The beauty industry is a big one. Every day, we are bombarded with ads promising us clearer, smoother, better skin with products or aesthetic procedures. But have you ever noticed how it’s usuallu the face that’s targeted to be cared for?
So often, people take such good care of their faces, presenting an unlined visage to the world, but they then forget that age doesn’t reflect itself only on your face. It reflects itself on your skin ALL OVER YOUR BODY, and if there’s one place that shows up your age in quite a telling manner, it’ll be your neck and décolletage (that’s the part below the neck to your cleavage).
So often, I’ve seen women who look young and immaculate, but then their neck tells a different story. Like it or not, ALL skin ages, not just your face. But before you run out to buy that dedicated neck cream (yes they exist), wait a bit and use my skincare tip instead! ;)
Ok, I know there are brands that make neck creams in the market. I’ve tried one or two myself, the last being from Clarins, which I tested and promptly forgot about, because it didn’t do anything for me that I wasn’t already doing for myself. While I have no doubt that they serve a good purpose and a reminder if nothing else, let me tell you right now that you don’t need dedicated neck creams. It’s just another cream that you put on your dresser that you will likely forget about in time to come, and discover after it’s expired.
Instead, use my tip.
Quickie Tip: How to care for your neck & décolletage
When applying your regular skincare for your face, extend it down to your neck and décolletage!
Now, how hard is that? You don’t even have to spend any extra money! :D
I do this with all my skincare. When I cleanse my face, I extend the cleanser down to my neck. When I apply an acid toner, I wipe the cotton pad over my neck and décolletage after I’m done with my face. Ditto essences, serums and creams. I usually dispense a little more than necessary, so I have enough product to extend it downwards. In essence, everything I use on my face, every step of it, goes on my neck and décolletage, including sunscreen. You know the famed Korean 10 step method? Well, my neck area enjoys every 10 steps of it! :D
Quite often, dedicated neck creams sold in the market are thicker and more emollient in texture, as the skin on our necks are usually drier and thinner and need more moisture. I personally don’t use anything different from what I use on my face. I reason that because I pamper the neck and décolletage area with lotions and serums and moisturisers, it’s sufficient. Not everyone does and if so, a thicker textured neck cream might serve a better function.
The Clarins Extra Firming Neck cream isn’t bad as a product. It’s thicker than a regular moisturiser, but I keep forgetting to use it, and when I do, I’ve already covered my whole skincare routine down my neck. In the end, it was a bit of a white elephant on my dresser.
I’m not sure when I started doing this, but it has been something I’ve been doing for many years. Primarily, I started extending my skin care down to my neck because I realised that I had residue on my hands and I did not want to waste them. Skincare is expensive! Later, it was just force of habit. I don’t do any special massage procedure. I quite literally just apply my skincare to my neck as I would my face, and I’m done!
So, don’t think that you can erase the years from your face with a visit to your friendly aesthetic clinic. You will lift, fill and prime your face, but you will have a pickle of a time trying to hide the skin damage done to your neck. Don’t take short-cuts – slow and steady wins the race ;)
And yes, I’m a testimonial to my actions because I’ve seen the results. I’ve often been told that my skin texture belies my age, and not even my neck and hands give my age away! You just can’t tell if I’m faking it, because the skin on my neck is just as supple as the skin on my face *preen* As we will say, “angkat bakul sendiri” (lit. lifting your own basket, or blowing your own trumpet) LOL! :D That was from a total stranger too, at a skincare brand as well, who generously plonked me into the 25-35 age group for which I told her “You’re far too kind!” LOL! :D
Do you take specific care of the skin on your neck and décolletage? Do you use a dedicated neck cream?
I won’t say I make it a point to actually care for the skin on my neck, but it’s a habit that I developed a long time ago that’s paying just dividends now. If you haven’t been paying attention, now’s a good time as any to start! It’s never too late if you are dedicated. Or perhaps you use a specific neck cream? Share! :)
Paris B
Hi. Like you I extend my creams to my neck as well not wanting to waste them. And over the years it has become a habit. Don’t think I have the time to apply a dedicated neck cream. So extra toner, serum, creams go onto neck and hands. So no need for hand creams as well!! Waste not want not…
Happy to know I’m not the only one practicing this! Here’s to a smoother, unlined neck and decolletage! :D
I kind of do what you do (if I remember), is to just use the extra serum/lotion on my hands after I’m finished with my face on my neck and that’s it. I don’t have a dedicated cream for my neck because I’ll probably forget about it after a week~
That’s the problem with me. When I was trying these neck creams, half the time I’d forget >.< But I suppose there's no difference now, since it's being pampered anyway ;)
I use toner, a neck serum, and a dedicated neck cream at night, and during the day I do the same except regular body cream and SPF instead of the dedicated neck cream.
