The 10 Best Supplements to Tighten Skin

If your skin is starting to sag or feels less firm than it usually does, there’s no need to fret. Usually, skin begins to sag due to aging, and that’s perfectly normal. If you’re not ready for your skin to sag and want to keep things looking tight, though, we’ve got you covered.

Believe it or not, it’s possible to rejuvenate aged skin with the right dietary supplements. Not only will you look younger, but you’ll feel younger, too! Vitamins A, C, and D each have their advantages when it comes to preventing aging effects.

In today’s article, we'll discuss these vitamins and other supplements that help with skin tightening, so stick around!

What Causes Skin to Sag?

Skin elasticity refers to how well your skin can recover its shape. It depends on proteins like collagen and elastin found in the dermis layer of your skin. Collagen gives your skin structure and strength while also helping with cell renewal and repair — which is very important. Elastin allows your skin to stretch.

Some factors, like stress, certain lifestyle choices (such as drinking too much alcohol), and even environmental toxins can, unfortunately, impact your skin’s elasticity. These factors contribute to oxidative stress, which occurs when there's an imbalance between the free radicals and antioxidants in your body.

In case you don’t know, free radicals are unstable molecules that play a major role in fighting off pathogens. Normally, antioxidants keep them in check. But if there are too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants, they can damage your cells. This oxidative stress is the main cause of accelerated skin aging and often leads to collagen breakdown.

The Best Supplements for Skin Tightening

The supplements on this list aren’t just effective at tightening saggy skin. They’re also great for your health in general. For example, not only will vitamin C help tighten your skin, but it can help ease cold and flu symptoms, too. Let’s take a closer look at the best vitamins and supplements for skin tightening below:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is more important for skin health and skin texture than you might think. It acts as an antioxidant and protects your skin from the damage that’s typically caused by free radicals. It also plays a major role in producing collagen, which, once again, maintains the firmness and elasticity of your skin.

When applied directly to the skin, vitamin C has been proven to reduce wrinkles and improve collagen production. Whether you take it orally or apply topical vitamin C, it will help to protect your skin from environmental factors, like UV rays and pollution.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A consists of fat-soluble vitamins that are very important for the growth and development of skin cells. It's been proven to stimulate collagen production, help with cell renewal, and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When used consistently, vitamin A can even reduce forehead lines.

Certain carotenoids found in foods can also act as provitamins that your body converts into vitamin A, helping to protect your skin from sun damage. You can also, of course, find vitamin A in supplements and topical skincare products. It’s a good idea to take vitamin A supplements since it tends to be difficult for most people to get enough vitamin A intake from diet alone!

Vitamin D

Vitamin D (also known as the sunshine vitamin) is linked to better skin hydration. Your skin synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to the sun’s UV rays. Still, factors like diet, skin pigmentation, and the weather can affect your vitamin D levels.

Surprisingly, many people don't get enough vitamin D. Several animal products provide this vitamin, but you can also take it in supplement form. Its light molecular structure strengthens your skin's protective barrier and keeps your skin hydrated, which helps with skin tightening.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that specifically protects your skin from damage caused by UV rays. These rays can speed up skin aging quite rapidly, and cause it to sag even if you’re relatively young. Vitamin E's protective qualities are most effective when applied directly to the skin, especially when combined with vitamin C — though, taking vitamin E in supplement form can also be quite helpful!

Schisandra

Schisandra is an adaptogenic herb that’s highly valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its reputation as a beauty enhancer. Historically reserved for Chinese royalty, the Schisandra berry has been celebrated for quite some time for its ability to transform dry skin into smooth, supple skin. This berry is known to help with collagen production, resulting in firmer, more hydrated skin with improved elasticity.

Vitamin K

Did you know that vitamin K helps with blood clotting and circulation? It's also been proven to minimize the visibility of bruises and dark circles, since it improves blood flow in the skin. Vitamin K might also contribute to collagen production, which (as we now know) helps tighten the skin. If you want to incorporate more vitamin K into your diet, you can take it in supplement form or eat more leafy greens, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

B Vitamins

B vitamins like niacin (B3) and pantothenic acid (B5) are important for keeping your skin healthy, too. Niacin helps the skin retain moisture better and promotes the production of ceramides, which are super important for maintaining the skin's protective barrier. Meanwhile, vitamin B5 helps with skin hydration and repair.

