Your face routine is solid. What about your neck and the backs of your hands?
The neck and the backs of the hands get a lot of sun and very little attention, which is why they often look older than the face. The good news: you do not need separate products to start.
Easy extension
- Take your face moisturiser down to the neck in upward strokes
- Sunscreen on the neck, ears and backs of hands
- Hand cream after washing, sunscreen hand cream in the day
- If you use retinoids, start on the neck less often than on the face
Which area is most often missed with sunscreen?
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What do you usually skip?
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The easiest fix is to extend the routine you already have: take your moisturizer and sunscreen past the jawline, over the front and sides of the neck, and across the backs of your hands. For the neck, remember the often-missed sides and the area below the hairline; for hands, include fingers and around the nails.
Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher in the morning, and reapply when you’re outdoors for a while—especially after washing your hands. A sunscreen you’ll actually keep by the door or in a bag beats a special “neck cream” you forget to use. At night, your usual moisturizer is a simple start; if you already use a retinoid on your face, don’t automatically extend it to the neck, which can be more easily irritated. Start cautiously and stop if it causes persistent irritation.
I’d vote hands as the easiest area to forget. What’s your most reliable reminder: keeping sunscreen by the sink, or carrying a small tube?