Young skin is like a new elastic band. You stretch it all the time, and as if nothing had happened, it returns to its original size and appearance. This is elasticity - the ability not to be damaged when stretched.
But over the years, the skin becomes vulnerable to mechanical stress, loses its elastic structure when stretched and compressed, and becomes flabby.
What is responsible for the elasticity of the skin? Why is this valuable property lost? And how can we bring it back and preserve it for many years to come? The answers are in this article.
What is skin elasticity
The elasticity of the skin is its ability to maintain its structure when stretched. Elastin is responsible for this property - a type of protein fiber that is found in the dermis (the supporting layer of the skin).
Compared to another protein - collagen - there is several times less elastin in the skin, but it is no less important.
In general, the properties of the dermis, which are provided by elastin and collagen, are closely related. If elastin gives elasticity, then collagen gives elasticity, that is, the ability to return to its original shape after stretching or squeezing.
These two characteristics - elasticity and resilience - are often used separated by commas or generally as synonyms. They are difficult to separate from each other. Therefore, we will talk about them together.
So, collagen
- This is the main building material of the dermis. Its “spirals” are like springs for a mattress for our skin. They allow it to easily recover from compression (or stretching).
Elastin
works a little differently. Its fibers are arranged diagonally at different angles. They seem to hold the dermis together, preventing the separation of its components.
Collagen and elastin fibers intertwine with each other, providing the skin with a single “framework of youth”. Both proteins are produced by the same cells - fibroblasts.
What determines the youthful, healthy state of elastin and collagen?
- Active work of fibroblasts.
- Quality of fibers: they must be strong, intact, ordered.
What does the face look like when the skin loses firmness and elasticity? The integument becomes flabby, sagging on the cheeks, upper eyelids and under the lower jaw, the oval of the face floats down and “squares up”, jowls and a double chin appear.
Injection methods
In pursuit of beauty and eternal youth, girls are ready to do anything. Even for injections. They are not afraid of swelling, negative reactions and pain. Meanwhile, everything is not as wonderful as cosmetology clinics advertise.
Biorevitalization
Biorevitalization is a procedure for introducing hyaluronic acid into the upper layer of the epidermis using injections. Usually 3-4 sessions are needed several times a year. The danger of the method lies in the fact that the body stops secreting its own hyaluronic acid and now you can no longer live without “beauty injections”.
The needles touch the blood vessels and disrupt their function. Therefore, after the procedure, you will have to lock yourself at home for at least 5 days, because there will be bruises and swelling.
Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is the introduction of a whole cocktail of substances under the skin. . Cosmetologists recommend starting to inject these products at the age of 18, when the epidermis has not even fully strengthened yet.
Very often, patients experience an allergic reaction. They also note that the procedure is as painful as possible.
Ozone therapy
Ozone therapy is the introduction of ozone into the dermis. And ozone is a gas that can be very toxic to humans.
Instead of agreeing to injections, try to allocate at least 10-15 extra minutes in the morning and evening to take care of your face and then you will be able to cope with all the shortcomings on your own.
Why does the skin lose elasticity (firmness)
Unfortunately, over the years, the activity of fibroblasts is inhibited - protein renewal occurs more slowly. And the existing protein threads deteriorate: they become damaged, tear, stick together, change angles, and lose their fibrous structure. Imagine an old, sagging mattress with its bumps, dents and folds. This image illustrates well the changes that occur to the skin.
And the roots of the problem go deeper into physiology. Elastin and collagen do not deteriorate on their own. A whole cascade of processes leads to this.
- Blood circulation has slowed down, microcirculation has been disrupted - cells do not receive enough nutrients and oxygen - fibroblasts are “idle”.
- Posture has changed, neck muscles have tightened - blood flow to the face and lymph outflow have worsened - all this again ricochets on collagen and elastin.
