Is The Neck The New Décolleté?
For years the beauty industry has been bombarding us with products to perfect the delicate décolleté - un-doing years of sun-worship with potent firming and re-texturising treatments, so we can bare our (smooth as marble) busts with pride. That said, the bit between our chin and collar bones is basically a {skin care} no man's land; we slather {serums}, {sunscreen} and indulgent {night creams} on our faces with a ritualistic fervour, yet rarely do we venture south-of-jaw... which is why it's about time we paid our necks some notice. Much more than just a bridge between our boobs and brains, this fragile turf has earned its share of TLC; which is why we've rounded up the best potions to keep your head-stem looking smooth and supple.
With a nifty, rollerball applicator, Kaplan MD's Neck Sculpting Serum is brimming with firming and 'volumising' actives, to counteract crêpey-ness and quickly fortify skin's fragile fabric. Sesame-derived 'Linefill' works to reduce the depth of fine lines while re-densifying skin that's lost its 'bounce', while Xerophyte sage and hyaluronic acid combine to boost moisture-retention, so skin appears plump, smooth and 'lifted'.
For those who like their skin care natural,Goldfaden MD's Plant Profusion Neck Lifting Cream is the ultimate foil for those first signs of sagging - restoring strength and elasticity thanks to a cocktail of tightening, resilience-enhancing plant extracts. Harnessing the age-defying powers of the brand's proprietary 'Plant Profusion Extract Complex', this rich yet readily-absorbed cream helps to kick-start sluggish cells; bolstering regeneration and repair processes whilst providing protection from the DNA degradation caused by everyday exposure to environmental stress.
Another super-natural option, SkinOwl's Neck + has a jelly-esque texture that feels cooling and refreshing when applied (particularly if you choose to store it in the fridge)! A smoothing and contouring neck concentrate, it stars an 'Ocean Mineral Complex' which helps to tone and sculpt, while aloe works to soothe and condition, MSM triggers collagen synthesis and vitamin E nourishes and protects. This is also brilliantly brightening - ideal if your skin is sun-speckled - while the inclusion of jojoba oil is vital for supporting optimal hydration levels.
An all-round miracle worker,Zelens' {Z Firm Lifting Face and Neck Cream} is targeted towards those whose features are beginning to betray the effects of gravity - packed with potent peptides to restore a youthful, 'lifted' look and gradually re-densify delicate tissue. It's phenomenally effective - particularly when it comes to tightening a slackened jawline and delaying the development of jowls, so you maintain an elegant, youthful profile and smooth, swan-like neck.
And to further enhance the effects of these supercharged treatments, try applying them with Su-Man Hsu's massage ritual - like a workout for the underlying muscles, it takes 3-5 minutes and makes a big difference - maximising absorption and efficacy of your topical treatment, while simultaneously easing tension and diminishing plurality of chins...
Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...