The factors that cause premature skin aging range from genetics and medical issues to environmental influences and lifestyle. Regardless of the cause, skin aging happens when the two primary skin-building proteins, collagen and elastin, break down and are not replaced, causing wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots, and other aging signs.
This article explains why elastin is important for our skin’s health, how to nurture it using adequate elastin skin care, and recommends the best elastin skincare products.
Why Is Elastin Important in Skin Care?
Elastin is an essential structural protein in the body that gives the skin resilience and elasticity. When we pull young, healthy skin, it springs back to its original position thanks to elastin.
Elastin is the protein that makes up 10% of all dermal layers. Its production declines in puberty, but with adequate skin care and healthy lifestyle habits, we can slow down elastin degradation and potentially increase its production.
A daily skincare routine using the right elastin products can help reduce wrinkles, saggy jowls, and crepey skin and rejuvenate the complexion.
Note: Learn which products and treatments can help with the loss of skin elasticity.
The Best Elastin Skin Care Products
Skincare products that help preserve or enhance elastin typically contain retinol, vitamins C and E, peptides, hydrating agents, and ingredients that boost collagen production.
The following products come from reputable brands that use high-quality, medical-grade formulations to improve skin health without irritating the skin.
Elastin Skin Care: Face Creams
Face creams are one of the three skincare routine staples. They are used after thoroughly cleansing the skin and before applying sunscreen. Elastin face creams contain active ingredients that repair damaged elastin fibers and may even stimulate their production.
Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer
Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer by Alastin provides rich moisturization, setting the stage for numerous skin improvements. These include enhancing skin barrier function, balancing sebum production, and increasing firmness and elasticity.
Its star ingredients (under the name TriHex Technology) are a patented blend of peptides, such as Tripeptide-1 and Hexapeptide-12. These help the skin remove damaged collagen and elastin and stimulate the production of these proteins.
Apply one pump of moisturizer every morning and evening after cleansing the face.
Skinbetter AlphaRet Overnight Cream
AlphaRet Overnight Cream by skinbetter is a retinoid product carefully designed to provide structural repair while causing little to no irritation, unlike other retinoid products. The cream combines a retinoid with lactic acid to exfoliate damaged layers and help rejuvenate the skin; it also uses potent emollients and moisturizing agents (squalene, glycerin, ceramide NP, hyaluronic acid, etc.) to provide deep hydration.
Apply a thin layer on the face in the evening after cleansing.
SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream
Dermal Repair Cream focuses on providing intense hydration to strengthen skin barrier function and minimize the signs of aging. Its key ingredients are antioxidant vitamins C and E, which help to neutralize free radicals, and sodium hyaluronate.
These ingredients, along with other potent botanicals in the product (e.g., algae extract, oat kernel extract, etc.), nurture elastin fibers and improve skin tone and texture.
Apply a thin layer on the face in the morning and evening after cleansing and toning the skin.
iS Clinical Youth Intensive Cream
Youth Intensive Cream by iS Clinical is a luxurious, anti-aging cream clinically proven to improve skin tone and increase firmness, thanks to a unique formula with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and tripeptide-1 (copper) – known to increase collagen and elastin production.
The cream is infused with other rich plant extracts and botanicals, such as sugar cane, willow bark, and orange peel oil, helping to nourish and build firmer skin.
Apply a thin layer on a thoroughly cleansed face in the morning and evening.
Note: Learn more about the benefits of collagen for the skin and how to enhance its production.
Elastin Skin Care: Serums
Serums are formulated with a higher concentration of active ingredients than face creams, often targeting a specific skin issue, such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. They are applied before or instead of face cream. The following serums are designed to strengthen elastin fibers and improve skin elasticity.
Alastin Restorative Skin Complex
Restorative Skin Complex by Alastin is another in their line of TriHex Technology products. It enables the skin to clear out damaged elastin and produce healthy skin-building proteins. It also contains:
- Palmitoyl Depeptide-5 – Provides structural support to the skin.
- L-Ornithine – Increases fatty tissue volume and plumps the skin.
- Niacinamide – Improves pigmentation issues.
- Tremella (Silver Mushroom) – Provides intense hydration.
Apply 1-2 pumps in the morning and evening after cleansing.
Osmosis MD Renew Advanced Retinal Serum
Renew by Osmosis MD is a vitamin A serum that enhances collagen and elastin production, plumping and firming the skin. Formulated with retinaldehyde, one of the most powerful forms of vitamin A, it has impressive anti-aging properties.
The serum also contains nine collagen boosters (e.g., Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-38), seven potent antioxidants (e.g., Alpha-Lipoic Acid), the skin-brightening niacinamide, lactic acid for exfoliation, and many soothing botanicals.
