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Firming

SHEET MASK | Teaology Matcha Tea Superfood Firming and Blemish Tea Glow AHA Sheet Mask | Cosmetic Proof

by Lina Clémence June 18, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

Press samples

I have been enjoying a much needed day off today as I just was not in the mood to work yesterday. And by that, I just mean that I wasn’t finding tasks that I normally enjoy as fun as usual. I always like to stay busy regardless of how I feel as standing/sitting around on my phone makes me feel mentally and physically worse so if I don’t feel like doing a mentally exhaustive task, I will switch to visual merchandising or organizing repairs or just flat out cleaning! I got up relatively early (thanks to Bustyboo) and ended up having breakfast and going for a 5km walk before noon! I have really been trying hard to get at least 10K steps/day and so far, I have been able to keep it up for a over a month! My Apple watch has been telling me what a good job I have been doing LOL!

I have reviewed Teaology sheet masks before back in 2021 (here) and it looks like things have improved since then so let’s dive right in!

FIRMING | Matcha Tea Superfood Mask*

Teaology Matcha Tea Superfood Firming Sheet Mask

What makes this mask special? Firstly, there is the face AND neck aspect which makes the Teaology series of sheet masks special as ALL of their sheet masks include both of these areas. The mask is also made of 100% biodegradable elastic cotton fibres. The essence contains actual matcha tea, which is full of antioxidants, as well as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide with all water coming from Teaology’s trademark tea infusion.

Ingredients: WATER(*), GLYCERIN, HYDROXYACETOPHENONE, POLYGLYCERYL-10 EICOSANEDIOATE/TETRADECANEDIOATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL,TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM HYALURONATE,CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF(MATCHA TEA)(*), NIACINAMIDE, CITRIC ACID, JUGLANS REGIA LEAF EXTRACT, JUGLANS REGIA SHELL EXTRACT, LECITHIN, CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT, PYRUS GERMANICA EXTRACT, TREHALOSE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-5, BETA-GLUCAN, HORDEUM VULGARE SEED EXTRACT. (*)TEA INFUSION

The fabric of the mask was very stretchy so pulling the two sets of ear loops over the ears was not a struggle. The print/weave was fun and reminded me of very fancy Charmin toilet paper! The only thing was disappointing was how dry the mask seemed as it did not seem to hold onto essence and there also wasn’t much essence left in the package for me to put on top. Granted, the results were positive so maybe I don’t need the mask to be soaking in essence? I think I am just spoiled by Asian sheet masks!

I will say that compared to the last set of Teaology sheet masks I reviewed, the fit felt more comfortable as the previous mask material was VERY thick and wasn’t the most comfortable to wear especially around the ears.

Mask Summary:

Price: $7.50 CDN

What it does: Tones, firms and regenerates skin

Scent: Slightly sweet, but otherwise very subtle

Essence Type: Clear, slightly viscous

Duration: 20 minutes

Thickness: Fairly thin and stretchy

Mask Fit: Plenty of coverage with some mask on the sides going well into my hair. I do feel like it may have fit better if the fibers absorbed more essence.

Tackiness: None

Hydration: Quite nice! I did not need any moisturizer and my skin had a very slight tack to it as if I HAD applied moisturizer!

Other notes: N/A

BLEMISH | Tea Glow AHA Sheet Mask*

What makes this mask special? This has both BHA (salicylic acid from willow bark) and AHA from pineapple, lemon and blueberry extracts. It also contains Teaology’s signature white tea infusion.

