Put Down the Products—Here's How to Naturally Tighten Your Skin

If you've spent hours browsing the skincare section of your favorite beauty retailers, chances are you've seen products promising to tighten your skin. Some of them may work while others fall short of their claims. Trust us—we've tried our fair share.

But how does one know if their skin has lost firmness? "Skin aging can present itself in many forms, from fine lines and wrinkles to thinning of the epidermis, loss of volume, and facial contours. While most of these aging symptoms are beyond our control, we can regulate some factors to help prevent signs of aging," says Inge Theron, the founder of FaceGym. Aging, of course, is not the only cause of loose, sagging skin. Face and body aesthetics practitioner Cynthia M. Franco explains, "Sagging skin can be caused by other factors such as major weight loss, too much sun, and poor diet at an early age. Both require treatments to firm, tone, and build collagen."

As beauty aficionados always on the lookout for the latest creams, serums, supplements, and devices, we have to ask ourselves: Is there an alternative? The simple answer is yes, there are plenty of ways to bring back the bouncy skin of our youth without buying every beauty product on the market. Below, our experts take us through how to naturally tighten skin through lifestyle practices, diet, and techniques.

1. No Smoking

The effects of smoking on our general health and wellbeing are consistently being documented. One of the main effects it has on the skin is premature aging. This means more wrinkles, fine lines, and thicker skin. Franco and Theron agree that avoiding this activity will help keep the skin taut.

2. Regulate Stress

"Stress is another factor that can affect our skin and lead to a loss of firmness," Theron says. "When you are stressed, the body produces more cortisol, putting itself in a constant state of fight-or-flight mode. Higher cortisol levels can break down the collagen and elastin in your skin, making it less firm and supple." Some ways to regulate your nervous system and decrease stress include meditation, daily movement, and even singing.

3. Try a DIY Face Massage

Franco and Theron are advocates for facial massages. "With facial massages even just two minutes a day, we can boost our natural skin functions, increase circulation, boost the lymphatic system, and detoxify the waste system to maintain a healthy, moving function and avoid stagnation," explains Theron. Not everyone has access to a FaceGym studio, so don't be afraid to pick up some skin-tightening essential oils and put your hands to work.

4. Drink More Water

Water seems to be a critical player in all aspects of our health, including skin quality. A dehydrated body will present itself as fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity in the face. In fact, it can make your skin dry and flaky, which exasperates the aging process. Make sure you take in the recommended daily amount of H2O if you're looking to improve your skin health.

5. Don't Over-Exfoliate

Yes, you can have too much of a good thing, and that includes exfoliants. Some products utilize physical and chemical exfoliants in a single formula, and the solid abrasive particles can cause micro-tears in the skin. These tears result in irritation, dryness, and desquamation (aka peeling) of the skin. "Do not over-exfoliate as this can cause TEWL (transepidermal water loss), which creates dry skin that tends to look more wrinkled," informs Franco. Your safest option is to use chemical exfoliants one or two times per week to keep skin from losing firmness.

6. Get in Your Omega 3

Franco loves a diet full of healthy fats. "Eat healthy fats, proteins, and omega 3s, specifically salmon, avocado, chia seeds, walnuts, and flax seeds," she elaborates. You can even supplement with other sources of omega 3s to cover all your bases.

7. Mind Your Sugar Intake

It's no secret that excessive amounts of sugar can cause the skin to break out, but some people don't know it's also a catalyst for aging. "Saccharification is when the body breaks down complex carbs into simple sugars. This causes the skin to deteriorate collagen and then causes sagging and wrinkles," explains Franco. If you need a sweet treat, opt for low-glycemic fruits like berries.

8. Avoid the Sun

Sun exposure might provide the body with its daily does of vitamin D, but the rays are causing serious damage to the skin. "The best way we can help is by protecting our skin from environmental damage and external aggressors such as sun exposure. It is so important to wear SPF 50 all year round, day in and day out. Even when it's cloudy outside, UVA/UVB rays can still damage the skin," says Theron.

She isn't alone in warning about sun exposure. "UV radiation penetrates the middle layer of the dermis and causes a rapid breakdown of collagen and elastin much faster than normal aging. Most damage will not be seen for 10 years, but the damage is being done now," warns Franco.

9. Get Plenty of Sleep

"Getting enough sleep is a key factor. When we achieve optimal sleep levels, our bodies can enter repair mode as we rest, helping with cell turnover and regeneration," states Theron.

Next: These Are the 8 Best Antioxidants for the Skin, According to Experts