An esthetician's guide to firmer-looking skin

An esthetician's guide to firmer-looking skin

Losing firmness and elasticity in your skin is a natural part of the aging process and, along with fine lines and wrinkles, it’s the most common age-related concern we hear from clients. In fact, many of our signature facials and products—like the Firming Serum—were specifically developed to address these concerns. 


Loss of firmness and elasticity happens because your skin loses collagen, elastin, and fat over time. Collagen gives your skin its firmness, while elastin keeps it tighter, helping it spring back when stretched. Though our skin naturally starts to lose collagen and elastin after the age of 20, this is also sped up by environmental factors like air pollution, smoking, and sun exposure. (And here comes your regular reminder to wear sunscreen!) Besides wearing SPF, here’s what else our estheticians recommend doing for firmer-looking skin.

Antioxidants, antioxidants, antioxidants

We probably sound like a broken record, but research suggests that antioxidants are very important for both preventing and improving environmental damage. Antioxidants can help fight free radicals, which break down your skin’s collagen. The Firming Serum was developed with eight powerful antioxidant ingredients like resveratrol, glutathione, and bilberry extract. Regularly applying an antioxidant serum can improve the feeling of skin firmness and elasticity over time. An antioxidant-rich diet is also helpful for keeping your skin firm and resilient. 

Hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom extract

Naturally found in your skin, hyaluronic acid gives your skin its structure and bounce. Like collagen, hyaluronic acid decreases with age. Topical hyaluronic acid can be a great humectant, meaning it pulls water into the skin, thus helping your skin retain the look of firmness and elasticity. Snow mushroom, also known as silver tremella extract, is another excellent humectant. Hyaluronic acid can be found in the Firming Serum, while snow mushroom extract can be found in the Resculpting Neck Serum. We recommend the Firming Serum if you’re looking for a dewy finish and the Resculpting Neck Serum if you’d like a matte finish.

A low-sugar diet

Glycation—the process that happens when you eat excess sugar—negatively affects collagen and elastin and contributes to visible signs of aging, so cutting down on white refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup is one of the best things you can do for your skin. 

Peptides

A buzzy skincare ingredient right now for good reason, peptides are short-chain amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin. Peptides can signal your cells to produce more collagen while also transporting compounds your skin needs for collagen production. There are hundreds of peptides that have different benefits for your skin. For example, carnosine, found in both the Face Rescupting Cream and Resculpting Neck & Body Serum, is a peptide naturally found in our body that can help to improve the appearance of your skin. The LotuSculpt Activator features three powerful peptides and is especially excellent for drooping around the eyes.

Microcurrent therapy 

The backbone of Tracie Martyn’s signature facials is microcurrent therapy with our own Resculptor® machine, which emits a proprietary mild electric current to lift, firm, and contour your face. Microcurrent therapy can help firm the appearance of skin in two different ways. Immediately, it helps tone and train your facial muscles, which helps visibly lift your skin. Over time, research suggests it can also help boost the production of ATP, a molecule that transports chemical energy within cells. This can supercharge your skin’s natural processes, including collagen and elastin production. That’s why it’s often called a “natural facelift.” 

What about collagen?

First things first—collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the dermis, which means that skincare products containing collagen most likely do not do much for your skin elasticity. This is why attention has shifted towards collagen supplements. Early research does suggest that taking collagen peptides may improve elasticity and moisture in the skin as well as increase collagen density. [1][2]


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[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26362110/

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26840887

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