NECK CARE 101
You have your anti-aging skincare routine down to the T. You never leave the house without applying your vitamin C serum and sunscreen––and at night, it’s all about your serums, moisturizer, and Slipsilk™pillowcase.
But the ultimate question is: how are you caring for your neck?
You see, the skin that covers your décolleté area is in fact thinner than the skin that covers the majority of your face (excluding the eyes and lips). However, it is equally as vulnerable to sun damage, age spots, sagging, and wrinkling, and therefore requires the same amount––if not more––of TLC.
So, do you need a specific décolletage treatment or neck cream? Not specifically. Such creams can be deemed as unnecessary as the products you use for your face can also work their magic on your neck and chest. That being said, some products (such as the PCA Skin
Perfecting Neck and Decollete treatment) are highly recommended and formulated for the thin skin on your neck and may help you avoid any irritation and see faster results.
IS CLINICAL NECKPERFECT COMPLEX $123.80
BABOR EXTRA FIRMING NECK & DÉCOLLETÉ CREAM $125
SKINCEUTICALS TRIPEPTIDE-R NECK REPAIR (COMING SOON) $160
Not sure where to begin? We promise you, it’s not much more complicated than your current facial skincare routine. But just in case you needed a little nudge to get started, here are a few staples for taking care of your delicate neck area:
- CLEANSE
Just like you do with your face, you can cleanse your neck area daily (once in the AM and again in the PM) to remove the accumulation of dirt, oil, makeup and bacteria.
- TREAT
Following your cleansing, you can apply your antioxidant serums, skin-replenishing agents, and toners to the neck and upper chest area. The décolleté tends to be thinner and show earlier signs of wrinkling, so applying these treatments will help delay the appearance of aging skin.
Because chest and neck breakouts are also a thing, don’t hesitate to apply your spot treatments or AHA/BHAs over the area and make sure to promote healing with an adequate moisturizer.
- PROTECT
Sunscreen is a must––all day, every day, every season. However, many of us will “forget” to extend SPF application across our neck and chest area, which are just as exposed to the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays as your face.
Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen or moisturizer with an SPF 30 (or greater) to the exposed area before taking on your day.
- SHAPE
The skin on the neck tends to sag faster than other parts of the face, which can only be explained by the theory of gravity and the alarming increase in “text neck”.
There will come a time in your life where age-related changes can only be addressed with surgical-type procedures, and not just skincare (no matter how tempting a label’s claims are).
That being said, that doesn’t mean you should ignore treating your neck with skincare products. You should rather help the skin on your neck by paying careful attention to posture, the quality of your products, and opt for the use of face shaping tools, such as the NuFace or a gua sha. These tools are known to reduce fine lines, improve circulation and tighten the skin. Try them for yourself!
MOUNT LAI THE JADE TENSION MELTING MASSAGER FOR FACE & NECK $93.50
NUFACE MINI $272
MOUNT LAI THE AMETHYST GUA SHA FACIAL LIFTING TOOL $50
Until next time...don’t neglect the neck!
Mathilde