Most women have spent decades caring for the skin on their face, only to have the skin on their neck give away their age. Check any women’s vanity and you’ll find facial moisturizers, night serums, and eye creams galore. But where is the cream specifically targeting the special needs of the neck?
Many women spread their skin cream over their neck and décolletage as well as their face. This may seem like a good strategy on the surface, however, the skin of the neck is different – more delicate, thinner, and without emollient-producing oil glands – than the skin of the face. That means the loss of collagen and elasticity that occurs with age is even more noticeable in this area.
Even if you ignored your neck your entire life, there are some ways to visibly firm and tighten the appearance of neck skin. It’s never too late or too soon to develop a beauty routine that protects and visibly repairs the skin of your neck.
Wash Your Neck When You Wash Your Face
Just as you wash your face in the morning and evening, you should wash your neck in the morning and evening. When washing the neck, it is important not to pull and stretch the skin. Put a small amount of gentle cleanser on your fingers, and beginning at the bottom of your neck, spread the cleanser over your neck using an upward motion. Be sure to rinse with lukewarm water as too much heat can cause premature aging and sagging.
Exfoliate Your Neck at Least Twice a Week
Exfoliate your neck once or twice a week with a gentle exfoliator. Exfoliating clears away dead skin cells, making your skin look instantly firmer and brighter and helping it absorb more of your moisturizer. Use the same gentle, upward motion as you do when you wash your neck. A body scrub is too abrasive for the delicate skin of the neck and may cause microtears. Look for an exfoliant with gentler particles made of rice powders, shell powders, or wax beads.
Use an Anti-Aging Cream with an Amino-Acid Based Formula
Dry skin completely before you apply your moisturizer. Although there are some good all-purpose anti-aging creams for use on the face, neck, and chest, to really tackle the problem of sagging and wrinkled skin on the neck and chest, you need a cream formulated specifically for firming this problem area. A good cream will be able to treat the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles, hydrate and visibly plump up dry skin, as well as visibly firm, lift, and tighten sagging skin.
Look for an anti-aging cream with an amino-acid based formula which can enhance the skin, making it visibly appear more supple and youthful. Using a circular motion, gently massage the cream into your skin until completely absorbed.
Don’t Forget Sunscreen on Your Neck
And last but not least, don’t forget the sunscreen when you leave the house. Over time, sun damage can have some unappealing cosmetic effects, such as brown spots, broken capillaries, mottled pigmentation, and lines. In addition, the sun’s harsh rays can break down elastin and collagen, causing fine lines and wrinkles. Use an oil-free or noncomedogenic formula of SPF 30 or higher.
Sticking to a rigorous skincare routine can keep the skin of your neck and chest looking younger. If you take these steps, your neck won’t give away your age any time soon.