INGREDIENTS: AQUA/WATER/EAU(*), GLYCERIN, NIACINAMIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-10 EICOSANEDIOATE/TETRADECANEDIOATE, TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS FRUIT EXTRACT, SALIX NIGRA BARK EXTRACT, ANANAS SATIVUS FRUIT JUICE, SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM EXTRACT, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRUS LIMON FRUIT EXTRACT, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, ACER SACCHARUM EXTRACT, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, HYDROXYACETOPHENONE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF(GREEN TEA)(*), CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT. (*)TEA INFUSION

Mask Summary:

Price: $7.50 CDN

What it does: Regulate sebum production, minimize the appearance of pores, improve skin texture

Scent: Slightly sweet, but otherwise very subtle

Essence Type: Clear, slightly viscous, but again not very much left in the packet

Duration: 20 minutes

Thickness: Fairly thin and stretchy

Mask Fit: Plenty of coverage with some mask on the sides going well into my hair. I do feel like it may have fit better if the fibers absorbed more essence.

Tackiness: None

Hydration: Decent though with this mask I did feel like I needed a bit of moisturizer on top.

Other notes: The ear loops felt a bit looser than the previous mask and looked almost like they were disintegrating? I also felt a teensy bit more sensitive towards the end of the 20 minutes so I think all of this has to do with the presence of AHAs.

Final verdict: I definitely enjoyed the results more with the new upgraded masks and though I was doubtful of the masks at first because of how little essence there was, I was very happy with the results and would love to try the other masks available especially the one for glow!

You can find the Teaology Sheet Masks at London Drugs or teaologyskincare.ca!

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June 18, 2025 0 comments

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Cosmetics

Sagging Skin? Wrinkles? Best Firming Creams & Skincare Products

by Lina Clémence June 17, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

How to treat sagging skin

If you’re past age 30, perhaps firming creams have been on your mind. It’s a fact of life that everything changes with time, including our skin. While most of us got used to a dewy, healthy glow and plump, toned complexion in our teens and 20s, everything changes as we approach our 30s and beyond.

One of the most challenging aspects of the aging process is when taut skin starts to sag. While there’s no such thing as a miracle product that can reverse the loss of tone, there are skin tightening creams on the market that can help improve skin laxity.

Not sure what to look for in a firming face cream? No worries. Here at the Derm Review, we’ve reviewed hundreds of products with a scientific lens to ensure you’re creating a skincare regimen that’s safe and effective. Ahead, 11 of the best skin firming creams and face tightening creams to help you restore a more youthful-looking complexion.

Best Firming Creams for Sagging Skin: The List

BEST OVERALL

BEST TREATMENT: Carrot & Stick Repair Serum, $80

BEST CREAM: Carrot & Stick The Moisturizer, $60

FULL LIST

Formulyst Lifting and Wrinkle Smoothing Cream, $80

Chanel Le Lift Cream, $165

Estee Lauder Resilience Lift, $99

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter, $162

La Prairie Anti-Aging Night Cream, $255

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream, $40

Clarins Extra-Firming Wrinkle Control Firming Day Cream SPF 15, $88

Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Creme, $70-$110

StriVectin -AR Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer, $79

The Science Behind Firming Creams

Firming the skin comes down to stimulating collagen production. Starting around the age of 25, collagen production declines at a rate of approximately 1% each year. Since collagen is the component that gives the skin structure, it progressively becomes less firm and saggier as we get older.

When we reach our early 50s, collagen production ceases, and any existing collagen that remains gradually breaks down and becomes weaker, exacerbating skin laxity. There’s also elastin to consider because it gives the skin its elasticity — or bounce. It’s around a thousand times more flexible than collagen. Together, collagen and elastin are the main structural protein components of the skin.

The best firming creams have something in common: ingredients that can help stimulate collagen and elastin production — although some products suitably deliver these compounds into the skin better than others. Even so, don’t expect your skin to go back to what it used to look like in the past.

Best Skin Tightening Cream Ingredients

Retinol: When it comes to the best firming face cream over-the-counter, vitamin A (retinol) is the most effective (OTC) ingredient for stimulating collagen production to firm up the skin because it directly stimulates our skin cells.

Peptides: These messengers help keep the firm and smooth by communicating with your skin cells to do a specific job. The first peptide to be developed stimulates collagen, so they are often found in firming creams to improve elasticity and firmness while strengthening the skin.

