According to Beverly Hills dermatologist Harold Lancer, it’s common for women who never fail to apply sunscreen to their face to skip over their chest area, resulting in skin that becomes sun spotted, crepey, saggy and wrinkly. (He’s even come up with his own snail venom–infused firming product to treat this area.) “If I see 50 people, ten of them have something to do with the neck and/or décolleté,” says Dr. Lancer.
Needless to say, that news is enough to make us want to wear turtlenecks forever. Fortunately, the best defense is staying out of the sun and using sun protection, as well as moisturizing and treating the décolleté area just as you would your face. And application is key, according to Dr. Lancer: He says you need to cover the front, back and sides of your neck all the way to the shoulder line, plus any part of the chest that is exposed (including, yes, any visible upper boob). We’ve picked some of the best sunscreens to use in this area, keeping in mind that since the neck and chest come into contact with clothing and jewelry, anything too messy is a nonstarter. Now go forth and bare that (protected) skin.
