Should you apply skincare to your neck? Most necks are woefully neglected when it comes to skincare regimes, but they are one of the first parts of the body to show the signs of premature ageing. And they needn’t be, as the easiest way to take care of the skin on your neck is to treat it as a natural extension of your face.
Most of us use good-quality cleansers, serums, moisturisers and broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen on our faces morning and night. Just extend your routine to include the neck and soon it will feel “wrong” to not let below the jaw in on the love.
The neck has some of the thinnest skin in the body, which is why changes in this area are seen more quickly than in places with thicker skin. The neck also has fewer sebaceous glands than the face, so it doesn’t get the benefit of the natural oils to moisturise itself.
To remedy this issue, add an extra boost of hydration to your skincare routine try serums made specifically for this concern to keep the skin on the neck looking fresh and plump.
The best neck skincare products available in New Zealand
This neck-firming serum from Boost Lab is a daily serum formulated to improve the look of crepe-like, sagging skin of the neck and decolletage. The serum includes Edelweiss extract which defends the breakdown of collagen and revitalises ageing skin, while Tef Seed Extract, which is rich in essential amino acids and minerals, enhances skin’s elasticity for noticeably firmer and even-toned skin.
Add this neck-firming serum to your daily skin-care regime for firmer, smoother and more youthful-looking skin.
Also available at:
- Adore Beauty, $44.99
- Farmers, $44.95
This powerful face and neck cream from Clinique is a new addition to the brand’s advanced de-aging line. Formulated with multi-peptides, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil and shea butter, this cream helps to boost the skin’s natural collagen production, as well as ensuring the skin is strengthened, looks smoother, more lifted and feels firmer.
Clinique even tested the product on 36 women, and they all said that they noticed a more lifted-looking face and neck after using it for 12 weeks.
Also available at:
- Life Pharmacy, $165.00
- Farmers, $165.00
Murad Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Treatment 30ml
$99.00 from Caci Clinic
For those eager to tackle the major signs of aging – creepy skin and deep-set wrinkles – this treatment has been clinically proven to lift the neck and jowl and increase elasticity.
If you’re already a fan of retinol, you’ll love the benefits of retinal. Retinal is one of the most efficacious forms of Vitamin A, allowing for 2.5 times better efficacy compared to free retinal. With this product, you’ll see visible results after two weeks.
Clarins Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté 75ml
$162.00 from Adore Beauty
The Clarins Extra-Firming cream has been designed specifically for the often overlooked skin on and around your neck and décolleté, an area that wrinkles more easily with age due to the movements it makes day after day. This cream is a non-greasy treatment that melts into the skin, which with constant use, will create a life-sculpt effect to maintain the youthfulness of the area.
Also available at:
- Clarins, $162.00
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This award-winning cream softens 90% of neck lines and creases within the first two weeks of use, thanks to the MicroDiPeptide229® formula. NeoStrata’s lifting and firming technology ensures the combination of NeoGlucosamine, Bakuchiol and Vitamin E are optimised for delivery to the surface of the skin.
Shiseido’s concentrated, age-defence neck contour treatment has been made to support the unique needs of the area. The product works to restore the feeling of firmness and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines for a deeply nourished, youthful look.
This treatment utilises the Shiseido-exclusive Anti-Photowrinkle System with Chlorella, which helps prevent new wrinkles from appearing.
Also available at:
- Farmers, $97.00
Smooth, firm and brighten the delicate skin on your neck and décolletage with this replenishing cream from Natio. The formula includes collagen-boosting plant peptides and antioxidants to promote improved skin tone, softness and hydration.
Also available at:
- Farmers, $25.99
Don’t neglect your SPF
One of the best ways to keep skin looking healthy is by decreasing the external causes of premature ageing –and the number-one culprit is the sun. Ultraviolet light penetrates the dermal layer of the skin to break down collagen and elastin, so wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher on your neck every day, rain or shine, will help.
Which ingredients should my neck skincare include?
When it comes to effective products that can help tighten neck skin, there are some specific ingredients you should look for. Just like on the face, skincare ingredients that help to reduce lines and wrinkles on the neck include retinol, hyaluronic acid and L-glutamine – all of which help boost collagen synthesis. A great night cream that replenishes the skin while you sleep also goes a long way.
Bonus neck skincare products
From left: Mount Lai The Tension Melting Massager for Face & Neck Jade, $134, from Sephora, Wrinkles Schminkles Neck Smoothing Kit, $49.46, from Adore Beauty
By now we know the importance of diligently slathering on neck-loving skincare daily, but when it comes to how to actually apply it, take note. As the skin on your neck is thinner and the muscle and skin tissue are weaker, use gentle pressure when applying your skincare below the chin, and always move in upward strokes along your neck. For extra indulgence, use a neck roller to apply your serum.
