Skin elasticity – How can I tighten my skin and reduce deep wrinkles?

Our skin is as individual as we are, and skin ages differently depending on our genetics and lifestyle, but for most of us general skin ageing starts to affect the way our skin looks and feels from around the age of 30. Fine lines usually appear first, followed by wrinkles. Over time we experience a loss of volume and a loss of elasticity. Skin’s firmness and radiance reduces, and wrinkles deepen.

Skin ageing is a natural process, and much of it is brought about by factors we cannot control (such as our genetics). There are, however, external factors at play too, and many of these can be influenced positively. Certain lifestyle choices (such as the amount of sun we expose our skin to and our diet) can speed up skin the ageing process and cause skin to age prematurely. Making sensible decisions, and giving skin the protection it needs, can help to keep it looking and feeling younger for longer.

Skin changes as we age: fine lines and wrinkles appear first and deepen over time. As we continue to mature skin’s firmness, radiance and, later on, its elasticity all gradually reduce. 

The loss of elasticity, combined with the appearance of deep wrinkles, is a primary ageing concern for women with mature skin. Learn about how menopause can affect the skin.

Loss of firmness, and deep wrinkles

Dermal tissue is strong in young skin and has a plentiful supply of collagen and elastin – together they help to keep skin firm and smooth. As we age, collagen and elastin levels decline (collagen by 1% annually). This disrupts the dermal tissue arrangement, causing skin to lose strength. It feels less firm and wrinkles deepen.

Another key factor behind a loss of firmness and deepening wrinkles is the declining production of Hyaluronic Acid. Produced naturally by young skin, it surrounds cells helping them to bind in water. As we age, production of Hyaluronic Acid slows down, skin becomes drier and loses its full and firm feel.

Loss of radiance
Micro-circulation in the dermal layers reduces with age and the delivery of nutrition and oxygen to the skin’s surface becomes less efficient.

A loss of firmness and deepening wrinkles are, to some extent, an inevitable part of skin ageing. 

Skin ageing is a natural process, much of which is caused by internal factors which we cannot influence. However, there are several external factors which have a major influence on skin ageing and many of these can be addressed to prevent skin from ageing prematurely:

Our biological age determines the structural changes in skin and the efficiency of cell function, and this slows down with each passing year, leading to less firmness and a loss of skin elasticity.

Hormonal changes
Hormones act as messengers in the skin, stimulating the production of substances such as collagen that give young skin its firm structure and smooth texture. 

During the menopause, hormonal activity slows down and collagen levels decrease.

Oxidative stress, which causes skin to age prematurely, is accelerated and triggered by a variety of lifestyle factors:

Sun
The sun’s UVA and UVB rays affect skin in different ways. UVA rays are most commonly associated with photoageing (premature skin ageing caused by the sun) as they contribute to the breakdown of skin components such as Hyaluronic Acid, collagen and elastin that are key to the firmness and elasticity of skin. 

UVB rays can cause immediate damage such as sunburn and long-term damage such as skin cancer. Read more about how UVA, UVB and HEVIS light affect skin.

Pollution
Pollution triggers the release of free radicals and accelerates oxidative stress in the skin.

Smoking

Tobacco smoke is a major source of skin damaging free radicals. Smoking weakens skin and contributes to wrinkles by:

• Impairing skin’s micro-circulation system, causing oxygen supplies and nourishment to decrease.
• Damaging collagen and elastin: the fibers that give skin its strength and elasticity.

Diet

The food you eat plays an important role in the overall health of your skin. 

Lack of sleep

Skin needs sleep to repair and regenerate.

All healthy skin will age, but certain active ingredients – when combined with a holistic approach to your overall well being – have been proven to strengthen skin, improve elasticity, plump deep wrinkles and add radiance.

You can prevent and treat skin elasticity and tightness concerns for certain areas of the face:

• Skin around the eyes will age and cause crow's feet to deepen.
• Fine lines will appear on the forehead as your skin becomes less tight.
• Wrinkles around the mouth, such as marionette lines and nasolabial folds, will become more visible.