Also important:
- hormonal levels in women
- due to a drop in the level of “beauty hormones” estrogen, the activity of fibroblasts is reduced, - water-salt balance
(dehydrated skin = loss of elasticity), - the amount and condition of subcutaneous fat
- its deficiency provokes ptosis, that is, drooping of the skin, - lymph flow
- the face swells from excess tissue fluid, the lymphatic pool becomes clogged, cellular metabolism worsens, the skin becomes loose, facial features become swollen, - pathologies
- disorders of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular systems, gastrointestinal tract, etc.
All these are internal causes of skin loss of elasticity and firmness, which depend, first of all, on age. It is believed that negative processes start after 25 years.
But the natural mechanisms of skin aging are also aggravated by an unhealthy lifestyle. And you can influence this yourself. It's up to you to decide whether you will look 50 at 30 or 30 at 50.
How to create a comprehensive care program?
Many people understand the importance of comprehensive care, but do not adhere to it, believing that it is difficult, expensive or time-consuming. In fact, it is only important to create the right program, allocate time and understand how certain products on the shelf in your bathroom work.
For example, set aside three days a week and let each of them be devoted to one part of the body: on Monday - hair, on Wednesday - face, and on Saturday - the whole body.
The advantage of treatments with Epsom products is that you do not need to buy a lot of products; our salts and mixes work in all directions at the same time. Magnesium baths improve the quality of the body with comprehensive care, and the mixes or salts themselves, when added to shampoo and mask, accelerate hair growth and strengthen hair follicles. In addition, regularity is important in comprehensive care - magnesium has a cumulative effect, and with constant use it improves health, maintains immunity at the required level and eliminates various diseases and skin imperfections.
And remember that beauty always starts from the inside - with minerals, vitamins and essential components. They cannot be obtained from a tube of ordinary cream, but sea salts contain almost all the components we need and easily replenish their deficiency when taking baths in a comprehensive care program.
External causes of loss of skin elasticity (firmness)
The main external “enemies” of elasticity:
- Bad habits.
Cigarettes and alcohol dry out, “poison” the skin, and deprive it of its protective properties. The result is loose, sagging, wrinkled, sallow-gray skin. - Destructive natural factors: sun, frost, wind, dusty and dry air.
Ultraviolet rays are especially harmful to the skin. They damage collagen and elastin fibers, thereby causing photoaging. - Unhealthy diet:
food toxins, unbalanced diet, overeating, crash diets, fasting. - Fluid deficiency.
The clean water you drink is the main source of moisture for your skin. When the body lacks fluid, it first takes it from the skin. If you drink little, your skin will immediately become dry and flabby. - Weight fluctuations.
Due to gaining kilograms, the skin stretches, and due to sudden weight loss, it sags. - Incorrect cosmetic care:
violation of daily ritual, incorrectly selected products, abuse of decorative cosmetics. - Slouch.
Changes in the shape of the cheeks, a swollen oval, downward displacement of the corners of the lips, deformation of the neck - all these are consequences of back problems. - Physical and emotional fatigue.
They lead to the fact that the face becomes haggard, pale, and acquires an earthy tint. The skin slides down and gathers in folds, the eyes become sunken. - Sedentary lifestyle.
Slows down blood circulation, metabolism, nutrition and cell regeneration. - “Punitive” cosmetology.
Most cosmetic procedures - plastic surgery, threads, Botox injections, fillers, mesotherapy - wean the skin from working correctly, provoke the degeneration of healthy tissues into unhealthy ones, and accelerate wilting and loss of elasticity.
Hardware cosmetology
Nowadays, hardware beauty procedures are widespread. Yes, they really give good results, but at the same time they greatly harm the body. And, before you run to the cosmetologist’s office, try to use the means at hand to restore your former beauty.
Microcurrent therapy
Small impulses pass to the deep levels of the epidermis, causing irritation and muscle tension. And to restore skin tone, relaxation is necessary. As a result, you will simply “pump up” your facial muscles, but will not get rid of the problem.
RF-lifting Aluma
A gel is applied to the skin, which makes the epidermis invisible to the rays. Using a vacuum, the skin is pulled in and impulses pass through it. they heat tissues, destroy collagen and lay down new ones. Just imagine how stressful this is for the body!
