10 Best Skin Care Tips for Your Neck

The neck should be an important point of attention in any anti-aging and skincare routine. As women, it is in our nature to look our best. Many of us will sometimes go to extremes to take the best care of our face to keep it glowing and beautiful. Wrinkles and fine lines are treated as the enemy, and many of us don’t hesitate to take the steps to eliminate them. That is all good and well, at least until you reach your 30’s and start to notice that your neck is changing with the times. First, the neck gets darker and the next thing you know, it has developed fine lines and superficial wrinkles. At this point, you realize the neck has the potential to ruin everything you have worked hard for in your beauty routine. Well, you can’t let that happen, can you? So you decide to do something about it, and fast!

Taking Proper Care of Your Neck

The neck ranks a close second to the face, if not first, as the best teller that age is catching up with you. According to Dr. Hadley King, a New York City-based dermatologist, neck skin is quite delicate with a thin dermis. Hence, it cannot store as much collagen as the face to prevent it from wrinkling. Also, there are fewer sebaceous glands on the neck that are needed to produce enough oil to keep the skin well-moisturized.

It is no surprise that many people often fail to take proper care of their necks as the main focus is usually on the face and hands. In the end, we spend a lot of money on spa treatments for our backs, shoulders, and legs but neglect the neck during our ‘indulgences.’

So what steps do you take to get rid of that darkened skin and the wrinkles that make you age faster than you would like. The tips we have shared here will help keep your neck skin clean and glowing naturally.

Massage the Neck

When done right, a proper massage is always a welcome treat for the neck. However, make sure you get your massage done in the right direction. A massage is done in the wrong direction and with the wrong movement can damage the skin on your neck.

The skin on your neck is made of very thin and delicate tissue. In fact, it is more delicate than the skin on your face. Luckily, the proper way to massage the neck is no rocket science. Simply move both your palms from the lower to the upper region of your neck in vertical movements. Always avoid massaging your neck from top to bottom or in circular motions.

Don’t Gamble on Neck Products

Just like the face, or any other sensitive part of your skin, be careful what you’re putting on it. Due to the aforementioned sensitivity of the neck area, avoid applying potent wrinkle-fighting ingredients such as retinol. On the contrary, go for milder formulations that are gentle on your skin.

For the neck, I always recommend anti-aging products created specifically for the neck for maximum benefits. The Truffle Infusion Brightening Neck Cream from Gold Elements is one of those products. This cream gives the neck area youthful-looking firmness while assisting in reducing the visibility of wrinkles. Incorporating a signature truffle infusion, plus innovative breakthrough technology, it helps promote luxurious resilience, smoothness and radiance for a vibrant, lifted, youthful look.

Apply the Right Neck Oil

Applying oil is a natural way that helps your skin to rejuvenate. Not just any oil, however. You have to be careful when picking the right kind of oil. In this case, only go for oil that is in its purest form. Also, select oils that are not extremely heavy. Coconut oil is the only exception. Although heavy, it’s friendly to the neck and can be used in little amounts. You can also make it lighter by mixing it with water on your palms before applying. Olive oil, eucalyptus oil, sweet almond oil, and rose oil are some other great options that you can use on your neck.

Massage, but Do Not Overdo It

A neck massage is good for your neck, yes, but it should only last 10-15 minutes, not more. If possible, there should also be a break of about 1-2 minutes. Over massaging is not something you want to do as it can put a strain on the neck skin. Neck masks work just as well as face masks and this is a great place to use them. The best part, you can make your own mask with fruits like apple, avocado, ripe banana or plums and get some enviable results.

Get Yourself to a Spa

Once in a while, your neck will appreciate a spa treatment. While at the spa, always make sure that your body position is correct. If the massage is purely for relaxation purposes, or for treating spondylosis pain, a sitting position is the best suited. If your aim is to polish or to apply smoothening for your neck, lying flat on your back is the best position.

Exfoliate the Neck

The neck loves exfoliation too. Unlike the products you use on the face or skin, only use mild exfoliators for the neck. When applying, use upward strokes movement. Just like massage, avoid going more than 5 minutes. For great results, use a scrub then start from near the shoulders moving up for not more than five minutes. When finished, wash off everything as you bathe. Repeat this process 2-4 times a week. This is one of the best neck cleaning routines out there if you are looking for great results.

Remove Makeup

This is the last of your routine but also the most important. When removing makeup from the face, make sure to remove any makeup from the neck as well. The neck area is not so different from the face. It also contains pores that may be clogged or blocked should you fail to remove makeup. When the pores are clogged, the neck skin is unable to breathe properly. This is something you don’t want as all this clogging consequently results in dull, sagging skin. Dip a cotton ball in a makeup remover and remove neck makeup with simple, upwards strokes.

Apply Face Wash

You can apply a face wash on your neck as you take a bath. However, make it a habit to avoid harsh soaps when cleaning your neck. A good alternative, in this case, can be us of a shower gel that is PH balanced.

Use Toner

Toner is another welcome addition to your neck cleaning routine. To make sure you don’t add folds, use a cotton ball to apply the toner on your neck. When applying sunscreen, use the same upwards strokes as earlier. It doesn’t hurt to have a special vitamin E rich moisturizing cream for the neck area. Use your palm to apply the cream with the same gentle, upward movement.

Rub Ice Cubes

This one could be straight out of the box but is one of the best ways to reduce pores. Rub ice cubes on your face and neck just long enough to achieve results. Do this for at least 12-15 minutes every day to help reduces pores on the neck. Take necessary measures and be careful in order to avoid catching a cold while doing this.

Just like the face, use proper sunscreen on the neck to protect it from direct sunlight. An SPF of 30 and above for the sunscreen is recommended for complete protection.

Conclusion

The earliest signs of aging normally show up on the neck. Ironically, the neck is one of the most neglected areas on our bodies skincare wise. Every age indicator from wrinkles, sagging, fine lines, creepy textures and dark spots can show up as early as your 20s. With the right information on your fingertips like the tips shared above, you can turn back the hands of time and still have fun doing it!