Neck creams: The truth about aging

It’s hard being a “revolutionista” and keeping on top of the latest anti-aging trends.

Sahar Aman August 02, 2011
This isn’t usually my forte – writing about terrorism I can handle, but aging? There was nothing in the writer’s journal about this. I suppose worrying about where Osama Bin Laden has been all this time has finally caught up with me - or at least in the form of the beginnings of fine lines on my forehead.

Since I’ve turned 27, I feel like I’ve aged over night. My body clock has definitely kicked in – even the most vicious of babies look like cute little bundles of joy and cotton wool. I’m slightly more concerned about the area under my eyes (puffiness is genetic in my family so I’m on that already) but no one told me I was supposed to be using a neck cream.

So I’m standing in a shop, with an eye cream that costs five times my non-existent daily salary (opinionated writers have always been at the bottom of the food chain), a grumpy fiancé in tow and the skin assistant is horrified, to say the least, that I am of this age and not using a neck cream. Oh the calamity! But, it’s hard being a “revolutionista” and keeping on top of the latest anti-aging trends – I try to think back to Che - did he have a saggy neck?

The skin assistant assures me this is not a gimmick, there’s an actual science behind it. According to the assistant, the skin under our eyes and on our neck and chest does not absorb moisturizer in the same way as the rest of our face and body does. Because of this, creams are especially formulated to work with this part of the body to help prevent the skin from sagging and double chins from appearing and encourage contouring.

Since then I have become mildly obsessed. Being new to all this - having just recently learned that the skin on the neck is the first sign of aging, I find I’m constantly looking at people’s necks, and not in a cute vampire girl sort of way. I’m actually scrutinising their throats and let’s just say I don’t want to end up looking like poultry with a turkey neck if I can avoid (and afford) it.

Neck cream does not come cheap – while you have the high-end brands on every product, even the most basic brands of neck cream will cost you. So I’ve done some research. To be honest, I don’t know my peptides from my Pepsi – I have always gone for cheap organic products that have something to do with roses. What I want to know is, do they actually work or are the just another anti-aging product to make us part with our money – as not only are they expensive but they are high maintenance? You really have to stick at using them regimentally to see results.

It would seem that neck creams are the real deal and something that women should look into if they want to retain youthful skin and age gracefully, which, let’s face it, everyone does. I have yet to buy mine but after a few days of looking into this, it looks like they are worth the money, time and effort. However with so many to choose from, it can be quite confusing.

I would suggest you stick to your favourite brands or, if your usual skin care range doesn’t do, look into tried and tested products. Look out for over-priced creams that have been formulated without peptides and antioxidants. Do look for creams enriched with vitamins and cell regenerating active ingredients. They are a luxurious product and like a lot of women (and men) I don’t think I’ll ever enlist methods like botox and collagen in my jihad against aging.

As it is inevitable that I’m going to be wrinkling up my face whilst I contemplate and write in a post 9/11 world, neck creams seem like an indispensable ally for a writer - something well worth spending the pennies on if only to delay the inevitable. Besides, I checked out Che’s neck - his was fabulous, and if I’m going to end up dead and on a T-shirt someday, I had better look good doing it!
WRITTEN BY:
Sahar Aman The author is the editor-in-chief of an online travel magazine, Days to Come. She tweets as @sahar_aman (twitter.com/sahar_aman). Follow her on Instagram: sahar_aman (www.instagram.com/sahar_aman/)
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (11)

arif khan | 12 years ago | Reply @saad salim: I think jehanzeb haque is ET's web editor or something.he should definitely look into this,he should look at today's comments on various articles like the phase 8 dha body dump article in the featured section,why has the moderator rejected sane and rational comments when a highly offensive misogynistic religious fanatic comment has been posted. if ET has outsourced comment moderation have they given it to a member of some religious extremist organisation? if i wanted rightwing tripe i would visit the nation's website. jhaque take action.
Jahanzaib Haque | 12 years ago If there is ever any issue with comments, please contact web@tribune.com.pk - or for quick and timely action, please alert the comment moderation team by leaving a comment alerting them to the issue. Best regards (Web Editor)
saad salim | 12 years ago | Reply why has ET's comments moderator gone all religious extremist in the last few weeks? the comments expressing vile rightwing religious homophobia,misogyny are being posted but any sane secular comment is being censored.the web desk of ET should issue a notification on their web site if they've outsourced comment moderation to someone who does it from home wich means that ET's web desk has no idea of which comments he/she is censoring. ET's managers should take notice .
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