Chest Care 101

While we’re more aboard of growing older, looking older may have some of us jumping ship, especially if it’s unhealthy aging. It’s likely why we put all our precious cargo into one spot – our faces! After all, maintaining a healthy complexion gives the ambiance of youth and bliss, like the sun dipping below the ocean’s surface.

However, not to take the wind out of your sails, but one of the quickest and most frequently neglected features on your skin to give away age is your chest! Telltale signs of aging on the chest and neck can affect a youthful appearance – or lack thereof.

If we think of skin as our largest organ, then we can imagine that our chest and up is just an extension of our face. We aim to maintain the same clear, supple, balanced skin from hairline to neckline, which is why we’re all about taking care of it! Check out our routine for a healthy chest and décolleté, and why the rest is just smooth sailing from there.

Beyond taking the time to try to maintain a healthy, balanced complexion and our beauty and hair-care routines, it’s easy to understand how our chest and neck areas could take the stern of our daily regimen. We tend to overlook these delicate areas in pursuit of a flawless makeup application and frizz-free hair. But as our skin grows with us, rolls through the tides, and changes over time, the chest area and décolleté can become some of the first areas to experience the effects of aging.

When we think about it, our chest is really front and center – or a point of sail. We can start to notice freckles, age spots, and melasma developing on the skin of our chest even as young as our 30’s. And this rather exposed point gets a surprisingly large amount of wear and tear, like frequent exposure to the sun and other environmental aggressors, stretching to accommodate dressing, not to mention it’s a high-traffic zone for cosmetics and irritants.

With all this in mind, the chest and neack areas are very prone to wrinkles, dull skin, dryness, loss of elasticity, and even breakouts. It doesn’t really take a scope or binoculars to see that these delicate areas are just as important as our facial skin to continuously watch and protect. Therefore, designing an optimal anti-aging routine from the hairline down to the bust line is paramount to preserve these often-overlooked areas.

Once the skin on our chest and neck ages, it becomes nearly impossible to navigate back through those waters. The key to maintaining these areas is to start early with restorative and preventative skincare ingredients. Though preserving the delicate skin of our chest and décolleté can sound like work, this is where designing a satisfying self-care routine can make all the difference.

Here’s a guide like a compass on how we keep the chest and neck areas looking smooth and feeling refreshed.

Start with a softening and hydrating cleanser.
Because the décolleté – especially the neck – is often exposed to the sun and other environmental irritants, it is more prone to sun damage, dryness, and uneven skin tone. Often, we experience this as subtle itchiness, dull-looking skin or dark spots, but this can also lead to flaking and rashes if not treated properly. Look for soothing, natural ingredients that can prevent irritation along with hydrating and anti-aging ingredients to nurture the skin and keep the chest and décolleté smooth and shining.

LAVENDER OAT MILK SOOTHING CLEANSER | Lavender buds, rose petals, and oat calm the skin while silky coconut milk hydrates and softens.

CALENDULA FLOWER CLEANSING MILK | Calendula supports collagen in the skin for smoothness and elasticity while sea buckthorn oil and aloe juice heal and deeply hydrate.

CHARCOAL KONJAC SPONGE | Get rid of dull skin and buildup with this gently exfoliating charcoal sponge cleanser that detoxifies, tones, and softens.

Tone the neck and chest, just like the face.
Because of the high exposure to the sun and other outdoor assailants to the chest and neck, we often notice discoloration and uneven skin tone on these parts of the body. A toner can help address this, while adding moisture and helping to lessen the signs of aging.

LAVENDER TONIQUE | In a word – purifying. Calming lavender and healing, soothing aloe along with youth-rejuvenating MSM, an organic sulfur found in vegetables and known to help skin firmness, make a toning dream team.

RESTORATIVE SEA CULTURE HYDRATING TONER | Secrets to ageless skin are exposed with the enriched restorative power of algae and sea kelp. Deeply penetrating hydration from chia seed water, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin make this toner practically age-defying.

Layer on the moisturizer.
None of the routine matters if the delicate skin of our chest and décolleté doesn’t get a moisturizer to seal everything in. This final protective layer is extra impactful for avoiding texture and fine lines.

HYDRA DRENCH CREAM | A light hydration that adds a bit of spring to the skin with calming and hydrating rose water, enriched fatty acid chia for skin preservation, and antioxidant-rich cactus extracts for skin repair.

