Depleting skin is a natural process in aging. Over time our skins have been exposed to different agents like the sun, air pollution, weight fluctuations, shrinking, and many more. The skin begins to tell by showing wrinkles and saggy skin in some parts of it. This is where the best skin tightening cream comes to help.
Skin tightening is touted as an ally to combating the changes in the weathered and worn-out skin. They are products that help to physically tighten the skin, leaving it healthy, fresh, and rejuvenated.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know before purchasing a skin tightening cream and why you need one in your cabinet.
Shopping Guide
What are skin tightening creams?
Skin tightening creams are products that help tighten or firm the skin, making it look tauter and fresher. The firming cream helps the skin stay hydrated and healthy, helping to fight off external agents. However, the major role of tightening creams is to restore the elasticity of the skin back or close to its original state.
As we age, the skin depletes in the production of collagen and elastin (protein in charge of skin elasticity). This makes it difficult for the skin to stay firm after external agents attack it. A skin firming cream enhances the production of the proteins and helps build the skin back to its smooth and better glory. It also helps in providing vitamins that would help fight off the external agents, like the sun for example.
The lotions work directly with the skin tissues, supporting the natural regeneration process within the dermis and epidermis by providing the nutrients they need. These lotions, though do work, cannot work alone. You need a steady healthy diet and exercise to accompany the skin tightening creams in doing a proper job.
How do they work?
Tightening creams, like most skincare, have the distinct function of providing one purpose; that is to help revitalize the skin. It encourages the body to produce collagen, especially once we pass the age where our body count has reduced.
After 30, the body begins to produce less collagen at the rate of 1% less per year, and by 50, most of the collagen has been depleted. Skin tightening creams help to build back the break and reconstructing the fragmented skin structure.
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Benefits of using skin tightening creams
Skin tightening creams get to work directly on the skin tissues. They improve the elastic fibers in the dermis and epidermis, strengthening and smoothing their layers. It also helps in repairing and restoring the protective layers, both the inner and outer parts, of our skin.
The use of skin tightening creams stimulates the development of skin cells, rejuvenating the skin, keeping it fresh and healthy.
Skin tightening creams contain vitamins A, B, and C that help in fighting external agents like the sun and also help keep it hydrated and radiant. Some skin firming creams are multi-purpose use. They can be used as moisturizers or sunscreen lotions too, thereby working for all parts of the body and not just the most affected sagging areas of the body.
When is the best time to use skin tightening creams?
For skin tightening cream, you can use it when you notice degeneration of parts of your skin due to different agents like sun, pregnancy, dramatic weight loss, or aging. There is no specific age limit or requirement for using the firming cream. You can start incorporating the cream in your routine when you notice a weakness or signs of aging in the top layer of your skin.
Applying a skin tightening cream daily will gradually adverse the effects of the sagging skin and the damage to your cells underneath with your skin gaining back its vigor.
Where can the creams be applied?
Skin tightening creams are mostly made to be used on any part of the body. However, they are most beneficial and commonly used on the arems, abdomen, thighs, butt, and even the areas on and around the chest. While most tightening creams can be used anywhere on the body, many companies have manufactured creams to specifically tackle certain areas of the body and certain types of skin.
The tightening creams made specifically for the face, for example, are designed to treat the fine lines and wrinkles that appear on fragile skin, while others are made especially for the hands. They are essentially the same at the end of the day.
Ingredients found in a skin tightening cream
The formula is what makes skincare products work. All active ingredients in a skin firming cream make a composition that yields positive results when used correctly. There are various ingredients (both natural and chemical) that compose a good skin tightening cream. Here are some of the ingredients.
Collagen and Elastin
These proteins are responsible for the toning and elasticity of the skin, so they are important ingredients that should be present in the formula. They reboot and refill the body’s natural supply.
Vitamins
Vitamins A, B, and C are present to help moisturize and nourish the skin and fight of the effects external agents that cause damages to the skin.
Retinol
This is another essential ingredient in the composition list. It is a major ingredient that strengthens the foundations of the skin and directly stimulates our cells to reproduce collagen.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants, like vitamin C and coenzyme Q10, are present to counter the inflammation in the skin caused by radical damage like from the sun and allows the skin to function optimally.
Hydroxy Acids
Hydroxy acids like glycolic acid provide exfoliating, brightening, and collagen-stimulating benefits to the skin.
Peptides
Peptides are responsible for the coordination of the skin cell’s active roles in rejuvenating the skin, stimulating collagen, evening the skin tones, and reducing inflammation. The peptides are typically used in tightening creams by strengthening the skin to improve elasticity and firmness.
