Thursday, June 10, 2010

Improve The Appearance Of A Wrinkled Neck

Moisturizing your neck is just as important as moisturizing your face.








A wrinkled neck can give away your age, or make you seem older than you actually are. Neck wrinkles are part of the natural aging process, but can also be triggered by a combination of factors, such as excessive sun exposure, smoking, drinking alcohol, an improper diet and lacking skin care. Before resorting to in-office skin treatments and surgical measures, such as a Botox, chemical peels or a neck lift, incorporate home and lifestyle remedies to improve the appearance of your neck.


Instructions








1. Eat a healthy diet that's rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Consume a variety of fruit and vegetables because they contain antioxidants. Eat fish, such as salmon, to get omega-3 fatty acids, or take a daily fish oil supplement as an alternative. According to WebMD, antioxidants combat skin cell damage, protect your skin from sun damage and make skin radiant, while omega-3 fatty acids plump your skin and reduce wrinkles.


2. Exfoliate the skin of your neck once a week. Scrubbing your skin removes dead skin cells and allows better absorption of moisturizers. Mix 2 tbsp. sugar with enough honey to make a spreadable paste. Apply the mixture to your neck and massage it in a circular motion with your fingertips. Rinse it off with lukewarm water. The sugar scrubs your skin while the honey softens and hydrates it. Antioxidants in honey also have an antiaging effect on your skin.


3. Moisturize the skin on your neck daily, because moisturized skin looks healthier than dry, wrinkly skin. Look for moisturizers that contain alpha hydroxy acids, retinoids or vitamin C, because these reduce the appearance of wrinkles and combat signs of sun damage. Massage a dime-size amount of olive oil into your neck as an alternative. Olive oil naturally moisturizes your skin, and the vitamin A and E in the oil help combat sun and environmental skin damage while smoothing and firming the skin.


4. Perform neck exercises on a daily basis to help firm the skin of your neck, and to make wrinkles less prominent. Sit in a chair and face forward. Move your head upward and look at the ceiling. Fully stretch the skin on your neck. Close your mouth and make a chewing motion. Focus on the movement of your throat and neck while performing the exercise. Chew at least 20 times before coming back to the starting position. Repeat the exercise, but instead of the chewing motion, bring your lower lip over your upper lip. Hold this for five counts and repeat the exercise five times.


5. Apply natural vitamin C sources to the skin of your neck. Juice a lemon and wet a washcloth with the lemon juice. Apply the washcloth to your neck for at least 10 minutes. Wash your neck with warm water. Rub the inside of the lemon directly on your neck as an alternative. Other fruits to use include papaya and pineapple. Vitamin C promotes skin cell renewal and tightens and tones your neck.

Tags: your neck, your skin, skin your, skin your neck, fatty acids