I will never forget the first time I went to Paris. The beautiful architecture, the mouth-watering pastries, the romantic walks along the Seine at night…
As I was strolling through its many streets and boulevards, I couldn’t help but notice that every Parisian woman I saw wore a scarf. Back then, I thought it was just a fashion statement.
Now I know it’s one of their best kept anti-aging secrets. A scarf makes a woman look chic without giving her secrets – her real age – away.
Nothing gives that little number away faster than your neck. That ages more quickly than your face (or rest of your body for that matter).
Why?
Thin skin and exposure to the elements. It’s a deadly combination. Let me explain.
Why Does The Neck Age Faster Than The Rest Of The Body?
The skin on your neck is different than the skin on the rest of your body, face included:
- The skin of your neck is thinner: That makes it more delicate.
- The skin of your neck has fewer melanocytes: They’re the cells that produce melanin, our natural defence against UV rays.
- The skin of your neck has fewer sebaceous glands: They pump out the sebum that keeps your skin naturally soft and moisturized.
Your neck often can’t produce all the sebum and melanin it needs to face the elements, such as the harsh winter temperatures and blazing summer heat, it’s exposed to all year round. That’s why it’s much more prone to sun and environmental damage that make it age a lot faster.
Related: What Are The Best Skincare Products To Treat Sun Damage?
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How Can You Keep Your Neck Looking Young And Gorgeous?
That’s a lot easier than you think, gorgeous.
All you have to do is to extend your usual skincare routine to your neck too.
When you cleanse your face, cleanse your neck too. When you apply toner on your face, pat some on your neck as well. Do the same with serum, moisturizer, sunscreen and anything else you use.
It takes just a few more seconds and gives your neck everything it needs to feel and look its best.
Should You Invest In A Neck Cream?
Nope. There’s no need to spend a small fortune on creams and serums specifically designed for the neck.
If you come across one you like and want to use it, go ahead. But there really isn’t any difference between a neck cream and a facial cream. The ingredients that nourish skin, such as emollient oils, hydrating hyaluronic acid and anti-aging vitamins are the same for all kinds of products.
Just find a formula you like and apply it all over your face and neck.
The Bottom Line
Next time you apply your skincare routine, don’t forget your neck. If you do, it’ll get its revenge and betray your real age to the world (or worse, it’ll make you look even older!)
How do you take care of your neck? Let me know in the comments below.
Sunscreen! Ugh, how could i not know?! I remember that I struggled remembering to moisturize my neck– now I’ll be goin through that again with sunscreen.
Herroyalbleakness, it’s so easy to forget that the neck too needs sunscreen, isn’t it? It took me a while to turn this into a habit too.
I’ve gotten a lot better at remembering my neck in the past few years. Before that? My neck was all but forgotten.
Trisha, it was the same for me too. 🙂
Oh gosh this truly made me laugh!!! I mean the turkey picture! I’ve alsways taken care of my neck but it’s true, it does start to go before everything else so double up! 🙂
Icaria, I’m glad you like the photo. Our necks are quite sensitive. We should take good care of them if we don’t want to end up looking like that turkey! 🙂
I’m 56, and while I’ve been told I look younger than my age, my neck does give me away. I started using sunscreen on my face in my late 30’s, but never thought about my neck, unfortunately. I have been using my skincare there, but haven’t noticed much of a difference yet. It’s too sensitive for Retin A, but I watched a beauty video where the You Tuber used .025% on their neck. So, I’m toying with that. I’d get a scarf but it’s too hot in the desert lol.
I would like to take care of my neck as my face, but unfortunately my neck disagree. Every time I tried to extent my beauty routine there I ve got spots, sore, long lasting, very visible spots. Especially with moisotorizer. I’m very careful with my beauty routine, not fragrance or alcohol is allowed. But still my neck is reactive to it. Do you know why? And do you know what ingredients are more likely to cause it. I would appreciate some suggestions.
Daniela, it seems like your neck has a different skin type than your face, but without knowing what that is, I can’t help. 🙁 Do you know your skin (face + neck) types?