How to Firm the Look of Skin

Like many aspects of skin care, laxity—or loose skin—is a battle best fought preventatively. Moreover, a loss of firmness also ties into many other aspects of overall skin health, such as moisture retention, a healthy skin barrier, and protecting skin against environmental damage. Still, if firm-looking skin is your specific goal, there are certain topical ingredients that are best suited to help. 

Below, a round-up of the top ingredients that work to firm the appearance of skin—plus, exactly where to find them and how to use them. 

Peptides

“Peptides are chains of amino acids that make up proteins,” says Dhaval Bhanusali, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Given the size, they can penetrate the top layers of the epidermis and can serve as signaling mechanisms for the body.”

In non-dermatological speak, this means that peptides are absorbed easily when applied topically to the surface of the skin. Once absorbed, they work to firm and tone skin by signaling the skin to produce more collagen—the main protein found in the skin, and the one largely responsible for keeping skin taut and looking youthful. 

What’s better than one form of peptides? Multiple types, or a peptide blend, which you can find in Youth To The People’s Superfood Firm + Brighten Serum. This lightweight serum is formulated with a proprietary Peptide 5 complex, which has been shown to firm skin and subsequently help to fade the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. We recommend pressing it onto freshly-cleansed skin twice a day, then following up with Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream. 

Goji Stem Cell 

The muse for our new Superberry Dream Eye Cream, Goji Stem Cell is a high-tech ingredient that works by signaling skin cells to function at their highest potential. In doing so, with continued use, the appearance of fine lines is improved, and skin looks firmer. 

What’s just as important: true to YTTP form, we source our Goji Stem Cell sustainably and hyper-effectively. The goji plants are grown in a greenhouse, and the resulting extract is non-processed, alcohol free, and formulated for maximum potency. 

Ceramides

Ceramides are the primary component of the skin’s outer barrier which maintains the integrity of skin structure and is responsible for just about every function you can think of (namely, keeping the good things in and the bad things out). 

“The primary role [of ceramides] includes creating a water-impermeable barrier and preventing water-loss, which is important in maintaining hydration and helping prevent skin breakdown,” Bhanusali says. 

Youth To The People’s product formulas contain plant-based ceramides, which work to bolster the skin barrier and its ability to retain hydration, subsequently helping to keep skin healthy and firm. You’ll also find them in the new Superberry Dream Eye Cream, which works to smooth fine lines and visibly firm the look of skin while you sleep.