The Best At-Home Skin Tightening Treatments

Is your skin feeling down…literally? As aging takes its toll, skin loses its elasticity and starts to sag. It’s true what they say: youth is wasted on the young. While we may not miss school bullies and skinned knees, I think we can all agree that we miss the smooth, supple skin of our childhoods. But, with our wonder years behind us, do we really have to say goodbye to that effortless, fresh-faced beauty? While tightening loose skin is no simple task, there are plenty of anti-aging solutions out there that don’t involve going under the knife. So, before you break the bank with cosmetic surgery or other costly, invasive methods, try using these simple methods for at-home skin tightening.

What Causes Sagging Skin?

As you age, it can feel like outside forces are conspiring to drag down your tight, smooth skin. While not all causes of sagging skin are avoidable, a few of them can be averted with healthy lifestyle choices. The most common causes of loose, aging skin include:

Lost Fat, Collagen, and Elastin

As we get older, skin aging can become an uphill battle. For one, lost facial fat is a key culprit for sagging skin. Fat in the face helps keep our skin plump and defined. But, when that fat starts to diminish with age, the skin can take on a loose, saggy appearance.

To add insult to injury, the connective tissue that supports our bones and cartilage also weakens with age. This causes the fat that used to be evenly distributed beneath the skin’s surface to succumb to gravity.

Facial fat isn’t the only thing that’s compromised in the aging process. Collagen and elastin production naturally declines over time, too. These proteins provide volume and elasticity to the skin. Without them, the skin can become loose and poorly defined.

Gravity

The strong pull of gravity keeps us from floating into space. Unfortunately, it also contributes to sagging skin over time. Of course, there’s not much we can do to stop gravity from affecting our skin, but it’s worth noting nonetheless.

Sun Exposure

Every day, the sun’s harsh UV rays break down the skin’s natural collagen and elastin. Without these proteins, the skin can’t recover and heal as quickly as it once could, leading to a less taut look. By applying sunscreen to the face, neck, and chest with at least SPF 30 every single day (and reapplying every two hours), you can combat the sun’s detrimental effects on the skin.

Facial Movements

Smiling, laughing, frowning, yawning, and all other facial expressions crease and loosen the skin in the long run. Unless you plan to remain as still as a statue, facial movements will contribute to skin aging over the years.

Sleep Position

Frequently sleeping on your side or stomach can contribute to wrinkles and fine lines. In these positions, the pressure of your face against the pillow can fold your skin. As the decades pass, those folds and creases can start to become permanent.

Sleeping on your back or opting for overnight skincare solutions, like SiO’s silicone patches, can offset this cause of saggy skin.

Smoking and Drinking

It’s not news that smoking and drinking negatively impact the health of the entire body, including the skin.

With over 7,000 chemicals in cigarettes, it’s not doing your body or your face any good.  The nicotine in cigarettes constricts blood flow, which can leave your skin dry and discolored. Over time, vasoconstriction caused by smoking can starve your skin of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Drinking alcohol, on the other hand, can severely dehydrate the skin. This may exacerbate issues including wrinkles, fine lines, facial volume loss, under-eye puffiness, and sagging.

 

How Does Sagging Skin Impact Different Areas of The Face?

The Eyes

Beauty buffs know that the skin around the eyes is a notorious problem area. Since the skin in this area is particularly thin and delicate, it’s highly vulnerable to signs of aging.

Smiling and squinting repeatedly crease the skin around the eyes. This can cause wrinkles and grooves, including crow’s feet, to form.

Additionally, UV-ray damage can take a major toll on the fragile eye area. Along with regular sunscreen application, we recommend wearing UV-ray blocking shades whenever you’re out in the sun. While filtering out the harsh UV rays, protective sunglasses will keep you from squinting and creasing your skin in the bright light.

SiO Beauty makes patches for targeted areas like the eyes. The SiO Super EyeLift patches are specifically designed to help smooth away eye wrinkles overnight.

The Neck

While we all want the long, delicate neck of a swan, the aging process can make you feel more like a farm turkey. But, if you’re looking to naturally tighten the skin of your neck, exercising your neck muscles could help. It may sound silly, but exercising your neck can keep the muscles from sagging and increase circulation to your skin. No weights are necessary, and you can practice these exercises from the comfort of home!

Step 1: Place your hand on your forehead.

Step 2: Push against your hand while feeling resistance. You should feel the muscles in your neck working.

Step 3: Hold this for about 10 seconds.

Step 4: Hold your hands behind your head (almost like you are going to do a sit-up).

Step 5: Push back into your hands and hold for another 10 seconds.

Check out this video from Face Yoga Expert for more easy facial yoga exercises.

