A Derm Explains How This High-Tech Moisturizer Can Actually Help Visibly Tighten & Sculpt Skin Starting In Just One Month

Looking for a way to tighten and firm up your skin, sans the surgical or injectable route? Skin-care ingredients have come a long way, and while it’s true you can’t expect to get the same results as a procedure, you can still achieve a plumper, more lifted appearance — without the wait. Take StriVectin’s new breakthrough Contour Restore Tightening & Sculpting Face Cream, for instance: The clinical results show it actually firms sagging skin in as little as one month. The powerhouse formula works by targeting naturally occurring elastin, a key protein that allows the skin to stretch and then snap back to its original shape. How exactly does it do this? To learn more about the science behind StriVectin’s high-tech moisturizer, we tapped board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano for her expert insight on its ingredients and patented NIA-114 technology. Ahead, find out why this moisturizer earns its spot in many a 40-something’s skin-care arsenal.

Elastin and aging

“Elastin is a protein that provides elasticity and resilience to tissues and organs, including the skin,” says Turegano. “It lives in the dermis and works together with collagen to give skin lift and bounciness.” Similar to collagen, though, you start losing more and more elastin as you age, which as Turegano explains, results in more sagging and wrinkling of the skin. Getting older isn’t the only factor that contributes to elastin loss, however. Excessive sun exposure, air pollution, poor nutrition, stress, and lack of sleep can all deplete elastin in the skin and result in premature aging, says Turegano. She notes that many people notice their eyelids start to sag first, because that skin is thinner and naturally more prone to drooping, but that the cheeks, forehead, eyebrows, jawline, and neck all start to sag and appear looser over time, too.

Supporting elastin for more “bounce”

While losing elastin is inevitable as we age, there are some skin-care ingredients that can help address this, which in turn can help give skin a bouncier and firmer appearance. For instance, StriVectin’s Contour Restore Tightening & Sculpting Face Cream contains elastin-targeting dipeptides and glycolipids, both of which are known to help improve skin plumpness and sagging. Acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester is a peptide that soothes and conditions the skin to improve sagging and visibly calms wrinkles and expression lines. “Glycolipids play a big role in hydration, moisture retention, and strengthening the skin barrier, which improves overall skin tone and texture,” says Turegano. Together, both ingredient categories help with maintaining elastin.

The brand also added its patented form of niacin/vitamin B3 called NIA-114™ to the formula, which has been clinically shown to strengthen the skin barrier. As Turegano explains, having a strong skin barrier is important for multiple reasons. “First, it helps your skin retain moisture by preventing water loss through the surface, which helps skin look healthy and plump,” she says. “Second, it serves to protect your skin from environmental elements like pollution, UV rays, smoke, and other toxins that can accelerate aging. When there are less insults penetrating the skin barrier, the elastin is better preserved.”

As if that wasn’t enough, the formula also contains thyme extract liposomes, which noticeably help restore fullness for a more youthful appearance.

The evidence

It’s no secret that there are a lot of unsubstantiated (or at the very least, overly generous) product claims out there, but that’s not the case with this face cream. StriVectin held an eight-week study to test its efficacy, and the results were jaw dropping (or in this case, jaw tightening). At just four weeks, people showed improvement in sagging skin along the jawline, and in eight weeks, they demonstrated plumper cheeks and an overall more sculpted appearance. In the world of skin care, where ingredients can take months to cause a visible change, four weeks is nothing short of impressive. So if you’re in the market for a new moisturizer that works overtime to visibly contour the skin, look no further than StriVectin’s newest launch.

All images: Courtesy of StriVectin