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Perk up arms, legs and buttocks with these dermatologist-approved formulas.

While there are many things in life that can be changed with a quick fix, cellulite, unfortunately, is not one of them. These dimples that often appear on your buttocks and legs are stubborn and can be tough to treat. But that doesn't mean you are out of options; there are products available that can help improve the appearance of cellulite if it's something you'd like to address.

Before we get into the treatment, let's do a quick refresher on the condition itself. Dr. Michelle Henry, M.D., founder of Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan, explains what cellulite is: "The fibrous connective cords that connect the skin to the underlying muscle thicken and become more rigid with time and as you age," she says. "There is fat lying between fibrous columns, similar to a mattress. As fat cells accumulate, they push up against the skin, while the long cords pull down, which creates the dimpled and bumpy appearance." In terms of causes, feel free to blame your parents (thanks, genetics!) and hormones, which also play a big role. If any of this sounds (or looks) familiar to you, don't stress. Cellulite is super common and has no harmful effects on your body or health.

Still intrigued by ways to smooth your skin? We've pulled together the top at-home cellulite creams — with the most powerful, tightening ingredients — including expert picks and top-sellers.

Yes, Alastin's cream is pricey, but Dr. Henry is a big fan of the treatment, which contains peptides that help with skin firming, and botanicals that work synergistically with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin. "I love the smart technology it uses to target the fat layers of the skin, which helps the body produce new collagen to firm the skin's texture," she says. While it's super effective on its own, the cream also complements any in-office procedures and can make them even more effective, with results seen after 8-12 weeks of use.

• Key Ingredients: Peptides and botanicals • Product Size: 6 ounces

Thanks to collagen peptides and elastin, Jergens' super-affordable cream tightens skin while deeply nourishing it. And it works fast — users are hooked after the first application. "The first day I used it my skin looked better, and it keeps getting better every day that I continue to use it," one Walmart reviewer says.

• Key Ingredients: Collagen peptides and elastin • Product Size: 16.8 ounces

With over 23,500 ratings on Amazon, this sweet-smelling cream from Brazilian brand Sol de Janeiro is a top-seller for good reason: it utilizes Amazon-sourced guaraná extract, which has five times more caffeine than coffee, to help stimulate micro-circulation in the skin. The brand recommends massaging it onto the skin in a circular motion for best results. "It perked my skin up a bit especially on the sides of my butt," says one Amazon reviewer. "It also leaves a beautiful sheen on your skin."

• Key Ingredients: Guaraná extract, cupuaçu butter, açaí oil and coconut oil • Product Size: 8 ounces

While many cellulite creams tend to be thick and rich, Body Merry's formula is a lightweight gel-cream that spreads super easily and (unlike many gels) doesn't leave skin sticky. Plus, it has a slight cooling and tingling effect while it works to tighten and firm skin. "I've been using this for about 6 months and definitely see a difference [...] I no longer have cellulite on the back of my legs," says one Amazon reviewer.

• Key Ingredients: Caffeine and coconut oil • Product Size: 4 ounces

If you are looking for an unscented product that absorbs instantly and softens skin, Nivea's lotion is for you. Designed to be used twice daily, the formula includes a blend of Q10, l-carnitine, and lotus extract to firm and smooth skin. It claims to have an effect in as little as two weeks and reviewers stand by this: "My legs look so much better," says one Amazon user. "It only took two weeks to see the difference!"

• Key Ingredients: Q10, l-carnitine and lotus extract • Product Size: 6.7 ounces

In addition to the yummy coffee and caramel smell, Advanced Clinicals firming cream hydrates, tones and tightens with green coffee bean oil, which (according to the brand) is known to help break down fat, due to its high level of antioxidants. Amazon users love the creamy texture and how it blends right into skin, along with the scent. A few also share that if you use it consistently, you will see a difference in just a few weeks.

• Key Ingredients: Green coffee bean oil, tea extract and aloe leaf juice • Product Size: 16 ounces

Known for their super effective face and neck products, Revision Skincare created BodiFirm to address cellulite and saggy skin. This toning treatment "contains a blend of peptides, antioxidants botanical extracts to encourage the production of collagen and elastin," says Dr. Henry. Plus, "it contains caffeine which can help improve the skin's microcirculation." Reviewers from Amazon agree that it is a pricey option, but it's also super effective, especially on arms and upper legs.

• Key Ingredients: Peptides, antioxidants, botanical extracts and caffeine • Product Size: 3.8 ounces

Luxury meets technology in this rich body cream from Augustinus Bader. The unique blend of ingredients includes TFC8 (the brand's proprietary complex that helps trigger the body’s natural process of repair and renewal), bisabolol and shea butter, all of which work together to smooth, brighten and transform skin. "I've been using it for a few weeks now on targeted areas of my body and it has tightened and softened so incredibly well, it feels like satin," says one Sephora user. "I've never had skin like this before."