Antioxidants: Certain antioxidants like B3 (niacinamide), E, and coenzyme Q10 neutralize free radicals (sun exposure, pollution, cigarette smoke) that can lead to the breakdown in collagen, while vitamin C may stimulate it.

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids: AHAs stimulate collagen production and firm the skin, among several other benefits.

What to Expect from a Firming Face Cream

Creating new collagen doesn’t magically happen by applying a topical cream, so don’t expect miracles. Even the best face moisturizer or firming face cream in the world can give you the same results as a cosmetic procedure. However, with consistent, daily use, a face tightening cream can provide a temporary tightening effect to help make sagginess less noticeable.

Best Firming Creams for Sagging Skin

Best firming face cream for sagging skin? You may already have a lot of the best skincare products, but we’ve got 11 top picks to address laxity.

BEST OVERALL

Carrot and Stick Repair Serum, $80
Apply this anti-aging serum daily to keep skin hydrated and protected from free radical damage. The Repair Serum by Carrot & Stick helps lift, tighten and firm the look of skin thanks to seven plant-based neuropeptides, while synthesized growth factors help keep skin looking radiant. It’s the best anti-aging serum for 30s — and beyond.

Carrot & Stick The Moisturizer, $60
Say goodbye to lax skin with the plant-powered The Moisturizer. It helps to hydrate, firm, and revitalize the skin. Suitable for all skin types, The Moisturizer from Carrot & Stick is formulated with plant proteins, vitamins, peptides and amino-collagen. A caffeine boost helps perk up lax skin, while five distinct coconut elements help with cell renewal and overall conditioning. We recommend using Carrot & Stick Repair Serum as the first step in your skin tightening routine. Serums penetrate deeper and contain a higher concentration of active ingredients.

FULL LIST

Formulyst Lifting and Wrinkle Smoothing Cream
Wrinkles and sagging skin are no match for Formulyst’s Lifting and Wrinkle Smoothing Cream. The rich cream is formulated with a powerful blend of botanicals and lipids to help keep the signs of aging at bay. Moringa seed oil delivers intense hydration, while evodia ruteacarpa fruit extract brightens and refines the complexion. Rounding out the ingredients list is peony extract which helps leave the skin looking smoother and firmer.

Chanel Le Lift Cream
This key ingredient in this firming face cream is dicaffeoylquinic acid, or 3.5-DA, derived from the Edulis morning glory. Chanel researchers labored for 12 years to isolate this potent extract that promotes collagen synthesis to improve skin elasticity.

Estee Lauder Resilience Lift
This lightweight anti-aging moisturizer sculpts, contours, plumps, and lifts, thanks to Estee Lauder’s advanced Photo-Activated Lift Complex. Plankton extract and Thermus thermophilus ferment strengthen the skin, provide deep hydration, and protect fibroblasts — the cells that produce collagen — against free radicals.

SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter seeks to reduce damage from advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, resulting from excess sugar that negatively impacts collagen and elastin, causing the skin to sag.

This firming cream helps counteract collagen and elastin loss with potent ingredients like proxylane, blueberry extract, and phytosphingosine. Pro Xylane helps support the skin’s glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis. GAGs like hyaluronic acid keep skin plump, firm, and hydrated.

La Prairie Anti-Aging Night Cream,
La Prairie is known for its luxurious formulations, and this firming face cream is no exception. The main ingredients that address the loss of tone are peptides. Hexanoyl dipeptide-3 norleucine acetate is a synthetic peptide that helps overall skin renewal, accelerating the speed at which cells renew to reveal a more refined complexion. Palmitoyl tripeptide-8 soothes by reducing inflammation, while acetyl decapeptide-3 stimulates collagen and elastin to firm, tighten, and sculpt the skin.

