10 Remedies that'll Keep Your Skin Young and Taut

The way our skin looks and behaves changes over time – even in our 20’s we already see crow’s feet forming, and later find more and more wrinkles. In later years, we notice changes in the structure of our faces, which relate to the slow sagging of our skin. These are the natural processes, but add to them damage caused by our behavior, such as sun damage, consumption of alcoholic beverages, an unhealthy diet, etc. Even though the pharmacy shelves are laden with various “anti-wrinkle” cosmetics, and plastic surgeons offer various nips and tucks, there are also cheaper, natural ways to revive your skin. These ten home remedies will aid in different aspects of skin sagging by using natural ingredients you can find in your home.

1. Lemon – Increase Collagen Production As we age, so does the Collagen, a protein that keeps our skin taut, and Elastin, which keeps it elastic. With time, these two slow down, causing the skin to lose its elasticity and sag. The high vitamin C content in lemons helps increase collagen production, restoring the tautness of the skin and reducing wrinkles and other signs of age. Squeeze a fresh lemon, and rub the juice against your face and neck using your hands. Let the juice sit for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse your face. Repeat this process 2-3 times a day.

2. Aloe vera – Skin Firmness Natural aloe is one of the best treatments for making saggy skin firm again, thanks to the Malic Acid in the plant, which strengthens the skin and moisturizes it. Apply aloe vera gel on your face, neck, and anywhere else you’d to make firmer. Let the gel sit for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse. Repeat several times a week.

3. Cucumber – Tighten Loose Skin A cucumber-base face mask will do wonders for tightening loose skin. This green vegetable is quite effective at strengthening the skin’s connective tissue, helping the skin resist the pull of gravity. Grate half a cucumber and extract the juice with a strainer. Soak a cotton ball in the juice and apply to the face. Once the skin is dry, rinse with cool water. Repeat once daily. To make a mask, use two tablespoons of cucumber juice, fresh egg white, and three drops of vitamin E oil. Apply the mask to your face and neck, and let it sit for 15 minutes, and then rinse it off.

4. Olive Oil – For a Shiny, Smooth Skin Massaging your face with olive oil helps turn loose, wrinkled skin into smoother skin, and gives it back the sheen it has lost. The secret is antioxidants such as vitamins A and E, which are abundant in the oil, making it a true anti-aging potion. Warm the oil in the microwave and apply it to  your face after making sure it is not too hot. Use your fingertips to massage your face for ten minutes. Perform this once a day before bedtime. Other oils you can use include avocado oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba, or almond oil. These oils are good not only for the face and neck but also for your arms and legs.

5. Honey – Moisturize and Revitalize the Skin Honey is a natural moisturizer that contains antioxidants and anti-aging properties, which aide in moisturizing tough, leathery skin, and give it a healthier color. Mix 2-3 teaspoons of honey with a squeeze of lemon. Apply the mixture to the face, neck, arms and legs. Once the mixture is dry, rinse it off. Repeat once or twice daily for the best possible results.

6. Rose Water – Taut and Glowing Skin Rose water shrinks skin cells, causing open pores to close up, particularly in the face region, making it highly effective at giving the skin a taut look, as well as fighting minor skin infections. In addition, rose water helps in maintaining the skin’s natural sheen, which may have been lost due to sagging. Wash your face with rose water before bedtime, or prepare a mask by mixing it with a few drops of almond oil, and leaving it on your face for 20 minutes. Finally, rinse your face with lukewarm water.

7. Baking Soda – Softening Saggy Skin As the skin sags, it changes the way it looks as well as how it feels. Baking soda helps restore old, saggy skin, making it feel young and supple again, by removing dead skin cells and closing up the pores. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a cup of water. For the first time, test the solution by applying it to a small patch on the inside of your elbow and wait to see if you feel any discomfort. If all is well, massage the solution over your face and any other necessary area for a few minutes. Allow the solution to sit on these areas for several minutes, and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. This can be repeated once a week.

8. Cinnamon – Restoring the Skin’s Natural Flexibility While the skin’s natural flexibility allows it to stay in place, if there is not enough collagen in the area, the skin will lose this ability and start to sag. Cinnamon helps restore the skin’s natural flexibility, making it look younger. Mix a teaspoon of cinnamon, a teaspoon of turmeric, half a teaspoon of salt, two drops of olive oil, and create a paste. Gently massage the paste onto your skin and neck for a few minutes, and then rinse the skin in lukewarm water. You can use this natural peeling up to twice a week.

9. Milk – Restoring Vitality Saggy skin often looks dry and lackluster. Milk and other dairy products are well known for their skin-conditioning properties thanks to large quantities of proteins, and their antibacterial properties. Furthermore, dairy products can be used to prevent the accumulation of dead skin cells and removing existing ones, making the skin lighter. You can use regular milk, but yoghurt and camel milk is recommended. Soak a make-up removal sponge or a cotton ball in the milk/yoghurt, and apply to the face. Leave it on for 15-30 minutes, and then rinse with lukewarm water.

10. Strawberry – General Improvement of Saggy Skin Sagging skin can look translucent and pale, making it more sensitive to touch and more susceptible to the elements. The vitamin C-rich strawberry works a disinfectant for the skin, and also contains alpha hydroxy acids, which improve the look of older skin. Mash 2-3 ripe strawberries into a pulp and add a teaspoon of yoghurt and one of honey. Apply the mixture to the desired area and let it sit for 5 minutes, and then rinse in lukewarm water. Repeat this procedure once a day and you’ll see changes in a couple of weeks.