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6 Tips and Tricks for a Youthful Neck

6 Tips and Tricks for a Youthful Neck
While our face skin is usually the center of attention, our neck skin is also experiencing the same aging process. The neck is the unsung hero that deserves a little more care and attention than we often give it. So, you may be wondering, how do you keep your neck from aging? From simple skincare rituals to mindful lifestyle choices, these 6 tips will not only keep your neck looking fabulous but also contribute to a healthy glow that stands the test of time.
01

What are neck lines?

Before we dive into ways to help your skin, it may be helpful to understand what neck wrinkles and lines actually are. Neck lines, also known as necklace lines, refer to the horizontal neck lines that develop on the neck with age. It's important to understand that these lines are physical and indicative of structural changes happening within the aging skin.Β 
02

What causes neck lines?

Neck lines can be caused by many factors, including the natural aging process, smoking, UV exposure, and posture.Β 

Age-Related Loss of Elasticity and Strength

As our skin ages, factors like reduced collagen production and diminished elasticityresult in sagging, cracked, and wrinkled skin, which can be particularly noticeable in the neck area. Collagen creates the structural framework that gives the skin its strength, while elastin gives the skin its ability to stretch and β€œbounce back” after movement .1Β  As the skin begins to lose its concentrations of these two vital proteins, it thins and subcutaneous fat deposits in the body shrink; this leads to saggy and droopy skin .2Β The skin will then either stretch and crack, creating neck creases, or fold and wrinkle, causing various forms of neck lines.

UV Exposure

Frequent unprotected UV exposure damages our cells and leads to premature aging. Exposure to UV rays can damage the DNA and proteins within our cells, forcing the cells to enter a state of UV induced cellular senescence. Senescent cells should be cleared away by the immune system, but with age, the immune system becomes less efficient, leaving senescent cells to linger in skin. These zombie cells secrete harmful factors, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade collagen proteins.3 Sun exposure contributes to up to 90% of the visible effects of skin aging, meaning that our already vulnerable necks are even more at risk, especially due to their common sun exposure.4

Smoking

Nicotine products can harm your skin by narrowing the tiny capillaries that supply nutrients to the skin. This deprives the skin of vital nutrients, causing the skin to struggle to produce structural proteins like collagen. Starved for resources, the skin finds it harder to repair itself after it becomes damaged, contributing to earlier visible signs of aging in the skin of smokers. Smoking can cause up to a 20% decrease in collagen synthesis, worsening the development ofΒ  wrinkles in the skin, especially on the neck .5

PostureΒ 

The biomechanics of poor posture can have a significant role in the development of horizontal neck wrinkles. Prolonged periods of craning one's neck, be it while hunched over screens or engaged in repetitive tasks, can stretch the back of the neck, causing irregular folding of the skin. Termed "tech neck" due to the prevalence of such habits in the digital age, this phenomenon results from the constant strain imposed on the delicate skin structures of the neck .6

03

How to keep your neck young & prevent neck lines

Now that we understand why wrinkles emerge on our skin, we can begin taking steps to curb their development.Β 

#1 Limit Your Unprotected UV Exposure

When you expose yourself to UV radiation, your cells are damaged in ways that lead to premature aging and sagging neck skin. The best way to protect your skin is through adequate sun protection applied throughout the day, even on cloudy days.7 The visible effects of sun damage are cumulative, so you should minimize UV exposure when outside by wearing a broad spectrum 30+ SPF mineral sunscreen when you plan to spend time outdoors (Read more about chemical vs mineral sunscreens in our blog!).

OS-01 FACE SPF and OS-01 BODY SPF (coming soon!) are great SPF options to incorporate into your skin care routine. They combine powerful mineral prevention and effective repair of UV-induced aging in one breakthrough formula. Avoid UV exposure during peak UV hours by covering up or staying indoors. Also, steer clear of intense artificial sources of UV radiation, like tanning beds. Read up on how to prevent sun-damaged skin and what to look for in sunscreen!

#2 Moisturize

The skin barrier relies on a combination of naturally produced fats and oils, called sebum, that protect us from damaging environmental factors. Neck skin is particularly dry to begin with so the additional decline of sebum production with age makes the neck vulnerable to dryness that can cause premature wrinkling and uneven skin texture. Dry skin can lead to a weakened skin barrier, less water retention, and early skin aging .8 Can you use face cream on your neck? Yes. To combat these low levels of natural oils in the neck, consider incorporating a daily moisturizer into your daily face care routine! Read more about moisturizing skin from the inside out hereto learn more about how to boost skin moisture for your entire body from the inside out here!

