An error occured on the server, please try later or contact the customer service

You're in offline mode with a limited website functionality. Please check your network connection.

Javascript seems to be disabled in your browser. In order to get the best possible experience please enable Javascript and reload the page.

Professional Academy

SkinCeuticals Rewards

Log in
My cart

Main content

Back to How To

How to Tighten Loose Skin: Your Guide to Firmer, Plumper Skin

Article Overview

Over the years you may find that your skin is losing its natural firmness. This is a natural part of the ageing process, as the skin’s volume and elasticity changes over time. While you can’t stop ageing, there are a variety of ways to stave off and minimise loose-looking skin with different techniques to visibly tighten the skin’s texture. Highly concentrated and science-backed skincare can help to address apparent stress present in skin and improve elasticity and volume. Certain ingredients—like retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid—can be especially effective at returning uniform volume to skin.
In this article, see how to tighten skin, keep it plump and supple, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone with a tailored skincare response. Learn how to enhance your skin’s volume for younger-looking skin with non-invasive skin tightening care tips.

What causes loose skin?

Loose, sagging skin can be caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The natural ageing process plays a major role in sagging skin, but external factors including excessive sun exposure, pollution and lifestyle choices can exacerbate skin ageing and subsequently loose skin.

Skin ageing

Up until our early 20s, hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin production remains high, resulting in naturally firmer and plumper skin. In addition, the skin cell cycle (the rate at which skin renews itself) is also at a higher and constant rate—completing a full cycle every 10–20 days. As we age, these factors change, where skin sees a gradual depletion in firming properties and a longer cycle period between renewed skin. The causes a loss of skin elasticity and ability for the skin to hold water, leading to facial volume loss, wrinkles and loose skin.

Weight loss

Major weight loss or facial volume loss leaves behind excess skin. This can contribute to loose skin around the stomach, upper arms and other areas that store body fat.

UV exposure

With excess exposure to the sun, UV can lead to photoageing. The harsh sun can cause a variety of skin concerns that lead to a weakened skin moisture barrier and slower cellular functions. With prolonged or even intermittent periods in the sun, photoageing can result in loose skin.

Pollution and harsh chemicals

Pollution and harsh chemicals can weaken the skin’s moisture barrier, leaving the skin vulnerable and increasing the chances of free radical damage. Irritants slowly break down the skin’s ability to protect itself, leading to weaker and looser skin.

Lifestyle choices

Different lifestyle choices like your stress levels, diet, exercise and smoking can affect your skin’s condition, including its skin cell turnover and ability to produce collagen and elastin. These unhealthy lifestyle choices can also increase free radical damage in your skin cells, chaotic unpaired electrons that can weaken the skin, leading to sagging, loose skin.

Collagen production’s role in skin sagging

Collagen production has a role in all of these factors, internal and external. Collagen is a vital protein that provides strength and elasticity to your skin, declining levels of collagen or damage to existing collagen proteins cause the skin to weaken and lose elasticity, affecting its firmness. With this in mind, supporting your skin’s collagen production can help minimise the formation of sagging skin. Here are some effective ways to enhance collagen production and help with skin laxity:

Use collagen-promoting Skincare Products: Look for skin tightening products containing ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and peptides, which are known to stimulate collagen production.
Eat collagen-promoting foods: Incorporate foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and leafy greens, into your diet to support collagen production.
Consider collagen supplements: Collagen supplements can provide additional support for your skin’s health, helping to boost collagen production from within.

Lifestyle choices to support firmer skin

In addition to supporting collagen production through supplements, diet and preventative skincare, there are other lifestyle factors that can help keep the skin firm and supple. Here are some essential tips to help to tighten saggy skin

Eat a balanced diet: Incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your diet to provide your skin with the necessary nutrients.
Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated and plump, enhancing its overall appearance.
Exercise regularly: Physical activity is important for all parts of your body, including your skin. Regular exercise can support the skin’s elasticity and firmness.
Protect your skin from the sun: Use a broad-spectrum, high SPF sunscreen daily and wear protective clothing to shield your skin from harmful UV rays.
Incorporate skin-tightening skincare products into your skincare routine.

What are the best skincare ingredients for firming skin?

Skincare ingredients that help firm sagging skin include: retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and niacinamide. These ingredients work as both preventative skincare to support collagen and elastin production as well as help visibly reduce the appearance of loose skin.

Retinol

Retinol is a popular addition to anti-ageing skincare routines. A form of vitamin A, retinol works by speeding up skin cell renewal, revealing fresher, firmer skin. Retinol also promotes naturally firm and plump skin by supporting the skin's natural collagen production.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is present in skin naturally but depletes with age. A humectant, hyaluronic acid is able to draw moisture into the surface layer of skin from the air and keep it there for long-lasting hydration. This function is essential to the appearance of plump skin, as moisture content encourages supports the skin moisture barrier. Hyaluronic acid is also one of the best complementary ingredients for skin tightening ingredients like retinol, as it helps to comfort and maintain skin hydration.

Vitamin C

Another potent nutrient, vitamin C operates in skin as an antioxidant. This means that it can address harmful free radicals in the environment that can affect collagen fibres. As one of the main contributors to sagging skin, this function is a highly effective in promoting firm and plump skin. Vitamin C can also protect skin from other environmental aggressors, making it an ideal addition to morning anti-ageing routines.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a well-tolerated skincare ingredient that supports a range of skin functions. Niacinamide supports the skin’s moisture barrier by improving the skin’s ability to absorb essential lipids. Niacinamide can also help in the production of collagen, in addition to promoting an even skin tone. Its multi-dimensional benefits make it an ideal ingredient for skin tightening and more supple skin.

SkinCeuticals products for loose skin

SkinCeuticals has a range of skin-tightening products formulated to target ageing skin concerns including fine lines, wrinkles, and skin elasticity and suppleness. For loose skin, we recommend the below skincare products.

Products to tighten loose facial skin

Metacell Renewal Skin Tightening Cream

The Metacell Renewall Skin Tightening Cream is a concentrated daily skin tightening cream, containing glycerin, niacinamide and a firming tripeptide concentrate to support skin cell renewal and collagen production for visibly younger-looking skin.

P-TIOX Peptide Serum

The P-TIOX Peptide Serum is formulated with an advanced peptide complex of hexapeptide and dipeptide to promote the skin’s natural collagen production and skin tigthening, in addition to a visible reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

Retinol Facial Night Cream

SkinCeuticals’ retinol night creams deliver a stable form of retinol to the skin for improved skin benefits. By speeding up skin cell renewal to reveal fresher, tighter skin, retinol is an ideal skincare product for skin texture, fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol 0.3 is ideal for continued use or for conditioning the skin for incorporating a higher concentration retinol cream.

Products to tighten loose skin on the body

Body Tightening & Firming Concentrate

For loose, sagging skin across the body, our body firming cream is formulated to target ageing skin, creating a cooling, tightening sensation. This cream is formulated to address the thicker skin on the body, targeting skin laxity for a smoother complexion.

Tripeptide-R Retinol Neck Repair Cream

One of the first places that the skin begins to sag is the neck, an area that tends to be overlooked during a skincare routine. SkinCeuticals has developed the Tripeptide-R Retinol Neck Repair Cream, a skin tightening product to nourish your neck and reduce signs of ageing skin.

Next: Different types of vitamin C for skin.

Shop Featured Products

Retinol 0.5 Anti-Ageing Night Cream

SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 is a concentrated refining retinol night cream to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and skin discolouration

Old price New price A$142.00