Most people experience a variety of skin issues as they begin to age or experience stress, including sagging, stretching, the appearance of fine lines, and even dimpling or cellulite. In years past there were few options other than embracing these changes or turning to expensive aesthetic procedures for treatment, but in recent years new technologies (in particular the rise of firming creams) are giving patients options when it comes to finding ways to tighten and improve the appearance of their skin without more invasive aesthetic treatments.
Firming creams have long been used to help improve the appearance of skin, especially around sags, stretches, and wrinkles. Like with any skincare product, you’ll have to experiment with what works for you; everyone’s skin is different!
What Is A Firming Cream?
A firming cream is a skincare product designed to improve the tightness of our skin. Skin is naturally elastic and flexible, but repeated motions and rapid growth can cause wrinkles and stretching. If these kinds of natural skin changes bother you, a firming cream might be a good solution. Other interventions might include surgical procedures, laser therapy, and grafting for more serious skin issues.
As we age, our skin naturally loses elasticity - it’s a part of life. However, there are environmental factors that can certainly increase the rate at which skin aging progresses. Pollution, UV exposure, and especially stress are known contributors to the breakdown of the skin’s natural ability to “bounce back”. Firming creams use what we know about how the skin breaks down; by understanding the biology in play, we can supplement the skin to slow down its aging.
The Best Firming Cream Ingredients
Like any topical cream, firming creams contain a blend of ingredients designed to work together toward a common benefit. Since moisture plays a major role in the appearance of our skin - this is why proper hydration is so important - you’ll usually find ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter, and fruit extracts. These ingredients (moisturizers) help to lock in moisture so that the skin is more supple and soft.
Another common ingredient in firming creams are antioxidants. These can come in many different shapes and sizes: vitamin C, herbal extracts, and enzyme Q10. Antioxidants reduce inflammation in the skin - this helps to minimize the puffiness of irritated skin.
Perhaps the most effective ingredient in these creams is a compound that stimulates collagen and elastin production. Ingredients such as retinol, peptides, polypeptides, and ceramides can all work together in the fight against natural collagen loss.
In your search for a firming cream that works best for your skin, you may also come across ingredients like caffeine or essential oils. Each skincare company selects its ingredients with a specific function in mind. Ask yourself what you think will work best for your skin.
What Is The Best Firming Cream Out There?
In answering this question, we usually first start with this: there is no cream that is best for everyone. We all have different skin types! Some of us have oily skin, while others struggle to keep moisture in. Perhaps you live in a large urban center with lots of pollution - this is certain to put a greater strain on your skin’s natural aging. Outdoor workers in a rural town are equally likely to experience accelerated skin aging, but for a different reason.
In a previous post, we talked about choosing skincare products based on the values that you have set in your own life. If you can stick with one company that you trust, that’s great. Here at Rejuvaskin, we’ve developed a firming cream that we use and love - and our customers do too! With ingredients like cocoa and shea butter, ceramides, polypeptides, and natural extracts, our Advanced Firming Cream might be the right fit for you!