StriVectin-AR Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer, $79
Retinol is one of the best ingredients to help improve elasticity, tone, and texture. However, it can cause the skin to be irritated — especially those who are sensitive. The good news is this firming cream is formulated with StriVectin’s patented NIA-114 technology to help lessen any potential irritation associated with retinol. Thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid, copper tripeptides, and plant lipids, you’ll wake up with a more radiant, supple, and toned complexion.

Best Lifting and Firming Face Cream: The Bottom Line

Use a serum as part of your anti-aging routine. Serums penetrate deeper and contain a higher concentration of active ingredients. We recommend Carrot & Stick Repair Serum. Followed by Carrot & Stick The Moisturizer. We recommend Carrot & Stick’s Lift & Smooth routine as it contains both products.

A caffeine boost, peptides, and amino-collagen help perk up lax skin, while five distinct coconut elements help with cell renewal and overall conditioning.

Firming the skin comes down to stimulating collagen production. Starting around the age of 25, collagen production declines at a rate of approximately 1% each year. Since collagen is the component that gives the skin structure, it progressively becomes less firm and saggier as we get older.

When we reach our early 50s, collagen production ceases, and any existing collagen that remains gradually breaks down and becomes weaker, exacerbating skin laxity. The best firming creams have something in common: ingredients like retinol, peptides, antioxidants, and alpha-hydroxy acids that can help stimulate collagen and elastin production.

What’s the best firming face cream, in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below!

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about firming creams.

FAQs

While the natural aging process is responsible for collagen loss, the sun is one of the biggest culprits of sagging skin. Over time, prolonged exposure to the sun’s damaging rays breaks down the elastin in the skin and weakens it. Think of it as a rubber band that has lost its bounce-back quality and has started to sag and droop.

Also, as we get older, our skin loses its ability to retain moisture, so it becomes drier. Significant weight loss and medications such as steroids can also lead to crepey-looking skin. Environmental and lifestyle factors also wreak havoc on the skin. The degradation of elastin is also accelerated by a poor diet, alcohol consumption, inadequate sleep, and smoking.

As the saying goes, necks don’t lie. Loss of firmness is often seen on the neck and décolletage first, as the skin is thinner.

Gravity doesn’t help either, especially as most of us spend hours hunched over screens, which can also lead to “tech neck.” The neck also contains fewer oil glands than other parts of the body, which means it doesn’t get as much moisture naturally.

The best firming and tightening creams take a multi-prong approach. First and foremost, they are powerful moisturizers because adding a good dollop of moisture to the skin gives the skin a plumper, fuller look. The added hydration makes fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable.
Some firming creams contain caffeine to restrict or tighten the skin, which gives it a temporary “lift.” Other products rely on skin exfoliators to create a smoother-looking surface and minimize the appearance of fine lines.
Some firming creams are packaged in tubes with roller ball massage applicators to help stimulate circulation and boost skin smoothing effects.

Retinol is the gold standard ingredient for tightening the skin from the outside in. It’s the most potent over-the-counter ingredient that helps build collagen and elastin, resulting in tighter, smoother skin.

A well-formulated firming cream can make noticeable improvements. However, the reality is, even the best firming face cream or skin tightening cream will not provide the same results that can be achieved from medical procedures such as lasers, chemical peels, IPL (intense light therapy), radiofrequency, or thermal skin tightening.

Laser resurfacing is the most effective procedure for tightening loose skin. However, it requires 5-7 days of downtime, unlike other laser treatments. Laser resurfacing also provides the fastest results.

Some DIY home mask recipes for skin tightening include pure aloe vera gel, egg whites and honey, ground coffee and coconut oil, and rosemary oil mixed with cucumber paste.

Just because you’re using a topical firming face cream doesn’t mean you can’t work on your skin from the inside out. To help tighten loose skin, including vitamin C- and zinc-rich foods, garlic, tomatoes, bell peppers, and egg whites.

