Why You Should Pay More Attention To The Skin On Your Neck

When it comes to skincare, the neck may be one of the most neglected  areas. But it is important to treat the neck as an extension of the face and care for it the same way because the fragile skin on the neck is one of the first areas to show visible signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and sagging. As with the skin on your face, being proactive with preventative care is the best approach to address the appearance of neck lines, wrinkles and sagging but if you've neglected your neck, it's not too late to get started. I'm sharing some proactive prevention steps as well as a product that I've been using that has made a remarkable difference.

Moisturize Every Day
Dry, damaged skin is more prone to develop early signs of aging. Treat your neck as an extension of your face and apply moisturizer whenever you apply moisturizer to your face.  The skin on the neck is thinner and doesn't produce oil like the face so using products to keep it hydrated and plumped is vital.

Use Sun Protection
When you apply sun protection to your face, make sure you are also applying to your neck and décolleté. UV damage is a major contributor to collagen and elastin breakdown which lead to premature aging. Vigilant sun protection is one of the best defenses. Make sure to use an adequate amount for coverage. You're going to need an additional nickel to quarter size amount for the neck.

Apply Products Using Gentle Upward Strokes
The skin on our necks is delicate and should be treated as such. You don't ever want to pull or tug at it n any direction. With gravity already pulling our skin downward over time, gentle, upward strokes when applying products combats sagging. This is generally the best way to apply facial skincare as well. 

Watch Your Posture
Take note of your posture because when you slouch it causes your neck skin to fold over itself, which can lead to skin sagging. When you add phone and screen usage, we're end up looking down a lot more causing constant folds in our neck. This can lead to the development of horizontal lines termed “tech neck.” Take breaks from those phones and screens and be aware of your neck position. Don't slouch and try to sit leaning your head upright instead of forward whenever possible. Positioning your screen at eye level when you work 

Use Key Active Ingredients
Whether you use your facial moisturizer or a dedicated neck product, make sure to look for topicals with active ingredients that combat signs of premature aging. Antioxidants are a good choice because they combat free radical damage  from UVA and UVB rays, pollution, and other environmental stressors. Peptides which are the building blocks of protein are key in the production collagen so incorporating peptides into a skincare routine can improve the quality of the skin on the neck. Retinol is a proven anti-ager that works to stimulate cell regeneration, boost collagen production and promote skin elasticity and firmness so it is another sure bet. Because it can cause sensitivity, you want to look for a retinol product that is gentle and effective. That's where the product I'm going to be introducing comes in...

The A Method by Tina Alster M.D. Neck Firming Cream

$90 (120 mL / 4 fl oz.)

The Product
The A Method by Tina Alster M.D. Neck Firming Cream is a nightly skin treatment designed to stimulate collagen production with All-Trans Retinol to firm, tighten, smooth and tone loose crepey skin in the neck. Applied nightly for visible results including reducing the appearance of deep creases and evening skin tone after 4-6 weeks of consistent use. This product can also be used to firm the skin on arms and hands. Suitable for all skin types, this product is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and does not contain any parabens, added fragrances or colorants. Developed by world-renowned dermatologist Tina Alster, M.D., The A Method range provides medical-grade skincare formulations for at home use. Each product is formulated with the highest quality ingredients, at guaranteed safety profiles that are stabilized without sacrificing efficacy. 

Quote from Dr. Alster

“A common concern for many of my patients is neck sagging. The ‘turkey neck’ appearance results from weakening of the platysma muscle that runs from the jawline down the neck to the clavicle,” says world-renowned dermatologist, Dr. Tina Alster. “When this muscle loses its strength, jowls form and the skin under the chin loosens and sags. This laxity can be corrected with surgical lifting and non-invasive procedures such as Ultherapy and Silhouette Insta-lift, but a running head start to reduce the severity of neck sagging can be accomplished at home. Integrating The A Method Neck Firming Cream into a daily skincare routine will help with the appearance of sagging, crepey skin on the neck as well as the décolleté.”

Key Ingredients/Benefits

• All-Trans Retinol is a stable form of retinol encapsulated in liposomes which makes it time-released and non-irritating. This works to stimulate cell turnover and collagen production to firm, tone and soften skin

• Arnica Montana Flower Extract helps to tighten the appearance of skin
• L Carntine is an amino acid that lengthens telomeres, to fight aging

• Caffeine & Taurine in combination with retinol work together to improve tone, texture and improve the look of crepey and sagging skin

Full List Of Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Carnitine, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate Caffeine, Taurine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethyl MEA, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Tetrahexyldecyl, Retinol, Ascorbate, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Citric Acid, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyl Dimethyltaurate/ VP Copolymer, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid.

The Packaging

The A Method by Tina Alster M.D. Neck Firming Cream is packaged in a heavyweight translucent orange glass bottle with a pump dispenser.

How To Use

Apply a thin layer to the neck and décolleté nightly. 

My Experience

The A Method by Tina Alster M.D. Neck Firming Cream is yellow tinged cream with a thick silky texture and no discernible scent. It has a mild cooling sensation upon application, absorbing easily into the skin. I generally try to care for my neck but if I am to be honest, I do slack at times and could be more consistent. While I don't have any looseness or sagging I have noticed the appearance of some fine lines and "tech neck" is also an issue/concern so I know I need to be more proactive about care and preventative care. I don't usually go for heavy cream but the thick consistency of this is ideal for the delicate and thinner skin of the neck. This cream provides a nice dose of much needed hydration and since I've been using it nightly for the past month, I have noticed that the fine lines on my neck look less pronounced and smoother which is a good sign that  it is working. Thank you retinol! I sometimes have a sensitivity to retinol and haven't had any irritation or redness with this product. I really like this and am looking forward to seeing how it works with continued usage. I'm also now dedicated to taking better care of my neck.

The A Method by Tina Alster M.D. Neck Firming Cream can be purchased from Amazon and The A Method website.

How do you look after your neck area?

Disclosure: This post features complimentary products received for editorial consideration and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to the Policies page of this blog.