Posted by: Victoria Renee
Where I would start with crepey skin on your body
If crepey skin has started showing up on your arms or chest, I want to point you to the one made for exactly that. InvisiCrepe Body Balm is our body cream for crepey skin. It works on three fronts at once: it supports your skin barrier, delivers long-lasting hydration, and firms the look of thin, wrinkled skin. The result it is built for is a smoother, firmer, and more supple look across your whole body.
What crepey skin is, and why it shows on your arms and chest
Crepey skin is thin skin that has started to wrinkle and crease, so it looks a little like crepe paper. You will usually notice it first on your arms and around your chest and neck, where the skin is thinner and takes the most sun. As the Cleveland Clinic explains, crepey skin most often traces back to sun damage, since UV light breaks down the elastin that lets skin bounce back. Age plays a part too, and so do weight changes and everyday dryness. Once those fibers wear out, thin skin loses its spring and the crepey look sets in.
What is in the formula?
| Ingredient | What it does for the look of your skin |
|---|---|
| Niacinamide | Supports the look of firmer, tighter, more elastic skin while helping defend against visible signs of aging from environmental stressors |
| Lipid Compound | Locks in moisture by supporting the skin barrier, for long-lasting hydration and a healthier, more supple look |
| Ribose | Gives a smoother, younger look and feel by reducing the appearance of thinning, wrinkled skin on the body |
Niacinamide
Niacinamide leads the formula. It supports the look of firmer, tighter, more elastic skin. It also helps defend against the visible signs of aging that environmental stressors bring on. It is the same niacinamide you will see named on the label, and it is the piece doing the firming work here. If you like to read labels, our crepey skin ingredients guide breaks down niacinamide and the other names to look for.
Lipid Compound
Lipid Compound comes next, and it is the hydration engine. It locks in moisture by supporting your skin barrier, which is what gives you long-lasting hydration and a healthier, more supple look. When thin skin holds onto water, it reads plumper and less papery, so this is the part that keeps the crepey look from getting drier and sharper.
Ribose
Ribose rounds out the three. It gives your skin a smoother, younger look and feel by reducing the appearance of thinning, wrinkled skin on the body. Paired with the firming from niacinamide and the moisture from the lipid compound, it is the piece aimed at smoothing the surface itself. A few familiar comfort ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and aloe leaf juice back those three up.
How to use it
Using it takes a minute. Start with a quarter-sized amount and smooth it onto your neck and chest. Then work it onto your arms and legs, wherever the crepey look shows, using a circular, upward motion until it is fully absorbed. It slots into the body-care step of your routine, after your face products, the way our regimen guide lays it out. If you are weighing a balm against a lighter lotion or cream, the body cream guide walks through which texture suits your skin and the area you are treating. In an 8-week study, 22 users ages 46 to 75 used it once a day. After just 4 weeks, 95% said the overall texture of their skin looked better. 92% said the crepey skin on their chest looked reduced, and 91% said their skin looked smoother.
Which product for which area
InvisiCrepe Body Balm is built for the arms, legs, and chest, where crepey skin spreads most. For your hands, reach for our Restoring Hand Treatment instead, which is made for that thinner skin.
What it cannot do
I want to be honest about the limits here. This balm works on the look and feel of your skin, and it cannot undo sun damage that is already done. Daily sunscreen is what protects the skin from here forward, and the American Academy of Dermatology puts everyday sun protection first on its list for preventing premature aging. A cream can soften how crepey skin looks, but it will not reverse years of sun already in the skin. And when skin laxity runs deep, that is a conversation for a dermatologist, not a body cream.
Frequently asked questions
Does it have a scent?
Yes, it has a light Citrus Blossom fragrance. If added scent bothers your skin, keep that in mind before you use it over large areas.
Is there retinol in it?
No, there is no retinol or any retinoid in this formula. It works through niacinamide, a lipid compound, and ribose instead, which is why it suits daily use over large areas of skin.
How long until I see a difference?
Give it about 4 weeks to start, then keep going. In the study, people used it once a day and pointed to better texture and less visible crepiness by that first mark, in an 8-week run.
Can I use it on my hands?
You can. It just is not tuned for the heavy washing hands take or the dark spots that gather there, so a hand-specific formula gives you better results.
Can I use it on my face?
I would keep this one to your body. It is made for your neck and chest, and for your arms and legs. Use a product meant for facial skin on your face instead.
How much do I need per application?
A quarter-sized amount covers a good stretch of skin. Use that much per area of concern, and add a little more if you are covering something large like both arms or both legs.
The bottom line
If crepey skin on your body is the thing you keep noticing, this is the balm I would start you on. It brings the barrier support, the hydration, and the firmer look together. City Beauty product orders are covered by a 60 day money-back guarantee, so you have room to try it and watch how your skin responds over a few weeks. You can read more about the company and that promise on the facts page.