Source – https://www.womenshealthmag.com/
Your skin doesn’t stop at your chin so why does your skincare routine? Although you might have an extensive lineup of products for your face, if your repertoire doesn’t include a neck cream you might be ignoring one of the key areas that shows signs of aging.
“The neck has the thinnest skin on the body, except for the eyelids, so it is extremely susceptible to collagen breakdown,” says New York dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD. Sun damage and excessive use of the muscle fibers that connect the collarbone to the jaw (known as platysma) cause a ropey and sagging look in the neck over time. Dr. Nussbaum also notes that this area (similarly to your hands) has no sebaceous glands to keep it hydrated and plump. And as we age, “the muscles start to sag, fat starts to bulge, causing horizontal wrinkles to form,” says Dr. Nussbaum. In addition to age, gravity is also not on your neck’s side.
But even with all of that in mind, still the biggest offender to the skin on the neck is sun damage. Since the skin is so thin, it’s an easy target for sun damage and dehydration–especially considering that most people forget to apply their moisturizer and SPF down onto their neck and chest. If you use cream in your daytime routine, “it should include an SPF 30 or above. If it does not, it’s vital to apply a broadband SPF to the neck and décolleté in the morning and every two hours when out in the sun,” says Dr. Nussbaum.
Now that you know why you need a neck cream in your routine, here’s what you should look for when shopping. “A good neck cream should provide hydration to the skin,” says San Antonio dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD. Look for emollients like shea butter and glycerin, as well as calming ingredients like panthenol and sea whip, she notes. Also, check for antioxidants to fight free radical damage, such as vitamin E and niacinamide, to reduce sun damage. You can also choose a cream that offers collagen-stimulating ingredients like peptides and retinol (as long as you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding).
To reap the full benefits of a neck cream, Dr. Nussbaum recommends that you apply the cream in an upwards and outwards direction to lift the skin and encourage tightening. “Use your hands in this repetitive motion to apply the cream until it’s rubbed in,” she explains. However, be gentle so that you don’t tug the skin and cause irritation.
Here are the 10 best neck creams that fight every sign of aging.
“I love this cream since it contains pro-amino acids that reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles visibly,” says Dr.Nussbaum. “It also keeps the skin moist.”
2 . Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Fortifying Neck Emulsion
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Fortifying Neck Emulsion
If you’re looking for a cost-effective cream to add to your lineup, look no more. This cream contains glycerin, a key ingredient for hydration, and a dose of SPF to protect against sun damage (yes, you need it daily).
If your goal is to target crepey texture, give this cream a try. This unique formula uses a gravitite-CF lifting complex that smoothes lines on the neck. It’s also packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide to help strengthen and moisturize the skin’s barrier.
This cream tackles sagging skin on your neck and the surrounding areas. The blend of glycerin, shea butter, and squalane provides visible results with consistent use. The texture glides on smoothly to the skin to make that upward and outward massaging technique even easier.
Beauty Stat’s Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream is light, yet packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid that penetrates deep into the skin. The ceramides and pomegranate protect your skin barrier and help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles over time.
If you haven’t tried this multitasking cream, you need to. I love the texture—it’s creamy, yet it doesn’t add excess oil to my skin. It also doesn’t make my eczema flare-up on my neck. The cream also has a unique to the brand mix of collagen and peptides. ICYMI: Dr. Bucay says to look for these ingredients in a neck cream for the best results.
This cream offers two forms of hyaluronic acid that locks in moisture, which leaves your skin feeling plump. You will also find white truffle enzymes that improve the elasticity of the skin.
Think of this cream as therapy for your décolleté. It treats skin that looks crepey and smoothes wrinkles, while vitamin B3 reduces uneven skin tone and signs of sun damage.
With key ingredients like glycolic acid to even skin tone and amino acids to strengthen skin, this cream lives up to its “Do Not Age” name. The ingredients play nicely with one another to offer intense moisture and a tighter, dewy finish.