After giving your neck a workout, try using SiO’s NeckLift patch. You can wear this medical-grade silicone patch overnight and wake up to a smoother, rejuvenated neck.

The Chest

It can seem easier to avoid low-cut tops than to treat stubborn chest wrinkles. But, your fashion choices shouldn’t be dictated by pesky chest lines!

Similar to the skin around the eyes, the skin on your décolleté is susceptible to wrinkles. But, you can offset the appearance of wrinkles in this area with aloe vera.

Aloe vera can help smooth out chest wrinkles by naturally promoting increased collagen production. As we mentioned earlier, collagen is an amazing protein in the body that boosts skin elasticity. But, as you get older, the body gradually produces less collagen. Aloe can help fight this effect of aging while deeply moisturizing the skin. Simply spread it like a lotion over the chest to attain smoother skin on the chest area.

For an overnight chest line solution, consider chest silicone patches. Yes, you read that correctly: silicone patches aren’t just for the face. You can use them on your décolleté, too! For a bonus, consider using SiO’s award-winning Cryo Body Cream after removing the patch to smooth and hydrate the chest area with ingredients including corallina marine red algae extract, enzymatically activated oils, and vitamin E.

The Face

Are you looking for the effects of a facelift, without the risks, side effects, and downtime of surgery? Don’t worry, there are non-surgical skin contouring solutions that can help you attain a more lifted, youthful-looking visage without going under the knife.

From firming creams and masks to SiO silicone patches, you can add various treatments to your skincare routine for tighter skin. We’ll cover all of these non-invasive tightening solutions in detail below.

 

The Best Skin Tightening Treatments to Try At Home

Here’s our round-up of the simplest skin tightening home remedies that you can complete without ever leaving your couch.

1. Face Yoga

We’ve already talked about neck exercises to fend off turkey neck. But, we haven’t yet discussed the benefits of face yoga!

Facial exercises improve muscle tone and stimulate circulation, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach the skin cells for a healthier, glowing complexion. Plus, it’s shown some pretty promising results in research studies.

As with any kind of exercise, you’ll have to put in some work. Facial yogis recommend as many as six 20-minute sessions per week, but you should start to see some positive changes as soon as the two-week mark.

2. Retinoids

Retinoids are by no means a newcomer to the rejuvenation game. But, in a trend-driven, fickle industry like dermatology, there must be a reason behind products that stick around for years.

When it comes to retinoids, such as retinol, that reason is cold, hard evidence. Retinoids are clinically proven to reverse signs of skin aging. In fact, they may be the most researched, validated non-invasive anti-aging treatment out there.

When it comes to addressing elasticity and sagging skin, few topical ingredients even come close to retinoids. But, if you’re new to this skincare solution, start slow, as it can be irritating to unaccustomed skin.

4. Egg White Masks

Egg white masks are a tried-and-true way to make your skin feel tighter and look more radiant. Egg whites contain a protein called albumin, which may help improve the skin’s resilience. It’s also ultra-hydrating, which gives the skin’s surface texture a firmer, smoother appearance.

To make a DIY mask, combine one egg white with a teaspoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of raw honey for added humectant and antibacterial benefits. Smooth the mixture over your face and allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

A word of caution: Make sure you don’t have any open wounds or broken skin before using this mask, and wash your hands thoroughly when you’re done.

5. Clay Masks

One of the biggest perpetrators behind drooping skin is a lack of the collagen that once held it taut. Natural clay has a demonstrated ability to enhance collagen synthesis, which strengthens the skin for a lifted, toned look. Additionally, clay offers the benefits of extracting impurities from the skin as well as shrinking pores.

To try it out, mix about two tablespoons of bentonite or kaolin clay with enough water (or rosewater if you’re feeling fancy!) to form a thick paste. Apply it evenly to the face and neck, then leave it on for about 15 minutes before rinsing well with cool water.

 

6. Dark Chocolate

It’s the best news ever! A scientific study revealed that daily consumption of cocoa flavanols (a naturally-occurring compound in cacao beans) enhanced skin elasticity, diminished wrinkles, and improved signs of sun damage. While chocolate alone won’t provide the dramatic improvement that you’re seeking, it can offer benefits over time.

But, before you reach for that Snickers bar, know that not all chocolate bars are created equally. Look for those with high levels of flavanols, 70 to 80% (or higher) cacao content, and non-Dutch varieties (Dutch-processed chocolate is significantly lower in antioxidants). Additionally, look for dark chocolate that’s as low in added sugar as possible.

There’s the excuse you’ve been waiting for to eat chocolate on the daily!

7. Witch Hazel

About ready to cast a spell on that sagging skin? We are, too, which is why we’ve included witch hazel in this master list of skin tightening treatments.