#3: Eat Foods Good For The Skin

The outer surface of cells in our skin is perpetually replenished with younger cells. However, this turnover process requires a lot of resources and age causes the rate of this cellular turnover to decrease. Engaging in a healthy diet is one of our strongest ways we can support skin health, as it contains the building blocks for new cells.
Feeding a Healthy Skin Barrier: Our skin uses unsaturated fats to maintain a healthy lipid balance, fortify the skin barrier and ensure water retention. You can protect your overall skin health by maintaining a diet rich in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats and Omega-3 fatty acids. A healthy skin barrier aids in moisture retention, helping keep the skin free of wrinkles.9 Fatty fish, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, avocados, tofu, and dark chocolate are all good sources of these unsaturated fats.
Feeding Collagen Growth: Because of the damage it endures, the skin must constantly rebuild itself and requires a consistent supply of proteins to create new collagen and elastin. However, many of the proteins our body needs to make collagen and elastin cannot be synthesized by the body and must be consumed. Some of the best sources of these proteins are in foods like fish, meat, dairy, fruit, and legumes .10
Antioxidants For a Youthful Neck: We are regularly exposed to free radicals within our body that cause harm to skin cells and break down collagen in ways associated with aging .11 Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, therefore preventing damage. Consuming antioxidants in your diet can help prevent some of the effects that free radicals will have on both overall aging and wrinkles on the neck.

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04

How do you get rid of neck lines without surgery

Even though wrinkles and neck lines are a normal part of aging, they can be slowed down even without surgery.

#4 Specialized Neck Exercises and Massage

Neck exercises and massages can strengthen the muscles underneath the skin and improve overall skin health. Focus on neck exercises that build muscle under the chin and along the side and back of the neck. These muscles act as a scaffold for neck skin to build healthy tissue and stimulate blood flow to the skin. Strong neck muscles will add volume below the surface helping to prevent sagging skin and wrinkle development .12
Massaging the face and neck with your hands or a tool like a gua sha smooths the skin, promotes blood flow, and stimulates collagen growth while also acting as a gentle exfoliator .13,14 Massaging the skin will help keep it healthy and wrinkle-free for longer when incorporated into your morning and/or night routine.

#5 Ultherapy

Ultheray utilizes ultrasound technology to tighten neck tissue and stimulate collagen production within the dermis. This non-surgical option enhances skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of wrinkles, resulting in a smoother and more youthful neck profile. The precision of Ultherapy allows for targeted treatment and makes it an option for those with moderate neck sagging and wrinkling .15

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#6 Topical Supplements

In addition to your moisturizer and sunscreen, the neck skin benefits from topical applications of various nutrients, antioxidants, peptides, and oils that can promote overall skin health and even stimulate increased natural collagen production .2 Take care, however, as the neck skin is quite sensitive. Stay clear of retinoids or harsh acids without consulting a dermatologist first.

Better yet, seek ingredients that are scientifically proven to boost collagen and hyaluronic acid biosynthesis markers in the skin, like the OS-01 peptide.16 OS-01 can benefit all areas of the skin but can be especially useful for the skin on the neck, which naturally has less collagen and water retention capabilities. In lab studies on human skin samples, OneSkin’s OS-01 peptide has also been shown to reduce UV-induced senescence and collagen degradation.16 Powered by the OS-01 peptide, OS-01 FACE is clinically validated to improve skin barrier function by up to 15%. Additionally, OS-01 FACE SPF and OS-01 BODY SPF are designed for daily use on exposed areas of the skin like the neck and contains the OS-01 peptide along with non-nano zinc oxide and a blend of potent antioxidants.

Key Takeaways:
  • Neck lines, also known as necklace lines, are horizontal wrinkles on the neck that develop with age, indicative of structural changes within aging skin.
  • Natural aging, smoking, UV exposure, and poor posture contribute to the development of neck lines. Reduced collagen production and elasticity loss are key factors in aging skin.
  • Take preventative steps to protect your skin, like moisturizing and protecting against UV radiation.
  • Rejuvenate your skin with exercise, neck massages, non-surgical procedures, and topical supplements.

Last Updated April 22, 2025

Reviewed by

Alessandra Zonari

Alessandra Zonari

PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin

Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.