Why your décolletage is ageing faster than your face, and what you can do about it now
We’ll double cleanse, layer up our serums and SPF our faces without thinking twice, but ask how many of us give our chests the same love, and it’s usually a quick swipe of moisturiser, at best . But did you know the skin on our chest is thinner, often more exposed and just as likely to show signs of ageing as our faces, if not more so?
From crepey skin and fine lines to pigmentation and rough texture, the chest is the secret age-giver that can sneak up on all of us. Here’s the good news: it’s never too late to start showing your décolletage some TLC.
Whether you’re looking for pro-level results or an at-home skincare overhaul, there’s a way to get ahead – or rather, below the neckline. Here, we share our top tips with help from Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, aka The Aesthetics Doctor…
In the clinic
Alma Lasers Harmony Bio-Boost, from £450 per session at The Aesthetics Doctor
If your chest is already showing signs of wear – crepey texture, dullness, sun damage – and you’re after something that works harder than a high-street serum, it might be time to go pro.
“This is a collagen-stimulating, lunchtime laser facial, essentially, that can be used in the face, the neck and the décolletage and the hands to really help with fine lines of wrinkles, pigmentation, brightening the skin, reducing skin crepiness, and inducing collagen and elastin. It’s great as an overall oomph back into the skin,” explains Dr Ahmed.
READ MORE: We put Currentbody’s new RF Microneedling gadget promising lifted skin in 8 weeks to the test
Head of shopping Zoe says: “Since hitting my mid-thirties, I’ve noticed sun damage and crepey skin on my chest. To combat it, I’ve had three sessions of Harmony Bio-Boost, and I’m seriously impressed. There are ten different handpiece attachments, each targeting various issues from pigmentation to wrinkles, so it can be really tailored to you. Apart from a bit of redness, there was no downtime, and I was in and out of each session in 45 minutes. I’m delighted to report I’ve seen a massive improvement in both the texture of my skin and my sun-induced pigmentation.”
AlumierMD Chemical Peel, from £175 at Dr Soni Clinic
This peel is tailored to your individual skin needs and works to resurface and rejuvenate the delicate décolletage using advanced acid blends. It gently exfoliates to reduce discolouration, smooth crepey texture and brighten dull tone. As it’s a peel, you might experience slight redness or flaking, but it’s designed to be more gentle, meaning these effects don’t last more than a day or two. Each session is finished with LED light therapy to calm the skin and boost the results.
At-home treatments
Currentbody LED Neck & Décolletage Mask: Series 2, shop it for £359.99
This clever LED mask wraps around the neck and décolletage like a futuristic bib and uses clinically proven red and near-infrared light to stimulate collagen, improve skin texture and reduce signs of ageing. Wear it for 10 minutes a day, ideally after cleansing and before your serums, and over a few weeks, you should start to notice a visible improvement in firmness and tone.
Wrinkles Schminkles Chest Wrinkle Patch, shop it for £30
These clever, medical-grade silicone patches, which can be used up to 20 times, are worn overnight and help to physically smooth out chest wrinkles by holding the skin taut and boosting hydration levels – perfect for side-sleepers or anyone who’s woken up to lines etched down their cleavage. They’re ideal to pair with your evening skincare routine.
Skincare
You need good skincare for your neck and décolletage, but make sure you read your product labels before using your regular skincare. “The skin on your décolletage is thinner than your face, so think of it more like the delicate area around your eyes – you wouldn’t use your punchy retinoid around there,” says Dr Ahmed. “There is a lot of marketing when it comes to neck creams, though. The word ‘neck’ on a cream can mean an extra £20 on the price, so absolutely use what you have at home, but do your research first.”
Retinol: Vitamin A is great for reducing fine lines and sun damage. “Start with a concentration of around 0.3, and then build up if your skin tolerates it well,” Dr Ahmed advises.
We love: Medik8 Retinol 3TR Serum, £34
Vitamin C: This brightens dull skin and fades pigmentation. Dr Ahmed says: “Using ingredients like L-ascorbic acid, which is the medical-grade version of vitamin C, is phenomenal. Start with 10% and build up from there.”
We love: La Roche Posay Vitamin C Anti-Wrinkle Serum, £44.99
Peptides: “These amino acids signal your skin to produce more collagen and elastin, improving firmness and elasticity over time,” explains Dr Ahmed.
We love: Naturium Multi Peptide Rich Cream, £27