We always hear about healthy-skin concepts like tone, smoothness, plumpness, and ability to retain moisture, but what about skin “elasticity?” What is this and why is it important for healthy looking (and healthy feeling) skin? Most importantly, what can we do to improve the elasticity of our skin, especially as we age?

What is Skin Elasticity?

The term “skin elasticity” refers to how well your skin can “stretch and bounce” back into place after any stressor. Elasticity is what helps skin look plump and healthy. It relies on many mechanisms in the skin’s three main layers (epidermis, dermis, and subcutis) but adequate levels of collagen and elastin within the dermis region of the skin are essential. When either of these substances are lacking, skin will lose its elasticity and begin to sag and wrinkle.

Elastin is a protein formed together by smaller particles called “tropoelastin.” It is “stretchy” in that it can extend and recoil like a rubber band. Any part of your body that expands and contracts will have elastin playing a part in some way. The lungs, bladder, blood vessels, ligaments and, yes, the skin as well, all rely on elastin to move and stretch.

Collagen is also a vital component for elasticity. Collagen is a type of protein too, and it is essential for the creation of muscles, bones, and tendons, as well as skin, hair, and nails. It is the “glue” that helps restore and rebuild these muscular-skeletal elements of the body on a daily basis.

While collagen helps to provide strength, structure, and support for the skin, elastin provides the ability to stretch, shrink, and “bounce back.” Collagen and elastin work together in a myriad of ways to help keep your skin supple and strong. For example, Type 1 collagen is found mostly in the skin and helps support elastin’s ability to do its job. (1)

Both collagen and elastin can be depleted through stress, poor lifestyle habits, and, over time, as we age.

What Affects Skin Elasticity?

While it is true that our skin will lose elasticity as we get older, there are a lot of other factors that can cause elasticity to weaken at any age. Lifestyle factors like poor diet, smoking, stress, poor sleep quality, and poor skin care habits can take their toll on your skin at all levels, and that includes the dermis level where both collagen and elastin exist. In particular, diet can play a damaging or a healing role in the maintenance of good elastin levels and the “vibrancy” of your skin (i.e. the ability of your skin to remain supple and “bounce back” ) overall.

The most popular conventional treatment for increasing both collagen and elastin in the skin is “retinoids,” which are synthetically-derived vitamin A derivatives. While products like Retin-A© can be effective over the short-term, the long-term damage synthetic retinoids can do to your overall health can be devastating. Studies going back to the 1980’s have found systemic complications connected to man-made vitamin A skin products. Liver toxicity, complications with cholesterol and the heart, skeletal abnormalities, and overall growth inhibition in children are just a few. (2)

A safer, more balanced approach for raising levels of both collagen and elastin is to do so organically through plant and animal-based substances that come from nature. Nutrition, of course, is key. Instead of pharmaceutical-based substances that “force” the body to do something, why not work with your body and get the same results from food and a healthy lifestyle?

Animal-based foods like liver, cheese, butter, and oily fish are the main sources of naturally-derived vitamin A1, also known as retinol. In addition, your body can produce needed vitamin A from a phytonutrient found in plants called carotenoids. Yellow, red, and orange whole foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and red and yellow peppers are all carotenoid-rich, as are many other whole foods.

For carnivores and omnivores, wholesome, organic, hormone-free meats like beef, skin-on chicken, and soothing bone broth can also help boost collagen levels naturally, as can supplements like high quality collagen powders. Whole foods like broccoli and berries can infuse your body with the vitamin C you need to synthesize all that good stuff. Eating these foods helps your skin stay supple and vibrant!

Of course, using natural plant-derived skincare products is a must as well for maintaining elasticity and skin vibrancy. That is what we are going to talk about next!

What Can Help Increase Skin Elasticity (Especially As We Age)?

The number one thing we can do to help skin elasticity is create both internal and external environments where collagen and elastin production can remain strong. This is especially true as we age. According to research, collagen levels can drop an average of 2% per year. While there have not been any major studies that have specifically looked at elastin levels over time, we can assume that the “drop average” will be about equal to that of collagen as we age. (3)

If you think that lifestyle-related factors like diet, stress, or sleep may be contributing to low skin elasticity, then for sure this is where you want to zero in on first and foremost for the health of your skin (and your whole body!) At the same time, another absolutely vital part of the process is choosing the right skincare to help boost elasticity on the outside surface of the skin. Here are three substances that we use at CHARLíS that can help specifically with skin elasticity:

#1 Oat-Derived Beta Glucans.