ROSE WATER HYDRATING MILK | Great for all skin types, this gentle rose and aloe formula restores skin with softening, calming, and hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and olive squalane.

Crafting a routine like the one above that’s designed to address the chest and neck is going to take us on a smooth journey to healthy, glowing skin. But those aren’t the only techniques we utilize in chest and neck skin care. Here are some of our other best tips for a more youthful chest and décolleté.

#1. Wear SPF daily

While this one seems simple and straightforward, many of us forget to add sun protection to our bodies daily, outside of outdoor activities. It should become a practice to extend the sun protection we use on our face down our neck, onto our chest, and even across the hands for good measure.

#2. Incorporate Anti-Aging Products

While the skin of our delicate chest and neck ages like our face, the type of skin in these areas is a bit different; it’s actually thinner and more prone to aging faster. It’s essential to add antioxidant-rich products regularly and even a weekly retinol treatment that can help address and improve the youthfulness and health in these areas.

A cream or balm like a Retinol Restorative Neck Cream is chock full of skin-supporting ceramides and niacinamide that can deliver anti-aging retinoids to tighten, brighten, and smooth this sultry area. As retinoids can be a bit strong, incorporate this evening cream slowly – starting at just weekly – and be sure to rinse clean and apply SPF during the day.

#3. Choose Fabrics and Accessories Wisely

The skin of the chest and neck is often roughed up by our clothing and accessories, which is why lightweight fabrics like cotton and soft fabrics like satin can be more forgiving on the skin. This also goes for wearing hypoallergenic jewelry and disinfecting accessories regularly to keep the chest and neck smooth, clean., and blemish-free

#4. Live A Healthy Lifestyle

We may sound like a broken record at this point, but we can’t skincare-repair our way out of a poor lifestyle. Uplifting physical activity that keeps the muscles tight and strong in this area along with sweating out toxins can also aid in supple skin.

And, remember, just because you might be occupied taking in all that ‘water’ and the whirlwind of a more youthful chest and neck, be sure you actually take in water. Drink adequate H2O for great skin hydration and, of course, wearing sun protection, can take the chest and neck areas from ‘just another area’ to one of the best spots to show off!

Your smooth, skin-sailing bliss is only as good as the helmsman and how you steer it!

Which Ingredients Are Most Beneficial for Chest Skin?

First, be sure you take your sunscreen all the way down to your chest area. Vitamin C will help with pigmentation, while products with ceramides will repair the skin’s natural barrier and lock in hydration. Hyaluronic acid and nourishing ingredients, such as shea butter, marula oil, and mango seed oil support the skin’s lipid barrier, while vitamin A-based derivatives may help reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen production.

How Can You Protect the Chest Area from Sun Damage?

Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to your face, neck, and chest every day – no matter the season, rain, clouds, and shine! And don’t make the mistake of applying sunscreen to your face and then just bringing whatever is left over down to your neck and chest. Be sure it’s generously covered and don’t forget to reapply after swimming, sweating or rigorous physical activities.

How Often Should You Exfoliate the Skin on Your Chest?

For most people, body exfoliation 2–3 times each week is enough to keep your skin in top condition. To exfoliate properly, make sure the water in your shower is warm—this will help open your pores. Then, gently scrub your exfoliating body scrub in circles over your skin. This amount may be lower if you have sensitive or reactive skin, or higher for oily and acne-skin types.

What Role Do Lifestyle Choices Play in Chest Skin Health?

The quality and health of your skin are affected by much more than genetics and age. Your lifestyle choices can affect the physical health and appearance of your skin, and that includes the delicate chest and neck areas. Refrain from unhealthy diets, excessive alcohol consumption and sugary products and drinks, smoking, and definitely excessive sun exposure. Exercise, and enjoy the high skin ‘seas’!

Can Dietary Changes Impact the Appearance of Chest Skin?

Your diet contributes to every aspect of your health, and that includes your skin health. When you consume food that is high in sugar, the glycemic index in the foods cause inflammation, which can worsen skin concerns and dry out the skin. On the contrary, healthy foods that contain antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, like dark, leafy greens, veggies, and low-sugar fruits, are known to increase collagen production, and may, therefore, better your skin quality.