Biostimulation FUTURA PRO
This procedure was invented for the lazy. It is used to pump up muscles without physical activity. You lie there and the current does everything for you. But this is not suitable for the face - we need to relax the muscles, relieve spasm, return the muscles to their natural length, and not pump them up. And this device will only cause new clamps.
The result of the procedures depends on the quality of the devices and the abilities of the cosmetologist. Finding a quality clinic is difficult. In addition, the procedures are addictive and if at the beginning you only needed 1-2 courses a year, then over time the effect will begin to end within a month.
At the “Flourish” marathon, a whole block is dedicated to facial rejuvenation. Self-massage, gymnastics and exercises that are aimed at maintaining the face in ideal condition. Join us and extend your youth!
Is it worth using salon treatments?
Do you want to tighten your facial skin and are thinking about salon treatments?
Cosmetologists and plastic surgeons have two main weapons against any age-related defect: pricking and cutting. Also with the firmness and elasticity of the skin.
What can they offer you in a cosmetology salon?
- Surgical facelift.
They cut off your excess skin, and the remainder is stretched and stitched up. - Thread lifting.
Incisions are made in the skin and threads are inserted through them and pulled across the face. The threads can be absorbable or permanent. But in any case, the tissues around them degenerate from healthy to fibrotic. Thus, due to scarring and swelling, the effect of tightened skin is created for some time.- Botox.
Paralyzes the facial muscles. The muscles stop contracting and lengthen. And then the skin straightens out. - Fillers.
The skin is pumped up with fillers. The gel literally pushes and stretches the dermis, acting as an aggressor and disrupting self-regulation mechanisms. - Mesotherapy, biorevitalization, plasma lifting.
All three methods rely on multiple skin punctures. Several hundred injections are given to the face in one session, and the course consists of many procedures. Such an attack with needles causes total tissue injury. The result is widespread scarring and swelling. They create the effect of tightened skin.Mesotherapy, biorevitalization and plasma lifting differ from each other only in the type of drug administered (and it does not play a special role). Mesotherapy uses a cocktail of different synthesized substances, biorevitalization uses hyaluronic acid, and plasma lifting uses the patient’s own plasma.
- Hardware methods: laser, radio waves, ultrasound, light, cold, etc.
As a rule, their action is based on tissue damage. Using laser, radio waves, ultrasound, and light, the tissues are burned out, and the burn site is “patched” with new “building material.” Cold “freezes” and breaks down fat. None of these methods solve the problem of skin loss of elasticity.
All these methods are harmful to health, destructive to the skin and accelerate its aging. They do not rejuvenate the skin or make it firmer and more elastic. It's the other way around. They create conditions for accelerated aging of the skin, its thinning, loss of turgor and elasticity. Because of them, self-regulation suffers, and all processes are disrupted: from the delivery of nutrition and moisture to the cells to the renewal of the “building material” of the dermis.
Complications may also occur, including tissue and vascular necrosis, damage to the facial nerve, skin loss, blood clot formation, etc.
We are categorically against cutting, “stitching” the skin, “stuffing” it with fillers, pricking it to the point of scarring, paralyzing the facial muscles, etc.
What to do then?
Change your lifestyle and use natural rejuvenation techniques. But first things first.
How to achieve instant results in a few days
Sometimes there are cases when it is necessary to very quickly tighten up the oval of the face and give the skin a fresh look, for example, before an important event where you want to shine with beauty. And this is quite possible! It will be necessary to carry out a set of special useful procedures that will allow you to present your beautiful appearance without embarrassment.
Contrast massage to improve skin tone
A massage with water at a contrasting temperature will help quickly improve the contour, tone the muscle structure of the face, refresh and make it more expressive. To carry it out, prepare 2 bowls of water - one should contain cold salted water, the other should contain regular warm water. Soak a terry towel in cold water and apply it to your face for a few seconds, then dip the towel in a bowl of warm water and repeat the procedure. Change the temperature 8-10 times.
