As we age our skin naturally begins to lose much of its elasticity and firmness due to a depletion of collagen within the body. Although this is an entirely normal experience, skin that has begun to lose its elasticity will more easily reflect wrinkles and other signs of aging that the typical skincare routine will actively fight against.
If your primary skincare concern is a loss of firmness and you’re looking to bolster your complexion for tight and bright skin regardless of age, we spoke with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King who outlined her five top tips for easily firming your skin and preserving a youthful complexion for years to come.
Sun Smart Behavior
Making sure to take care of your skin and protecting against sun exposure each day is one of the best ways to retain elasticity and firmness so you’ll have less work to do retroactively. “Much of the sun damage that accumulates in our skin is the result of daily incidental sun exposure. Sun exposure leads to premature aging because it damages skin cells and causes degradation of collagen and elastin, and it leads to discoloration as well,” explains King.
With this, wearing sunscreen daily, even despite it being cloudy or spending much of your time inside will ultimately help your skin to age better, maintaining a smooth and even complexion without having to worry about such extreme loss of collagen or the development of fine lines.
Retinoids
Retinol and retinoids are generally deemed as some of the best anti-aging ingredients to include in your skincare routine, and indeed they are particularly beneficial for promoting a firm and youthful complexion. “Retinoids work by binding to retinoic acid receptors, which then can act as transcription factors and affect gene expression,” explains King. “This makes them very powerful and able to produce significant changes in the skin.” Retinoids can help to increase cell turnover which will in turn create younger, healthier looking skin, even firming your complexion due to increased collagen production.
Anti-Aging Peptides
Another powerful anti-aging ingredient that can increase the firmness of your skin, certain peptides, when applied topically can create a significant improvement in the strength and appearance of your complexion. “Peptides are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds,” explains King, adding that peptides can also help to modulate “the release of neurotransmitters” which will in turn firm the skin and prevent wrinkles and fine lines from developing.
According to King, the most powerful peptides for anti-aging are: pentapeptides, hexapeptides, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, and copper peptides which all help to regenerate the skin and promote collagen production within the body.
Reduce Stress
While easier said than done, reducing stress in your day to day life is an excellent way to preserve healthy and youthful looking skin outside of your beauty routine. “Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, has been shown to break down collagen in the skin,” explains King. “The higher the stress level, the more cortisol is produced, and over time the skin's ability to rebuild the collagen and elastin will decrease.” Introducing meditation practices into your daily routine and even exercising regularly can both help to provide lasting benefits in both your overall health and the appearance of your skin down the line.
Growth Factors
Growth factors can be extremely beneficial for thickening the outer layer of skin and naturally promoting increased firmness and collagen production for a healthier skin tone and texture. “I recommend SkinMedica's TNS Recovery Complex and NeoCutis BioSerum. TNS contains dermal proteins derived from the fibroblasts of neonatal foreskin, while BioSerum contains proteins derived from fetal fibroblast cells,” explains King. If you’re interested in a plant-based growth factor option, “Bioeffect and DNA Renewal use a human-like epidermal growth factor that is made in bioengineered barley seeds. Studies have shown that it is effective in increasing skin thickness,” adds King.
