‘I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that.’
- Lauren Bacall, the late American actress

Being the first feature that people notice about us, our face, and everything on it reflects our personal journeys unsaid- from the glow from gratitude and great achievements to the wrinkles from the fight, fear, and age. They even call it ‘Face the world’! And a face that has seen much still requires consistent care to keep our inner-belief boosted and firmly face all that which is yet to come!

A healthy and firm facial skin beautifies us more by enhancing our natural features and adding further to our self-confidence. However, skin tightening tips and tricks of today are usually difficult: costly medical supplements and cosmetic procedures are affordable only by some; perfectly air-brushed images demand skillful photoshopping and time, and online filters and applications, despite their easiness, do not provide a true ‘no-filter’ look. And for many of us, we would prefer regular and organic ways of looking sculpted.

So worry not!- and look no more beyond your own home! Yes, our homes contain some ‘invisible’ yet magical ingredients which can give us some easy and natural skin tightening home remedies, and look real-life-resplendent. Apart from these natural recipes, firm skin is also achievable at home by investing in the right chemicals and synthetic ingredients, and massage motions, all of which can give some beneficial, sophisticated support to our existing natural skin tightening struggles. Read on!

*Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only for face skin tightening. Always keep in mind your skin type, personal allergies and cosmetic history before using the following remedies. Kindly evaluate the specific precautions associated with each ingredient. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. The standard protocol is to always do a patch test before using it liberally.

1. Aloe Vera
According to researchers, aloe vera has molecules called sterols, which promote the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, both helping the skin retain moisture. Resultantly, wrinkles look less noticeable because aloe vera improves skin texture. Its oral supplements have been shown to reduce facial wrinkles in many research findings. No doubt it makes for a popular ingredient in most skin tightening home remedies for face- now how to use this fleshy plant in your backyard?

Tomato and Aloe Mask
Best for cleansing and skin tightening, it only requires one small tomato and aloe vera gel! Mix well 1 tbsp. aloe vera gel with 2 tbsp. of tomato juice. You can extract the gel by simply collecting the pulp from the leaf and blending/mixing it well, and the tomato juice by properly squeezing out one. (And save some aloe gel for the other upcoming DIY masks too!)

On a cleansed face, apply it and leave to dry for 15 minutes, rinsing it off with lukewarm water thereafter. Then splash cold water on your face to tighten pores and pat-dry it!

You may try Naked and Rich Choco Face Mask, enriched with the hydrating and sunburn-treating Aloe Vera magic, for further boosting the results of this handy mask!

2. Green Tea
Soaked with antioxidants, these compounds help to slow down our skin aging process and combat fine lines and wrinkles (which also appear as women near menopause). Thus, it maintains the skin tighter and firmer. It also boosts the formation of collagen, which speeds up our natural skin tightening process!
A potent way of using this is by consuming it as tea in our daily lifestyle. Another is-

Green Tea-Sugar Scrub
For a tightened and glowing skin, take some green tea (even from a standard size tea-bag lying about in your kitchen!) and mix it with granulated sugar and water. Mix ingredients until you get a stable consistency. Apply this naturally exfoliating scrub over your face until fully dry and rinse it off with water.

To experience more sophisticated benefits of green tea, try Naked Detox Green Tea Face Wash or a Green Tea Face Scrub, both carrying Hyaluronic Acid, a proven collagen-builder for that taut skin!

3. Hibiscus
Loaded with antioxidants, it helps to slow down the signs of ageing, hydrate the skin, promote the skin’s healing process, and fight inflammation. It is also rich in Vitamin C that boosts collagen production, making it one of the best skin tightening home remedies for face.

Hibiscus Mask
For a Hibiscus mask, you will need its powder, and that’s easy to make at home. Collect about 15-20 hibiscus flowers and place them under the sun for 2-3 days, keeping them always covered with a light cloth. Blend them in a grinder then. You can use its readymade powder too. Now, in a mixing bowl, add: 2-3 tbsp. powder, 1-2 tbsp. Besan (Gram Flour), 1 tbsp. yogurt, and 1 tbsp. honey. Mix all these ingredients for the consistency of a face pack. Apply it on a cleansed face for 15-20 minutes and then wipe off with water. (Do not apply it for too long as it can draw the moisture from your skin and make it dry.)

If you are happily willing to move your muscles for producing Hibiscus powder from scratch, just move them a teensy bit more to discover Naked and Raw Coffee Face Scrub, created with Hibiscus too, to add to your skin tightening efforts!