Gymnastics for face lift
There are a number of simple exercises that can, in just a few days, slightly transform the appearance of your face, make its contour clearer, and remove signs of fatigue and lack of sleep. By performing special gymnastics, you can use all the muscles of the face, as a result of which they become toned, blood circulation improves, and metabolic processes are accelerated:
- “Surprise” exercise. Try to open your eyes as wide as possible for a few seconds, pronouncing the sound “U” with tension, and then close your eyes sharply, rearranging your lips for the sound “I”. Alternate facial expressions 6-8 times. After this, relax your muscles and sit with your eyes closed for a few minutes;
- “Puffing up the cheeks” exercise. Inhale deeply through your mouth, then hold your breath while puffing out your cheeks. Place your palms on your cheeks so that your fingers are on your ears. Press your palms lightly, providing resistance with your cheeks. Slowly release air from your mouth through slightly parted lips. Repeat the exercise 8-10 times. If, when performing this exercise, tension occurs at the base of the tongue, then the muscles of the chin are also involved;
- Exercise "Kisses" Smile as wide as possible, and then purse your lips. Repeat the movements 20–25 times. The purpose of this exercise is to increase the tone of the muscles that control lip movement.
Video: anti-aging exercises for the face
Milk ice
Cosmetic procedures using ice help to very effectively tone, refresh, and smooth out creases in the epidermis. Due to contact with ice, the skin temperature sharply decreases, as a result of which the blood vessels narrow. With their subsequent expansion, blood flows into them more intensely.
Milk ice is an easy-to-prepare and instantly effective rejuvenating product for facial skin.
Ice cubes with milk have a double beneficial effect on the skin. After all, milk, containing a large amount of potassium and calcium, stimulates the production of collagen, which gives the skin firmness, elasticity, and firmness. The vitamin A it contains eliminates dryness and flaking, and vitamin B6 works on the formation of new skin cells. Upon contact with the epidermis, after providing a tonic effect, the cold cubes begin to melt, turning into a healthy liquid that is intensively absorbed into the skin. By performing such a simple and short procedure, you will quickly give your skin a fresh, radiant look.
Video: quick facelift in a couple of days
How to restore skin elasticity (methods)
There are several basic rules that must be followed to maintain the elasticity of your facial skin for as long as possible. They are also the foundation for those who want to rejuvenate aging skin.
It's never too late to start taking proper care of your face and adjust your lifestyle. Get started now.
- Watch your posture.
Be mindful of your back when you walk, eat, work, or sit at the computer or on the phone. Shoulders straightened, chest forward, stomach pulled in, nose up - and you are a noble lady at a royal reception, and not a slave bent over by hard work. - Do self-massage to your face.
Your main assistant is your own hands. You can also connect vacuum jars, a dry brush, a gua sha scraper and other massagers. Read more about this in one of the following chapters.MelAnnett has dedicated an entire course to her favorite jars – “Miracle Jar for the Face”. You can go through it to restore elasticity to your skin:
- Take proper care of your skin with cosmetics
(see details below). - Eat right:
only healthy foods, balance, adherence to calorie restrictions (see details below). - Drink enough water:
at least 2 liters per day. - Quit cigarettes and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Protect yourself from the sun:
creams with SPF, hats, shade, avoiding the most active sun from 11.00 to 17.00. - Move more
: walks (at least 7 thousand steps per day), running, fitness, swimming pool, sports games, etc. - Look after your mental health:
don’t overwork, relax, get enough sleep, find sources of positive emotions. - Do not resort to surgical plastic surgery, threads, Botox, fillers, mesotherapy and other aggressive and dangerous cosmetic procedures.
Top cosmetics for skin elasticity and tone
What do we put on our face?
Products with a large amount of vitamins and fatty acids that are beneficial for skin elasticity. They are found in natural cosmetics: hydrosols, oils, squalane, balms.
You should choose the right products, starting from the first stage of skin care - cleansing. Beauty365 hydrosols are perfect for this.
– natural distillates that are charged with the benefits of plants. Go to www.beauty365.ru and choose lavender, mint or sage hydrosol depending on your skin type. Wipe your face with it instead of washing your face, remove makeup, and moisturize your skin throughout the day.
