As far as tightening the fragile neck skin, it’s a similar story you’ll hear with pretty much all skin-aging woes: The best approach is actually delaying early onset in the first place and keeping the skin as healthy as you can. That’s not to say you can’t improve it naturally once the issue crops up—you can, it’s just important to be realistic here. As board-certified dermatologist Flora Kim, M.D., FAAD, notes, “Wrinkled and sagging skin will require more involved solutions as the problem runs deep.” Meaning, don’t forget about your neck and décolletage during your routine! Just as you might seek out formulas to target fine lines and sagging skin on the face, you’ll want to slather those same ingredients down your neck as well. That’s not to say you have to go out and buy a fancy neck-firming cream—in fact, most derms agree your face products will do just fine. In terms of choice ingredients, retinoids are beloved for stimulating cell turnover and collagen production (which is what keeps your skin firm and taut). However, you must be careful because the neck skin is often more sensitive than other parts of the face," says board-certified dermatologist Jeremy Fenton, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC and Long Beach, New York. You may want to try layering your retinoid between a veil of moisturizer (commonly dubbed the “retinoid sandwich”) if you find it too harsh for the sensitive skin. Exfoliators—think AHAs and BHAs—are also top-notch for addressing skin texture, and some, like glycolic acid, can stimulate collagen production as well. Although, “For wrinkled and sagging skin, exfoliators can play a role, but it is important to be realistic and be mindful that exfoliators will make a nominal change,” notes Kim. Sloughing away dead skin from time to time is an important part of a healthy skin regimen (and it can offer some visually gratifying benefits), but if you’re dealing with sagging skin already, an exfoliator most likely will not be make-or-break. Bonus points if you apply a lotion straight out of the shower: Trapping in that lingering water with a rich cream can speed up the repair of a compromised skin barrier. Collagen supplements can even help support your skin’s hydration levels, which is important for maintaining supple, smooth neck skin.* In fact, a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial found that participants’ moisture levels in the skin were seven times higher3 than those who did not take the daily collagen peptide supplement.* That said, her No. 1 tip is to place your tongue on the roof of your mouth “whenever your face is resting, except when you’re talking, eating, or drinking.” No need to use force—it’s not so much about the pressure itself as it is about training your natural tongue posture to remain on the upper palate. For example, they might perform skin-resurfacing treatments, like microneedling—which can improve skin texture by using small needles to prick the skin and trigger collagen repair. Much more research is needed, but studies are starting to consider microneedling as a safer skin alternative4 to more invasive resurfacing technologies like lasers (although, the results are often less dramatic). But, again, chatting with your derm is your best bet.
