Do body firming creams actually help tighten the skin?
As we age, our skin ages with us. But while fine lines and wrinkles on the face assume the spotlight in our skincare routines, it pays to remember that our skin everywhere else on the body deserves the same care as well. A variety of lifestyle and age-related causes can lead to the skin around the stomach and thighs to grow looser or take on a dimpled appearance, which has prompted a fresh crop of firming creams designed for those in the quest of firm, taut skin. Heres what a celebrity skin expert wants you to know. The science behind how firming creams work  People can often observe loose skin or a dimpled appearance on certain parts of their body. Commonly known as cellulite, it refers to the appearance of dimpled skin on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen, caused by fat cells pushing against the connective tissue in the skin, explains Dr Harshna Bijlani, medical head at The Ageless Clinic. It is essential to note that loose skin can appear for many reasons. It is commonly known that as we age, our skins natural reserves of collagen get depleted. Heres a quick refresher: Our skin is made up of collagen and elastin which are proteins holding our skin together. The elasticity, suppleness, tightness and volume of the skin is controlled by the production of these proteins. With time, however, the production of collagen reducesthis phenomenon is called micro-ageing, she says. Indeed, research has confirmed that the production of collagen drops by about one per cent every year, starting from our mid-twenties. For those looking for tauter skin, a wide array of firming creams, serums and oils have now popped up in response in skincare aisles. Firming creams essentially operate on the science that hydrated skin looks firmer. When you use ingredients to boost collagen and elastin, the skin looks firmer as the collagen binds your skin together more tightly, making it look less lax and thereby, reducing the appearance of dimples and sagging skin, she explains. Peek under the hood of firming creams, and youll find a host of skin-loving ingredients working to boost the production of collagen in the skin. Dr Bijlani believes that common ingredients include Vitamin A, retinoids and peptides that work on collagen stimulation. Aloe vera, caffeine and hydrating oils and butters like shea butter, coconut oil and argan oil often star in a secondary role to work on further hydrating and smoothening the skin.