One of the first areas women notice crepiness is the chest, or decollete (a much classier word!). Why? Because that area is so visible and generally very exposed to aging elements, like the sun and its UV rays. Menopause, a normal part of aging in women, is caused by a drop in estrogen. This female hormone supports collagen and elastin production as well as protects against photoaging. Without it, sun-exposed areas suffer the most…the female decollete is an easy target for sun damage.
The decollete suffers more than the face actually, because there are fewer pores and oil glands that help maintain the youthfulness of skin.
The big question is, once crepiness starts to happen, what can you do? Well happily science has some answers. Skincare has evolved, here is a step-by-step way to return hydration to the skin and support collagen and elastin production as well as simply improve the health and beauty of your decollete.
- Cleanse: remove dirt, oil, and excess dead cells with gentle exfoliation.
- Lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and others
- Mist: to add light hydration to the skin, helps to dampen the skin. Damp skin may help with the penetration of some skincare ingredients.
- Hyaluronic acid, spring water, and others
- Hydrate: apply products with “humectants”. Humectants are a type of moisturizer the actually attracts water to the skin and helps it to absorb it.
- Glycerin, niacinamide, glycerin, butylene glycol, Sodium PCA, sorbital and others
- Active ingredients:
- Antioxidants: help prevent damage done by UV light and pollutants (as well as stress). Vit C (ascorbate), Vit E (tocopherol) and others
- Skin brighteners: help even out pigment without harming natural color. Botanicals, retinols, kojic acid, tranexamic acid, niacinamide.
- Collagen and Elastin support: botanicals (such as apple, dill and sage extracts), peptides
- Moisturize: Some moisturizers are called emollients. They help to seal in all the good ingredients and hydration that you have applied.
- Olive fruit oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, squalane, dimethicone, grapeseed oil, and others
- Sunscreen: nothing supports your healthy skin more than sunscreen.
This seems like a lot of work but keep in mind that some products combine ingredients in different categories allowing you to benefit from a complete regimen with just a few products to apply.
Improve The Appearance Of Your Chest With The Body Firm
Revitalize the effects of aging on your skin with The Body Firm’s line of treatments. Our Skin Revitalizing Tool utilizes heat and vibration to open pores and enhance nutrient absorption. Try our 2-Step Body Kit to help support skin's natural elastin production and improve its moisture barrier with Body Repair Treatment. For daily maintenance, use our Body Refining Exfoliant for overall more radiant looking skin.
Dr. Susan Van Dyke MD is a highly respected board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in cosmetic and medical dermatology. She is dedicated to providing personalized care and innovative solutions to help her patients achieve optimal skin health and beauty.