Forgetting to moisturize and use sunscreen below your jawline leaves your neck open to the elements and can cause it to show signs of aging faster, Dr. Krant says, since you’re using those products on your face daily (right?). And remember that no area of your skin—from the sometimes-forgotten tops of your ears to your face to your hands—is cancer-proof.
Break it: When you’re done moisturizing and applying sunscreen to your face every day, do the same to your neck, using an upward and then outward motion to cover from the front to the nape, Dr. Lamba recommends. “The upward motion stimulates the skin and prevents sagging, while the outward motion ensures the entire neck area is covered,” she says.
And never use harsh soaps, detergent-based cleansers, or anti-aging treatments that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or retinol on your neck, Dr. Krant says. “The skin there doesn’t have the same number of sebaceous glands to produce oils as the face does, so it’s more delicate and easily irritated,” she explains.