Caffeine
Caffeine here is used to help the blood vessels reduce the excess fluid in the skin and break down excess fat found in the skin.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Botanical ingredients like shitake mushrooms can be found in tightening creams because they help increase the production of elastin fibers and also help in the regeneration of tissues.
How should skin tightening creams be applied?
Applying a skin tightening cream is fairly easy and can be incorporated into your beauty routine without having to make much preparation. The best way to get results when using the cream is to make sure the skin is properly cleansed and exfoliated so that the skin pores will easily absorb the cream.
When using the cream for the belly, it’s best to apply the cream in a gentle circular motion until the cream has been completely absorbed, while for the thighs and arms, massage the lotion up the leg or arm until it’s completely absorbed.
Using small amounts of the cream over time will gradually get the cream working because the skin absorbs faster that way.
Are tightening creams really effective?
Consistency is the key to getting the skin tightening cream to work. To get the best results, apply the cream daily to fight the degeneration of the skin cells. You also have to know it is a gradual process. You might not feel the effects of the cream until months of constant application. So be dedicated to the routine.
Skin tightening creams also work faster when combined with exercise and a proper diet. These three together can get a visible result of reducing wrinkles and sagging skin.
Skin tightening creams are only effective when used for what they are meant for. A skin firming cream is not a weight loss cream. It won’t work for you if the result you are targeting is weight loss. Also, if it is not specified as part of its purpose, a skin tightening cream will not remove stretch marks.
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Buying Guide
Ingredients
When carrying out your research, you have to look out for the ingredients in skin tightening creams. The most important is the collagen and elastin proteins that help in toning and firming the skin. Also look out for vitamins A, B, and C as mentioned before because they nourish and keep the skin moisturized and ready to fight outside effects.
Another ingredient is hyaluronic acid to look out for due to its ability to noticeably firm and smooth the skin. Also, look out for other components that also offer antioxidant properties like caffeine, citrus, and green tea.
Treatment Zone
You can add this to the list of criteria when purchasing a skin tightening cream, though it is not important. Firming creams are versatile and can be used on any part of the body. But, for sensitive areas such as the face and hands. It is best to look for creams formulated specifically to treat fine lines, cracked skin, and dryness.
For your extra-difficult areas such as the thighs, arms and buttocks may need extra powerful formulas to battle out the flaccid and loose skin. There are also some tightening creams made especially for mothers with stretch marks, skin damaged by the sun, those with scars, and more.
Results
The goal of any skin tightening cream is specific and direct; to restore tone and firm the skin. In recent times, skin tightening creams now have more functions and added usefulness. There are now 3-in-1 or 2-in-1 lotions sold in the market. These days, skin tightening creams do more like restoring skin cells, scars, peeling skin, eczema, and other in-related conditions.
In addition to this, firming agents in most creams now include ingredients that moisturize and provide antioxidants. Some of the creams move and work deep into the tissue cells and do their work from the inside out. They enhance circulation, rebuilding the tissue, and decreasing the appearance of external damage by heightening the body’s ability to restore.
Mode of Application
When using skin tightening creams, the mode of application is different depending on the product. You may need to apply some once, twice, or three times a day. It is best recommended to apply the cream in the morning before you carry out your daily activities. You can also use it before bed, so the cream’s effects can set in overnight.
Always follow the instructions on use from the product’s manufacturers accordingly. The movements used to apply the cream are also important and it is the best way to get results without influencing skin reaction.
Packaging
This is a trivial criterion but you have to purchase a product that would fit you best to use. Usually, the creams should be easy to dispense at the top. This is to keep the area clean and also to control how much comes out at once. The skin also cannot absorb too much at once, so you have to use little at a time, just enough to spread evenly across your skin.
You have to keep in mind how often you’ll be using the skin tightening product you bought. Buy a large bottle if you wish to use for at least two to three months after opening. This is why the creams come in sizes between 200 to 400 ml. Make sure you choose the right size based on how often you are going to use it.
Summary
Skin tightening lotion or creams are used for various reasons. Whether it is to treat aging, pregnancy, weight loss, smoking or poor diet, and other skin-related conditions, the firming creams can work to better the skin.
You also have to know the components of skin tightening cream to be able to find the right product for you. The area you wish to use the product on is also important and will let you know what formula you are to seek.
Healthy skin has to be taken care of both internally and externally. With the cream, a healthy diet, and a great workout, you can be sure to achieve the smooth and firm skin you desire.
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