When it comes to skincare, even those of us who are diligent about our daily routine often neglect the skin below the chin. Whether it’s cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, or screening from the sun’s harmful rays, the neck and its delicate skin have been labeled the “forgotten zone” by many beauty experts.
The skin on the neck is unique and needs to be protected the same as the skin on the face. Well, not exactly the same.
The neck would indeed benefit from using the same products as your face, but most dermatologists recommend using products targeted to the neck’s specific skin and needs. Not to mention some facial products may be too harsh for the thinner, more delicate skin on the neck.
As well as being 50% thinner, the skin on the front of the neck is one of the only places on the body that is unsupported by bone structure, making it especially susceptible to sagging over time. It also has a different cell composition than other parts of the body.
Compared to the face, the skin around the neck also has fewer sebaceous glands, which secrete oil and act as nature’s moisturizer. When was the last time you had a pimple or major breakout on your neck?
The skin on the neck and decolletage is often left exposed, leaving it vulnerable to sun exposure and environmental damage which can cause fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, discoloration, and a crepey texture. This is because the neck’s collagen layer is thinner than the face and it has little subcutaneous fat, so it loses volume and laxity sooner. Over time, this causes the platysma bands (the vertical cords from the jawline to clavicle that appear in the neck as we age) to become more pronounced and visible.
No matter how great your face may look, your neck can reveal your age, or worse, make you look older than you are. Nobody wants that!
Dermatologists today are noting an increase in signs of premature aging in the necks of clientele in their 20s and 30s. Much of this can be attributed to “tech neck” from constantly looking down at electronic devices such as phones and computers.
Additionally, the neck is always moving while supporting the weight of the head, and each motion contributes to potential wrinkles. All these factors can cause the skin on the neck to prematurely loosen, sag, or develop deep horizontal lines. This is especially evident when the skin on the neck has been neglected over the years.
A diligent neck skincare regimen can help prevent early signs of aging and even tighten skin that has already begun to droop. However, the sooner you can start, the better as preventative neck care before visual signs of aging is best.
For those of us who missed the boat, there is still hope. Using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day is the number one thing you can do to protect the delicate skin on the neck and decolletage. Also, try to be meticulous about keeping devices at eye level to combat “tech neck.”
Using a skin cream—even one designed to target the specific issues of the neck—will not give you surgical results, so have realistic expectations. The right cream, however, will nourish the delicate tissues of the neck, improve elasticity, and even significantly reduce signs of aging.
Neck creams tend to be thicker and gentler than face creams and are formulated with specific ingredients to treat the unique needs of the neck.
Always apply neck creams in a thin layer to clean skin in the morning and night in a gentle upward motion. Massage into the skin—including the sides of the neck, jawline, and decolletage—followed by a separate layer of SPF 30+ sunscreen.
What to look for in a neck cream depends on your skin concerns. Ingredients to look for are:
- Vitamins C and E (antioxidants) to fight free radicals
- Retinol to fight wrinkles
- Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin to hydrate
- Alpha hydroxy acids to exfoliate
- Peptides to boost collagen production
- Shea butter to moisturize
- Niacinamide to reduce redness
If you’ve decided that a neck cream skincare routine is something you’d like to try, here is a list of some of the best available:
The recently improved formula of this neck cream now includes Gravitite-CF Lifting Complex which improves skin elasticity and provides lift while minimizing horizontal neck lines and sagging. Patented niacinamide-based NIA-114 technology strengthens the skin barrier. Finally, this hydrating cream helps minimize dark spots in addition to evening and brightening the skin’s tone.
This retinol-based cream targets horizontal lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, crepiness, and uneven skin tone with a formulation of 0.2% pure slow-release retinol, 2.5% tripeptide concentrate, and 5.0% glaucine complex. You can expect an average improvement of 27% in crepiness, 16% in horizontal lines, and 16% in firmness.
This dual-purpose (perfect for neck and chest) cream contains peptides, antioxidants, and a plant-based retinol alternative to minimize fine lines and wrinkles while smoothing, tightening, and visibly lifting the skin over time. The roller applicator also makes dispensing a breeze.
Infused with powerful antioxidants and targeted botanicals, this cream gives the neck, jawline, and decolletage a more lifted, tightened, and defined appearance while dramatically improving the look of the skin tone and texture. It also gently exfoliates the skin to diminish fine lines and wrinkles.
This lightweight, easily absorbed serum contains antioxidants, peptides, and powerful botanicals to combat everything from crepiness and wrinkles to deep lines and sagging jowls. It restores dermal thickness and elasticity while protecting from free radicals.
This lotion has a blend of five anti-aging peptides, antioxidants, and plant extracts to help skin look firm and lifted while reducing the appearance of rough, dry, crepey skin and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. The unique biotechnological mix of ingredients works cohesively to produce a smoother, younger-looking neck, decolletage, and jawline.
Though technically not labeled a “neck cream,” this budget-friendly option certainly can be used as one. Powered by exclusive Hexyl-R Complex, this night cream targets discoloration, sagging, density loss, dryness, dull tone, and wrinkles.
This multi-tasking cream is designed for both the face and neck with a complex of three different complexion refining peptides to build collagen and hoist sagging skin over time. It smooths, brightens, and plumps the skin to achieve less visible lines and wrinkles while hydrating for a radiant texture.
This medium-weight cream tightens and firms while reducing puffiness and volume in the skin below the chin with ingredients like caffeine, guarana extract, and spirulina. It also comes with its own gua sha stone and hydrates for up to 72 hours.
This clean, vegan cream has a plant-based retinol alternative to effectively, but gently, fight wrinkles and crepiness. Peptides and hyaluronic acid also boost collagen and hydration for a smoother neck in one week.
This cream features seaweed extract, shea butter, and a Tri-Structural Complex of elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. It’s clinically tested to reduce the appearance of horizontal lines and improve smoothness, firmness, and elasticity.
This botanical cream contains black tea complex, blackberry leaf extract, lychee seed, and goji berry, along with hydrating hyaluronic acid to visibly reduce necklines while softening and moisturizing skin. It also uses peptides to tone and firm.
Known for being the crown jewel of skin creams, La Mer’s Neck Concentrate is no exception. This intensive cream is formulated with their famed Miracle Broth to plump and hydrate, diminish lines, and give neck skin a healthy glow. It comes with a brush for upward application, and many testers reported seeing results after the first use.
This lightweight, easily absorbed cream is infused with natural botanicals such as sunflower, desert date, oat sugar, seaweed, kangaroo flower, and mitracarpus that visibly firm and even the skin’s tone while fading dark spots and protecting against environmental pollutants. Shea butter and glycerin also provide moisture and hydration.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
