BETHEL, Conn.—High molecular weight polymers, such as proteins and polysaccarides, can be useful as skin stiffening, firming and tightening agents. Five panelists, aged mid-20s to mid-40s, were treated with high molecular weight synthetic polymers in the form simple skin treatment formulations in the inner forearm. (Skin Res Tech. 2008) (DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0846.2008.00296.x) The indentometric analysis showed an increase in the Young’s modulae for artificial and natural skin treated with the polymers. The magnitude of stiffness depended on the mechanical characteristics of the base material. Softer skin models displayed larger increases in Young’s modulus after polymer treatment than stiffer skin models. The performance of the polymers showed dependence on ambient humidity, losing its stiffening effect at high humidity.