In brief
- Lines and loss of firmness appear because your skin makes less collagen and elastin. The sun speeds that up the most.
- We don't do Botox or fillers. We work with your own skin, and for injectables we refer you on.
- Making new collagen takes time. Allow four to twelve weeks and a course of treatments.
- We decide together which approach suits you, in the skin analysis for €69.00.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
What are fine lines and loss of firmness?
Fine lines are shallow grooves in the upper layers of the skin. You usually see them first around your eyes, then around your mouth and on your forehead. The skin there is the thinnest on your face and moves with you all day. That's why it's the first to show anything.
With loss of firmness, the firmness of your skin decreases. Your jawline gets less sharp, your cheeks sag a fraction and your skin bounces back more slowly. Lines and loss of firmness often go hand in hand, although each needs a different approach. You can read more about firmness and contour under loss of firmness.
Underneath both lies the same thing. Collagen gives firmness, elastin gives bounce and hyaluronic acid holds moisture between those fibres. From the age of twenty-five you make a little less of it each year. That's a normal process, and you can influence its pace.
Which kind of line do you see?
In the mirror they look alike, but they come about in different ways. That determines what you can achieve.
Expression lines
Little grooves in the places where your face moves, such as laughter lines, the line between your eyebrows and lines across your forehead. If they stay when your face is relaxed, the fold is already in your skin.
Dehydration lines
Very fine little lines on your cheeks and under your eyes, clearer in the morning than in the afternoon. They come from dehydration. With dry skin they often disappear within a few weeks.
Loss of firmness and loss of volume
Here the shape of your face changes: your jawline softens and volume drops. Fat pads and your bone structure play a part too, and those are exactly what we can't fill in the salon.
Where it comes from
Usually three or four causes come together. You can do something about a good part of them yourself.
Less collagen and elastin
From the age of twenty-five you make a little less collagen each year, and elastin hardly renews itself. Your skin becomes thinner and bounces back more slowly.
Sun, the biggest accelerator
UV breaks down collagen and damages elastin fibres. Much of what you see as ageing is accumulated sun damage. That builds up on cloudy days and behind glass too.
Moisture loss
Skin that holds too little moisture looks more finely lined and duller straight away. This is where the quickest gains are.
Hormones and lifestyle
Around the menopause oestrogen drops, and with it collagen production. Smoking, little sleep and stress slow down repair. You only see that years later.
What skin improvement can and can't do
We'd rather tell you this beforehand than after six treatments.
We can prompt your skin to make new collagen, bring moisture back and stimulate circulation. As a result your skin becomes smoother and firmer, and fine lines become softer. You can see that, and because it builds up gradually, it keeps looking natural.
We can't fill a deep groove, relax a muscle or put sagged volume back. Loss of firmness that has to do with the shape of your face lies outside what skin improvement can achieve.
We don't do Botox or fillers. If you really want to get rid of a frown that is always there, you're better off with a cosmetic doctor. And we'll tell you so. Many people combine the two: injectables with the doctor, skin quality at Moons.
What suits which age?
See this as a guide. Skin of thirty-five that has had a lot of sun sometimes needs more than well-protected skin of fifty.
Mid twenties to thirty
The first little wrinkles around your eyes, especially when you laugh. You gain the most now from sun protection, hydration and the occasional nourishing treatment. A long course isn't needed yet.
Thirty to forty
Lines stay visible more often and your skin looks tired more quickly. A collagen course delivers the most now, because your skin responds readily. After that, two or three sessions a year are enough.
Forty to fifty
Besides the lines, it's now about firmness too. We then work with a proper course and combine microneedling with care and connective tissue massage.
Fifty and the menopause
Your skin becomes drier, thinner and more sensitive, sometimes within a year or two. You can still get results. We then build up more gently and put more emphasis on hydration.
Anti-ageing treatments at Moons
We work along two tracks. We prompt your skin to make new collagen and make sure it holds on to moisture. We decide together which combination suits you, in the skin analysis.
Collagen (microneedling)
€99.00Microneedling with collagen fragments and peptides. For skin ageing, this is the treatment chosen most often. In the weeks that follow, your skin makes collagen itself.
50 minutes3 to 6 timesViewPDRN microneedling
€99.00A step more intensive, with salmon DNA, exosomes and hyaluronic acid. We choose this for skin that needs more than maintenance.
50 minutes3 to 4 timesViewAnti-ageing+ treatment
€89.00Layered care, with collagen serum, masks, massage and LED therapy. No needles are involved, and afterwards you simply carry on with your day.
75 minutesevery 4 weeksViewConnective tissue massage
€59.00Massage and cupping for better circulation and more firmness. Nice between two courses, or if you're not ready for microneedling yet.
