Whether at a beauty salon or at home, there’s certainly no shortage of solutions out there for firming up your skin. Some treatments are designed to tone the skin on your face and neck, while others are targeted at tightening the skin on your stomach or thighs… either way, there are lots of interesting ways to reinvigorate the skin! From collagen injections to lifting massages, healthy eating habits and BioStimology®, here are a few of our top tips on the main ways to achieve firmer skin.
What is sagging skin?
Did you know? Our skin cells are constantly replacing themselves. But, over time, this cell renewal slows down, damaging cells known as fibroblasts. These produce collagen andelastin, two molecules that are absolutely essential to your skin’s elasticity. Hyaluronic acid, which is needed to deeply moisturise the skin, also starts to be produced less and less by skin cells around the age of 30. As a result, tissue begins to sag, the skin becomes looser and flabbier, and the first fine lines and wrinkles start to appear. In short, it’s a completely natural phenomenon. But it’s important to understand that sagging skin isn’t just linked to ageing. In fact, it can also be caused by a number of other factors, including:
significant fluctuations in weight
dehydration
hormonal changes during menopause
poor lifestyle habits (smoking, unbalanced diet, a sedentary lifestyle)
Certain parts of the body are particularly prone to sagging skin, including:
face, where the oval shape tends to sag over time
neck
arms
stomach, where skin can easily become flabby after drastic diets, for example
thighs, which are also among the areas where a loss of firmness is most visible
Collagen: a key ally in the fight against sagging skin
It’s a well-known fact that the skin produces less collagen over time. This is one of the main reasons why it gradually loses its radiance and suppleness. But there’s nothing to stop you giving your skin a much-needed boost of collagen when required! You’ll find many collagen-based serums and creams available in the cosmetics section. Collagen is also available in the form of food supplements. A word of advice though – if your aim is to invigorate and firm up your skin, make sure you choose type 1 collagen-based food supplements. Food supplements that contain type 2 collagen are typically used to improve the flexibility of your joints. Finally, there’s also the option of collagen injections, which we’ll explore in more detail below.
Our tips for firmer skin
Lifting massage
Consider a lifting massage, one of the most popular techniques for firming up facial skin. It can even be performed on the neck, shoulders and chest, if you wish. It comes in a variety of different forms, including:
Japanese style, a draining massage that really focuses on stimulating the lymph nodes behind your ears. By combating sagging skin on your lower face, it helps redefine a beautiful oval shape
These types of massages can also be used in conjunction with exfoliation. Also known as scrubbing, this technique involves applying a substance to the skin to unclog your pores, remove dead skin and activate cell renewal. It helps restore your skin’s natural radiance and vitality, while combating the signs of skin ageing, such as wrinkles. It’s important to note that although most anti-ageing massages are fairly gentle, there are some exceptions. It’s best to avoid massages if you have:
a fever
an infection
a recent wound
bruising
Traditional massages like tui na also involve taking special precautions if you have certain illnesses, depending on the area being massaged. This is particularly the case if you suffer from diabetes, heart disease or circulatory problems.
Photo-rejuvenation
Another interesting technique to consider is photo-rejuvenation. Using pulses of light, it stimulates several skin processes, including collagen production. This anti-ageing technique helps firm up the skin and reduce fine lines, redness and brown spots and is used mainly on:
the face
neck
décolletage
back of the hands
Photo rejuvenation can produce very positive results. However, it’s very important you avoid exposure to the sun in the days leading up to your first session and throughout your treatment cycle. You should also be aware that photo-rejuvenation sessions can cause a number of unwelcome side effects. The most common are a slight burning sensation during treatment and temporary swelling of the treated area. You should not have photo-rejuvenation therapy if you have a skin condition or if you’re taking any photosensitising medication, for example. Don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor for advice.
