I’m closer to 60 than I am to 50 these days, so while I wouldn’t necessarily call myself old, I certainly qualify as “aging!” (Our kids like to poke fun at how “old” Dave and I are, but they’ve been doing that since I was in my late 40s. Kids!)
Overall, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how positive I’ve felt about various aspects of getting older. More than I thought there would be back when I was younger, anyway! For instance, I’m more self-assured and adaptable than I used to be, and I also like to think I’m at least a little bit wiser too! :-)
But aging isn’t all sunshine and daisies, and one aspect of aging that I’ve really struggled with is how much my skin has changed. My skin isn’t nearly as firm than it used to be, and nowhere is that more obvious than my neck. I’ve had periods where I’ve felt so self-conscious about it that it felt like a serious procedure was my only option for fixing it!
But after taking a step back, I realized that I’m probably far from the only one who feels self-conscious about having a saggy neck. So I decided my energy would be better spent researching ways to cope with saggy neck skin, and I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned with you today! These simple tips and tricks will help you keep your neck muscles strong and your skin firm and wrinkle-free. :-)
7 Quick And Easy Ways To Cope With Saggy Neck Skin
1. Improve Your Posture
Bad posture can be a big contributor to sagging and wrinkled neck skin. When you’re sitting, make sure to sit with your back straight to keep your neck nice and elongated.
If you find it difficult to keep good posture, try a posture corrector. You can find simple harness-style posture correctors online that pull your shoulders back into a better posture. Another option is a device like this one that you attach to your back, which buzzes to let you know when you should be sitting up straighter.
You can also improve your sleeping posture to help keep your neck skin firm. Sleep with your neck long and and stretched out, preferably on your back.
2. Avoid Excess Sun Exposure
Exposure to harsh sunlight can play a major role in sagging neck skin. Limiting your exposure to sunlight will help reduce wrinkles not only on your neck, but all over your body. You can still be out in the sun, but just be sure to sit in a shady spot if you’re staying out for a while.
3. Use Sunscreen
This one goes hand-in-hand with the tip above. Sun exposure is sure to aggravate wrinkles and saggy neck, so it’s a good idea to apply sunscreen anytime you’re going outside.
While applying a standalone mineral sunscreen will give you the most effective protection against damaging UV rays, any amount of sun protection is better than none at all! If you tend to be forgetful about applying sunscreen, incorporating a moisturizer with SPF into your morning beauty routine can help ensure your skin is at least somewhat protected.
4. Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise can help you reduce wrinkles and sags not only on your neck, but all over your body too! Excess fat stores can often make sagging and wrinkling worse, so exercise is key for keeping excess fat in check.
5. Exercise Your Neck
Do these simple neck exercise regularly to help keep your neck muscles tight and reduce sagging! Start by tilting your head back until your chin is pointing up at the ceiling. Jut your chin out so your lower lip goes over your upper lip, until you feel a stretch under your chin.
Hold this position for a few seconds, then return your lip and jaw to their normal position. Repeat this set of chin movements 20 times for a full set.
Another helpful neck exercise you can do is draw circles with your tongue while your mouth is closed. Do 5 circles moving clockwise, then 5 circles moving counterclockwise. Repeat this series 20 times for a full set.
Finally, here’s an easy exercise you can do anywhere! With your mouth closed, press the tip of your tongue against the top of your mouth. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then release. Repeat 20 times for a full set.
6. Use Antioxidant-Rich Creams
Antioxidants help stimulate collagen production and fight damage from free radicals, which makes them a great tool for fighting wrinkles and sagging. Use an cream with antioxidants on your neck to take advantage of these benefits! Here are a few that I have tried and liked in the past few years:
- Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Anti-Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Serum ($15)
- Paula’s Choice SKIN RECOVERY Super Antioxidant Serum ($34)
- annmarie Anti-Aging Facial Oil ($
54.95Only $43.96 when you save 20% with code JILLSFAVES)
Related: The Best Anti-Aging Face Masks And Why They Work
7. Strike A Pose
We all want to look our best in photos, but saggy neck skin can make that difficult! Try this simple trick from facial exercise trainer Cynthia Rowland to eliminate the double-chin effect. Just point your chin down, then stick your neck out like a turtle. It feels a bit strange, but this pose ends up being very flattering in photos!
You can also use makeup contouring to reduce the double-chin effect. Adding a dark contour under your jawline can make your jawline look stronger and more defined in person and in photos. Just apply a brown eyeshadow or bronzer that’s about three shades deeper than your foundation just below your jawline, then blend it in with a small brush.
Do you have a favorite tip or product for aging skin?
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