Look out for formulas which combine the following ingredients:

Arctiin
Arctiin is a naturally-derived active extracted from the fruit of the Burdock plant. It stimulates the repair of weakened connective tissue in the cell walls. Arctiin also accelerates the collagen renewal process in skin cells which slows dramatically as we age. Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Day SPF 30 and Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Night with Arctiin improve elasticity and firmness in mature skin.

Argan Oil
Argan Oil (also known as Argania Spinosa kernel oil) is oil expressed from the kernels of the Argan tree. It contains up to 80% essential fatty acids (Omega-9 and Omega-6). The body uses fatty acids to produce and repair cell membranes and strengthen skin so it is able to perform its vital function of protecting the body. 

Argan Oil is also rich in Vitamin E (a powerful anti-oxidant), has anti-inflammatory properties and makes skin smoother and softer. It is a key ingredient in Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Night and Eucerin Elasticity + Filler Facial Oil.

Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid is formed by skin cells and is part of the connective tissue of the skin. One of its key functions is to retain moisture, and it has the ability to bind in between 1,000 and 10,000 times its own weight in water (i.e. one gram binds between one and ten liters). As we age, the skin's natural ability to produce Hyaluronic Acid depletes and wrinkles start to form and deepen.

High and low molecular Hyaluronic Acid
Eucerin uses two different types of Hyaluronic Acid in the Hyaluron-Filler and Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity, and Anti-Pigment Dual Serum formulas to effectively target and plump wrinkles from the inside out:

• High molecular Hyaluronic Acid (also known as long-chained Hyaluronic Acid). This remains on skin’s surface and works to improve hydration in the outermost layer of the epidermis – where fine lines and winkles originate.
• Low molecular Hyaluronic Acid (also known as short-chained Hyaluronic Acid). With molecules that are 40 times smaller 1 than those of high molecular Hyaluronic Acid, low molecular Hyaluronic Acid penetrates further into the epidermal layers where it stimulates skin’s own production of Hyaluronic Acid, replenishing moisture where deeper wrinkles originate.

Milk Thistle Oil
The oil of the Milk Thistle plant (also known as Lady's Thistle or Silybum Marianium) is a common ingredient in anti-ageing skincare. It contains Linoleic acid (an Omega-6 fatty acid) and is known to nourish skin and improve radiance. It is one of the oils in our Eucerin Elasticity + Filler Facial Oil.

Silymarin
Silymarin is extracted from the fruits of the Milk Thistle plant (also known as Lady's Thistle). It is a powerful antioxidant, protecting collagen and elastin from oxidative stress, and helps to strengthen skin's microcirculation system at a cellular level. It is a key active in the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity formula.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E (also known as Tocopherol) is a powerful antioxidant that protects skin against the free radicals that cause oxidative stress and helps to support its natural resilience. It is one of the ingredients in our Eucerin Elasticity + Filler Facial Oil.

Healthy lifestyle choices can also help you to feel in control of the ageing process and help your skin to look and feel its best.

Sun protection

Protecting your skin from the sun is the most important step to preventing premature skin ageing. 

Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays can cause premature skin ageing, so always use formulas that offer UV protection such as Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Day SPF 30.

Read more about how to care for your skin in the sun in facial sun protection.

Skincare routine

A good skincare routine is an essential part of a holistic approach to treating all signs of ageing and caring for maturing skin. A skincare routine should consist of three steps: cleanse, care and sun protection. You can read more about a holistic approach to skin health in factors that influence skin and about how to care for your facial skin in a skincare routine for facial skin.

Giving up smoking
Giving up smoking will help to improve the appearance of skin. It can help to reduce wrinkle lines and also improve the overall health of your skin.

Nutrition
A healthy, balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, will give your body the antioxidants and vitamins it needs to limit the damaging effects of free radicals on the skin. 

Variety is important, but some foods are known to be high in anti-oxidants: leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow fruit and vegetables (e.g. carrots and apricots), blueberries, tomatoes, beans and other pulses, nuts and oily fish (e.g. salmon).

Sleep
A good night’s sleep gives your skin the time it needs to regenerate and strengthen itself, helping to improve elasticity. Proper sleep also helps reduce the dark circles and bags under the eyes, which can all make the skin look older.