For more intense hydration and nutrition, use natural products that increase skin elasticity (all of them can be found in the online store www.beauty365.ru):
- Beauty365 Squalane
is a lightweight oil option. Absorbs quickly and leaves no residue. Great for moisturizing and nourishing the skin before makeup, as well as for self-massage of the face with vacuum cups. - Coconut oil Beauty365
– a hit in the care of aging skin, a life-giving cocktail for rejuvenation. It is especially recommended for those who have dry and sensitive skin prone to irritation and inflammation. - Beauty365 camellia sasanqua oil
is a unique product containing vitamins A, B, E and fatty acids. It copes well with its anti-aging tasks: moisturizing, regeneration, antioxidant effect. In addition, it helps to whiten age spots - a common defect of aging skin. - Hemp balm Verbena Beauty365
combines the benefits of six plants at once: hemp, coconut, pistachio, shea, calendula, carrots. A powerful charge for skin elasticity. Rejuvenates, nourishes, fights free radicals, promotes moisture retention and cell renewal.
Basics of proper nutrition
As you know, a person is what he eats. If you eat poorly, then maybe you are not a bad person, but you are definitely aging quickly. And the first thing that gives you away is your skin.
Follow the following dietary rules, and you will soon notice how the condition of your skin improves.
- Refuse food “garbage”:
fast food, semi-finished products, canned food, sausages and other products that contain junk food, trans fats, GMOs. - Minimize sweets, fried, flour, salty foods.
Remember about glycation: sugar leads to damage and clumping of the protein fibers of our dermis. - Keep your diet balanced.
Ensure that you receive enough proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and microelements from your food.Important information for diet lovers: fats and carbohydrates are essential for the beauty and youth of your skin! Give preference to complex carbohydrates (whole grains, legumes, vegetables) and unsaturated fats (vegetable oils, nuts, fish).
- Don't overeat and don't starve.
If you are on a diet, then only a gentle one: minus 10-15% of your daily calorie intake, no more. Otherwise, you will undermine your health, and after returning to your normal diet, you will also quickly begin to gain weight. - Eat foods that contain silicon, iron, selenium, zinc, vitamins A (retinol), B5 (panthenol), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid), C (ascorbic acid), E (tocopherol), F (linoleic acid ).
All of them are useful for increasing skin firmness and elasticity. These are bran, oatmeal, barley, rye bread, buckwheat, eggs, bell peppers, celery, onions, garlic, radishes, tomatoes, parsley, rabbit, chicken, beef, lamb, brown rice, coconuts, tuna, seafood, fish, nuts.
How to make facial skin more elastic at home
Nothing will help your skin become elastic like you.
You can, of course, go to a cosmetologist for safe procedures that are not associated with damage to the skin. For example, for some peeling or massage. But it’s not painful to rush into the salon, and care must be constant.
It is much easier and more convenient to independently master anti-aging techniques that will help restore the elasticity of your skin.
Follow three basic rules:
- Healthy eating.
Eat healthy foods, avoid “food waste,” and watch your caloric intake. - Competent cosmetic care.
Choose the right anti-aging cosmetics or make it yourself from natural ingredients. - Self-massage and exercises.
Spend 10-15 minutes a day on your face every day. Your hands are the best replacement for injections and scalpels.
Water treatments
How do you wash your face? Try doing this alternately with warm and cold water. This way you will activate microcirculation, strengthen weak blood vessels, tone facial muscles, and eliminate swelling. Within a few days you will notice that your skin has become more toned.
Also, apply water to your entire body: take warm baths and contrast showers. This will also have a positive effect on your facial skin. Hot water will help stimulate blood flow, steam the skin, and expand capillaries. And cold water trains blood vessels.
