Starting to Notice Sagging Skin? Let’s Chat Why & What You Can Do!

One of the most common questions I get asked is: “What’s the best moisturiser for sagging skin?” And while I’d love to say there’s a miracle cream out there, the truth is a bit more complicated. Sure, there are amazing skincare products (my favs Epicure Intensive Retinol Serum and Vitamin C Serum) that can help boost collagen and elastin over time, but let’s talk about what’s really happening with sagging skin so you can know what you can do about it.

Why Skin Starts to Sag

Here’s the thing: sagging skin isn’t just about the skin itself. Your face is made up of layers, and each one changes as you age. Let me break it down for you.

First, you’ve got the top layer, known as the Epidermis. This is the skin you see, and as we age, it gets thinner. This can make things like veins and uneven skin tone more noticeable.

Next is the middle layer, aka the Dermis. This layer is where the magic (aka collagen and elastin) happens. These "springs" keep your skin firm, but they weaken and break down over time, particularly during menopause, where we lose around 30% of our collagen (yikes). Plus, we lose some of our natural plumping from hyaluronic acid (a jelly-like substance in the dermis), making the skin less full and bouncy

Lastly, the bottom layer Fat Pads and under that, the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (or SMAS layer). Beneath the skin, we’ve got fat pads that help keep our faces looking full and youthful. As we age, these shrink and shift, leading to sagging. Then there’s the SMAS layer (which surgeons tighten during facelifts), and no skincare product can reach that far!

Oh, and let’s not forget bone loss, which also contributes to the “droopy” look, especially around the eyes. All of these changes combined are why we start to see hollowing out and sagging - it’s not just skin deep!

So, What Can We Do?

First off, let’s start with the basics! Healthy skin is the foundation for any treatment. Here’s where I recommend focusing:

The Power Duo For Skin Rejuvenation

If you want to ensure you have a skincare routine that fights the signs of ageing head-on, you need at minimum Vitamin C and Vitamin A in your skincare routine. To make it easy (and incredibly effective), I’m sharing how to incorporate two of my favourite serums, our Epicure Intensive Retinol Serum and Epicure Vitamin C Anti-Ageing Serum, into your daily rituals.

Daytime = Vitamin C

Start your day with the Epicure Vitamin C Anti-Ageing Serum as your skin’s daily defence shield. This potent serum brightens your complexion and protects against environmental damage (think pollution, UV rays, and free radicals). Vitamin C boosts collagen production, helping firm your skin and keep it plump and youthful. Added peptides like Matrixyl target wrinkles, while apple fruit extract and soybean keep your skin firm and hydrated throughout the day. Apply this every morning after cleansing and follow it with sunscreen to lock in the benefits and protect your skin from further damage.

Nighttime = Vitamin A

In the evening, switch to the Epicure Intensive Retinol Serum, aka your skin’s overnight repair hero. While you sleep, this high-potency retinol deeply regenerates your skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production to firm and smooth. Peptides like Tripeptide-5 plump the skin, providing a non-invasive alternative to collagen injections. Meanwhile, lactic acid gently exfoliates and refines your skin, while soothing ingredients like seabuckthorn oil and blackberry extract heal and hydrate. Apply this serum at night after cleansing to wake up with refreshed, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin.

What If You Want A Little Somethin’ Somethin’ Extra?

Now, once you have the daily skincare basics down, your skin will be prepped and ready to go beyond...., here’s a little breakdown of some in-clinic treatments I recommend to help boost collagen, tighten and firm your skin.

Skin Needling (Microneedling)

This is one of my favourite treatments because it’s so effective for collagen production! Tiny needles create micro-injuries in your skin, which prompts your body to repair itself, boosting collagen and elastin. You’ll need a few sessions, but the results are worth it - firmer skin and fewer fine lines!

Red Light LED Therapy

Completely pain-free and relaxing, this treatment uses red light to stimulate collagen production. It’s a more gradual process and requires consistency (about 12 sessions close together is optimum), but it’s a great option for people who want a non-invasive, gentle approach. Home LED's can be a great option if they are strong enough, and you remeber to use them! (This is my fav here )

Injectables

Fillers can help replace the volume we lose in our cheeks, under our eyes, and around the mouth. Muscle relaxants can give a little lift by relaxing the muscles that pull down on our skin, making them perfect for brows! These are quick treatments with immediate results, so injectables are your best bet if you want something fast. Note: It's so important to have a good skincare routine before going down this route otherwise the contrast between treated and non-treated areas can be noticeable

RF Needling

This combines traditional microneedling with radiofrequency energy for an even deeper boost. It targets both the skin and the fat pads, helping to firm and tighten areas like the jawline and neck. It’s a little more intense but gives more noticeable results!  

HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound)

HIFU goes deep into the SMAS layer (the same layer surgeons target in a facelift) to tighten things up. It’s not a quick fix, and there’s some discomfort involved, but it’s a great option if you want to target deeper layers without surgery. However, finding an experienced practitioner is crucial, as HIFU can also reduce fat, which might speed up the appearance of ageing if done incorrectly.

Face lift

Surgery is an effective way to reduce sagging. Face lifts involve incisions made to the side of the face and/or forehead, where the facial tissue is manipulated upwards and excess tissue removed before closing the incision. Recovery involves around a month.  

....And the list keeps going, from PRP injections, plasma pen, lasers, peels to the newer exosome treatments (I'm keeping an interested eye on these treatments) there are a plethora of treatment options each with pros and cons. Often a combination is needed to get best results that also look good.

As a qualified Dermal Therapist, my job is to understand the skin and how the cosmetic treatments out there work. Personally I only offer LED and Skin Needling but am always here to help you discuss other options out there. I can help refer you to other professionals, to help you achieve the results you are after. 

Keeping It Real

Non-surgical treatments can improve sagging but won’t give you the same results as a facelift. Gravity will always be present and we will be continuing to age. So the question becomes how much time, money and energy do you want to 'fight' that? Celebrities have access to all of the above options and more, but it's a full time job (and not realistic for most of us).

So I say: start with healthy skin and manage your expectations. It’s all about finding the right balance of treatments to help you feel good in your skin and not more stressed about it!

And hey, sometimes a little freshening up with some well placed injectables and a good skincare routine is all you need to feel great about your skin!

Kate xx