• Key Ingredients: TFC8, bisabolol and shea butter • Product Size: 6.7 ounces

Think of an anti-aging face lotion — but for your body. Paula's Choice's treatment includes retinol, the derm-loved and all-star ingredient for reducing wrinkles and evening out skin tone, to help smooth and tighten skin from the neck down. In addition to treating cellulite, it helps with stretch marks too. One Amazon reviewer shares, "I have purchased three bottles of this over the past year and I have seen a difference in the appearance in cellulite on the back of my legs." Another says, "My stretch marks have lightened and they aren’t as deep anymore." Talk about a multi-tasker!

• Key Ingredients: Retinol, shea butter and vitamins C and E • Product Size: 4 ounces

In addition to its namesake ingredients, this top-selling cellulite cream at Walmart contains a laundry list of hydrators including shea, cocoa and kokum butters, argan, avocado oil and rosehip oil among others. "This coffee caffeine firming cream really works and is very moisturizing," says one Walmart user. "My body tingles a bit after use and feels so soft."

• Key Ingredients: Coffee, shea butter and argan oil • Product Size: 4 ounces

Clarins' botanical-based formula contains eight plant extracts, including organic quince leaf, which work synergistically to help firm and tighten skin. The cream-gel texture feels refreshing and sinks into the skin immediately. The product has a loyal following, with many reviewers sharing they've been using it for 10 to 20 years and keep coming back. "I have used this product for more than 10 years, and it’s one of the body products that I always keep in my daily body care routine," says one Nordstrom user. "The body lotion is lightweight, easy to absorb and really does the job."

• Key Ingredients: Quince leaf extract • Product Size: 6.8 ounces

While not an actual cellulite treatment cream, Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs, a Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner, is the perfect concealer to temporarily camouflage or blur cellulite. It is subtly shimmery and has a unique roller-ball applicator that glides onto legs, arms and more with “zero effort or mess,” plus color that "doesn't transfer," shares a Beauty Awards tester.

• Key Ingredients: Light-reflecting pigments • Product Size: 3.4 ounces

The Good Housekeeping Institute's Beauty Lab is constantly testing the newest skincare products, including cellulite creams, body lotions, face creams and day creams.

When testing moisturizers in the Lab, we use a Corneometer device to gauge hydration capabilities, and we also send moisturizers out to a panel of consumer testers to get feedback on absorption, texture and scent. Products are masked or placed in unmarked containers to remove any brand biases. We used the Beauty Lab's product expertise and knowledge of the market, along with dermatologist and beauty expert recommendations to formulate this comprehensive list.

"Consistency and patience are key when applying a cellulite treatment," says Dr. Henry. "Results will vary depending on the active ingredients; it can be anytime from 4-12 weeks." She does warn, however, that while at-home treatments can help improve microcirculation and the appearance of cellulite, they are temporary and only provide minimal improvement. Dr. Garshick explains that "most at-home treatments are temporary in that they mostly improve the overall appearance of the skin and diminish the appearance temporarily, but don’t necessarily address the underlying cause." Because cellulite results from changes deeper in the skin, topical treatments are limited in what they can do. Danusia Wnek, a chemist in the Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, agrees, and explains that "because of how deep these fat cells lie, it may be hard for caffeine in topical products to reach the target site to work."

"Some benefits may be immediate, resulting from a temporary vasoconstriction of blood vessels, such as what occurs with caffeine, in which case using a cream in the days prior to a vacation may provide some instant benefit," says Marisa Garshick, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Other changes that rely on stimulating collagen production such as tightening and firming — like those with retinol — can take more time to see the results, requiring consistent use for at least 3-6 months.

When shopping for a cream, Dr. Henry recommends looking for certain active ingredients, including caffeine, retinol and peptides. Caffeine is known to help improve the skin's microcirculation and dehydrate skin, which can have a tightening effect, though more research is still needed to confirm the lasting effects. "Retinol boosts collagen production, which can help make the skin appear tighter and smoother," explains Dr. Garshick. "Although it is not thickening the collagen enough to eliminate the dimples, it can make the skin on the surface appear improved." Peptides help strengthen the skin and "may help the skin appear firmer and tighter, which can improve the overall appearance of cellulite," says Dr. Garshick.

As another more permanent option, Wnek suggests consulting a dermatologist about in-office procedures, like the FDA- approved Cellfina, a Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner, which targets cellulite more long term. Between in-office procedures and more budget-friendly creams, there are options for anyone who wants to treat cellulite.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has been a leading expert on skincare for years.

Dori Price has over 15 years of experience researching and writing skincare stories, combining her knowledge with the expertise of top industry professionals including dermatologists and aestheticians. She is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, from cleansers to toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more.

Danusia Wnek has been testing skincare products including but not limited to eye creams, serums, night creams, neck creams, facial oils and moisturizing creams for over seven years at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has experience in using specialized skin evaluation lab equipment to gauge changes in skin moisturization, firmness and facial features like wrinkles and texture before and after product use. She also regularly polls our consumer panel on their purchasing and product use habits as well as weighs in on the benefits of skincare ingredients like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide. We also consulted a top dermatologist for her expertise on cellulite creams and body treatments.