Witch hazel is a plant extract that’s derived from the leaves and bark of the hamamelis virginiana shrub. It dates back centuries to Native American medicinal tradition, and it’s pretty ubiquitous today at health and beauty stores around the world. You’ll find it as a key player in skin-tightening face creams and toners because it’s phenomenal at shrinking pores, soothing inflammation, and improving skin tone.

Additionally, witch hazel contains polyphenols. These plant compounds activate skin enzymes, which in turn boost skin elasticity.

To reap the many benefits of this time-tested skin remedy, moisten a cotton pad nightly with alcohol-free witch hazel and apply it with upward strokes to your face, neck, chest, and anywhere else that could benefit from a little firm-up. Once the witch hazel dries, make sure to slather on some moisturizer.

8. Coconut Oil

The millennial’s favorite fix-all strikes again. Virgin coconut oil is rich in antioxidants that protect the skin cells from harmful free radicals. Plus, studies have shown coconut oil to have a positive effect on the skin barrier, skin aging, photoaging, and inflammation, along with the added ability to increase collagen production and collagen turnover.

Obviously, this is all great news for those of us looking to do something about our loose skin. After all, many of us already have coconut oil in the pantry or medicine cabinet. Coconut oil is ultra-soothing, gentle, and perfect for sensitive skin types. But, if you have acne-prone skin, you should start by applying the oil to a small area of the skin, then see how it reacts before going all-in. This is because coconut oil is considered comedogenic, meaning that it can clog pores.

 

9. Microneedling

While you might not have this treatment ready at arm’s reach, it just might be worthy of a spot in your Amazon cart.

Microneedling involves rolling tiny needles over the skin to create controlled injuries that promote skin healing and cell turnover. This treatment has been praised for its impressive effects on a wide range of skin issues, including scarring, acne, and various signs of aging. One recent study declared that “four microneedling treatments of facial skin, spaced four weeks apart, significantly improve lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and skin texture.” The key here, for our purposes, is its effect on skin laxity.

 If paying a visit to the medical spa or dermatologist’s office is your thing, snag an appointment, stat. But, for those of us homebodies, there is no shortage of roll-on microneedling tools, often called dermal rollers, on the market. These gizmos may not pierce the skin as deeply as the medical-grade versions, but they’re still an effective (and accessible!) skin-tightening solution.

10. Silicone Patches

Looking for a pain-free, chemical-free, no-mess, and no-hassle solution for sagging skin? If so, you may want to reach for silicone patches.

 Silicone patches are comfortable, stick-on pads that adhere to the skin and train it to stay in place, flattening out wrinkles and plumping up depleted skin. The SiO Beauty FaceLift covers most of the top complaint areas when it comes to sagging skin, including the brow area, eyes, and neck. But, for just about every nook and cranny of your face and décolletage, explore your options in our complete product line.

11. Beauty Sleep

It’s a simple yet effective tip for sagging skin: Get more sleep. Not only will you feel more refreshed (and have more time for your SiO patches to work their magic), but your skin will thank you, too.

The more you sleep, the more HGH (human growth hormone) your body produces. This hormone helps the skin remain more elastic and less likely to wrinkle.

Unfortunately, the body’s production of HGH declines with age. But, getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night will increase the amount of HGH that the body releases and, in turn, support your long-term skin health.

 

 

What About At-Home Skin Tightening Machines?

Beyond the kitchen concoctions and drug store remedies, there are some pretty fancy tech tools that you can use from home for skin tightening. These are usually less powerful versions of the kinds of services offered by a licensed esthetician. But, this often makes them less painful or intense, which is a plus for many people. Additionally, they’re undoubtedly more cost-effective and convenient.

Two popular options are radio frequency (RF) machines and microcurrent devices. RF offers serious tightening for thighs and abs (along with the face, neck, and jawline) and it’s safe for all skin tones.

Microcurrent is another buzzy solution for facial contouring and skin firming that uses a painless, low-level electrical current. It’s been shown to provide long-term anti-aging results by stimulating the facial muscles and skin cells.

The Wrap-Up

We’ve proven here that you don’t have to pay the big bucks or undergo painful, invasive procedures (let alone leave the house) to improve sagging skin. Thanks to advancing technology and scientific research on how to fight premature skin aging, it’s no wonder that facelifts, forehead lifts, and related procedures are trending downward.

 Now, there’s a vast selection of at-home solutions at your fingertips. Various natural, topical ingredients offer the potential to tighten, firm, and deeply hydrate the skin. Although the results of these home remedies may be less immediate than more intense skin tightening procedures, they can have pretty striking results over time. Pair home skincare solutions with healthy lifestyle habits and you’re set to face the world with smooth, rejuvenated skin.