Natural Skin Tightening

Everything you need to know about natural skin tightening.

Natural skin tightening

7 Natural skin tightening treatments to do at home

Over time, our skin starts to lose its elasticity and with it, its plump youthfulness. This is because as we grow older collagen and elastin, the two proteins that keep the skin smooth, line-free and toned, begin to break down.

Ageing, sun damage, exposure to environmental factors such as pollution and UV light, and weight loss can all have an impact on these proteins. As these proteins degenerate, your skin, particularly around your face, neck, arms, chin and chest, becomes loose and lined. Although loose skin can be a result of natural factors, it can still be frustrating and cause insecurities. We want everyone to feel confident in their own beautiful skin, so we’ve outlined natural skin tightening treatments that can help reduce and delay loose skin.

Natural skin tightening

What causes loose skin?

There are several reasons why your skin starts to sag:

Age: as the years roll on, skin loses two important proteins, elastin and collagen, which inhibit the skin's ability to bounce back when it is stretched. As a result, the skin becomes gradually looser.

Environmental factors: too much sun exposure, pollutants in the environment, including cigarette smoke and certain lifestyle factors. These can include a diet which is lacking fruit and veg, as well as drinking too much alcohol can all impact how fast the skin loses its natural elasticity.

Weight loss: losing weight, particularly rapidly, can mean that leftover skin remains even after the weight is gone.

Pregnancy: like weight loss, the skin is stretched during pregnancy as it expands to accommodate the baby. Post-pregnancy the skin may remain looser than before.

There are a number of home-based skin tightening treatments you can try that can help keep your skin looking healthy, smooth, and youthful. Whether you want to know how to tighten loose skin on your arms naturally, how to tighten skin after weight loss naturally or how to tighten face skin naturally at home, read on for some natural tightening skin treatments.

1. Aloe Vera

Best known for its healing, soothing powers, aloe vera’s natural moisturising benefits make it an ideal part of your natural skin tightening routine. Aloe vera helps to naturally increase the production of collagen - one of those all important proteins that gives your skin its youthful firmness while its astringent properties constrict blood vessels and flow to the skin which give it a tightening effect on the body and face.

Aloe vera works particularly well as a body lotion, helping to tone and tighten arms and chest. Slathering NIVEA Naturally Good Aloe Vera Body Lotion is a great way of getting your natural skin tightening aloe vera hit, while keeping the skin hydrated for up to 48 hours. The nifty roll up bottle means you can extract every last bit of its natural skin tightening benefits too.

Top tip: How to tighten face skin naturally at home. Massage a generous amount of aloe vera gel on to your face. Leave for 20 minutes before rinsing off with a face cloth or muslin cloth to perk up tired skin.

2. Coconut Oil

A powerhouse ingredient in any natural skin tightening routine, coconut oil is super hydrating and moisturising - both key to keeping the skin’s crucial bounce and elasticity. Hydration should be a cornerstone in any natural skin tightening routine as dry skin is more likely to appear loose and wrinkled.

But coconut oil’s natural skin tightening powers don’t stop there. It contains vitamin A which boosts collagen production, while its vitamin E and fatty acids load promote the production of new skin cells. And that’s not all; coconut oil contains a big dose of lauric acid that has antibacterial properties and acts as an effective moisturiser that keeps skin soft, supple and tight.

Top tip: Massage a teaspoon of coconut oil into your skin for five minutes before bed and leave it on your skin overnight for an added hydration boost.

cocoa butter for natural skin tightening

3. Cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is a type of fat that comes from cocoa beans - and its benefits are every bit as enjoyable as chocolate. Cocoa butter is rich in natural plant compounds called phytochemicals that may improve blood flow to the skin and slow signs of ageing by protecting against damage from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It also delivers a hefty hydration hit - along with a delicious scent - that should be an integral part of your natural skin tightening routine. Harness the power of cocoa butter with NIVEA Naturally Good Cocoa Butter Body Lotion, a rich nourishing cream that leaves the skin refreshed and rejuvenated.

Top tip: How to tighten loose skin on arms naturally. Rub cocoa butter cream into your arms at least once daily. Not only will the benefits of cocoa butter help to improve the texture and tone of loose skin, but massaging the area will increase circulation and plump up sagging skin.

4. Olive oil

Not just delicious drizzled over a salad, olive oil has been used since ancient times to cleanse and moisturise, both important in slowing down gravity’s pull on the skin. Olive oil gives a moisturising blast to dehydrated skin prone to crepiness, while this high-performing oil’s powerful antioxidants can improve the skin’s elasticity.

Top tip: Rub a small amount on your upper arms to help tighten loose skin on your arms naturally or massage a little on a clean face and neck to help boost hydration and give the skin an instant lift.

5. Avocado oil

The not so humble avocado has an abundance of antioxidants, plant sterols, omega-9, minerals, and vitamins (including friends of your skin, vitamins C and E), providing one powerful natural skin tightening hit in one go. The nutrients found in avocado oil can help boost the production of collagen, soothe inflammation, lift away old skin cells, soften skin while tightening and refining pores. Not too shabby, huh?

You can massage a little smashed avocado on your face, or save that for your toast and instead slather yourself in NIVEA Naturally Good Avocado Body Lotion. It’s a gloriously nourishing, hyper hydrating cream that will leave your skin healthy-looking and fresh.

Top tip: How to tighten skin after weight loss naturally. Healthy fats like avocado oil can really naturally nourish skin that has become loose after weight loss. Gently massage your arms lotion containing avocado oil just before bed to allow the benefits of the avocado oil time to sink in overnight.

6. Honey

Honey is another natural skin tightening ingredient that has been used by people for centuries. Another excellent antioxidant, honey’s anti-ageing properties help to tighten loose skin.

Top tip: Mix it with a few drops of lemon juice and olive oil and smooth on your face for a triple whammy of natural skin tightening powers.

7. Cucumber

Slices of cucumber over the eyes have become a bit of a natural skincare cliche. But, as with so many cliches, it has become one with good reason. Cucumber’s starring role in natural skin tightening remedies is no fluke. Cucumbers are loaded with antioxidants and nutrients like vitamin C and folic acid that work to inhibit the breakdown of elastin - the other protein crucial to keeping skin firm. As a result, it is one of nature’s finest skin toners, refreshing and rejuvenating tired skin.

Top tip: Put slices over the eyes for an instant refresh or spritz your face with cucumber water.