The best body firming creams, according to dermatologists

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All your beauty questions have answers. Our resident dermatologist, Dr. Geddes-Bruce, breaks down the most important topics in beauty, from hair loss to Botox and everything in between. Send us a DM @camillestyles with your burning question of your own and we may address it in a future column.

When John Mayer said, “Gravity works against me,” he wasn’t talking about skin elasticity…but he might as well be. Due to forces beyond our control—time, gravity, genetics—our skin loses some of its youthful firmness every day. If only twenty-year-old me had known what I had before I lost it. Experts agree that the best time to start active skin care is between the ages of 25 and 32. But don’t worry, it’s never too late to start. From head to toe, you can prevent sagging skin through a combination of lifestyle choices, non-invasive treatments and body tightening creams. To optimize your skincare routine for future-proof skin, I asked Camille’s dermatologist, Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, to learn all things skin tightening.

Featured image is from Michelle Nash’s interview with Sanne Vloet.

Dermatologists share the best body firming creams

“Loose skin is basically life and a reminder that nothing lasts forever,” says Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, our resident dermatologist. Loose skin is inevitable. As you read this, your collagen stores are being depleted (although you can slow this process through your collagen stores), and so is your elastin. Elastin works together with collagen to promote skin elasticity, firmness and firmness. While we don’t have to worry about this process, there are some things you can do to slow it down.

There are countless collagen supplements and skin-firming skin care products for facial elasticity, not to mention Botox, fillers, and even optimizing your beauty sleep by using a chin mask or anti-wrinkle patches. But body skin tightening products and treatments are less common. Thankfully, the recent renaissance in body care is a reminder not to neglect the area below the neck.

Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce

Dr. Geddes is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Westlake Dermatology, specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology practices. She believes that cosmetic dermatology goes hand in hand with a happy, healthy lifestyle and regularly provides cosmetic and medical dermatology consultations to patients in a balanced, natural approach.

What causes sagging skin?

According to Dr. Geddes-Bruce, skin laxity is inevitable. “Factors such as intrinsic aging (thank you, time), photoaging from the sun, smoking, weight loss, and the gravity of old age all work together to make your skin less tight over time.”

Dr. Geddes-Bruce knows that when it comes to minimizing the effects of photoaging on your skin, simple habits can make a big difference. She recommends incorporating the following habits into your daily routine.

Skin tightening myth

While lifestyle changes and products can Helps reduce skin sagging. Skin tightening is a process, not an immediate repair. Some myths Dr. Geddes-Bruce often encounters include:

Exercise or wearing tight clothing can work wonders to tighten loose skin. While exercise is great for working the underlying muscles, it won’t shrink sagging skin, and no amount of compression garments will have long-term effects.
Just drink a few gallons of water or slather on cocoa butter. While they may moisturize or temporarily smooth your skin, they will not restore lost elasticity.
Severe skin sagging can be repaired using just the cream. I hate to break it to you, but most creams don’t penetrate deep enough to affect the breakdown of collagen and elastin, causing sagging. So if you’re expecting miracles from the jar, you may want to adjust those expectations.

Your body is unique. How you should treat it too. “The ‘best’ treatment is highly individualized,” Dr. Geddes-Bruce said. “What works for one person may not work for another. A consultation with a professional will help tailor the approach to your unique needs and goals.

While you may not have time to take a shower every night, in-office treatments can make a big difference in a short amount of time. “If you have mild to moderate skin laxity, non-surgical treatments such as laser resurfacing or devices that use microfocused ultrasound can work wonders. They both help tighten the skin and stimulate collagen production, allowing you to You can achieve a younger, firmer appearance without surgery.

The most effective skin tightening treatment

According to Dr. Geddes-Bruce, these are the best skin tightening treatment options for all different budgets, body types, and skin goals.

Skin care products

Try using a firming cream that works for your body. It’s affordable and simple, but it doesn’t do the heavy lifting (literally). This is the first step in maintenance, but don’t expect it to work miracles on its own. They are suitable for all skin types and have zero downtime.

biostimulator

These injectable treatments (think Sculptra) work by prompting the skin to produce its own collagen and elastin, which is great for wrinkled skin. shortcoming? They can be uncomfortable and take several months to see results, and the cost varies depending on the area treated.

laser

Resurfacing lasers such as CO2 can deliver impressive results, especially in areas where the skin is thinner, such as around the eyes. What are the disadvantages? Downtime! You need to care for the skin for at least a week and only trust highly skilled specialists to use the laser.

Radio frequency microneedle

This treatment targets mild skin laxity and helps address other textural issues such as acne scars and enlarged pores. Often multiple sessions are required, and yes, it can be a little uncomfortable.

micro-focused ultrasound

One of my favorite non-invasive options! It’s safe for all skin types, requires little downtime, and subtly tightens skin over time. Remember: results won’t be immediate, as collagen production is a slow process.

microcoring

An emerging treatment that removes tiny cylinders of skin that cause the skin to shrink and tighten as it heals. It’s mainly used on the face and neck, but is being tested on other areas like knees.