It’s going to happen. We all realize that. But it doesn’t seem to it make it any easier does it?
Just like our faces, our necks age. It happens slowly, almost invisibly, over a period of years. Then one day you may catch yourself at a certain angle in the mirror or happen to run your hand over your skin and feel a change you hadn’t noticed before, or even feel that startling sensation of movement in the skin under your chin as you speak.
Then, suddenly it seems like your new profession is Official Neck Inspector. You spend more time in the mirror looking, feeling, worrying, chin up, chin down, look to the left, now look to the right, pinching, pulling, testing the law of gravity... You think about covering up the area with clothing or accessories and begin the exhaustive research into trying to find a neck cream that actually makes a difference in your skin (we’ll get to that important part too!).
It’s time to spend those minutes caring for your skin instead of worrying about it. We have that will be most effective in helping you age gracefully. If you'd like to take an approach that will give you nice results without going under the knife or needle, read on! Even if you have decided to go that route, you can still benefit from the tips we’re going to share with you to maintain your results. These strategies are also great for maintaining your skin's appearance following a procedure like botox, filler, or microneedling - and of course, if your goal is to prevent neck aging.
Of course, anything as inevitable as aging deserves to be embraced as a part of life and something we earn as we gain our years of wisdom, self-assurance, and genuine beauty (we’re looking at you, beauty!).
But we don’t have to welcome it with open arms any earlier than necessary! Even without invasive procedures like surgery or injections, it is possible to keep your neck looking toned, smooth, and firm. And if your neck has already aged in a way that’s very noticeable to you, it’s also possible to make visible improvements so that you feel more confident in your skin’s ability to age beautifully with you.
Aging of the neck and jawline takes years to occur and, therefore, will take some commitment and patience to notice a difference. This action plan for your most beautiful neck and jawline should be incorporated into your healthy lifestyle on an ongoing basis for best results.
Before we get to the good stuff, we have to remind you that at Kate Ryan Skincare, we are not medical doctors and none of these tips are a substitute for medical advice or attention. Before beginning any diet or exercise plan, always consult your medical practitioner first.
1) DON’T hold onto bad posture habits that can age your neck.
Tame Your Tech Neck
Our technology-centered lifestyles may make life feel more convenient and connected, but it’s taking a measurable toll on the posture of heavy users. When you spend too much time looking down at your phone, computer, or other devices, you can often fall in the habit of folding your chin closer to your neck and creating creases while also under-utilizing the muscles in that area, which can cause them to slacken and sag over time. For this reason, loose chin and neck areas are occurring at at earlier age.
Most of us could benefit from using our devices less often, but even without any change to the length of time spent with our screens, we can change our posture while using them. Always take a moment to check in with yourself and ensure that your back is straight and you’re holding your phone or other device up high enough that your neck and chin are in a more neutral position and you are facing ahead rather than looking down. The same attention should also be given to your neck while reading a book or watching tv. As you focus more on maintaining good posture, you might find that you were holding these not-so-good posture positions longer and more frequently than you realized.
Check Your Sleep Posture
While the most important goal is always to get your best quality sleep, taking into account the position you tend to sleep in may be helpful in reducing signs of aging. When it comes to keeping the neck and spine neutral and preventing creases on the face and neck, sleeping on your back is usually most helpful. But for many people, it’s difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep in that position. If you are a side sleeper, position your pillows to help your spine and neck stay as neutral as possible and try not to tuck your chin tucked close to your neck. This will likely minimize folds, creases, and lost definition below the chin caused by sleep position.
Most of us spend 6-9 hours of each day asleep and this is a long opportunity every day to impact the body either positively or negatively. If you have back problems or other health concerns, remember to consult your doctor before building new habits with your sleep posture.
2) DO Incorporate Facial Exercises Into Your Daily Self-Care
The muscles of the face are just like any other part of the body. They need to be regularly exercised to stay toned and lifted. While we often focus on the skin when we think of addressing signs of aging, the muscles beneath the skin play an equally important role in the appearance of firmness and volume. Muscles that don’t get enough activation can slacken and cause the appearance of sagging skin even when the skin itself is healthy.
You’ll likely find that when you begin doing a few of these exercises, you’ll feel the muscles in your neck and face engage and activate in ways that feel foreign. This can be a perfect indicator that these muscles needed some extra attention.
The best way to learn how to exercise the muscles of the face is to see them in action via video demonstrations. You can choose to research them yourself, but we love this video of 5 effective exercises for the neck by Danielle Collins, The Facial Yoga Expert. These are a great example of short yet effective facial exercises that you can take a moment to do in your spare time or before or after your skincare routine. Commit to doing them daily or several times per week just as you would with bodily exercise to see your best possible results.
Targeted, active facial exercises are not the only way to get a workout in for the neck and jawline. Here is a multitasking way to sculpt the area:
Try Oil-Pulling
If you haven’t tried the ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil-pulling before, or have tried it but haven’t made a habit of it, the anti-aging benefits are just one more reason to make this a regular practice. Oil-pulling is simply the act of swishing oil around in the mouth for 15-20 minutes before spitting it out in an effort to pull bacteria and other toxins from the mouth. It is usually done in the morning before eating or drinking anything but water. Traditionally, sesame oil has been used for oil-pulling through the years, but in its more recently popularity, coconut oil is also a beloved choice for devotees of this practice.
While oil-pulling has been said to have powerful effects on oral health including whiter teeth, fresher breath, clearer sinuses, and reduction of cavity-causing plaque and tartar buildup, it may also be an ideal way to tone the upper neck and jawline. The constant use of the muscles in the cheeks and jaw while vigorously swishing oil around the mouth for 20 minutes is an intense workout for your face and the area under your chin. Many people find this enhances the contour and firmness of these areas. It’s one more reason to try this time-tested method for achieving a healthier mouth.
Using a tablespoon of sesame oil or coconut oil (which many people find more palatable), swish the oil around the mouth the way that you would a mouthwash, but without gargling in the throat, and continue this for 20 minutes if possible. You may find that your muscles feel a bit fatigued the first few times, which tells you that you’re working muscles. Once you get the hang of it, we also suggest practicing oil-pulling while keeping your lips in a softer pout to prevent lines around the mouth from holding too much tension in that area. After 20 minutes, spit the oil in the trash (rather than the sink, especially if you’re using coconut oil, because oil could coat or clog your plumbing pipes over time). Brush your teeth and tongue as usual after oil-pulling.
While it’s meant to be done in the morning before eating for best oral health effects, some people find it difficult to block out the time. If you’re unable to fit this practice into your morning routine, you can still do it anytime of day for the purpose of facial exercise. You may also notice more glowing skin after a few weeks, so from a healthy aging standpoint, there’s no reason not to try this incredible health and beauty multitasking practice.
3) DON’T forget to chew the right foods the right way
Can you work out your neck, jaw, and cheeks without doing anything special at all? Absolutely. You may be reminded each time you bite into a crunchy veggie like a carrot or broccoli that thorough chewing really is a workout. Our busy lives cause us to rush through meals and not spend time chewing our food well.
Processed foods are generally softer or easier to break down in the mouth and can be swallowed with less work. But less chewing means we miss out on the opportunity to thoroughly activate our facial muscles. The reduced labor in these muscles can leave them weaker and less visibly toned.
Try incorporating more plant foods into your diet because they take more effort to chew thoroughly whether raw or gently cooked, especially crunchy choices like carrots, celery, apples, and broccoli. Choosing fresh, whole foods over packaged and processed foods will ensure that what you eat is not only nutrient-dense, but also are the right foods to give your facial muscles the workout they were designed for at each meal.
Eat your meals and snacks calmly and with attention to chewing and enjoying your food. Try to chew evenly on both sides and seated with correct posture at the table. This will aid in better digestion and may allow you to sufficiently work your neck, jaw, and cheek muscles doing an activity you need to take time for throughout the day anyway, even if you’re unable to regularly fit in the facial exercise methods we talked about above. It’s a win-win! And, bonus, all those colorful, crunchy fruits and veggies are also packed with anti-aging antioxidants to help you get your glow on.
4) DON’T Skip Sunscreen
By this time, we all know how important it is to wear sunscreen on our faces to help prevent premature aging and skin cancer. But your neck and chest are often just as exposed as your face and need just as much protection. Repeated sun exposure and sun damage can degrade collagen and elastin causing wrinkles, crepiness, and thinning skin. The neck is often thinner and more fragile to begin with, so years of sun exposure can sometimes show up more quickly on the neck in the form of sagging and fragile texture that’s prone to lines and wrinkles.
You may be using a neck cream, but don’t squander the results by failing to protect your neck from the sun every day throughout the year. Choose a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and reapply as often as stated on the bottle of your preferred product, usually every 80 minutes during exposure. Consider keeping a bottle with you for your end-of-day commute home or other situations when you may find yourself in the sun long after your morning skincare application.
It’s never too late to start with sunscreen if you haven't been in the habit! It’s the number one strategy for preventing premature aging recommended by dermatologists.
5) DO Choose The Most Effective Topical Anti-Aging Product For Your Neck And Use It Religiously
At last, we come to the part that many people start with and rely on exclusively in the hopes of preserving and repairing their neck and jawline from sagging and wrinkles. It’s an essential step in your healthy, beautiful aging strategy for your neck, but as you’ve seen in the tips preceding this one, topical skincare is just one part of the story when it comes to addressing signs of aging in this stubborn area. Now that you’ve learned how to firm, tone, and sculpt the muscles beneath the skin, you can focus on firming the skin itself. With that said...
Your neck treatment needs to do it all.
- It needs to firm the skin by protecting collagen and elastin and stimulating collagen production. Every year after our 30s, our bodies produce less collagen than the year before, so boosting collagen synthesis is a must for keeping the waddles and wrinkles to a minimum.
- Your neck product needs to help your skin retain moisture to keep it looking and feeling plump and supple.
- It has to be rich in antioxidants to protect skin cells from aging inflammation and oxidative factors like stress, pollution, sun, and less healthful dietary choices.
- It should also be free of unsafe chemicals, dyes, artificial fragrances, and other known toxins because none of those do anything to promote a gorgeous neck and may even have a negative impact on your health long term.
- Lastly, it must be a product you can stick to using every day on an ongoing basis morning and night for optimal results. Just like your facial exercises, it’s the commitment to maintaining your routine that will ensure you see the results you’re looking for.
At Kate Ryan Skincare, we’ve found that there are certain combinations of ingredients that optimize the work a topical product can do for your jawline, neck, chest, and face. Remember that your neck and jawline are impacted by the aging that occurs above these areas elsewhere on the face, so for a more youthful-looking, contoured jawline and firmer-looking neck, we must care for the skin above them on the face too.
A synergistic blend of peptides, marine collagen, DMAE, hyaluronic acid, stabilized vitamin C, epidermal growth factor, CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid, and the extracts of powerful longevity herbs like Centella asiatica all work together toward the same goals via different mechanisms of action to produce noticeable improvements to the appearance of your skin. These ingredients are rarely, if ever, all found together in other skin care, especially in formulas free of harmful chemicals, fillers, and additives. That’s exactly why we designed our Neck Firming Collection, which can also be used for the entire face, with potent concentrations of these powerhouse active ingredients.
Any neck treatment you love can be included in the 5-step anti-aging strategy for your neck that we’ve provided for you here, but we encourage you to experience the Kate Ryan Skincare Neck Firming Collection for the visible results that our customers are so excited about. Find the collection here.
That’s a lot of neck firming knowledge! Let’s review:
- Avoid chronic postures that contribute to an aging neck.
- Try daily facial exercises to actively tone muscles in the face and neck.
- Choose anti-aging foods and chew all your food thoroughly to utilize facial muscles properly.
- Always extend your SPF 30 sunscreen down to the neck and chest.
- Use the most powerful topical skincare for your neck like our Firming Neck Collection and use it religiously.
Do you feel more empowered to take charge of the way your neck ages to keep it looking as beautiful as you are inside and out? We hope this resource helps you to feel like you have a toolbox of options for keeping your neck and jawline looking more sculpted and amazing even when more costly or invasive measures are not part of your action plan.
Now that you’re part of our Kate Ryan Skincare community, always feel free to reach out to us at hello@kateryanskincare.com for help with products and personalized skincare advice. We’re here to help!
Thank you for joining us and have a beautiful day,
Your Friends at Kate Ryan Skincare