Sources:
“Decreased Collagen Production in Chronologically Aged Skin,” US National Library of Medicine National Center for Biology.
“An anti-aging skincare system containing alpha hydroxy acids and vitamins improves the biomechanical parameters of facial skin,” US National Library of Medicine National Center for Biology.
“Photoaging: What You Need to Know About the Other Kind of Aging,” Skincancer.org.

June 17, 2025 0 comments

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Beauty

A Review of the L’Oréal Paris Wrinkle Expert Anti-Wrinkle Firming Cream 45+

by Lina Clémence May 31, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

A Review of the L’Oréal Paris Wrinkle Expert Anti-Wrinkle Firming Cream 45+ – Boxnip

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May 31, 2025 0 comments

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Canadian Beauty

Winter Skincare | LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask Review

by Lina Clémence May 29, 2025

written by Lina Clémence

The past few months have gone by quickly — a blur of work, Netflix binges, and frozen cauliflower-crust pizzas. My skincare routine has taken a hit, and I’ve been trying to get my skin’s moisture back to its healthy pre-hibernation levels. There have been nourishing oils, hydrating serums and rich moisturizers on heavy rotation, but I find myself going back to the LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask* ($39) over and over again. And kind of…unsure about it? Now that I’ve almost gone through the entire jar (and lost the little scoop it came with), it’s time to decide if I’ll repurchase this overnight treatment or move on to something new.

LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask Review

I love overnight treatments. They are a lazy girl’s best friends, especially in winter. A good one can give dull skin its glow back in less than eight hours. The LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask is great for those evenings when all you want to do is take your makeup off with a wipe and go to bed. It works hard while you sleep, and you wake up with plump, hydrated skin.

The LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask has a really unique texture. If the Water Sleeping Mask (reviewed here) is a gel, the Firming Sleeping Mask is a jelly. When the product is scooped up from the jar, the surface gets chunky and then smooths itself out in seconds…like magic. It’s cold and slippery, which doesn’t sound great, but a little goes a long way and it feels like water on the skin once it warms up. It dries down quickly and without leaving a greasy film behind. My skin soaks it up so quickly, there’s nothing left to rinse off by morning.

This is a good mask layering with oils and serums for extra nourishment and hydration as it’s not quite as hydrating as others I’ve tried all by itself. I especially love using it with the fragrance-free Crambé oil I’ve been testing recently as it lets the beautiful scent of the LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask shine. It’s lightly fragranced with the same Sleepscent that is found in the Water Sleeping Mask — a relaxing and (hopefully) sleep-inducing blend of ylang-ylang, rose, sandalwood oil and orange flower. My skin is very sensitive to fragrances, but this one has never been a problem for me. Be sure to do a patch test if you have reactive skin!

Unlike the Water Sleeping Mask, which is all about hydration, the Firming Sleeping Mask is — you guessed it! — all about firming and tightening the skin. As I get older, I definitely notice that my skin is losing some of its firmness and elasticity, especially when I’m dehydrated. I haven’t noticed any changes in my skin’s firmness or elasticity while using this mask, but I do like how plump and hydrated my skin is in the morning. I find that I miss the extra hydration from the Water Sleeping Mask formula, though someone who worries about the first signs of aging might prefer to trade some hydration for a little firming action.

TL;DR?

The Water Sleeping Mask is still my favourite overnight treatment from LANEIGE. It’s mostly down to the fact that I prefer the gel-like texture of the Water Sleeping Mask over a slightly chunky jelly texture of the Firming Sleeping Mask, but also because the first is more hydrating. The Water Sleeping Mask’s packaging is sleeker…and yes, I do pick products partly based on how they look on my dressing table when they’re a little more pricey. If firmness and elasticity are your main concerns, the Firming Sleeping Mask is a good option to target both signs of aging and hydration. For now, I’ll stick to the Water range…while I still can.

This post features products that were provided for editorial consideration.

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May 29, 2025 0 comments

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