30 minutescan be booked on its ownView
If your skin mainly lacks moisture, the Hyaluronic microneedling is the better fit. If it's more about structure, we choose the Glow peel 23%. Both are listed under skin improvement, as are the variants with LED therapy.
Which treatment suits your skin?
Each treatment does something different and asks something different of your schedule. In the analysis we look together at what suits your skin and your schedule.
| Topic | Works mainly on | Afterwards | First result | Usual course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collagen (microneedling) | Firmness and fine lines | 1 to 2 days of redness, as after a sunny day | After 4 to 6 weeks, building up | 3 to 6 times, every 4 weeks |
| PDRN microneedling | Firmness, repair and small scars | 1 to 2 days of redness, sometimes dry | After 4 to 6 weeks, building up | 3 to 4 times, every 4 weeks |
| Hyaluronic (microneedling) | Dehydration lines and tight-feeling skin | Slightly red for about a day | Often within a few days | 3 to 4 times, every 4 weeks |
| Anti aging+ treatment | Glow, hydration and relaxation | You can carry straight on | Immediately, lasts for days | Every 4 weeks, ongoing |
| Connective tissue massage | Circulation and a tight feeling | Skin warm for a short while, you can carry straight on | Immediately, but short-lived | Every 3 to 4 weeks |
| Glow peel 23% | Skin texture and superficial lines | May peel lightly for days | After 1 to 2 weeks | 4 to 6 times, every 2 to 4 weeks |
We never schedule microneedling and a peel in the same week. With sensitive skin or skin of colour we start more gently.
How long does it take before you see anything?
Making collagen is a process that takes time. With a microneedling course, this is the pattern we see most often.
Day 1 to 3
First red, then fresh
Your skin is red and feels tight, as after a day in the wind. That settles within one to three days. What you see after that is hydration. The new collagen comes later.
Week 1 to 2
A smoother surface
Your skin feels softer, make-up sits better and dehydration lines are clearly fewer. This part comes quickly, and it fades more quickly too.
Week 4 to 12
Now your skin builds collagen
This is the real work. It goes slowly, so from day to day you see little. Most people notice around week six that their skin is firmer and the lines are softer.
After the course
The cumulative result
After three to six times we put your starting photo next to it. Expect skin that is visibly firmer and smoother, while your face still looks natural. Have a look at the results too.
After that
Holding on to what you have
Collagen breaks down again too. How long you benefit from your course depends on maintenance every eight to twelve weeks and on daily sun protection.
The step that makes the most difference
Daily sun protection does more against fine lines than any treatment. UV is the biggest accelerator of collagen breakdown. That goes on quietly for years, even if you don't burn.
UVA passes through glass, so in the car and behind the office window too. And it's there in November just as much as in July. Just compare the inside of your upper arm with the back of your hand.
Every morning, apply SPF 30 to 50 as the last step. That also helps against pigmentation, and it protects the collagen you build with a course.
With medium or darker skin
Skin of colour often ages a little more slowly, because its own pigment protects against UV. Loss of firmness and loss of volume still play their part, though, and they then determine more of what you see.
With microneedling and peels we work in smaller steps, because irritation on skin of colour more easily leaves a dark mark. If you're unsure whether something is safe for your skin, send a photo along beforehand via the skin quiz.
What you do at home counts just as much
At home, three active ingredients do most of the work: sun protection, vitamin C and retinol. Beyond that, everything revolves around hydration.
Morning
- Cleanse gently, so your skin doesn't feel tight afterwards
- Apply vitamin C to dry skin. It protects and supports collagen production
- Use a cream with hyaluronic acid or ceramides, around the eyes too
- Finish with SPF 30 to 50, even in winter
Evening
- Double cleanse if you wear make-up or sun protection
- Build up retinol gradually: start with two evenings a week
- Skip retinol in the days around a microneedling session or peel
- Work in a night cream and include your neck and décolletage
Add one active product every six weeks. If your skin reacts, you know straight away what caused it. If you have sensitive skin, use the new product every other day at first.
What does an anti-ageing treatment cost in Enschede?
You pay per treatment, so you're not tied to anything. If you're coming for the first time, you start with the first skin appointment for €69.00. In that hour we do an analysis and a treatment, and you go home with a plan.
| Treatment | Per session | Usual course | Full course (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collagen (microneedling) | €99.00 | 3 to 6 sessions | €297.00 to €594.00 |
| PDRN microneedling | €99.00 | 3 to 4 sessions | €297.00 to €396.00 |
| Hyaluronic (microneedling) | €89.00 | 3 to 4 sessions | €267.00 to €356.00 |
| Anti-ageing+ treatment | €89.00 | 3 to 6 sessions | €267.00 to €534.00 |
| Glow peel 23% | €79.00 | 4 to 6 sessions | €316.00 to €474.00 |
These amounts are a guide. How often you need to come depends on your skin. Cosmetic treatments are not covered by insurance. The current prices are on the prices page.
