Anti-aging skin care shouldn't stop at your jawline. "I think people are good about their faces but they don't think about their bodies as much," says Miami dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD. She suggests using the skin care products you use on your face on your neck and chest as well -- simply get in the habit of cleansing and moisturizing those areas in the same way.
Since the skin on your neck is thinner than the skin on your face, it's more prone to volume loss and sagging. If you're willing to take the extra step, look for a cream specifically designed for the neck with ingredients like peptides to address the problem.
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Hands
If you have dark spots, your hands might be giving away your age -- even more so than your neck and chest. To treat hyperpigmentation, New York dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD, says to look for products with alpha hydroxy acid. To prevent new spots from appearing or to keep the ones you already have from getting worse, wear sunscreen on your hands every day. Look for a hand cream that contains SPF 30 or higher.
If topical treatments aren't doing the trick, Peredo recommends the in-office treatment IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), which she says can lighten existing dark spots and keep new spots from surfacing.
Even if you're fanatical about skin care, chances are there's a body part (or two) you're neglecting. After all, if you're obsessing over every tiny wrinkle that appears on your forehead, you probably don't have much time to dedicate to your dry knees.
However, those often-forgotten body parts are more important than you may realize -- and it's not just about looking pretty. Your skin is your largest organ, and it's your first line of defense against disease and infection. Of course it's important to focus your anti-aging efforts on your face, but five minutes a day could make a huge difference for the rest of your body. After all, what appears to be a freckle on your hand could actually be melanoma.
So take a look at your arsenal of sunscreens, serums, and lotions and know that our skin care plan will have you rethinking how to use them. We're also recommending a few specialty products for you to pick up along the way. Trust us, your heels will thank you.