Firming treatments: BioEnergy field technology
Have you heard of BioStimology®? It’s a new non-invasive technology for firming up the skin on your body and face, depending on the device used. And it’s designed for both professional beauty salons and for use in the home! Based on low-frequency alternating bioenergy fields, it offers the dual benefits of being painless and free of any side effects While it helps improve the firmness of your skin and refine the oval of your face, it is also useful for:
getting rid of cellulite
slimming your figure by reducing the size of your hips, waist, thighs, arms, etc.
That makes it a multi-functional technology, acting as both a slimming and firming treatment. It also comes in a range of models to suit your needs.
Slimming devices
Easily use the BodySculptor® Belt at home on its own. Its main features include slimming your waist while improving the firmness and texture of the skin on your stomach. Or perhaps you’re looking for a solution to reshape the oval of your face? Then you can use the BodySculptor® Mask directly at home. As well as firming up the skin on your face and neck, it also helps to:
erase double chins
reduce neckline wrinkles
Finally, a number of BioStimology® devices are used in beauty salons. These include the BodySculptor® Reveal, which helps:
combat cellulite
refine the oval of your face
firm up the skin
visibly reduce your waistline, hips, calves, thighs, arms, knees, etc.
What’s more, this cosmetic device also performs micropressure body drainage to stimulate lymphatic and blood circulation. It provides a feeling of well-being and relieves heavy legs. Find a centre near you
Physical exercise
If your skin has become slackened or stretched, certain types of physical exercise will help tighten it up. Swimming can help tone the skin on your arms, for example, as can press ups and pilates. You could also try:
planks, also known as abdominal bridges, to help firm up the skin on your stomach
squats and lunges to help tone the skin on your thighs
However, it’s important you take care to perform the various movements correctly to avoid injury. Tutorials are widely available online, but don’t hesitate to seek advice directly from a personal trainer. Source: Decathlon_France
Adopt a healthy diet
Eating a healthy diet can help you regain firmer, younger-looking skin. We particularly recommend:
regularly eating fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables to fill up on skin-friendly vitamins, such as vitamin B, famous for its anti-ageing effects. Certain types of fruit and vegetables are also particularly rich in antioxidants, molecules that protect your skin cells from the effects of ageing. Good examples are blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and prunes for fruits, as well as peppers, broccoli, onions, artichokes, asparagus and beetroot for vegetables
reducing the amount of processed foods you eat, such as microwaveable meals, crisps, breakfast cereals, cold meats, shop-bought sauces, etc. These contain many ingredients that are harmful to your health and are often too high in salt. Too much salt causes the skin to become dehydrated, leading to a loss of elasticity.
More generally, it’s always a good idea to adopt a consistently healthy diet, rather than lurching from one diet to the next, if you want to keep your skin firm and supple.
Food supplements and vitamins
Alongside collagen food supplements used to rejuvenate the skin, supplementing your diet with certain vitamins can also be worth considering. Those that are particularly important are:
vitamin A, which promotes cell replenishment
vitamins B3 and B5, which combat skin dehydration
vitamin C, which promotes elastin and collagen production
vitamin E, which improves vitamin A storage, boosts skin hydration and combats skin ageing
However, food supplements are no substitute for a balanced diet. And although vitamins are essential to the body in small doses, they can be harmful when consumed in excess. Taking too much vitamin A, for example, can cause liver damage. That’s why it’s always recommended you seek medical advice before taking any supplements.
Daily hydration
To achieve supple, firm skin, it needs to be well hydrated. Above all, you need to drink enough water. Generally speaking, a healthy adult should be drinking between 1.5 and 2 litres of water a day. You can also apply a moisturising cream or lotion in the morning and at night to optimise your skin’s hydration. Products based on hyaluronic acid and glycerine are particularly good for this. Finally, to combat skin dehydration, you can also apply:
hazelnut vegetable oil
various essential oils, including carrot essential oil and hemp essential oil, whose emollient properties help prevent dehydration. Remember that essential oils should always be diluted in a neutral vegetable oil (e.g. apricot kernel oil) before being applied to the skin. Always be sure to follow the instructions on the label.
