tighten, plump, and mend the suspensory tissues in your skin. The box says to avoid your nipples, so consider yourself warned.

For one last drugstore option, read more

Sagging, drooping breasts are common complaints among the aging and those post-childbirth. I'm not sure why people don't expect it, since the laws of gravity tell us that what goes up must come down. Still, I guess losing the perky round shape of your breasts is a sign of saying sayonara to your youth. Hopefully now you can restore some of that depleting collagen in your boobies with these breast-firming treatments!

Apivita Express Bust Firming Mask with Centella ($24) is an invigorating and firming bust cream. (I'm not sure why they call it a mask since it doesn't dry and you don't wash it off.) It comes in individually packed sachets for easy travel use. It's formulated to help elasticity and firmness in your breasts, improve the overall texture of your breasts and leave your sexy skin feeling smooth and supple. After showering, apply a generous layer to your bust in circular motions until it's fully absorbed.

For two more breast-firming creams, read more

New from Benefit Cosmetics is their latest and greatest face serum called Firmology, $30.This "It" toning product intended for your face, neck and decolletage is made from Vitamins A and E to help improve elasticity in your skin. It is also formulated with hydrolyzed soy flour to help boost collagen fibers in your face which are necessary to tone aging and tired skin.

With continued use, your face will look radiant and feel ultra silky. Firmology has been dubbed "complexion lingerie" - how cute is that!

It is also clinically proven to help revitalize your skin to create a healthy glow (the light-reflecting pigments in it don't hurt either). Also, it's oil-free so it won't clog your pores. Enjoy.