Stop me if you’ve heard this one: you’ve been using that anti-aging cream since you turned 30, but you never noticed your neck – I mean, really noticed – until it was too late. So now your face looks great, but your neck… not so much.
American journalist and filmmaker, Nora Ephron once wrote “Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth.” In her short essay, I Feel Bad About My Neck ,Ephron shared all the trials, tribulations and travails those of us with necks endure. She was not wrong.
At a certain age, many of us become self-conscious about the appearance of our necks. Though the face is often the first area we focus on when we get older, the neck is the place on our body that cannot hide the signs of aging. And because the skin on the neck is thinner and more delicate than, say, the skin on the face, factors such as sun exposure, weight fluctuations, and genetics can all contribute to wrinkles, sagging and age spots.
The neck is often neglected in skincare routines and can result in a loss of elasticity and a "turkey neck" appearance, which many people find unattractive. So, it’s important to take care of your neck – just like you do your face – and establish a good skincare routine.
Two Truths and A Lie
You know that icebreaker game they sometimes make you play when you start a new job where you have to go around sharing two things that are true about yourself and one thing that’s a lie? Well, that’s sort of what is happening from your shoulders up… sorta.
We often take the neck for granted until it’s too late since our neck isn’t always as visible as our faces. And much like our lack of neck skincare routines, the vast majority of folks probably don’t have neck makeup to hide the blemishes.
You Are Not Alone
We surveyed almost 3000 Riversol customers and we found out just how top-of-mind your neck really is.
Most adults start noticing changes in their neck skin between 51 and 60 years (38.4%). Of note, only four people noticed their skin change after the age of 90! Those changes include saggy skin (38.9%), wrinkles and lines (36.4%), jowls (18%), neck and décolleté don’t match (5%), and the appearance of spots, acne and scars (4%).
Interestingly, the vote on whether adults choose to hide their necks, either by wearing turtlenecks, scarves, or something else, was almost split down the middle with 44.3% of respondents saying that they do (yes) choose to hide their necks whenever possible.
And the number one change that almost everyone (85.1%) would make to their neck is to smooth it out, tighten or firm their neck skin.
More Than Just Skin-Deep
Our necks need a different kind of attention to catch up and keep up with the care we’ve given our faces over the years.
The skin on the neck is thinner and more delicate than the skin on the face, leading to a buildup of sun damage, making it more susceptible to wrinkles and sagging, and ultimately making it more difficult to hide the signs of aging on the neck, revealing one's true age.
Meanwhile, under that epidermis, the muscles and ligaments in our necks are not as strong as those in our faces, so they require more targeted care to maintain elasticity and tone.
I’ll Have What She’s Having
Retinol is the active form of vitamin A and is praised for its anti-aging and anti-acne benefits. It works by increasing cell turnover and collagen production, which can help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots by smoothing out the skin. Retinol can also improve skin texture and elasticity, helping to even out skin tone, as well as even out pigmentation.
And certain peptides can work wonders in conjunction with retinol. These peptides also help reduce the look of wrinkles and improve skin texture by increasing elasticity and leaving your skin feeling smoother.
It’s important to use a product that is specifically formulated for the delicate skin on the neck, and to use it as directed, as retinol can cause irritation if used too often or in too high of a concentration. Using retinol in combination with sunscreen, moisturizer and other skincare products can also help prevent dryness or sun sensitivity.
Retinol rejuvenates cell turnover to improve your skin’s texture and help wrinkles and fine lines fade away into the sunset. Cellular turnover can also stop the development of pimples and acne. It can help enlarged pores from getting clogged, which helps them appear smaller and gives your skin a smoother look. And retinol encourages your body to produce collagen faster, and collagen means firmer, healthier looking skin. Retinol evens out the skin tone by reducing dark spots and any discolouration. It restricts the production of melanin to prevent future dark spots from forming.
Read Between the Fine Lines
Everyone ages differently. That means there are different skincare routines for everyone. But one thing remains constant no matter your skin type, age, or where you fall in your skincare routine: it’s never too late to start caring for your neck skin. It’s important to protect your skin – all your skin – from the sun, moisturize regularly, and use products specifically formulated for the delicate skin on the neck and décolletage area.