When I do apply the neck products I apply from the bottom (chest area) in upwards motion towards my chin.
its been a habit for quite a while now using separate creams and I don’t feel like it adds anymore time into my routine…but maybe that’s just me :)
A neck serum! Ok, you have me intrigued – could you share which brand it’s from please? :D I think with all things that are a habit, once you get into the rhythm, you get used to using it. It’s the initial incorporation into the routine that’s the hardest!
Yup, me too. What I apply on my face goes to my neck n chest. Even my toner, the cotton goes to my arms before it landed in the bin. It’s been a habit since many years ago.
Waste not, want not! I always figure there’s still product on the cotton pad – don’t waste! :D
Our face ends at our boobs, so it’s important to slap all that good skincare down to the boobage area too. Great tip! Oh, I’d also like to add this tip: when taking hot showers, avoid letting the water hit the décolletage. The skin on our chest is actually thinner than we think and can get dry and crinkly from all that hot water hitting it. If possible, avoid taking hot showers. In countries that get cold winters, that’s not always possible so let the water hit our back instead if the water comes a fixed shower head instead of those long coiled ones. :)
“Our face ends at our boobs” I love that! :D Well, so long as it’s not literally haha! ;) Thanks for the hot shower tip too! Lucky, I like to start with my back (or head, since I use a rain shower) so no fear of a wrinkly decolletage anytime soon *whew*! :P You know, although it’s so hot here, I still take hot showers. It’s comforting. but on VERY hot days, I sometimes round off with a cold blast of water to freshen up. I never got the hang of taking cold showers brr…!
Yeah apart from that, what I do is I also use skincare products that doesn’t suit or is too rich for my face on my neck instead. Eg the Estée Lauder advanced night repair!! Haha so my neck n upper chest are rather pampered !
Good tip, Emily :) It’s a good way to use up products, and also to care for your skin – it’s a pity that ANR doesn’t work for you though, I love that to bits! And I’m sure you have a lovely smooth neck!
Usually I would apply thicker creams or lotions that would cause break outs on my face to my neck area for the extra oomph of comfort. If I do not have any unsuitable products, then I would just use whatever I use for my face to apply on my neck. But I do make it a point to apply lots of sunscreen on my face and neck, especially the back of the neck and ears, to reduce discoloration caused by sun exposure.
Yes, people often forget to apply sunscreen on the back of the neck and ears. Especially so if you have short hair! But using thicker creams is a good tip, especially if they can’t be used on your face anyway. Waste not, want not! :D
Me too. I always make sure I apply whatever I have applied to the face goes to neck and decolletage. In fa t I do the same with face masks and scrubs as well not only moisturizers.
Ooh, face masks too! I haven’t done so with face masks because often, I apply a mask before bed, but next time, I’ll try before my shower :D
Great tip and one that I have been practicing for quite sometime already. At least you don’t have to spend extra on neck creams :-)
That’s my thought, exactly! No excuse not to take care of the skin that might just tattle on your age more than you realise! ;)
I should do that… for some reason, any extra product I have I apply it on my arms. That being said, my arms are incredibly soft Haha. But it makes sense, why waste more money on cream just for the neck, when the facial cream we have works perfectly fine. I’ll have to get into the habit of applying it to my neck rather than my arms.
Well, better arms than waste! ;) But try adding in something for your neck now and than, I’m sure you’ll start seeing it pay off soon :D
I very recently started extended my skincare down to my neck after realising how dry it was getting and how bad it looked compared to my face. It didn’t make any sense, not to extend it down there, especially with everyone trying to match their foundation on their face to their neck. I even drag masks down to my neck too! I definitely agree that your skin around your neck and décolletage can age you.
Masks too! You’re more hardworking than I am :D But good job – it’s easy to forget that taking care of our skin doesn’t mean just our face :D
I do that too! Whatever products I apply on my face, I always take it down to my neck and even my chest. I’ve been doing this ever since I remembered, thanks to my mom. When she introduced me to skincare, that’s one of the important points she taught me :-)
Good tip handed down right there that you can hand down to your girls in future! ;) Now that you mention it, I used to see my mom applying stuff to her neck too. Just never made the connection LOL! :D
Ok. Point taken. But my neck have lines since forever. Even in my teens. Aiks! You look fantastic!!
Thank you Shannen! Amazing what lighting and filters can do eh? hehe… I think lines can’t be helped sometimes – it’s genetic – but you can slow it down so it doesn’t multiply! ;)