The five best anti-ageing products for your décolleté
- Beauty Pie Über Youth Neck & Chest Super Lift Serum-Spray - (£17.50 for members, £17.50 for non members, beautypie.com)
- Currentbody LED Neck & Décolletage Mask: Series 2 - (£359.99, currentbody.com)
- 111Skin Black Diamond Lifting & Firming Neck Mask - (£55 for 3, 111skin.com)
- Naturium Multi-Peptide Rich Cream - (£27, boots.com)
- Naydaya Chest Wrinkle Shield - (£27, naydaya.com)
Although I say this without a control test — or really any reliable way at all of measuring the following — it has recently come to my attention that my chest area seems to be ageing faster than my face. Or at least… faster than I think it should.
And of course, I can’t be sure what is to blame: Maybe it was the time that I somehow missed a patch with my trusty SPF50 and burnt a small, perfectly triangular section of skin between my breasts to a crisp while directing a beauty shoot in Tulum. Or perhaps it's the fact that I've grown and fed two babies (for many months), during which time my normally moderate chest - was far less moderate. Or maybe it’s simply that I am about to turn forty. Realistically, it’s probably a combination of all of the above and more…
Without getting into unnecessary detail — because there are better pictures to paint — the short version is that despite having largely played by the rules, slathering myself in sunscreen and staying in the shade (certainly in recent years), the texture of my skin simply isn't what it once was.
Moreover, on the nights that I side-sleep, I occasionally wake with those dreaded chest lines (the scourge of the fuller-chested - and now me), and there’s a smattering of pigmentation I’d rather not have. But here we are.
But, as with many things in life, looking backwards wasn’t going to fix anything, so a few months ago I began to pay a little more attention to this area to see if I could turn things around…
For those in a similar boat to me, or hoping to divert things before they head in this direction, it’s worth knowing that the skin on the neck and chest is thinner and more delicate than that of the face and the rest of the body. With fewer sebaceous glands and less collagen, it is - alas - more prone to dryness, sagging and fine lines. Add to this the fact that our necks, and chests are regularly exposed to the elements, ever moving, plus fluctuate in size as we move through life stages - and you have a recipe for vulnerability.
UV rays are the biggest culprit for damage, breaking down collagen and elastin (the skin's scaffolding) leading to the symptoms mentioned above. To make matters worse, the decline in oestrogen during and after the menopause can further accelerate skin’s thinning and dryness.
The good news is that a thoughtful skincare routine and — if you are open to it, in-clinic treatments can make a noticeable difference. (Those curious about professional options, might explore treatments such as microneedling, lasers, Profhilo or radiofrequency). You don’t necessarily need a completely separate routine for your chest either — sunscreen, retinoids, antioxidants and moisturisers shouldn't stop at your jawline.
At night, consider using a retinoid serum or cream to encourage cellular turnover, smooth the skin texture, and fade pigmentation. Peptide-rich formulas can help repair and strengthen the skin while boosting collagen synthesis, and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramide will soften crepiness and improve elasticity. That said, since the skin in this area is thinner and more sensitive, it’s wise to patch-test active products before applying them more widely.
Anyway, here are a few of the chest and body-specific products that I think have helped turn things around for me.
Beauty Pie Über Youth Neck & Chest Super Lift Serum-Spray
This Swiss-made powerhouse spray-serum works on sagging skin, those dreaded side-sleeping lines, and sun damage. It harnesses niacinamide to brighten, while peptides, kigeline and oligogeline work together to lift and firm. (£17.50 for members, £17.50 for non members, beautypie.com)
Currentbody LED Neck & Décolletage Mask: Series 2
This clever bib-style mask uses red, near infrared and deep near-infrared to improve skin texture, elasticity and tone. As with most at-home devices, results rely on consistency — so if you are a commitment-phobe it might be best to give this one a miss. (£359.99, currentbody.com)
111Skin Black Diamond Lifting & Firming Neck Mask
Beloved by beauty insiders, this hydrogel mask delivers an instant tightening effect for lacklustre chests, while a biomimetic peptide and niacinamide firm, sculpt, refine and brighten in the long term. (£55 for 3, 111skin.com)
Naturium Multi-Peptide Rich Cream
Naturium’s hardworking body washes have helped transform my dry limbs, so I was excited to try this super-rich body cream when it launched earlier this year. Packed with a multi-peptide blend and encapsulated ferulic acid, it helps to smooth, brighten and plump. (£27, boots.com)
Naydaya Chest Wrinkle Shield
Made from medical-grade silicon — a material by surgeons for years to support healing, these masks are designed to be worn overnight, and can be used up to 15 times. By creating a healing microclimate known as an occlusive seal, it locks in moisture, boosts hydration and visibly smooths lines and scars with its gentle compression. (£27, naydaya.com)
