This is how you can get jello skin

When Korean beauty influencer Ava Lee posted a now-viral video on TikTok about how bouncy her skin looked, she started a trend known as 'jello skin'. It's exactly what you'd think it is – skin that bounces back when you touch it, just like jello would if you poke it with a finger.

Epion Clinic’s founder, Dr Melvin Tan, describes this jello skin trend as skin that appears very smooth, supple and plump as a result of displaying properties of being firm, well-hydrated and elastic, with bounce and recoil resembling jello. 

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He says this trend is so popular because having skin that is supple, firm and taut appears very youthful and healthy-looking. This is because as we age, our skin generally thins, becomes more dehydrated and appears lax. 

Dr Lim Ming Yee, founder and managing director of My Medical Aesthetics, adds that achieving and maintaining jello skin is a journey and lifestyle. “It is definitely not resulting from an overnight change. Jello skin is about strengthening and nurturing the skin's elastin and collagen to create that bouncy effect,” he says. 

Dr Lim thinks it has become such a popular trend because people are constantly seeking ways to improve their skin complexion to appear youthful, healthy, and smooth. 

“Jello skin reveals healthy skin with an optimal level of hydration and collagen, thus resulting in a supple texture and a flawless complexion. Jello skin has gained so much attention because everyone wants to have younger-looking skin,” he adds. 

Youthful skin from within  

Unlike previous skincare trends like glass skin, jello skin goes deeper – literally. “Glass skin describes skin that is clear and radiant and mostly describes the outer surface of the skin, that it is free of pigments, blemishes and open pores,” Epion Clinic’s Dr Tan explains. “Jello skin delves below this and reflects the 'healthiness' of the skin in terms of its collagen, elastin and hydration levels.”

It's also a trend that isn't just about how the skin looks, but also how it feels, says Dr Lim. “Jello skin is about skin texture and focuses more on how the skin feels. It refers to youthful skin which is typically full of collagen; it feels plump, hydrated, smooth and bouncy. The key to jello skin is maintaining the moisture and collagen levels in the skin, while glass skin is better achieved through maintaining the skin’s moisture levels.”

He has the following tips for women who want to have jello skin: 

1. Stay hydrated
2. Consume a healthy and well-balanced diet
3. Protect skin from sun exposure by applying adequate sunscreen
4. Adopt a skincare routine
5. Exfoliate skin once to twice a week
6. Do a facial massage routine
7. Exercise regularly

There are also some things they shouldn't do. “Do not use skincare products that may be harsh for your skin type. This may lead to excessive water loss, dryness, flare-ups and sensitive skin. Please seek advice from professionals,” Dr Lim advises. “Be gentle during your skincare routine; do not over-exfoliate and add excessive skincare products.”

It's normal to notice skin changes once the ageing process kicks in, so Dr Lim recommends aesthetic treatments to rejuvenate the skin and give it a plump, jelly-like look. Medi-facials hydrate and brighten your skin; skin boosters deeply hydrate and plump the skin, microneedling rejuvenates and stimulates collagen production, and collagen stimulators/hyaluronic acid filler treatments replace volume loss and stimulate natural collagen production.

Dr Tan suggests Profhilo, a hyaluronic acid skin booster injection which helps to hydrate the skin from the inside and stimulate collagen and elastin. And LDM, a non-invasive treatment using ultrasound waves that promotes skin hydration and cellular repair. 

“We can combine this with lasers such as Picosure and Clarity for collagen stimulation and firming,” he adds.  

You don't have to go to an aesthetician to get jello skin though, as there are skincare products you can use at home that help you achieve this look. Dr Tan recommends hyaluronic acid serums like Epion Skin's Lift 5.1 as the most effective way to boost skin hydration levels topically. He also advises to exfoliate and increase skin collagen using a topical retinoid (such as Epion Skin’s Regenerate 4.2) and consider adding  prescription-strength Retin-A for its excellent anti-ageing effects.

Dr Lim points out that there are certain active ingredients to look out for when picking skincare products for this purpose. For example, to promote collagen growth, look for epidermal growth factor (EGF), peptides and retinol. For brightening, there's vitamin C, niacinamide and licorice extract, while ceramides and hyaluronic acid help to improve skin hydration. 

Asis-Tobe Marine Collagen 81 Serum, $65

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Marine collagen is derived from fish skin and it improves skin's suppleness, elasticity and smoothness. Use it before you go to bed or as a primer before applying makeup. All products by this Korean skincare brand have an irritancy score of zero, which means they are gentle and suitable for all types of skin.

Olehenriksen HydraBarrier Nourishing Face Oil, $85

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Use this face oil for softer, bouncier skin. Scandinavian berry oils – which are a blend of nourishing cloudberry, lingonberry and elderberry oils – form the moisturising base here. It also contains peptides that amplify hydration, resulting in a stronger moisture barrier while promoting the production of collagen so fine lines and wrinkles are minimised.

Augustinus Bader The Face Cream Mask, $330

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Give your skin a boost of radiance with this product that can be used as an overnight mask or at any time after cleansing. Swiss grape and polysaccharide complex help to hydrate, lift and plump the skin, and vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen while firming and brightening the complexion. Another key ingredient is ginseng extract, which evens and smooths while firming and reducing wrinkles.

est.lab VitaLift A+ Intensive Youth Restoring Capsule, $89 or $80 for a refill

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These capsules by local skincare brand est.lab are designed to restore bounce and radiance to stressed and tired-looking skin. One of its ingredients is fullerene, a super antioxidant that is 250 times more powerful than vitamin C. It promotes collagen production, brightens your skin tone, reverses sun damage and helps correct signs of ageing. The capsules also contain a powerful trio of anti-wrinkle and collagen-boosting peptides. Use it one or two times a week at night.

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel [HA2] range

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The Hydra-Essentiel range – Hydra-Essentiel [HA2] Light Cream, Hydra-Essentiel [HA2] Night Care, and Hydra-Essentiel [HA2] Matte Gel – features formulas that have been crafted to maintain optimal moisture levels, resulting in plumper and more hydrated skin. It also contains moisture-retaining hyaluronic acids [HA2] combined with the power of the organic leaf of life. The latter helps the skin stimulate the production of its own hyaluronic acid, contributing to a plump look.