Keep your head up with these smoothing skincare saviors.
If you have more than a superficial interest in skin care, you may be familiar with the phrase, “Your face ends at your nipples.”
Although anatomically questionable, the broad term aims to counteract the fact that most beauty product consumers are well informed
We might exfoliate our chest in the shower as part of our general grooming routine and make the effort to slather it with sunscreen on trips to the beach, but otherwise we’re fairly conservative. Maybe we should rethink that.
“The neck is a dead giveaway.” Nora Ephron wrote in her extremely funny book I feel bad about my neck and other thoughts about being a woman“Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth.”
And it’s also true that the easiest way to give your neck and décolleté some love is to extend your already established routine below the chin, but the smarter approach is probably to invest in some standalone products designed specifically for those areas.
The neck and chest area is naturally drier than the face because there are fewer sebaceous glands to supply the skin with moisture-retaining sebum, so richer formulas are beneficial for these areas.
They are also extremely mobile and subject to friction from clothing. They are also supported by muscles that are not as resilient as the muscles in the face.
These cellular and environmental differences mean that our neck and décolleté are particularly vulnerable to visible signs of aging: wrinkled, creased skin with lines. This is all fine, but since these areas have less subcutaneous fat that gives our face a plump appearance, the signs of aging often show up earlier than ideal.
If this is something you’re worried about, below are eight special neck and décolleté products that will help you feel comfortable in your skin.
Why we love it: Neck care from nature. New Zealand Manuka is mixed with selected other beneficial natural ingredients to create a cream that delivers effective results with minimal environmental impact and at a relatively affordable price.
Main ingredients: Manuka in honey and oil form does the heavy lifting here. It brightens the appearance of the skin, while paracress (a flowering herb) stimulates collagen production. Added hyaluronic acid and glycerin provide moisture.
Suitable for: For all skin types, especially those who prefer plant power.
Best for: Fans of clean beauty.
Why we love it: Packed with a trio of peptides, ceramides and plant extracts, this ultra-nourishing cream from Korean skincare brand Pyunkang Yul works to revitalise while also protecting your skin barrier. Bonus points for not feeling too sticky on the skin despite its high content.
Main ingredients: The striking blue bottle contains healing copper tripeptide, soothing peony bark extract and exfoliating Cornus officinalis fruit extract. Shea butter and macadamia seed oil round out the formula and provide additional skin care.
Suitable for: For very dry skin and for those who want to strengthen the skin barrier.
Best for: K-Beauty obsessed.
Why we love it: While we sleep each night, skin cells go through a regeneration phase. This overnight mask delivers a nightly dose of deeply hydrating ingredients with the intention of supporting this renewal and repair.
Main ingredients: Adenosine (a plant extract derived from yeast) smoothes and soothes skin, 12% hyaluronic acid effortlessly eliminates superficial and underlying dehydration, and a trio of peptides signals your skin cells to increase collagen production.
Suitable for: Anyone who needs a little more beauty sleep.
Why we love it: Skin maturation is often accompanied by thinning skin, which can make our neck area feel (and look) more sensitive. This vegan serum from Necessaire, the hip brand that markets itself as “body care with a skincare mentality,” aims to combat many of the outward signs of this cellular damage: dullness, pigmentation, and structural rigidity. Fair warning, one online review states, “I notice it if I don’t use it for even a day.”
Main ingredients: Don’t be fooled by this serum’s lightweight texture, the hypoallergenic and fragrance-free formula contains a wealth of powerful clinical-strength ingredients: niacinamide to tone skin, rose water to soothe, and five individual peptides to stimulate skin elasticity.
Best for: People with sensitive skin who want to improve both firmness and softness.
Why we love it: It’s not just sagging skin that can cause discomfort on the neck and décolleté. This dermatologist-favorite brand has developed an intoxicating blend of antioxidants and exfoliants designed to soothe the entire spectrum of skin concerns between the jawline and décolleté.
Main ingredients: Acacia gum, hyaluronic acid, mixed fruit acids and quinoa soothe, hydrate and combat textural issues. It also contains salicylic acid – a great option for those of us who are also struggling with aging skin and spots.
Best for: Skin prone to blemishes and bumps.
Why we love it: Three generations of cosmetic knowledge and innovation go into every jar of this enriched neck cream from the high-quality, family-run French skincare brand. The result? A multi-appealing skincare savior that gives skin that extra something.
Main ingredients: While an oat seed extract leaves a film on the skin’s surface that provides a temporary but immediate tightening sensation, soy fiber and vitamin E provide longer-term structural support. Caffeine and red algae extracts help to refine the skin, and there are also plenty of lipid nutrients in the form of shea butter and glycerin.
Best for: For anyone looking for a one-stop solution for overall improvement of under-chin skin.
Why we love it: This tube-shaped topical has a bouquet of flowers underneath the nozzle, and its ingredient list includes a variety of plant extracts that target sagging skin. The formula is designed to be warmed between the palms and applied in flowing, massage-like motions that stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage and generally improve skin firmness. This beauty absorbs easily, works quickly, and allows you to get on with your day.
Main ingredients: Sunflower extract is the main ingredient that combats sagging skin. Elixirs made from dates, kangaroo flowers and oat sugar further increase the effectiveness.
Suitable for: All skin types, people who prefer plant-based potions.
Why we love it: Skincare is as much about taking a moment to invest in yourself as it is about effectiveness. La Mer is a brand that truly embodies the luxury of self-care, but their lavish products deliver results that customers believe justify the price tag. This luscious moisturizer is truly souped up, richer in texture and scent than the brand’s face products.
Main ingredients: A potent blend of fermented seaweed is the foundation for the cell-renewing Miracle Broth that is the star of this and all La Mer formulas. In this nourishing balm, the proprietary marine blend is generously rounded off with sunflower, sesame and sweet almond seed oils, eucalyptus leaf and an antioxidant-rich lime peel extract.
Suitable for: Skin that needs rich care.
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