“Beta glucans” may be a funny word, but there is nothing humorous about how this age-defying and longevity-enhancing natural substance can pack a punch when it comes to skin renewal. Beta-glucans are natural polysaccharides found in certain whole foods, especially cereals like oats. Dermatologists have long known about the wound healing effects of beta glucans, in large part because of what it can do to stimulate collagen production. According to the writers of a 2018 report published in the journal Molecules, “β-glucans enhance wound repair by increasing the infiltration of macrophages, which stimulates tissue granulation, collagen deposition and re-epithelialization.” (4) Re-epithelialization is the process of repairing the epidermis after injury.

New research hypothesizes that beta glucans can do the same for elastin production as well since it has the ability to penetrate both the epidermal and dermis layers of skin when used topically. (5) As I mentioned above, skin can lose both vibrancy and elasticity as we age, and research shows that oat-derived beta-glucans can help turn this slow decline around!

If you are looking for a super high-quality, all-natural source of topical beta-glucans for luscious skin, look no further than the CHARLíS Daily Facial Cleanser. While poor skin hygiene can wreak havoc on the skin (especially the face), consistent care with CHARLíS Daily Cleanser has the ability to potentially turn any condition around naturally.

#2 Organic Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil

Organic Citrus Paradisi peel oil, otherwise known as grapefruit peel oil, is a natural source of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHA increases the rate of cell renewal and also contains tightening properties that can increase elasticity. Grapefruit peel oil also has powerful antibacterial properties that can be great for acne-prone skin. According to a 2018 Chinese study, alpha hydroxy acid can act as both an acne deterrent as well as repairing damaged skin (when used in the right dosage in quality skincare formulas). (6)

What’s more, grapefruit peel oil contains mood-balancing terpenes and high amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for the production and synthesis of both collagen and elastin. All of our CHARLíS luxury skincare formulas have citrus within them in some form, whether it is protecting grapefruit, refreshing sweet orange, or calming bergamot. The CHARLíS Breath of Life Oxygen Serum, however, contains the bounty of both C-enriched grapefruit peel extract and calendula extract. Calendula, or marigold, has been shown to help promote “skin tightness,” hydration, and elasticity.

#3 Aloe Vera.

Aloe vera has been a time-tested natural substance for skin healing for centuries. It has the ability to “seal and heal” skin and is a rich antioxidant, which means it also helps with inflammation. Using it externally can boost skin collagen levels and moisture-retention rates. (7) You can find aloe in many CHARLíS products, especially in our Restorative Anti-Aging Overnight Serum.

And did you know that while aloe is excellent for the skin when applied externally, it has also been shown to boost collagen content in the dermis layer when taken internally? A 2020 study in the Journal of Dermatology found that just 40 micrograms of aloe daily taken orally helped to increase skin elasticity and also increased “skin barrier function,” i.e. the ability of the skin to hold in moisture. (8)

Vibrant Skin No Matter What Your Age!

Elasticity is a skin characteristic that doesn’t get much airplay. However, the ability to stretch and “bounce back” under pressure is essential for youthful-looking skin and is just as important as collagen levels and moisture retention.

You can provide your skin with “just the right” environment for beautiful, amazing-looking skin by nourishing both your collagen and elastin production at the dermis level. Healthy eating and lifestyle are essential. At the same time, provide your skin with the external support it needs with CHARLíS!

References:

1. Collagen Supplements for Aging and Wrinkles: A Paradigm Shift in the Fields of Dermatology and Cosmetics
2. Adverse effects of retinoids
3. Decreased Collagen Production in Chronologically Aged Skin
4. β-Glucans: Multi-Functional Modulator of Wound Healing
5. The effect of beta glucan on elastin production in skin
6. Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin
7. Aloe vera (L.) Webb.: Natural Sources of Antioxidants – A Review
8. Effects of low-dose Aloe sterol supplementation on skin moisture, collagen score and objective or subjective symptoms: 12-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial