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Ask A Dermatologist: How Can I Plump Up My Skin?

What do we mean when we talk about plump skin? Well, it’s skin that is fresh and glowy, with a natural bounce. It’s soft and well-hydrated – in short, plump skin is the kind of skin that everyone wants. But is it really achievable? 

As we get older, our skin changes and loses volume – this is just a natural part of the ageing process. However, there are some ways you can rejuvenate your skin and promote plumpness. We got the details from our expert Dermatology Team, Dr Beibei, Dr Jason and Dr Malvina – soft, strong skin, here we come.

Why does our skin lose volume as we age?

“Skin loses volume primarily due to chronological ageing and environmental exposure, most importantly UV radiation,” explains Dr Beibei, Dermatologist at Skin + Me. The production of collagen, the protein that creates and strengthens tissues in the body, slows down over time, and this process happens faster when the skin is exposed to the sun. This results in a loss of firmness and more wrinkles and fine lines are appearing. It’s totally normal, but if you want to support your skin and give it a boost then there are a few things you can do.

How to plump up your skin

It’s important to remember that we can’t truly turn back the clock, and our skin will always change over time, no matter what we do. However, there are some easy ways you can improve firmness and fullness, to help you (and your skin) feel great.

Optimise your skincare routine

A strong skincare routine will go a long way in helping you achieve your goals. A lot of skincare products talk about their anti-ageing properties, but not all of them will really make a difference, so choose wisely. Educating yourself about the ingredients that actually promote collagen production is a great way to make smart skincare decisions – we’ll give you a rundown of what to look out for below. 

We’d also recommend getting some help from a professional – whether that’s making an appointment with a dermatologist, or signing up for Skin + Me – a tailormade skincare routine and personalised advice will always be the best way to tackle your skin concerns. 

Protect your skin from the sun

Shielding your skin is a vital step for everyone, and especially those who want to reduce the early signs of skin ageing, such as loss of volume. “I always recommend that you wear a broad spectrum SPF of at least factor 30 every day and even indoors,” says Dr Malvina, Consultant Dermatologist at Skin + Me. “UV exposure is thought to be responsible for 80% of the visible signs of ageing and the main culprit, UVA light, penetrates through glass.” 

Need some help picking your new everyday sunscreen? We recommend Daily Defence SPF 50 Oil-free Sunscreen – it’s packed with niacinamide to nourish your skin, dries down clear and won’t clog your pores. Win-win-win.

Get plenty of sleep

Dr Jason, Head of Medical at Skin + Me explains, “Good sleep equals good skin. When we sleep our skin goes into rest and repair mode – it’s when our skin regenerates itself without any interference from UVA, UVB light, stress and more. Sleep well and your skin will look healthy and rested.” Prioritise your shut-eye – yes, that means no late-night doom scrolling – and you might notice that your skin looks and feels fresher.

Skincare ingredients to plump up your skin

So, how can you build a routine that will keep your skin feeling full of life? 

“Hydrating products such as serums and moisturisers containing humectants can plump the skin,” explains Dr Beibei. “Some peptides have been shown to boost collagen and therefore have a longer term plumping effect. Other collagen-boosting ingredients include retinoids and vitamin C.” 

Humectants

Humectants are substances that retain moisture, making them an essential in any good beauty routine, and especially if you want to boost your skin’s firmness. Dr Jason says, “They work by attracting and holding onto water from the environment and also from the deeper layers of your skin.” You’ll find humectants in moisturisers and serums, including our very own Soothe + Smooth Moisturiser duo. Look out for glycerin, urea, hyaluronic acid and betaine, which help promote soft, supple skin. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a nutrient found in plenty of fruits and vegetables – as you probably know, it’s essential for your overall health. However, over the last few years it’s been growing in popularity as a topical skincare product too, due to a whole host of impressive benefits. 

Vitamin C improves skin hydration, helps to smooth out fine lines and promotes firmness. It’s also an antioxidant, meaning that it protects against free radicals and pollutants. Think of it as a shield against all the external stressors the day throws at you, making it an excellent addition to your morning routine. 

Want to add this hardworking multitasker to your regime? Add a Brighten + Boost Firming Vitamin C serum to your next Skin + Me box, or drop by the Skincare Shop to order a one-off bottle.

Peptides

“Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks of proteins,” explains Dr Jason. There are numerous kinds, but peptides in skincare are often signalling peptides, which carry information about proteins, or carrier peptides, which help with protein production. 

Why is this relevant to your skin? Well, the proteins built by peptides include “collagen, elastin, and keratin, which are essential for maintaining the skin’s structure, elasticity, and firmness,” says Dr Jason. We’ve included some tightening peptides in our Brighten + Boost Firming Vitamin C Serum – palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 work together to enhance collagen and promote skin elasticity, for plump, radiant skin.

Retinoids

A retinoid is the broad term for a family of compounds derived from vitamin A. The term retinoid covers both over-the-counter formulations and prescription retinoids. There are several other types of retinoid, which we’ve listed in order of increasing strength: retinyl retinoate, retinol, retinal and tretinoin (a prescription-strength ingredient also known as retinoic acid). 

Weaker retinoids like retinol need to be converted to retinoic acid, which activates retinoid acid receptors found on skin cells. However, tretinoin is already in the form of retinoic acid, so it works directly on the receptors – this is why tretinoin is more effective than over-the-counter retinoids. They increase collagen, which acts like scaffolding for your skin, along with elastin which keeps it feeling supple. Using tretinoin consistently results in a plumper dermal layer which makes the skin appear more youthful.

Can cosmetic treatments plump up your skin? 

“Lots of cosmetic treatments such as microneedling, lasers and skin boosters can be utilised to plump the skin,” notes Dr Beibei. “Obviously they are not for everyone, but they can definitely yield impressive results and complement a collagen-preserving and boosting skincare routine.” 

If you’re thinking about booking in for a cosmetic treatment, make sure you do plenty of research and only go to a reputable practitioner. And, make sure you check out our guide to combining cosmetic treatments with active ingredients – at Skin + Me, safety will always come first. 

Final thoughts

Skin ageing is inevitable, but a collagen-boosting routine can help to maintain your skin’s fullness and smooth fine lines. Look out for plumping ingredients, like retinoids, vitamin C, peptides and humectants, to give your skin the nourishment it needs. And remember, less is more. You don’t need a million products – a few well-chosen multitaskers can do a world of good.