Apply 1-2 pumps on clean skin once or twice daily before heavier products (moisturizer, sunscreen).
Note: Learn about the benefits of antioxidants in skin skin care and how often to use them.
iS Clinical GeneXC
GeneXC by iS Clinical features Extremozymes, a proprietary blend of enzymes with superior protective properties, and L-Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), which supports collagen and elastin synthesis, helping to maintain plump and youthful skin.
Other active ingredients in the serum include botanically sourced fruit acids, antioxidants, and hydrating agents clinically proven to enhance the skin’s firmness and elasticity.
Smooth 3-4 drops of the serum evenly across the face and neck. Use in the morning and/or evening.
Elastin Skin Care: Eye Cream
Eye creams contain targeted ingredients for typical eye concerns: lines and wrinkles, dark under-eye shadows, and puffiness. They also have gentler formulations than face creams because the skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive. Building collagen and elastin helps to soothe and revitalize the area.
Note: Check out what are the best eye creams for dark circles and how to choose one.
Alastin Restorative Eye Treatment
Restorative Eye Treatment by Alastin attacks the three most common problems around the eyes thanks to collagen and the elastin-enhancing properties of their TriHex Technology. It also helps to refresh the area using potent hydrating and soothing ingredients, including sodium hyaluronate, squalene, glycerin, jojoba esters, shea butter, and beta-glucan.
Apply 1 pump and lightly dab around the eyes until the skin absorbs it. Use in the morning and evening.
SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair
TNS Eye Repair by SkinMedica is another medical-grade eye cream providing impressive anti-aging results. Its star ingredients include:
- TNS or Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media – A patented blend of naturally secreted growth factors and antioxidants helping to reduce aging signs.
- Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate – A stable form of vitamin C that helps enhance collagen and elastin, reducing wrinkles and dark circles.
- Tocopheryl Acetate - A stable form of vitamin E that protects against free radicals.
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Palmitoyl Oligopeptide – Synthetic peptides that support collagen and elastin resilience, strengthen the skin barrier and improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
TNS Eye Repair is suitable for normal to dry skin. Apply a thin layer around the eyes, avoiding the eyelids. Use twice daily.
Elastin Skin Care: Sunscreens
Sunscreen is the most important step in daily skin care because it protects the skin from factors that damage it the most, such as UV radiation. We recommend the following products that block UV rays and provide structural skin repair.
Alastin SilkShield All Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
Like the Alastin products above, SilkShield uses TriHex Technology to make new, healthy collagen and elastin. The product’s main sun-blocking ingredient is zinc oxide, which provides the broadest spectrum protection among sunscreens. Other antioxidant and protective ingredients in the product include:
- Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides – Support and repair the skin’s natural barrier.
- Tocopherol (vitamin E) – Provides antioxidant protection.
- Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 – Peptides that help improve skin’s firmness.
- Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone – Hyaluronic acid booster; helps to hydrate the skin.
- Ectoin – Protects from blue light.
- Phytoene/Phytofluene – Provides antioxidant protection.
Apply on the face 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours or 40 minutes after swimming.
SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair
Total Defense + Repair by SkinMedica uses a combination of physical and chemical ingredients (zinc oxide, octinoxate, and octislate) to provide superior broad-spectrum protection against UV radiation. It also features the innovative SOL-IR® Advanced Antioxidant Complex, which protects against harmful IR-A (infrared radiation) and helps repair and rejuvenate the skin.
Apply it generously on the face and neck in the morning or before sun exposure and reapply every two hours.
Note: Learn how to choose the best sunscreen this summer.
When Can You See the Results After Elastin Skin Care?
Topical skin care products take time to repair the skin structurally and show improvements. Some of the above products’ claims are backed by scientific data proving their effectiveness after four weeks of use. Other creams and serums may enhance collagen and elastin production and reduce aging signs after a longer period.
It is important to use elastin-enhancing products daily and consistently for the best results.
Which Elastin Skin Care Product Should You Choose?
Effective skin care is a daily, three-step process that includes more than one elastin-enhancing product. It involves cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting the skin, but many people also add serums, eye creams, and other cosmetic products to their regimen to further support skin repair and rejuvenation.
Consult reputable skin professionals to help you customize your daily skin care according to your skin type and concerns.
Conclusion
When creating your daily skincare regimen, look for products that target the root problems of skin aging, such as declining elastin. Our recommendations include clean, premium-quality products designed to support elastin synthesis and improve skin health.
If you need help, our friendly and knowledgeable team at Vibrant Skin Bar will suggest adequate elastin skin care for your skin and help you achieve your beauty goals.
