Can You use Retinol Serum on Your Neck?
If ageing is something that is concerning you, or perhaps something you want to keep at bay, chances are you’ve searched high and wide for effective formulas enriched in ingredients that can target even the smallest sign of ageing. During your search you would have undoubtably discovered retinol.
This potent form of vitamin A delivers the most impressive results and is favoured and praised by experts and skincare fans as being the holy grail of all skincare ingredients. If you are wanting to know more about retinol and how it works on the skin, check out our dedicated blog post about it over on The Beauty Insiders.
Now, let’s draw our attention to the question in today’s blog post which is ‘Can you use retinol serum on your neck?’ This is a common concern for many of us. Whilst we focus on using an array of effective anti-ageing ingredients on the face, it is a common mistake for us to forget about taking these formulas down onto the neck.
So, let’s dive right in and investigate how to use retinol serums on your neck to combat any signs of ageing and loss of elasticity.
Is it okay to apply retinol on neck?
The short answer is yes, but with caution. This is because the skin on your neck and chest are thinner than the skin found on the face. You’ll also find that these areas are exposed to more UV rays leading to sun damage often becoming more apparent and requires stronger formulas to repair.
This is when retinol can step in and help, with the traits of retinol increasing the speed of the natural skin cell turnover cycle which pushes new skin cells to the surface quickly. This helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation leaving you with a glowing and healthy-looking skin.
When using retinol on the neck start by only applying it once a week in the evening to help build the skin’s tolerance to the potent powerhouse. You should also opt for a formula containing a lower concentrate of the ingredient, such as 0.5% and team your retinol product with another serum or moisturiser that contains a hydrating ingredient, such as hyaluronic acid.
Is retinol good for saggy neck?
Absolutely, retinol is without a doubt the most effective ingredient to use when wanting to target loss of firmness in the skin, including signs of sagging on the neck.
Retinol can penetrate the lower layers on the skin and provides an increase in the production of collagen. It is known that collagen production begins to slow down rapidly once we have passed the age of 25 years old. By introducing a small amount and lower concentrate of retinol onto the neck and using it consistently you will find a visible improvement in the look and firmness of the neck in 4 to 6 weeks.
Can I use retinol serum on my body?
Yes, you can, but ensure you are using a retinol product that has been specifically designed to use on the body. Signs of ageing, blemishes, and lack lustre skin isn’t something that can cause concern for the face, the funny thing is we are all guilty of forgetting to look after our body and focus our main efforts on the skin on our face.
Once you have found a body product that contains retinol follow the instructions on the packaging to get the best result and avoid overusing the formula as this can cause flaky patches of skin, irritation, and causing just general discomfort.
How can I make my neck look younger?
There are a number of ways to help make you neck look younger, here are some examples of the most used and effective.
Introduce a collagen supplement into your routine
Collagen is something naturally occurring in the skin, but once we reach the age of 25 its production begins to slow down. Introducing a collagen supplement into your daily routine, such as a powder that can be dissolved into your morning coffee, will help strengthen the skin on the body, including the neck. Maintaining this habit of taking a collagen supplement every day will benefit for your skin and health of your joints for a sustainable amount of time.
Use serums enriched in vitamin C
Use serums enriched in vitamin C Vitamin C is packed with antioxidants that have the ability to protect the skin from exposure to damage caused by free radicals, these are pollution, UV rays, central heating, and other environmental aggressors. By applying a vitamin C serum to the neck, you combat signs of ageing as well as repairing signs of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Apply low concentrates of retinol As I have already explained, applying retinol to the neck will counteract signs of ageing, such as lines and wrinkles as well as give the collagen production a boost. Eat more fatty foods By this I don’t mean a juicy burger, but other types that are rich in omega-3 and 6, such as oily fish, avocados, and nuts. All of which help the body to produce more collagen including on the neck helping it appear plumped, and firmer. Apply a daily SPF This is something that needs to happen every day, even on days that look overcast and gloomy. This is because the UVA rays found in sunlight are constantly present and can penetrate through water, glass, and clouds. UVA is also known as the sun ray that causing skin ageing, compared to UVB which is the skin burning ray. By protecting the skin with a daily SPF of 30 and above, you’ll keep the skin barrier protected and at its healthiest state. There you have some of the most popular ways to combat any ageing concerns you have for the neck. By using all these tips mentioned together you’ll find the neck will look notably younger, with less lines and damage to the skin. Why is my neck ageing so fast? There are several reasons why the neck ages so quickly, here are some of the most common causes. Sun exposure With many of us forgetting to apply daily SPF to our necks, sun exposure is one of the main causes of neck ageing. You can help combat this by using a sunscreen every day to keep your skin protected and natural barrier strengthened. Genetics Believe it or not, if wrinkles on the neck is a common family concern, chances are you are more prone to developing them over time. Lifestyle This could vary from habits such as smoking, to the skin becoming dehydrated on a regular basis. Common everyday habits such looking down at your phone or working with on a computer can also be the cause of neck wrinkles. Ageing As the skin naturally ages, there is loss of collagen and elasticity resulting in the neck losing firmness and appearing saggy with noticeably wrinkles. There you have a little more information about using retinol serum on the neck, I hope I have answered most of your questions, but if you have any more, come and find me over on Procoal’s Instagram.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
