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As we age, so does our skin. But that’s not the only thing that causes skin to lose tightness. Diet, lifestyle, and daily behaviours can all have an impact. If you are looking for skin-tightening solutions, read on. We’ve highlighted a number of options for how to get firmer skin, ranging from daily behaviour changes to cosmetic procedures and surgery.

 

What is a firm skin?

 

Firm skin is skin that is taut, with good elasticity. How do you test if you have firm facial skin? Just like how you’d experience resistance when you push a bouncy ball with your finger, elastic skin is flexible and pushes back so that you will not have pillow marks if you’ve slept lying on your face, less fine wrinkles while laughing, and overall, your skin returns easily to its original state. Collagen and elastin are the two essential proteins that support skin firmness. The thickness of the epidermal skin layer also contributes to the skin’s flexibility and firmness.

 

What can cause skin to lose its Firmness?

 

While aging plays a role in losing skin tightness, it isn’t the only factor. Significant weight loss, genetics, and behaviours like smoking or sun exposure can also play a role.

 

If you have recently lost a lot of weight, you’re likely wondering how to tighten skin. You might feel that your skin is looser and less tight than it was before the weight loss. This is because collagen and elastin, the two proteins responsible for maintaining tighter skin, become damaged when skin is stretched for a long time. When you lose weight, the collagen and elastin fibers lose some of their ability to retract. And if you’ve undergone weight loss surgery, research also shows that you will probably have a decrease in newly formed collagen and elastic fibers.

 

In addition to weight loss, smoking, sun exposure, and aging all contribute to sagging skin. Research shows that smoking, which is well-known to damage skin, also hurts existing collagen and reduces collagen production. Excessive sun exposure has similar effects. In addition, our body’s collagen production slows as we age.

 

How to get firm skin?

 

Exercise

 

Regular exercise is known to benefit both body and mind. It can also be part of a strategy for getting rid of loose skin.

 

Exercise is a great option for tightening loose skin, especially after weight loss. In addition to helping maintain a healthy weight, keeping energy levels high, improving mood and memory, and a host of other benefits, exercise also helps tighten skin. And while all exercise is good for your skin, the best kind for skin tightening is strength training. That’s because lifting weights builds muscle. The more muscle mass you have, the naturally tighter skin becomes. While exercise may not be a cure-all for sagging skin, it can certainly be one helpful option.

 

Stay hydrated

 

Getting enough water every day is part of any good wellness routine. It can also help keep your skin looking younger. A study showed that increasing your daily intake of water has a direct impact on your skin’s appearance. Wrinkles and a loss of tightness are also more noticeable when your skin is not properly hydrated.

 

Exfoliate your skin

 

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, speeding up the skin’s repair process and helping new skin cells emerge. Regular exfoliation can also help tighten skin. There are different types of exfoliators to choose from. Facial exfoliators are generally gentler and made with finer grains than body exfoliators. Body brushes also exfoliate the skin through a process called dry brushing. Ask your dermatologist before trying a peeling procedure. Dermatologists can also help advise you about other possible options according to your skin type.

 

Use the right body moisturizers

 

Using the right body moisturizer can also be part of your daily skin-tightening plan. There are a number of moisturizers that claim to improve sagging skin, but what specifically should you be looking for? The good news is that there are a number of firming moisturizers at different price points that will fit any budget. Several natural products in skincare (e.g., caffeine or tannase-converted green tea extract) purportedly help prevent skin elasticity loss, but there’s no high-quality evidence to support the use of any of such topical preparations.

 

Massage your skin

 

In addition to its restorative and relaxing qualities, massage may also help tighten skin, by improving circulation and blood flow. One study showed that getting a massage after applying moisturizer can help the moisturizer work better.

 

Quit smoking

 

If you’re wondering how to tighten skin after weight loss and are a smoker, now is the time to quit. In addition to increasing the chances of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, smoking damages the skin. By damaging collagen and elastin production, smoking impacts how your skin looks now and how it will look in the future if you continue smoking. Smoking while trying to take steps to tighten skin can effectively undo any benefits you might be able to obtain. Research also backs this up.

 

Use sunscreen

 

Since the sun’s ultraviolet rays prematurely age skin, regularly using sunscreen should be part of any skin regimen. Look for a sunscreen you can use daily, and be sure to apply it to your entire face, throat, and chest, as well as any other exposed areas.

 

Avoid sulfate soaps

 

Sulfates, or sulfur-containing mineral salts, are typically listed on product labels as either sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate. Produced from petroleum- or plant-based sources like coconut, they create lather in soaps. But why avoid them if you’re concerned about sagging skin? Sulfates can irritate the skin, and they can also penetrate the tissues of the body and accumulate over time. While there isn’t a totally clear link between sulfates and sagging skin, avoiding products containing them certainly can’t hurt.

 

Review your habits and lifestyle

 

While you don’t have to take drastic measures to remove all sugars and carbohydrates from your diet, it would probably be beneficial to achieve a balanced diet that comprises healthy proteins, grains, vegetables and fruits. Opt for healthier snacks like nuts and fruits instead of sweets whenever you crave for a light bite. However, remember that fruits may be rich in vitamins but overconsumption also increases the sugar levels in your body. Another important habit to inculcate is to have regular and quality sleep. The amount of rest you clock at night determines how well your skin recovers and regenerates from the stresses and UV damages it encounters in the day. Don’t let your favorite TV drama or video subscriptions interfere with your beauty sleep!

 

Choose skincare products and face exercises that enhance skin firmness.

 

We recommend you use snowperk skincare products developed specially for skin firming and tightening as these would also help to promote suppleness and improve the overall tone of your skin. You should also exercise your facial muscles to keep the skin firm and taut. Simple gestures like moving your mouth, making different facial expressions and using wider motions, all possess therapeutic effects as it improves the blood circulation in your face. Gentle massage is also beneficial but keep your touch light by just patting the face with your fingers to avoid sagging. Remember that rubbing or any strong abrasive movements can damage the collagen in your skin.

 

Your Skin’s Future is Up to You

 

How to get firm skin? If you are struggling to develop an effective skincare routine and want advice on which products and techniques to use for your skin type, we are always here to help. You can sign up for our newsletter for weekly skincare advice – customized for your distinct skin type.

 

Snowperk iD™ will also provide you with personalized recommendations to optimize your morning and evening skincare routines. After you take our free assessment, we will share helpful content to give you more insight into how your skin works and how to properly care for it. With dedication, the proper diet, and high-quality products, you can help your skin look and feel its best.

Get your personalized skin assessment!