How to tone up that turkey neck
Pic: Getty
The delicate skin around the neck always takes a little more care and attention than other areas, and as age creeps up, wrinkles, sagging and crèpe-like skin can quickly give your age away.
However, there are ways and means by which you can minimise or even improve the appearance. Here are a few tips on how to tone up that turkey neck.
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Work it out
Just a few minutes of targeted exercises each day can really make a difference when it comes to toning up the neck and face, helping to minimise wrinkles. Facial yoga guru Danielle Collins recently advised Daily Mail readers to try 'the giraffe' exercise for a tauter neck. Start by gently stroking the skin on your neck with your fingertips, from top to bottom, as you slowly tilt your head backwards. Do this twice, then force your lower lip out as far as you can, then with your fingers resting on the collarbone, point your chin upwards, pulling down the corners of your mouth. Then hold for four, deep breaths.
Alternatively, try Rosemary Conley's Facial Flex Ultra (£46.99), a device specifically designed, and proven, to lift and tone the muscles in the face, chin and neck.
Be gentle
Exfoliation will help to stimulate cell rejuvenation on the neck, giving it a more youthful appearance, but it is important to find products that are gentle on the fragile skin.
Mary Cohr Lily Essences Mild Exfoliator (£21.79) is a really gentle scrub that doesn't contain the harsh granules other exfoliators do, instead dissolving the dead skin cells, so it's ideal for the neck and bust areas. And if you're a fan of homemade skincare, a simple scrub made by mixing finely ground porridge oats with yoghurt to make a paste, can be used twice a week.
Pick the right products
Because there are fewer oil glands in the neck and the skin is thinner, it can dry out easily, leading to wrinkles. Therefore if you want to avoid a turkey neck in the future, it's essential to lavish some care on this delicate area. Cleansing and toning, both morning and evening, will help to keep it in tip-top condition, and a moisturising cream massaged using an upwards motion will keep the skin hydrated and boost circulation.
Since the skin on the neck is naturally less oily, a rich cream is advisable, and there are many products specifically designed to target the area. Clarins Extra-Firming Neck Anti-Wrinkle Rejuvenating Cream (£44) will help to both soften and firm up the skin, while a cheaper alternative is nspa's Firming Neck and Bust Serum (£7), which contains caffeine to help boost circulation, and is a light, gel-like product that sinks in like a dream.
Surgical solutions
If the lotions, potions and exercises just aren't enough, there are solutions offered by cosmetic surgery clinics. Botox has long been used for freezing facial wrinkles, and now some clinics are offering the 'Nefertiti Lift' - some 40 injections into the neck and lower jaw - designed to firm up those turkey necks.
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More serious surgery is offered in the form of a neck and lower face lift, but since that will cost somewhere in the region of £7,000, you might be better served by the £350 Caci Microlift. The electrical pulses used by this handheld gadget help to stimulate the muscles, encouraging them to contract. Use it three times a week, for ten minutes each, and makers claim you will start seeing the difference after three weeks.
Have you found the perfect product or exercise for the delicate neck area? Leave your tips below...
