Do You Really Need A Neck Cream?
Like our hands, our neck is one of those places where the signs of ageing are most visible. But can you minimise the damage, and do you need to invest in a neck cream to do it?
I was in my 30s when a dermatologist I was interviewing explained that the neck is prone to wrinkling faster than other areas of the body because the dermis is thinner, and it doesn’t have as much skin-plumping collagen support as our face.
As well as losing elasticity as we get older (making the neck feel, well, loose), discolouration is common too, the result of years spent spritzing perfume combined with sun exposure (switch to behind the ears, stat!).
Since then, I’ve looked after this more fragile skin simply by extending the application of my moisturiser and sunscreen down to my chest. I don’t use a neck cream but, if you find this area is ageing faster than your face, a dedicated cream that contains super-high levels of moisturising and firming ingredients can accelerate the repair. Choose one with hydrating, firming and brightening ingredients and apply twice daily.
I also follow a simple exercise a yogi once taught me that is intended to tighten the area overall. All you do is tilt your head back to look at the ceiling and stretch your lips forward, pretending to kiss the air five times. Simple yet highly effective.
StriVectin Tighten & Lift | Acclaimed for its skin-tightening and skin-brightening results. One jar is sold every minute worldwide, $148, activeskin.com.au
L'Oreal Paris Age Perfect Intense Nutrition Manuka Honey Neck & Décolletage Cream | With hydrating jojoba oil and shea butter and repairing manuka honey this cream feels deeply moisturising, $23.99, chemistwarehouse.com.au
Clarins Super Restorative Décolleté and Neck Concentrate | A more light-weight formula that uses botanicals to help firm, brighten and tighten, $132, adorebeauty.com.au
Natio Replenishing Neck & Décolletage Cream | This clean beauty treatment uses plant peptides to help skin look firmer and bearberry extract to reduce the appearance of pigmentation, $19.95, myer.com.au
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