We often take very good care of our face with the wide array of products, but looking youthful goes beyond just taking care of the face.
Having a younger-looking neck to match a youthful and radiant face would give the complete image of glowing radiance, and would certainly help us feel more confident.
Here are the 10 things you can do to get achieve a younger-looking neck.
1) Give your neck a beauty routine of its own
Cleanse, tone and moisturise daily. Once or twice a week, treat the neck area to some exfoliation and apply a mask.
2) Massage in your neck care products
Always apply your toner and moisturiser with an effleurage technique whereby an upward massage movement from the chest to the chin is used to lift the neck area. This will help maintain your neck's firmness and smoothness.
3) Focus on treating the neck from within
Some people prefer to go for aesthetic treatments like AHA peeling to regenerate skin renewal and stimulate collagen production, and fillers to plump up deep lines. Although these procedures can deliver results, they will not last forever as they only target the surface of the skin.
Like rings on a tree trunk, the neck is a key indicator of age and the way it is taken care of deeply impacts one's overall look. It is always good to start taking care of the neck from within and tackle the issue early before it is too late.
This is simply done by extending your daily skincare regime from face to the neck to provide it with the nutrients it needs and the tender loving care it deserves.
4) Follow a healthy diet
Load up on fruits and vegetables to allow your skin to benefit from all the vitamins and nutrients. Avoid processed or canned food, which is usually rich in fat, sugar and sodium, and can provoke the body and neck to swell.
5) Drink Up
Drink at least eight glasses of water every day, to keep both your body and skin hydrated. On top of keeping signs of premature aging at bay, water also acts as a natural cleanser to help eliminate toxins from the body.
6) Work out
Exercise will not only improve your blood circulation and make you feel good; it will also tone your body, while preventing these unwanted fats to accumulate under the chin.
7) Protect yourself against harmful UV rays
UV rays destroy collagen and elastin fibres, causing the neck skin to lose its firmness while becoming dry and wrinkled. When using sunblock, also apply it generously on your neck. We recommend Clinelle UV Defense SPF28 White, a lightweight and non-sticky sun protection, suitable for all skin types.
8) Say no to nicotine and alcohol
Put a stop to unhealthy habits, such as smoking or drinking alcohol, which affect skin negatively by causing premature signs of aging to appear.
9) Perform simple neck exercises to tone neck muscles
• Pronounce all the vowels, from A to U, in an exaggerated manner without closing the mouth at all. Repeat several times a day.
• Pull down the sides of your mouth until your neck muscles become tight and tense. Repeat several times a day.
• Place your hands on the neck and pull the skin down. Then, tilt your head backwards and come back to the original position. Repeat forty times, three times a day.
10) Choose your skincare products wisely
Avoid skincare products which contain artificial fragrance, artificial colouring, comedogenic ingredients, SD-Alcohol, lanolin and mineral oil.
These ingredients are commonly found in mainstream beauty products and tend to clog pores, cause irritation, strip moisture from the skin, cause skin sensitization and breakouts.
Instead, choose skincare products that focus on skin health through theuse of botanical extracts.
Jasmine Tham is a skincare specialist and makeup artist who has taught in various public seminars, consumer workshops and corporate events. She is also professionally trained in makeup, having participated in reputed fashion shows locally and overseas, like the Singapore Fashion Festival. Celebrities who have engaged her services include MTV VJs Nadya Hutagalung and Denise Keller, as well as Tata Young and Black Eyed Peas' Fergie.
