Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Neck

Important question: When it comes to your skin care routine, have you been ignoring your neck? Chances are the answer is yes, and honestly, you’re not the only one. While most of us spend plenty of time primping and pampering our faces, we tend to stop when we get to our jawline. In fact, you could have the most diligent skin care routine of anyone you know, but if you’re not showing the skin on your neck the same TLC as the skin on your face, all your hard work could be for nothing. Even if you keep your complexion looking bright and youthful by slathering on a serum, applying SPF every morning, and using an anti-aging night cream, neglecting your neck could mean you look like a totally different person below your chin. So, it’s time to start showing your neck some serious attention! Here, find out how to care for your neck, plus learn about our best neck creams so you can add one to your routine ASAP.

HOW TO HELP KEEP YOUR NECK LOOKING BEAUTIFUL

Stop stocking up on turtlenecks! There are two very easy pieces of skin care advice you should start following. Get on board and you’ll want to show off your neck in V-neck shirts all year-round!

1. Don’t forget about your neck

First things first, your skin care routine can’t stop at your jawline. The next time you apply moisturizer in the morning or night cream before you go to bed, remember to apply the same products south of your jawline—aka to your neck—so it can reap the benefits, too.

2. Apply sunscreen to your neck every day 

SPF shouldn’t just be relegated to your beach bag for summer days spent lounging by the ocean or pool. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you can get burned even on cloudy days—which makes sunscreen an essential skin care product to use 365 days a year. What’s more, spending time outside without wearing sun protection can lead to damage—and that damage can show up down the road as wrinkles and dark spots. And if you only protect your face, you risk having your neck show those visible signs of aging—that’s why it’s important to apply SPF not just to your face, but to your neck (and any other visible skin) as well. 

When picking out a sunscreen, look for one that’s broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. The Food and Drug Administration recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF value of 15 or higher every day. Apply your sunscreen of choice 15 minutes before you go outside (and be generous with how much you use!), and remember to reapply at least every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.

5 PRODUCTS TO ADD TO YOUR NECK SKIN CARE ROUTINE

Ready to commit to caring for your neck? Try one (or a few) of the following L’Oréal Paris products, which are formulated for both face and neck.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey All Over Balm - Face/Neck/Chest/Hands: This all-over balm is formulated with manuka honey extract and nurturing oils. The balm absorbs quickly to relieve mature, very dry skin on the face, neck, chest, and hands—even on the go. Your skin will be left looking more youthful with a healthy glow.

How to use it: Every morning and night, apply onto cleansed skin. Smooth the balm over your skin until thoroughly absorbed.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Honey Day Cream: This creamy face moisturizer, which is formulated with nurturing oils and manuka honey extract, can also be used on your neck. The cream envelops skin with a soft, silky layer of comfort to replenish skin with long-lasting, non-greasy, non-sticky hydration. Your skin will be left feeling firmer, more supple, and elastic with a healthy glow.

How to use it: Every morning, smooth onto cleansed skin until thoroughly absorbed.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Honey Night Balm: This night balm is formulated with nurturing oils and manuka honey extract to give your skin incredible nourishing comfort with its long-lasting, non-greasy, non-sticky hydration. The balm effectively penetrates the skin's surface layer to comfort and strengthen mature, very dry skin. Your skin will feel firmer, stronger, and more resilient after using.

How to use it: Every evening, smooth onto cleansed skin until thoroughly absorbed.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition—Golden Balm Face, Neck, and Chest: As your skin matures, one of the biggest changes you experience is a loss of moisture, nutrients, and natural oils. Your skin’s decreasing ability to retain moisture as you age can lead to your face, neck, and even chest becoming drier. This balm, formulated with 10 precious oils, intensely moisturizes to help nourish and strengthen mature skin.

How to use it: Apply the balm every morning and evening onto cleansed skin and smooth until thoroughly absorbed.

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Face & Neck Contour Cream: In addition to your skin’s ability to retain moisture decreasing as you age, the natural lifters that are present in your skin to keep it firm and looking youthful break down. This can lead to the skin on your neck and jawline looking and feeling less firm—plus, this can make wrinkles look more visible. This daily moisturizer is formulated for the face and neck to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and prevent dryness.

How to use it: Apply the cream gently over your face and neck area every morning until it’s thoroughly absorbed. Then, follow up by swiping on a heaping dose of broad-spectrum SPF.

Next: A 4-Step Skin Care Routine for Your Décolletage