Exercises to restore tone
Little effort – noticeable effect! Skip the elevator and opt for the stairs. In this case, the foot should be completely on the step, and the back leg should be straightened so that the knee ligaments work. Daily rhythmic walking (10,000 steps) is beneficial for the normal functioning of the body and heart muscle. To pump up and tone the muscles of the thighs, buttocks and abdominals, there is nothing better than lunges and squats: place your feet shoulder-width apart and bend them so that they are parallel to the floor, then return to the starting position. A simple exercise will also help you strengthen your arm muscles: bend your forearms while holding dumbbells in your hands.
Massage
All of the above measures are necessary conditions for increasing skin elasticity, but not the main tool.
Your main weapon is self-massage of the face, gymnastics and exercises. By exercising every day, you will achieve youth from within with your own hands. Natural rejuvenation techniques work on the problem at a deep level. Eliminate the causes of skin loss of firmness and elasticity.
- Microcirculation improves - essential nutrients and moisture reach the skin.
- The work of fibroblasts is activated, the quality of collagen and elastin improves.
- The turgor, firmness and elasticity of the skin increases.
- Lymphatic drainage and removal of excess fluid are improved - swelling and looseness go away.
- Muscle spasms are relieved - obstacles to blood flow are eliminated, muscles stop pulling the skin behind them and increasing its sagging.
Exercises and self-massage are allowed at any age: both adolescents and women after menopause. It is better to start doing them at the age of 20-25, before age-related changes affect the face - this will make it easier to prolong youth. If you are over 30, then natural rejuvenation techniques should become your main beauty habit.
There are no upper age limits. The only limitation can be general health problems, which intensify with age.
Make it a rule to knead your face every day along the massage lines, reduce swelling and do simple exercises. On average, you will spend 10-15 minutes a day on this.
High-quality self-massage is performed:
- on dry skin (for closer contact with hands and deep treatment),
- strong and intense movements,
- taking into account massage lines and directions of lymph flow.
You can read about how to self-massage your face here.
Manual self-massage is the basis. But it’s also good to supplement it with special techniques using vacuum cans, a dry brush, and a gouache scraper.
We work with a jar and a brush 1-2 times a week, better in turns: today the jars, in 3-4 days the brush. Both of these massagers activate blood flow, remove tissue fluid, and tighten the skin. The brush also removes dead scales, which activates the renewal of the integument.
The gua sha scraper can be used every day. It sculpts the face well, smooths out wrinkles, increases the elasticity and firmness of the skin.
You can buy a set of glass jars for the Beauty365 face, a dry Beauty365 face brush (boar bristles), a gouache scraper made of jewelry steel in the shape of a heart or a Beauty365 petal. Go to www.beauty365.ru and choose.
We have written a lot about how to use these massagers. Take a look at our blog. You can start with this article (chapter “How to do facial massage”).
Right now you can perform two exercises from the MelAnnett “golden collection” that give a tightening effect:
- Express face lift
- Exercise "Frame"
From the very first time you will feel a rush of blood and an increase in skin tone. If you perform the exercises regularly, the skin and muscles will remember the toned state, a clearer oval will be outlined, and the double chin will go away.
Additional rituals
Massage has no less powerful effect than cream. Massaging movements improve blood circulation. In this case, it is necessary to move from the lower part of the body to the upper part to stimulate natural drainage. To tighten the skin on certain areas of the body, choose the appropriate set of movements.
1. HIPS: massage the skin with clenched fists from bottom to top.
2. ABDOMEN: Make circular movements from the hips to the solar plexus.
3. HANDS: perform pinching movements in an upward direction.
4. BUST: Finally, move from the chest to the chin with smoothing movements.
Contraindications
Self-massage is necessary for every woman, but sometimes it cannot be done. In what cases is it contraindicated:
- elevated temperature,
- hypertension,
- exacerbation of chronic diseases,
- oncology,
- inflammation in the active stage,
- blood diseases.
Local problems should also stop you:
- festering acne,
- rosacea (“rosacea”, which is a consequence of chronic dilatation of capillaries),
- violation of the integrity of the skin: wounds, scratches, burns, bites,
- viral lesions: herpes, eczema, viral warts, etc.
- vascular problems: pronounced spider veins, increased fragility of blood vessels, etc.