To ensure that you get enough B vitamins, you’ll want to include foods like poultry, whole grains, fish, and legumes in your daily diet. However, you can also take B vitamins in the form of supplements if that’s easier for you. Remember, though, that supplements shouldn’t replace food — they should simply fill in the blanks.

Lesser Known Supplements for Skin Tightening

Apart from the previously mentioned vitamins that can help tighten skin, other natural supplements can help improve skin firmness, prevent dryness, and possibly reduce saggy skin.

However, before adding any supplements to your skincare routine, you should talk with a healthcare professional — after all, you want to make sure that the supplements you’re interested in taking are safe and suitable for your needs.

Once again, you should also keep in mind that supplements should complement a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, not replace them. The effectiveness of supplements can vary from person to person, so try not to compare yourself to others while taking supplements.

Here are some lesser-known supplements that may improve skin elasticity and firmness over time:

Collagen peptides

As we age, our natural collagen production decreases. Collagen peptide supplements can provide the body with the nutrients it needs to not only tighten loose skin but improve skin health.

Grape seed extract

Grape seed extract is rich in antioxidants, particularly proanthocyanidins. These antioxidants can help to protect collagen and elastin fibers in the skin from degradation caused by free radicals.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are well-known for their strong anti-inflammatory properties. Taking omega-3 fatty acids is a great way to maintain healthy, hydrated skin and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

​​

Resveratrol

This polyphenol, which is typically found in grapes, peanuts, and certain berries, has antioxidant properties and may help protect your skin from UV damage and inflammation.

How Quickly Will You See Results From Skin Tightening Supplements?

If you start noticing wrinkles on your skin, it could be a sign that your body lacks collagen. To counter this, you should keep taking supplements. The decrease in skin elasticity is the main indicator of insufficient collagen in your body, which can occur with age or due to a collagen deficiency. Even people as young as twenty can experience collagen deficiency.

Collagen makes up about seventy to eighty percent of your skin, so if you're lacking it, it'll show in your skin's appearance. Also, when your body struggles to produce enough collagen, the existing collagen will prioritize nourishing essential organs over your skin. This means that you’ll be able to tell if you're lacking collagen just by looking at your skin.

Research suggests that it may take around 6 to 12 weeks of consistent supplementation to notice any significant improvements in your skin, including its elasticity, hydration, and firmness. One reason why collagen might take some time to show results is because the dosage in the supplements you’re taking may be low. Just be patient, and, eventually, you’ll notice the difference!

Are Skin Tightening Supplements Safe to Use?

Collagen peptides (a processed type of collagen) are derived from the leftover animal tissue that’s typically discarded by meat processors. In many cases, this material is crushed into gelatin or powder and then put into capsules, gummies, or tablets. Given the rising prevalence of food allergies, it's important to consider this.

You might want to be mindful of who you’re buying skin-tightening supplements from. Unlike many collagen supplements, which are sourced from non-halal origins, the collagen peptides found in Revive's collagen powder are naturally extracted from halal-approved white fish. We hope this will provide you with some peace of mind!

Potential Collagen Supplement Side Effects

In general, collagen supplements have only a few side effects, which tend to be very mild. Still, though, some people might experience the following after taking collagen supplements:

• Headaches
• Feeling lightheaded
• Diarrhea

These side effects are temporary, but if you experience them, you may want to talk to your doctor about which dosage would be right for you. If you notice any adverse reactions after taking collagen supplements (if this happens, you may be allergic to an ingredient in the supplement), you should stop using them and call a healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Improve Your Skin Health With Revive’s Skin Tightening Supplements

From vitamin C supplements to collagen supplements, Revive MD has everything you could need when it comes to skin-tightening supplements. We have a wide selection of supplements, which are third-party purity tested.

Our supplements are designed to combat stress, high cholesterol, and a number of other problems. Whether you’re looking for supplements for organ health or just want to tighten up your skin, you’re in the right place.

The information being presented in this blog is intended to be used as educational or resource information only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from your healthcare provider. This content should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please contact your healthcare provider. You should call 911 for all medical emergencies. Revive MD is not liable for any advice or information provided on this blog, which advice or information is provided on an “as-is” basis, and assumes no liability for diagnosis, treatment, decisions, or actions made in reliance upon any advice or information contained on this blog. No warranties, express or implied, are made on the information that is provided.