There have been SO many companies launching neck creams lately. Some are gimmicky and deserve an eye roll, and others contain legit ingredients that will make a difference in both the look and feel of the skin on your neck.
Here’s the thing: They are expensive for a designated “neck’ cream and most don’t contain enough active ingredients to warrant the hefty price tag.
The good news is, if you read and compare the ingredients, most of you are already using what is considered to be the new trend in neck creams! You’re just using it all over your face as well (and hopefully on your NECK!).
Let’s break this down: In order for our necks to be smooth, firm and pretty (or simply help fade those pesky horizontal neck lines), we must first become a manikin and stop looking down at our phones all day. If you can’t manage that, here are some alternatives:
1.) All of these new launches include an exfoliant or a Vitamin A derivative combined with peptides and hydration. This all makes sense. You can’t leave dead skin cells hanging around, lather them up with peptides and hydration, and expect them to work. Combining an exfoliant makes perfect sense. You’re probably already using one in your skincare routine, so is it necessary to combine it with a cream and slap a $110-$250 price tag on it? Or, would it make more sense to just exfoliate your neck while you’re exfoliating your face…?
The following products might already be in your skincare regime and make the PERFECT “Firming Neck Cream” without having to purchase additional products.
Let’s get to know your neck:
The epidermis on our neck is thinner. Some may argue that “skin is skin.” And depending on the amount of oil and sebaceous glands you have in a particular area, that normally would be true. However, other factors come in to play making the argument “skin is skin” irrelevant. Not only is the skin thinner on our necks, but we also have fewer oil glands on our neck, making it drier and slower to heal.
As we age, our skin loses water and collagen content, leaving it drier and less firm. Most of us already know that. Now, add in other factors that make the neck in particular, a little different than the rest of the skin on our face.
Most people have long neglected their neck. Skincare products and SPF tend to stop at the jaw line for so many people (until they wake up one day and see the creepiness that seemed to have occurred overnight, it didn’t).
Side sleeping: Forceful pressure of your skin against a cotton pillow at night. (I have something I’ve been testing for that! I’m only product 8 but I may have found the winner!).
Now, let’s combine everything. The skin on our neck is slower to heal, we don’t apply spf, we end our products at the jaw line, we don’t have many sebaceous glands causing it to be drier, it’s naturally thinner, and we never exfoliate it… Thus, the gobble neck.
What can you do besides get a neck lift?
PREVENTION IS KEY!!!!! HELLO OUT THERE YOUNG, SMOOTH, FIRM, BEAUTIES! I HOPE YOU’RE READING THIS!
Exfoliate, use peptides with firming ingredients and keep the skin hydrated.
Basically, you’re shaving down the problem, treating it, then hydrated it (which does wonders), and then protect it with SPF.
Why don’t you need to purchase a separate neck cream? The following products may already be in your routine and if you compare the ingredients to the expensive alternatives, you’ll be pleasantly surprised, and possibly understand why I say professional ingredients almost always out beat any amount of marketing a company invests in. Marketing doesn’t make a product work, it only makes it popular.
Exfoliation:
Pro Exfoliating Cleanser
A gentle exfoliant that is effective, containing 10% Lactic acid, but combined with many hydrating ingredients to keep the skin balanced. This is a keratolytic agent, skin lightener, hydrator, that is antibacterial and contains astringents while boosting your micro-circulation.
Glycolic Cleanser: This one tends to be strong for people and needs to be used with caution, not as often, and preferably, seasonally.
Packed with antioxidants and nourishing vitamins, Skin Script Rx Glycolic Cleanser purifies the skin, removing excess oil and neutralizing bacteria for a clear, vibrant complexion. This powerful cleanser gives your skin new life, boosting radiance and promoting long term clarity for a smooth, vibrant complexion that feels and looks beautiful. It’s recommended for all skin types, tones, and conditions. It is particularly effective on thick or tough skin in need of exfoliation. However, you need to remember we’re talking about the NECK, which is THINNER. If this gives you any idea in regards to it’s strength: I use this as my exfoliation for my body. Enough said.
