You may have heard about the health risks linked to the overuse of smartphones, desktops and televisions including eye strain, insomnia, depression and anxiety and ‘tech neck’ (caused by physical strain on your neck and shoulder area). But did you know that your smartphone has been linked to premature ageing too?
Yes, smartphones make life easier, but using them all the time can leave you with crêpey skin on your jaw and neckline. Chin up! Here’s how to fight back and slow the signs of ageing caused by your smartphone…
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Prevent smartphone ‘tech neck’
Smile lines have taught us every action has a reaction, and that includes repeatedly creasing our necks as we spend more time looking at the screens of our phones and tablets. “Wrinkles and sagging of the jowls and neck used to begin in late middle-age,” says dermatologist Dr Christopher Rowland Payne, “but in the past 10 years, because of ‘tech neck’, it has become a problem for younger women.”
What’s the fix? When on your phone messaging or browsing, hold it at eye level – this will stop you from bending your neck downwards, which wrinkles skin and can also strain your neck. Use a Bluetooth headset for long chats, so you don’t cradle your phone and crease up. Sleeping on your back means less chance of your chin heading south, and the Nordik Beauty Luxury Satin Silk Pillowcases, R359 for a set of 2, have been proven to reduce the loss of skin and hair oils, leaving your skin looking more radiant the following day.
Take care of your décolletage
Sometimes, it’s your neck, not your face that can give away your age. The delicate skin on your neck and chest area is often exposed to the elements, and contains less hydrating oil glands than the skin on your face. Also, the fear of a greasy collar stops many people slathering on nourishing skincare to the décolletage area.
However, it’s important to take care of this area and treat it the same way as your face. Repair to the skin’s fibroblasts is key, because when these cells lose their shape, skin structure flags as well. Try a daily dose of Clarins Super Restorative Décolleté and Neck Concentrate, R1 315 for 50ml, which contains harungana extract to ‘anchor’ the fibroblasts back in place.
For a budget-friendly option, we love Sorbet Salon Body Bust & Neck Firming Cream, R145, which has Q10 to protect and plump the skin.
Try a little massage
Facial massages relieve tension, improves circulation, prevents puffiness and acts like a workout for slackening skin. Every evening, hold the knuckles of your first two fingers under your chin, then shuffle them up towards your ears and back down again. Repeat for a few minutes on each side. It feels quite satisfying and will strengthen the tiny muscles in your neck, lifting and firming skin with them.
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Try the ‘Swan Neck Stretch’
Face yoga expert, Danielle Collins designed this stress-relieving (and anti-ageing) stretch:
- Begin looking straight ahead, then slowly turn your head all the way to the right and lean it back to stretch the neck.
- Hold for six seconds, then slowly return head to the centre.
- Repeat three times on each side – you’ll feel less tense right away and stronger after a fortnight.
Indulge in a weekly skin treat
Gently exfoliate your neck with the vitamin E-infused Nivea Daily Essentials Exfoliating Rice Scrub, R62,99 for 75ml.
Then spread a firming mask like Skin Republic Neck + Décolletage Repair, R220 for 38ml, over your chest and neck for 20 minutes, and let its collagen do all the hard work.
Post mask, massage a little Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting Creme for Throat and Decolletage, R2 990 for 50ml, in circles. Yes, it’s very pricey, but a little goes a long way, and its patented ‘Life Re-Nenewing Molecules’ smooth, firm, and tighten skin on the neck. So, this is a good alternative treatment to skin tightening treatments.
Or try the Placecol Firming Neck and Bust Gel, R450 for 50ml – it helps boost your natural production of elastin to tighten skin.
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Disclaimer: The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice.
