Plump skin is often the ticket for any youthful look since skin naturally starts to sag and become drier with age. While skin aging is a natural process that happens to us all at some point, you can take methods to re-plump your complexion if you please (sans injectables, if you don’t want to make the appointment). Below, find a few expert-backed, natural ways to infuse your skin with juicy hydration: If you’re looking for an instant (albeit temporary) plumping effect, pat a humectant serum on damp skin before sealing everything in with moisturizer. Your skin will look bouncier almost immediately. “Think of the skin as an actual sponge,” adds Shamban. “When it is dry, it is thin, brittle, not pliable, rough in texture, dull, and sallow in color. Run it underwater, and it is instantly plump, dense, and smooth. Even the color is brighter.” The humectants are what help usher that water into the “pores” of the sponge and hold it there, making the appearance juicy and full of moisture. Of all the humectants out there, glycerin and hyaluronic acid tend to be the most beloved. Find our favorite HA serums here. Just make sure you don’t overdo it, as steaming can also cause dehydration if you do it too often. “Just like over-exfoliating, over-steaming may trigger a process called transepidermal water loss,” says board-certified dermatologist Kim Nichols, M.D., founder of NicholsMD of Greenwich. “This is when water passes from the dermis through the epidermis and evaporates from the skin’s surface.” It results in a parched, often wrinkled appearance—the exact opposite of what you’re trying to achieve. You can find out how often to steam your face here. One way to boost your natural collagen production (and secure plump, youthful-looking skin) is by consuming hydrolyzed collagen, which has been shown to help maintain dermal thickness and support elasticity and natural moisture levels2. Here, you can browse our favorite high-quality collagen supplements, all backed by a nutrition Ph.D. Bonus points if you choose a formula with hyaluronic acid as well since ingesting the buzzy humectant can plump your complexion from the inside out; after all, 50% of the body’s total amount of hyaluronic acid resides in the skin3. RELATED: Trust Us These Work: The 9 Best Collagen Supplements Available Now RELATED: Trust Us These Work: The 9 Best Collagen Supplements Available Now