- Glycolic acid – alpha hydroxy acid that loosens epidermal bonds in order to removed dead and dying skin cells and reveal fresh, healthy, and young skin; promotes the skin’s natural renewal process; also provides anti-aging benefits; reduces the formation of scars in the healing process.
This next product isn’t necessarily just an exfoliant but if I had to pick one product that was closest to being what the new launches of neck creams AIM TO BE, this would be it, minus the peptides.
Retinol Creme:
This is the “big daddy” when it comes to reversing aging and preventing it. But it doesn’t stop there, resurfacing galore! This is WHAT I waited so many years for companies to figure out. We can’t just put Retinol all over our face and not expect inflammation! The formula is key. They did it all here! They not only combined Lactic acid in with the retinol, but they included the best form of Vitamin C to add to Lactic acid’s already brightening capabilities. Oh, but it didn’t stop there, they threw in argireline which smooths and reduces muscle contractions, hexylresorcinol to brighten and tighten, resorcinol for skin rejuvenation, Co-Q10 to fight free radicals, Vitamin E to act as an added antioxidant and anti inflammatory and a handful of other universal antioxidants and skin nourishing ingredients. The company once had a shortage and I kid you not, I said “Retinol Prayers.” Behold, my lover:
The Peptides!
If you take a look at the serums I have in my shop, you’ll find a lot of peptides. They’re where the magic happens! You’ll find I have many TARGETED peptides you can purchase individually, which can be customized to your goal. Peptides are used for a number of things. But, for now, I’m going to give you a few options that I personally use for my neck (or, I would just list every peptide I carry because I ONLY carry products that I’ve tested and have been proven to give me and my clients results).
Better Bang for your buck: Pro Firming Serum pretty much does it all….
Clients are always shocked at how amazing this one works. They can’t pin point exactly what they love about it when I ask, and usually say, “It just made my skin look better.” There’s a reason for that!
Not only does this active serum contain ingredients to firm, but it has a load of hydration and cell repairing ingredients. It leaves a healthy glow while lightening, tightening, firming, protecting, calming, and soothing. So, when clients can’t pin point exactly what they love about it, it makes sense.
Not only can you use this on your neck and face, but also as an EYE SERUM!!!!! This is an awesome product choice for both Vitamin A users and those who can’t use Vitamin A. This serum contains multiple peptides in one formula.
Targeted Peptides: I have specific peptides that take specific action. When I brought in the Pro Firming Serum, some clients were excited about getting more peptides in one, while others refused to give up their, “magic babies.” If I’m asked to give a combo for the neck specifically, it would be this combo for the targeted peptides. However, you can use them all over your face and body, including your eye and eye lids.
Pepti Lift:
A face-lifting serum scientifically formulated to provide peptides to restore youthful skin tension. Applied to the face, arm, or decolletage, to lift and re-establish your natural youthful appearance. Results demonstrate 5-10 years younger anti-aging
Peptides Tone:
Viktoria De Ann’s answer to the costly injected ‘toxin base’ treatments — and without the pain and complications.
Bio Lift Creme:
I overlooked this cream for so long. If you know me, I’m pretty set on my moisturizers. This is so much more than a moisturizer, and it took me a LONG time to give it any attention. I was SO WRONG! This is enough hydration for most people, but hydration aside, this is what moisturizers should be. This isn’t just a moisturizer, this is an ACTIVE moisturizer.
First of all, it contains (again) the best form of Vitamin C you can get. They don’t market it that way. Like, no big deal, it has a crazy amount of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate in it, no big deal! Well, if you’re into skincare, you’ll KNOW people are paying $200 for this. But, no big deal, let’s focus on all it’s other amazing ingredients:
Multiple Active peptides to rejuvenate, strengthen, reduce lines, wrinkles, and relax muscle contractions. It also contains numerous cell repairing ingredients, free radical scavengers, anti inflammatories, antioxidants, and of course smoothing hydrators.
Adding this over The PRO FIRMING SERUM is recommended for those who either have advanced aging (sun worshipers, smokers, etc), or for those who are over 40 and have experienced a decline in skin’s firmness.
And there you have it, neck cream ingredients without paying for a neck cream! Check your stash and see if you can come up with any of these combos!
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