The Secret to Tighter, Brighter Skin Lies in These At-Home Treatments

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There once was a time when the only solution for wrinkles and sagging skin was through invasive interventions. These days, though, there are tons of effective skin-tightening treatments that go above and beyond at addressing everything from dark under-eye circles to puffiness and fine lines at the comfort of your own home. If you want to accentuate your cheekbones, there's a beauty tool or two for that. Or if you want to sculpt your jawline and smooth out your neck, there are tons of creams and retinol-rich products for that, too.

Here, we tapped NYC-based dermatologists Dr. Dendy Engelman and Dr. Whitney Bowe for some of their favorite facial toning devices, rollers, anti-aging serums, ingredients, and treatments that work to firm up skin on the face, neck, and body.

"Eye Want It All" Face + Eye Total Rejuvenation Set

While at-home microneedling devices "don’t pierce the skin as deeply as the medical grade devices," says Dr. Engelman, they "can be used to enhance penetration of products." This kit comes with two microneedling attachments, skin prep pads, and an eye balm that helps create a bright, youthful-looking complexion over time.

A reviewer raves: "I love this product so much that I now use it everyday! I've noticed a difference in the appearance in fine lines, puffiness, bags and overall smoothness around my eyes after using it for about a month. I really love that it tightens the skin around my eyes which really has made me look younger. I highly recommend this product to all my friends and family!"

Gold Roll-CIT

This is Dr. Engelman's favorite microneedling device. She explains, "The needles are used to puncture the skin to create a controlled skin injury and healing. The slight injury stimulates the growth of collagen, the scaffolding under the skin, which then improves the appearance of some scars and wrinkles."

NuFACE Trinity® Starter Kit

"I love the NuFace device for its anti-aging benefits," Dr. Engelman says. "The before and afters are impressive and it's an elegant and painless device. Microcurrent massagers improve muscle tone, improve facial circulation, aid in lymphatic drainage, and enhance product penetration. The mechanism of action for how the skin is tightened is mainly by the stimulation and activation of the facial muscles beneath the skin. When the underlying musculature is tightened, the skin appears smoother."

A reviewer raves: "This is the best anti-aging device I own and I recommend it to anyone looking to improve skin tone and wrinkles. I am 45 and starting to notice loose of tone and wrinkles by the mouth area, forehead... I have to say that I noticed improvements since the first time. I have been using it every day for almost a month and my skin looks tighter, more firm, less saggy."

Gold Sculpting Bar

Another facial massager—this time coming from Jillian Dempsey, make-up artist to the stars. (And we mean stars. Dempsey's clientele includes Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lawrence, Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart, and Jennifer Aniston.) This device drains puffiness and gets the circulation going in your skin. It's the key to perky, chiseled cheekbones.

A reviewer raves: "It's definitely worth the investment. I use it everyday for 3 minutes as recommended & always have either cream or serum on my face because it glides over much better. Within seconds of using, my face begins to glow & it feels wonderfully soft & smooth to touch."

NuBODY

NuBODY allows you to train microcurrent on the body, and is particularly effective on the upper arms, abs, thighs, and butt. Use for just 5 minutes a day 5 days a week.

A reviewer raves: "Home Liposuction. It couldn’t get any better. I wish I would have started with the before and after pics because boy I would’ve liked to show you, actual proof. I’ve been using this for about a month now 5 days a week, each area 5 mins at a time."

Rose Quartz Vibrating Lift & Contour Beauty Roller

A smart combo of quartz facial roller and vibrating massager, this Skin Gym device is a pleasure to use, helping sweep away lymph and increase micro-circulation so that skincare ingredients can do their best work.

A reviewer raves: "Love the vibrating effect and the coolness of the Rose Quartz - feels high quality as well! Love it!"

Dermalquench Liquid Lift Retinol

Dr. Bowe believes that retinoids (as included in this product) are the "gold standard when it comes to tightening skin from the outside in." And Dr. Engelman agrees: "Retinol is the most potent ingredient that helps build collagen and elastin, which leads to tighter, smoother skin." This mixture has the added bonus of hyaluronic acid, which "can smooth, firm, and tighten the appearance of the skin," Dr. Bowe says.

A reviewer raves: "I am in love with this product, it’s my first time using it and it works great. After only 2 weeks I already see a difference, I will continue to use."

Retinol 0.3

While retinol delivers many anti-aging benefits, Dr. Bowe warns that it "can be very irritating if used too frequently or if the formulation is too strong for your skin." If that's the case for you, she recommends introducing retinol slowly into your skincare regimen (not every single night) and starting off with a low percentage. This low-concentrate serum is an ideal choice for first-time users.

A reviewer raves: "This is Botox in a bottle. I love it, I followed the directions carefully and after 4 weeks I’m seeing incredible results. I think this is worth every penny"

Retinol Correxion Anti-Aging + Firming Night Face Moisturizer

This perennial drugstore favorite offers the same coveted retinol percentage, but at a much more accessible price point. Plus, you won't feel as bad using it on areas aside from your face—which Dr. Bowe says is necessary. "When applying it, don’t neglect your neck, chest, and eye area," she says.

A reviewer raves: "This Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Cream is the best product ever. I'm 75 yrs old and people think I'm about 60. Get it. You'll love it."

SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum

Dr. Bowe points to peptides as another key skin-tightening ingredient. "When you introduce exogenous peptides onto the skin in the form of a moisturizer or serum, they essentially 'trick' the skin into thinking there’s been an injury or wound, which stimulates our collagen-boosting processes," she explains.

This serum from SkinMedica features peptides, as well as French flax seed, Spanish marine extract, and green microalgae, which work together smooth wrinkles, lift skin, and even out skin tone.

A reviewer raves: "I've been using this product for about 2 months. In that time I have seen my skin look overall more youthful and glow-y. I’ve also gotten compliments from people that my skin looks better or fresher. It’s incredibly expensive but I’m going to stick with it."

The LYMA Laser

This state-of-the-art at-home laser packs a serious skincare punch. It uses near infrared laser light to stimulate collagen, which in turn, helps reduce wrinkles, skin pigmentation, redness, blemishes and scarring. The result: Overall healthier-looking skin with a youthful radiance.

A reviewer raves: "I've been using the LYMA Laser for about 2 months now. I am so pleased with the results I'm seeing on blemishes and scarring! This is the only thing that has help - almost eliminated this problem. I am so grateful."

Jade Gua Sha Facial Tool

If tiny needles seem a little intense for your liking, gua sha is another popular tightening technique. The ancient Chinese practice, performed by pulling the stone's edge along different parts of the face, helps to sculpt and tighten by improving lymphatic drainage.

A reviewer raves: "This Gua sha was definitely worth my money. It makes a visible change to my face and is so easy to use. It was perfectly designed to fit around all shapes of the face. I love it!"

More: Gua Sha Tools to Lift, Sculpt, Drain Fluid From the Face

STOP Vx Facial Renewal, Reshaping & Rejuvenation Device

This FDA-approved TriPollar device aims to tighten and reshape the jawline area using radio frequency. It's fast and heats more evenly than some of its competitors. Plus, it also has a function to prevent over-heating—and therefore potential risk of burns.

A reviewer raves: "I'm loving this device... right after every use, it gives me that "after facial" look. My pores look tighter and my skin looks glowing. I put hyaluronic acid before and after, it seems to hydrate my skin even more."

RejuvatoneMD — The Facial Toning System

This device has two modes: lift and tone. Both settings utilize microcurrent technology to sculpt and tighten your face by turbocharging blood flow, boosting collagen and elastin, and energizing facial muscles to ensure your face remains at its most sculpted.

A reviewer raves: "I love the Rejuvatone, and I love what it does for my face and neck. You can feel that your muscles are being lifted and tightened, and you can even see them moving sometimes. Because I do a lot of face yoga, I don't need to use this every day — more like a couple of times per week — but it really helps give me some additional lift and tone that I love."

Dermalux Flex MD

Those who are looking to splash out on an at-home treatment that's worthy of the pros need look no further than the Dermalux Flex MD, which harnesses clinically proven LED wavelengths to promote skin cell rejuvenation and faster repair, lending to reduced wrinkles and sagging, as well as treating moderate acne and even relieving muscle and joint inflammation. A device for more than one treatment cause? That's reason enough to snap one up for your personal spa arsenal.

A reviewer raves: "This Dermalux Flex MD system it does what is says. I'm using 3 times a week... I can see big improvement in my face skin. Less wrinkles, no more inflammation after rosacea, also it helps a lot after serious treatments, for example laser therapy, because it helps your skin to heal faster."

Skincare Wand with Red Light Therapy & Serum Kit

Solawave's red light therapy device is a fan favorite since it works to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, blemishes, and dark spots, all while depuffing with the help of red light therapy, microcurrent, therapeutic warmth, and facial massage. With each use, you'll see more vibrance and lift.

A reviewer raves: "I've been using the Solawave for almost 2 weeks and I absolutely love it, so easy to use, so soothing, helps de-puff and heal, I'm amazed, it's lightened my sun spots as well as reduced wrinkles. And I love the gentle heat of it."

Instant FIRMx Temporary Face Tightener

With PTR-trademarked Firm-a-tite, this cream is both a quick fix with instant results, that also has long-term anti-aging benefits. Think: vitamins C & E and provitamin B5 to give a healthy dose of anti-oxidants over time, as well as to moisturize, but with the added visible tightening at the instance of application.

A reviewer raves: "Been using for 12 years. I have tried product after product and always come back to Peter Thomas Roth. Seriously they are the best... First use firmX in an upward motion and wait about 3 min. You won't be sorry, this product is the best skin tightener that works in minutes."

C E Ferulic® with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid

"Vitamin C is required by the body to produce collagen, so make sure you’re using a serum with vitamin C as part of your regimen," advises Dr. Bowe. This one by SkinCeuticals is packed with 15% pure vitamin C and 0.5% ferulic acid to help instantly transform lackluster skin into a tight, bright complexion.

A reviewer raves: "I’ve been using this for years, every morning followed by moisturizer with sunscreen. This serum is amazing. People have commented in my skin amid youthfulness. I agree that my skin does look at least 15 years younger."

More: The Best Vitamin C Serums for Brighter, Tighter Skin

High Performance Neck & Décolletage Treatment

This silky and effective neck-specific treatment combines skin-plumping hyaluronic acid and peptides with vitamins E and C to restore elasticity to thin skin below the jaw.

A reviewer raves: "This is a fantastic throat/neck cream. I have sensitive skin, and had no issue with this product. In 2 weeks I saw a reduction in crepiness and lines! Expensive, but worth it."

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Serum+

Powered by a potent blend of botanicals and peptides, this sumptuous serum offers some serious lifting power. Its fast-absorbing formula sinks in beautifully, leaving skin feeling silky and looking noticeably plumper.

A reviewer raves: "The serum is delicious with a very pleasant smell of expensive perfume! Gas a dense, viscous consistency and because of this, a large consumption. But my skin loves it! After application, the skin is nourished, velvety, healthy."

Facial Sculpting Wand

Celebrity esthetician Shani Darden is responsible for the glowy and gorgeous complexions of many Hollywood darlings, including Jessica Alba and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, just to name a few. The secret to their youthful appearances? This vibrating device, which helps boost circulation all over skin—including the delicate eye and lip areas—to reveal a sculpted and contoured face in just 10 minutes.

A reviewer raves: "I use mine every morning. It stimulates my skin and I actually see it tighten. I always take the wand into my hairline, and over time I have actually seen my hairline fill in! I am so pleased with this tool that I have given three of them as gifts. It is an essential part of my routine at nearly 70 years of age."

What is the best skin tightening treatment at home?

Being consistent is crucial when using skin tightening treatments at home. Dr. Bowe recommends following her "skin cycling" method, which includes exfoliating one night, using a retinoid the next day, letting your skin recover the following two nights, and then repeating the process all over again. "It's really one of the most effective and reliable ways to firm and tighten skin at home," says Dr. Bowe.

As for at-home devices? It really depends, notes Dr. Bowe, but gadgets like red light masks can be helpful in smoothing out your visage. As Dr. Engelman noted above, microneedling and microcurrent massagers, like NuFACE, can also improve the appearance of aging skin.

When is the best time to start using skin tightening treatments?

The earlier the better. Dr. Bowe says she has patients in their late 20s who start scheduling tightening treatments at her office, but "I believe that you can achieve a lot of this at home with the right skincare and lifestyle habits." She recommends using a vitamin C serum followed by sunscreen every morning, skin cycling at night, and managing stress levels with deep breathing, yoga, or meditation. "These are all key when it comes to protecting the collagen you have," adds Dr. Bowe.

What are the best tips for maintaining tight, firm skin?

• A healthy bedtime routine: "Chronic stress and sleep deprivation can both break down collagen in your skin, leading to premature laxity," explains Dr. Bowe. "Trying to stick to a regular schedule and protecting your bedtime routine to encourage deep, restorative sleep are essential when it comes to maintaining firm skin."

• A healthy diet: "Many of my patients find that their skin does benefit from a daily collagen supplement if they're not regularly drinking bone broth or eating fish skin as part of their daily diet," says Dr. Bowe. "I usually recommend a high-quality marine source of collagen, but it's important to take it consistently over 3 months to really appreciate any firming effects in the skin."

• Having a consistent skincare routine: According to Dr. Bowe, incorporating retinoids, peptides, glycolic acid, and vitamin C into your regimen are the most effective way to revive lackluster skin.

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