When I turned sixty years old, I decided my skin routine needed a boost. Dry skin and aging were teaming up against me, and unavoidable lines appeared more prominent on my face and neck. I’ve always been conscientious about using a facial moisturizer, and most of the time, I applied that same moisturizer on my neck. Rather than purchasing an additional moisturizer just to address my neck wrinkles, I went for convenience. What I didn’t realize is that the skin around your neck can show aging even more so than your face will. According to Dr. Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, the skin around our neck is thinner and more prone to wrinkles.
Don’t Look Down
It seems we spend more and more time each day looking down at our cell phones. Studies claim excessive use of smartphones and computers also causes neck wrinkles. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery, extended amounts of time looking down promote creasing lines on our necks, and the phenomenon is referred to, catchily, as “Tech Neck.”
Despite the fact that our heads are quite heavy, our bodies are designed so well that there isn’t a lot of strain, overall, from carrying around this big bowling ball between our shoulders 24/7. However, when you’re in a perfect tech-neck position, this increases the amount of pressure-up to 50 pounds! This makes fixing tech neck a huge priority when addressing the lines on your neck because this can also make a huge difference in your overall health and posture. You can alleviate some of the pain and pressure that tech neck causes by doing a simple yoga pose at home, in addition to being more cognizant of how you sit and move throughout the day.
Trust Your Mammogram Tech
Using a neck cream was first recommended to me by an esthetician while I was getting a microdermabrasion treatment shortly after my birthday. Just days later, a salesperson at a cosmetic counter handed me a few samples of neck cream and recommended I start using one. I took note but was not yet convinced about the benefits of neck creams. Then I got my annual mammogram and candidly complained to the tech that my neck was feeling dry. Naturally, I thought it was because I skipped my moisturizer that day since you’re not allowed to apply lotions prior to the mammogram screening.
My radiologist casually responded, saying that most women my age should be conscious about applying a good moisturizer to their necks. As women age, she explained, our skin loses elasticity, so, unfortunately, we see sagging in our necks long before we start to see it in our faces. It’s quite common for women to pay more attention to their faces and forget about caring for their necks.
That convinced me. I vowed to start using a neck cream. With all the mammograms this radiologist assisted, I’m sure she has seen her fair share of wrinkled necks. Plus, she was wearing scrubs and worked in a hospital! It was easy to trust her opinion.
What I looked for in a Neck Cream
The search for a miracle neck cream began! Some ingredients that showed success for me in the neck creams that I tried are glycolic acid and retinol. After trying one for the first time, I could immediately feel the difference in the density and texture of the cream compared to how a face cream feels.
I found I could wear a heavier cream on my neck but not on my face if I wanted to apply makeup. Most products will tell you to use it twice daily, but I choose to apply my neck cream at night. During the day I still feel better using a moisturizer with an added sunscreen on my neck.
Here are the products that I tried:
PRAI PRO Neck Correct Advanced Repair Serum & Creme Set, $94.98
Take your neck routine to the next level with this dynamic duo from PRAI PRO. Formulated to address the visible signs of aging on the delicate neck and decolletage, the serum and creme help boost the skin’s hydration with WONDERAGE while addressing fine lines and wrinkles through moisturization with AGEFINITY.
Colorescience Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum, $179
Ideal for all skin types and particularly beneficial for mature skin, this weightless formula goes beyond hydration to nourish skin and build healthy collagen from the inside out. It has been clinically proven to enhance skin texture and tone, diminish the appearance of wrinkles, and provide a healthy, rejuvenated look in as little as four weeks.
Bluemercury M-61 PowerGlow Pro+ Niacinamide+Neuropeptide Neck Cream, $92
This moisturizing and firming neck cream is infused with niacinamide, neuropeptides, and a powerful combination of BHAs and AHAs that dramatically smooth the delicate skin in the neck and décolleté area for a more youthful appearance.
Erasa Lifting/Sculpting Créme, $95
This cream has proprietary technology that provides neck tightening by restoring mitochondrial activity with Majestem™ actives, helps reverse glycation (which causes loss of skin elasticity) with Collrepair™ DG, and is packed with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, collagen-boosting vitamin C, and soothing magnolia extract known for its anti-inflammatory properties. All this while offering broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection for complete skincare perfection!
Radical Youth Infusion Serum, $170
This multi-tasking powerhouse serum rejuvenates, hydrates, brightens, tightens and tones even the most delicate of skin. Made with algae extract, hyaluronic acid and plant-based stem cells, Radical Skincare’s Youth Infusion Serum helps protect skin cells while promoting cell turnover, resulting in improved moisture retention, better skin tone, fewer wrinkles and fewer dark spots.
Neo Strata Active Triple Firming Neck Cream, $83.60
Neo Strata Active Triple Firming Neck Cream – The Neo Strata Firming Neck cream is my favorite. I bought this at my dermatologist’s office. I liked the richness of this cream, and a little went a long way. I started out using it twice a day as recommended and after a couple of weeks, I did notice a difference. This is the product that convinced me to start using neck creams. I mentioned that I had switched to using it once a day because I preferred to use a lotion with sunscreen. For best results, I would follow the instructions and use them twice daily.
Loreal Revita Lift Face & Neck, $39.71
Loreal Revita Lift Face & Neck -If you’re looking to keep your routine to a minimum, this is the one for you. It can be applied to both your face and neck, and it contains retinol. Using it will save you both time and money! I did feel that this cream was a little lighter, and with my dry skin, I wanted something with a heavier consistency.
Omorovicza Firming Neck Cream, $149
Omorovicza — I received samples of this neck cream from the cosmetic counter at Neiman Marcus. I had never heard of this cosmetic line before, but the ingredients, such as white truffle enzymes, give it a luxurious feel. The cream is rich but not too thick and worked very well at plumping the lines on my neck. I would definitely use it again.
Non-Surgical Options Are Plentiful
To take a more aggressive approach to neck wrinkles, women have used Botox, liposuction, and surgery to reduce the appearance of their lines. However, there are ways to firm up the skin on your neck non-surgically!
In researching all things ‘fix my neck,’ I found a few suggestions that seem to be the consensus on what to do:
• Neck exercises, which claim to help firm your neck and prevent sagging
• Do not smoke or drink excessively
• Use sunscreen daily on your neck and chest
• Exfoliate your neck at least once a week
• Eat healthy, and make sure to add Omega-3 foods to your diet
• Drink plenty of water
• Use lasers
Use Infrared Light Treatments to Kick Start Neck Renewal
In an earlier story published on microdermabrasion, I got an LED light therapy treatment on my neck. This treatment is very gentle. Using infrared wavelengths on your skin will promote skin renewal. The thermal (heat) enhances blood circulation. Red infrared lights stimulate collagen production to promote new cell growth and reduce wrinkles. It’s safe for all skin types and people of all ages. I was very impressed with the immediate results I saw around my neck after the treatment. I’m not exactly sure how long the results lasted, but I recommend giving it a try. Something like this is perfect for a special occasion you may have coming up.
Do I think Neck Creams Are More Effective Than Facial Moisturizer?
From my little experiment, I’m convinced enough to commit to using a neck cream at least once daily. I have found that neck creams moisturize your neck better than face creams. It was immediately obvious to me that the richness of neck creams will work better to keep the thinner skin on my neck moisturized. In addition, I will absolutely exfoliate my neck regularly and learn to remember my sunscreen when heading outside.
*Information about the infrared light treatment was taken from Perfecto Plus by Zero Gravity
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Non-Surgical ‘Tweakments’ For Your Face
Why Exfoliating Is One Of The Best Ways To Tackle Aging Skin