Good to know about anti-ageing
A Dermapen goes in straight and at a set depth
A dermaroller for home use makes angled holes, and you can't set the depth. That gives you a better chance of damage than of repair. We work with a Dermapen with sterile needles, and the active ingredient goes in with it straight away.
Preventing takes less effort than catching up
Sun protection and hydration are already worthwhile in your twenties. An intensive course isn't needed yet. If you wait until a line is deep, the work does get harder.
Botox and skin improvement each do something different
Botox relaxes a muscle and works on movement lines. It doesn't improve your skin quality, firmness and texture. For that, you don't need injections.
A good cream maintains and protects
That's worth a lot. It's just that most active ingredients from a jar barely get through your outer skin layer. With microneedling we bring them to the place where they do their work.
Beauty therapist, skin therapist or doctor?
The names are similar, but what they do differs a lot. It's handy to know that before you book anywhere.
A beauty therapist works cosmetically on the condition of your skin, with cleansing, care, peels, massage and microneedling. That is our trade.
A skin therapist has paramedical training and more often works on referral, for example for scars or severe acne. Supplementary insurance sometimes covers part of that.
A dermatologist is a doctor and diagnoses skin conditions. You need a referral for that. A cosmetic doctor does the injectables. For both, you have to go to someone else.
Those roles complement each other well. If you're unsure whether your wish fits with us, feel free to WhatsApp us. You can read how we work on the page about Moons.
When to see your GP first?
See your GP first if a mark changes in shape, colour or size, if a small wound doesn't heal or if your skin suddenly reacts very differently from what you're used to. If you use medication that makes your skin thinner or more sensitive, such as a strong acne course on prescription, we wait with microneedling and peels. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, we stick to nourishing treatments. How to prepare and what to do afterwards is explained under information.
Frequently asked questions about fine lines
What can a beauty therapist do about wrinkles?
We work on the quality of your skin itself. With microneedling, peels, nourishing treatments and massage we stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. We also bring moisture back and improve the structure of your skin. Fine lines become softer and your skin feels firmer. Deep grooves, sagging volume and the muscles beneath your skin are outside our trade.
Microneedling or Botox, which should I choose?
Botox relaxes a muscle and works on movement lines such as a frown, with a quick and clear effect. Microneedling improves the skin itself: its thickness, firmness and texture, and fine lines across your whole face. So they each do something different. We only do microneedling. For Botox you go to a cosmetic doctor.
From what age can you start with anti-ageing?
You start protecting as early as possible. Sun protection and good hydration are worthwhile at twenty already. With treatments you can wait until you see the first little wrinkles that stay when your face is relaxed, often between thirty and forty. Earlier is fine too, although an intensive course is then rarely needed.
How long does the result stay visible?
In the salon we see that the built-up result lasts about six months to a year. After that it gradually fades back. Exactly how long it stays depends on your age and lifestyle, and above all on how faithfully you protect your skin from the sun. Most people plan two or three maintenance sessions a year.
What does an anti-ageing treatment cost at Moons Beauty?
The Collagen microneedling costs €99.00 and the PDRN microneedling €99.00. If you'd rather have a treatment without needles, the Anti aging+ treatment costs €89.00 and a connective tissue massage €59.00. Your first appointment with skin analysis costs €69.00. You pay per session, so you're not committing to anything.
How many treatments do I need?
With microneedling usually three to six times, four weeks apart. Maintenance follows after that. With a nourishing treatment or massage, a fixed rhythm of every four weeks works better than a set course. After the third time we know how your skin responds, and then we look together at whether to adjust anything.
Is microneedling painful and how much downtime will I have?
You get a numbing cream beforehand, which makes it manageable. Most people describe it as tingling and a little scratchy. Afterwards your skin is red and warm for one to two days, like after a day in the sun. So keep a week free before a wedding.
Do you also treat the skin around the eyes?
Yes, and that's exactly what many people come for. Because the skin there is thin, we work with a smaller needle depth and extra carefully. We leave the eyelid itself alone. You can expect smoother, firmer skin and softer lines. Eye bags and a drooping eyelid belong with a doctor.
Do you also do Botox or fillers?
No, we don't give injections. Everything we do works with your own skin. If you're looking for injectables, we refer you to a cosmetic doctor.
Does an anti-ageing treatment also work for dry or sensitive skin?
Yes, though we choose a different approach. With dry skin we start with hydration. Dehydration lines respond to that quickly, and your skin can then cope better with a course. With sensitive skin we skip strong peels and work in smaller steps.
Treatments for fine lines
