“You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you wouldn’t if it had a neck.”

-Nora Ephron, I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman

If that wry bit of humor isn’t a testament to the aging neck, we don’t know what is! It’s true, this area is notorious for being among the first to show maturing skin, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel bad about it. It’s as simple as finding out the causes and learning what you can do to slow the process.

The skin on your neck is different.

The skin on your face and chest are supported by bone, but the front of the neck has no support from bone structure. This means that gravity will play a role in the rate of sagging, and that it could show up faster than it would on the face.

Quick tip: Try out a neck cream! Neck creams are specially formulated to absorb into the delicate skin on the neck perfectly, ensuring it gets a big dose of anti-aging ingredients. You can find a full selection of the best neck creams available right here.

Your neck needs the same ingredients as your face to stay youthful.

You’re likely already applying products that contain antioxidants, retinol and peptides to your face, but are you extending them to your neck?

Quick tip: Move your entire routine down just a little so that you’re applying products to your face and your neck and decollete. This includes cleansers, toners, treatments and especially, sunscreen. It’ll make a big difference in the long-run!

Sun damage is a leading cause of signs of aging everywhere, including the neck.

Sure, our heads shield our necks from the sun to an extent, but it just isn’t enough in the end. Too often we forget to apply sunscreen to our necks, and this spells crepey skin, collagen breakdown and hyperpigmentation as we age.

Quick tip: We bet you saw this coming: apply sunscreen every day, rain or shine, and don’t forget to reapply. Trust us, this is the single best step you can take right this minute.

Your phone or iPad could be aging you from the neck up.

Tech neck is a very real thing, and it could be giving you wrinkles. Our necks are designed to support about 10 pounds. When we lower our chins to look down at our devices, we bend our necks forward, increasing the weight to up to 60 pounds. This can result in headaches, stiffness, tingling and deep lines.

Quick tip: Simply moving your device up to eye level so that neck movement is minimized will help with tech neck significantly.

Do you have a favorite neck cream? Let us know in the comments below!