Hope or hype? New creams claim to melt away fat, tighten skin — and reduce appetite

Wouldn't it be grand if instead of hitting the gym, we could slather on wonder cream to magically melt those pounds away? Seem like a pie-in-the-sky request? We thought so, too. But with a slew of new weight-loss and firming creams on the market, we were willing to give this dreamy concept a try.

University Medical Cosmeceuticals

Weight Reducing Cream, $12.99 for 4 ounces, Walgreen's

Dream cream? "As I've gotten a bit older, I've noticed a few more 'wobbly bits' that don't seem to want to go away, even with targeted exercise. The cream claims to help you lose '5 pounds in 2 weeks!' Though skeptical, I figured it's 'clinically proven to dramatically reduce appetite,' so why not try?"

Slather me! "I applied a small patch of the odorless cream to my tummy. After about a week of use, I did not notice any sort of appetite control. Maybe it all happens in Week Two?"

Dream on? "Sadly, there was no change in my appetite or with the numbers on the scale." "

L'Occitane Shaping Gel

With almond proteins, $35 for 6.7 ounces, L'Occitane stores

Dream cream? "Personally, I've been more concerned about my dark under-eye circles than 'wobbly bits,' but I decided to give this product a try after a shocking discovery of where these wobbly bits had surfaced."

Slather me! "I was surprised to see the texture of my skin become more supple within the first couple of days. I loved the scent — fresh and clean."

Dream on? "I can feel the difference on my skin's texture after a week. Exercising will help drop some inches, but this gel is definitely worth the money to keep my skin firm and feeling soft."

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer

Firming cream, $6.99 for 7.5 ounces, Walgreen's

Dream cream? "I've used self-tanners before and found the results to be mostly mediocre. When I heard about one that supposedly firms skin, too, I was a bit skeptical but definitely intrigued."

Slather me! "The scent isn't anything to write home about, but it's not awful, either."

Dream on? "After two weeks, I had a natural glow without the streaking I'd experienced with other self-tanners. I also noticed a small difference in the appearance of my skin. Whether it's really firmer or just appears that way, this affordable product has smoothed over this skeptic."