15 Plumping Skincare Products For A Smooth Complexion

Welcome to a whole new skincare category that fills out lines, hydrates, intensely moisturises and smooths out creases without a needle in sight. Although admittedly these won’t give you the same long-term effects of cosmetic fillers, they’re the next best thing to bouncy skin. Sound too good to be true?
Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza, co-founder of Hungarian beauty brand Omorovicza explains, “as we age, collagen production declines, leading to a loss in elasticity and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid are key components within the skin to keep it looking plump and firm. Any ingredient which stimulates the production of these components, or which deliver them to the skin, can give a plumping effect.” Often these creams don’t have an SPF, so make sure to layer on top for optimum skin protection.
Here are the products that we’ve been slathering, trying, and testing that really do defy gravity and restore volume in the face…
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream, £35
This lightweight whipped-gel cream won’t let you down. With a cocktail of brightening plum, hydrating hyaluronic acid, balancing willowherb and peptides which together give plump, bouncy, healthy-looking skin with just the right amount of glow. And the refillable jar is an added bonus.
ESPA Tri-Active Regenerating Phyto-Collagen Plumping Cream, £82
Hands down this is the best smelling cream on this list. Lightweight, non-greasy and packed with all the good stuff to support the skin’s own hyaluronic production while phyto-collagen plumps skin and bio retinol keeps wrinkles at bay. A solid all-rounder.
Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Day Cream SPF30, £38
Finally, a powerful formula without the hefty price tag! This surprisingly light moisturiser is designed to give a continuous flow of hydration over an impressive 24-hour period (that’s quite the claim!) Formulated with collagen peptide and vitamin B3, both of which play a key role in hydrating and protecting skin all day long. A great choice for sensitive skin as it doesn’t contain fragrance or dyes.
Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Serum, £84
This dual-action serum is jam-packed with peptides, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid that flood the skin with nutrition and hydration, leaving a hint of radiance in its path that’s visible even under makeup. Plus, it claims to make your moisturiser work harder too.
SVR Collagen Biotic, £40
This plant-based collagen booster cream has been cleverly designed so it’s identical to human collagen, which then teases the skin into strengthening and restructuring the skin barrier giving it more bounce. Skincare innovation at its best. The formula isn’t sticky or greasy so there’s no downtime before you apply your makeup. They’ve really thought of everything.
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream, £63
Gorgeous packaging with a mini spatula included, it’s hard not to fall in love with this at first sight. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a hydrating hardworking rich cream that’s packed with ingredients guided by modern-day geishas and Japanese scientists. Quite refreshingly it doesn’t specify whether to use this either AM or PM, so we’ve been slapping it on twice a day and our radiant and bouncy skin is testament to this.
Guerlain Abeille Royale Advanced Youth Watery Oil, from £42
This brand has long recognised the power of the bee. This unusual liquid texture (similar to a runny serum) houses all the best skin properties that bees give us, allowing skin to repair itself nine times faster! If you’re the impatient type, make this your go-to for fast, sweet-smelling plumped up skin.
athletia Phyto Sleeping Cream, £86
We’ve said it before, ‘beauty sleep’ is a real thing and if you’re not getting enough shut eye your skin will suffer. Which is why we are thankful for this rich moisturiser that quite literally plumps up lines and gives thirsty skin a drink while you sleep. Love an overnight beauty treatment? Here’s some more winning products to use while you snooze.
Omorovicza Instant Plumping Cream, £115
Aptly named, this moisturiser is made up of micro-spheres that contain konjac glucomannan, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine for its ability to absorb up to 200 times its weight in water. Needless to say, your skin will look more youthful with a regular slathering of this long-lasting and rather incredible hydrator.
Biossance Squalane and Copper Peptide Serum, £52
Powered by a ‘Rapid Plumping Complex’ of hydrating ingredients (read: hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid and squalane) which leaves skin with a supple finish, a springy bounce, and a beautiful dewy veil on skin.
BioEffect EGF Serum, from £49
Anti-ageing, collagen boosting and a skin refresher that every city dweller needs in their skincare arsenal. You’ll literally see wrinkles diminish as the skin is refreshed and plumped thanks to the moisture-binding and skin-rejuvenating EGF protein. It’s strikingly obvious why this is the brand’s hero product.
Super Facialist Hyaluronic Acid Firming Super Lift Day Cream, £12.75
Punching way above its weight, this creamy moisturiser will nourish, hydrate, and noticeably plump skin while keeping within budget. The creamy formula absorbs in seconds, feels super luxe and makes a great slip-free base to layer your foundation.
StriVectin Contour Restore™ Tightening & Sculpting Face Cream, £79
Sagging skin bygone! This powerful moisturiser will firm up areas on your face you didn’t think needed firming. With continual use your skin will look more youthful and bouncier and your jawline and cheekbones more pronounced. Consider this your facelift in a bottle.
Plantopia Radiance Reboot Face & Eye Mask, £20
For a quick fix, pop on this multi-purpose, clarifying face and eye mask. This unique gel cream presses reset on stressed skin and tense, puffy faces. Ten minutes later you’ll have plumper, smoother and radiant skin, with a natural, mattified glow. A party prep essential.
Trinny London Plump Up Peptide+ HA Serum
Hyaluronic acid brings intense hydration to this serum, with a clinical study showing that advanced the Hexapeptide-9 and High-tech 4-peptide formulation is proven to firm and strengthen your skin by improving elasticity by 63% and firmness by up to 64%. Boosting collagen and elastin production, pop this on just before moisturiser.
The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.