Tricks of the Trade: Skincare for your neck, chest and hands

I religiously apply moisturizer on my face, but I noticed my neck doesn’t look as good as the skin on my face. I see lines and discoloration, and they weren’t there before. Is there a way to make my neck look younger?

Whether it is to treat a pimple, or to minimize the appearance of fine lines, it seems our face takes top priority on all matters of skincare. I mean, we’ve practically memorized every dimple, mole, freckle and line on our face, because that is what we look at and study when we apply makeup in the morning, and at night when we cleanse and moisturize. This is all well and good, because of course, our face is the first thing people notice when they see us. But we seem to forget about the other parts that can give away our age, and can make us appear older when we don’t take care of them.

Sadly, our neck, chest (or décolletage) and hands are all too often forgotten. These get the same sun exposure as our face but rarely get the moisture and protection it needs to stay taut and line-free. This doesn’t seem like a big deal at all, until you become one of those women with fresh, youthful faces sitting on saggy necks and wrinkled décolleté. Prevention is definitely better than cure, most especially when it comes to these areas, as it would be difficult to do “work” on them later on.

Not to worry though, there are ways to slow down the effects of aging on these neglected parts. Including your neck, chest and hands to your daily regimen can work wonders for your skin, and can give you a youthful glow that’s not just limited to your face.

Extend beyond the face. It is no surprise here—our anti-aging products can be applied to the face, neck, and chest, as well as to the back of the hands. Just remember, when introducing skincare to the neck, make sure to use light, upward motions, as you don’t want to constantly pull the skin downward. You can use the same application tip when applying moisturizers, SPF lotions and makeup on your face.

Check for sensitivity. For most people, the skin on their chest or décolletage can be a little sensitive. See how the area reacts to your skincare after a few days, and if you see unwanted results, use products more sparingly or just a few times a week on the neck and chest. The idea is slowly introduce skincare to these parts, especially since they don’t get as much attention as your face. But don’t feel the need to buy a separate product unless that area has ultra sensitive skin.

Spots take longer to disappear. Assess the damage on your neck, chest and hands. Do you see brown spots? These age spots (also called sun spots) didn’t just appear overnight, but took years of neglect for it to form. So don’t expect the area to respond to your anti-aging cream right away. The skin on your neck and chest don’t turn over as quickly as your face, which is why the spots will take longer to fade. Keep applying though, as you’re doing your skin a lot of good by introducing it to a good skincare regimen.

Don’t forget to use sunscreen. Like the face, the neck and chest get a lot of sun exposure, and are subject to the same ravages of sun damage. That is why the same products and routine you use on your face are also good for your neck and chest. A regimen of a gentle cleanser, a sunscreen that contains avobenzone, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, Retin-A or Renova, a well-formulated AHA product, and a lightweight moisturizer are the best options for your skin. But introduce one product at a time, so you’ll be able to take note of what works and what doesn’t for your skin.