Avoid exposure to the sun
Did you know? The sun’s UVA rays cause the formation of free radicals, which can damage the DNA in your skin cells. This results in premature ageing and slackening of the skin when we’re exposed to too much sun. This is what’s known as photo-ageing. To avoid it, we recommend avoiding exposure to the sun during the hottest hours, typically between 11am and 4pm. Ideally, you should also always apply a good layer of anti-UV sun cream before sunbathing.
Limit your alcohol and tobacco intake
The French National Association of Dermatologists and Venereologists has issued a warning about the damaging effects of smoking on the skin. Smoking accelerates the ageing of your skin by causing the production of numerous free radicals, in exactly the same way as overexposure to the sun. And the same applies to excessive alcohol consumption. The good news is that after giving up smoking and alcohol, the skin often regains some of its elasticity. It becomes more toned, firmer and wrinkles are less pronounced. So don’t hesitate to seek specialist advice to help you give up more quickly.
Traditional remedies
Some so-called “old wives’ tales” also have a reputation for firming the skin, including:
an egg white mask. To make one, simply beat two egg whites until stiff and apply to the area you want to tone up. Leave for 10 minutes before rinsing
a Rhassoul scrub, a type of volcanic clay that helps decongest the skin. It’s easy to prepare, simply mix the clay together with some water.
Cosmetic surgery
Sometimes the skin can become very distended. This is particularly true of people who have succeeded in overcoming obesity. In these circumstances, cosmetic surgery may be the only effective option. A brachioplasty, also known as an arm lift, is often used to tighten the skin on the arms. This is a fairly simple operation and can usually be carried out on an outpatient basis. Another common cosmetic surgery procedure to tighten the skin is abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck. Carried out under general anaesthetic, it tightens the skin of the abdomen by removing subcutaneous fatty tissue and excess skin.
Radiofrequency
Another interesting technique to consider is radiofrequency, which is based on high-frequency electromagnetic waves. These stimulate collagen and elastin production, resulting in firmer skin. Virtually any area can be treated with radiofrequency, including your abdomen, arms, thighs and face. However, it’s not usually recommended if you’re pregnant, have any skin lesions, if you have cancer or if you have a pacemaker. The most common side effects include:
excessive redness of the skin for an hour or two
discomfort during the session, even slight pain
swelling of the treated area.
Mesotherapy
This aesthetic medicine technique involves injecting hyaluronic acid and essential vitamins and minerals into your skin. It improves the skin’s elasticity, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and boosts your skin’s hydration. Mesotherapy is mainly used to treat the face, the back of the hands, the neck and décolletage. It has few side effects, apart from some redness for a few hours after you have the injections. However, it is not recommended for any of the following conditions:
haemophilia and other serious coagulation disorders
pregnancy and breastfeeding
stage II or III hypertension
various skin infections and diseases
Collagen injections
Another familiar favourite of aesthetic medicine is the collagen injection, carried out in the dermis (middle layer of the skin). The aim is to fill in fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Although there is a risk of allergic reaction, this can be easily ruled out by an allergy test on your forearm a fortnight before your first injection. A slight redness and swelling may sometimes appear after the procedure. But it’s important to be aware that this technique has been used less and less since the arrival of hyaluronic acid injections.
How long does it take for your skin to firm up?
It all depends on the technique being used to firm up your skin. Injections in the facial area, for example, have an immediate effect, even if you often have to wait a few days for the swelling and redness to subside before you can fully feel the benefit. However, the effects only last from 6 to 12 months. The injections then need to be repeated, so it’s not a one-off treatment. With most other toning techniques, it can take several weeks to several months. As a rough guide, to achieve long-lasting skin firming with BioStimology®, it’s generally recommended you undergo at least 12 sessions, and roughly 3 to 4 sessions per week, depending on the device.
Source
