Skin tightening compositions for application to the skin for providing an instantaneous and dramatic improvement to the appearance of skin. The skin tightening compositions typically include about 5 to about 45 wt. % or more of one or more hydrophobic film-forming polymers comprising acrylates/stearyl methacrylate copolymer; about 0.5 to about 20 wt. % of a mineral thickening agent; about 1 to about 15 wt. % of a silicone elastomer; and about 30 to about 85 wt. % of a volatile hydrocarbon oil, wherein all percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the skin tightening composition. Additionally, the skin tightening composition may have a weight ratio of the total amount of hydrophobic film-forming polymers to the total amount of mineral thickening agent is 1:1 to 10:1 and a weight ratio of the total amount of silicone elastomer to the total amount of mineral thickening agent is 1:2 to 8:1.