4. Coffee
That brown powder in this widely cherished drink is also a potent ingredient to arrest skin aging. Its antioxidants work wonders because they include phenols, which help to fight off free radicals that lead to skin damage. Applying coffee directly to the face decreases photo-aging (sun-caused aging) effects like sun spots, fine lines, and even redness. So how to bring out a powerful skin tightening home remedy hiding in some coffee?

Coffee-Olive Oil Mask
Take equal parts coffee grounds and olive oil, and mix them well to obtain a steady consistency. Apply to your face and leave the mask on for about 15-60 minutes (keep checking in case leaving it for longer is discomforting your skin). Rinse off with bearably warm water and doing this thrice a week should give you a firm face soon!

Just as addicting as coffee, are also our curated, coffee-based products, including our caffeine-packed face masks, that help you reap the benefits of this multi-beneficial material. You can also explore our Naked and Raw Coffee Face Wash that gives your skin as many caffeinated kisses as it requires to look its best!

5. Various Oils and Face Massages for Skin Tightening
Firstly, various oils, whether natural or essential oils, are generally packed with powerful antioxidants that stave off free-radicals and repair damaged skin cells, helping prevent skin-sagging. Some beneficial oils are-

• Almond oil: its Vitamin E diffuses deep into the skin.
• Mustard oil: its fatty acids and skin tightening properties lock-in moisture and prevent ageing.
• Castor oil: Vitamin E and Omega fatty-acids nourish the skin and make it supple.
• Coconut oil: its antioxidants and Vitamin E hydrate and cure a saggy skin.

Now, a message about the massage!
The standard way of using any oil is to warm it a little (that it does not singe the skin, damaging the cells) and massage it deep into the skin for 20 minutes with one’s fingers in a circular motion. Doing this once everyday before heading to bed is ideal. BUT, the full effect of this routine lies in performing a few key motions comprising a standard face massage for skin tightening. These motions help the oil percolate deeper into the skin, increase blood circulation and boost lymphatic drainage.

How to do a firming face massage at home?

• First, cleanse skin with a hydrating facial cleanser. You can apply your skin-plumping serum if needed (this is optional).
• Then, apply your chosen facial oil, and lightly and evenly spread it across your face.
• Finally, choose your preferred massage technique; the two most basic ones are given below-

—> Motion #1
Area: Eye area
Process: Since this area is sensitive, make sure you have plenty of oil on your fingertips to avoid pulling at your skin.
Start at the inner corner of the eye and gently glide, with light pressure, to the outer corner. Continue around up to the brow bone until you are back at the corner of the eye. Repeat this movement a total of 10 times, and increase pressure slightly after the first few rotations.
This movement helps to reduce eye-puffiness; those experiencing it regularly can perform this routine both morning and night.

—> Motion #2
Area: Cheeks (below the cheekbones)
Process: Place each hand on each cheek right below the bone. Using the tips of the fingers, press upwards toward the cheekbone; repeat this 9 times. Gently massage the areas in a circular motion for 30 seconds.

6. Your Everyday Cosmetic Choices!
With the beauty-products market filled with endless, enticing creations and unhelpful skin tightening tips, it is easy to lose your way. So, it becomes important to keep in mind some basic, ’good’ chemicals and synthetic ingredients in you daily products, ranging from your face wash to your skin tightening serum, that help to promote a firm and youthful skin for you:

• Sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater is irreplaceable as sun-damage destroys elastin and collagen daily. So your face AND your neck must receive it daily.
• Daily use of an exfoliant containing salicylic acid (BHA) or glycolic acid (AHA) can produce good results. Along with exfoliating for smoother skin, there is also a good amount of research showing that these ingredients build more collagen and, to some extent, can help promote face skin tightening. Either of the two can be used.
• Hyaluronic acid gives your skin a boost of hydration, which saves your skin from dryness and therefore, from fine lines and wrinkles. It also tightens pores, giving you a contoured look. Our coffee face moisturiser packs this acid and Pro-Vitamin B5 in an oil-free format for your skin, so that it remains moisturised and looking ageless!

Enclosing, apart from all these skin tightening home remedies, practice a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise, minimal or no alcohol intake and smoking, negligible stresses, more laughter, and sound sleep to derive the best benefits from all these home hacks. #FaceItFirmly