Combat sagging jowls and boost collagen production with these at-home neck treatments
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“Don’t forget your neck” stresses every derm in every expert-led advice-based TikTok.
While we coat our complexions in all manner of lotions, potions, gadgets and illumination, we so often stop at the jawline, leaving the neck unprotected and exposed to potentially damaging external aggressors. This area is delicate and prone to faster ageing and a loss of elasticity from sun exposure. Sagging jowls are an increasingly common concern but the solution does not have to be surgery.
Consumer trends are shifting in the aesthetics space. According to Rare’s Consumer Tracker, the popularity of dermal fillers is down (dropping 31 per cent) and Botox by 16 per cent. Instead, non-invasive cosmetic treatments are coming up trumps and LED masks are a firm favourite.
Lauded for their skin tightening, collagen boosting properties, LED face masks are as popular in clinic as they are at home with brands like CurrentBody and Omnilux leading the pack and gaining the seal of approval of eternally youthful celebrities from Kim Kardashian to Lily Collins.
These buzzy pieces of beauty tech work by encouraging biochemical reactions in skin cells with different wavelengths. Red light stimulates collagen production, while blue fights acne-causing bacteria. Other benefits include wound healing, stress relief and reducing the appearance of pigmentation. All of which will be just as appealing for the neck as it is for the face. You only need the right design.
What are LED neck masks?
Dr Alexis Granite, Consultant Dermatologist and founder of Joonbyrd, explains: “Neck LEDs utilise the same technology as facial LEDs, targeting the delicate skin of the neck which given its consistent exposure to UV light, pollution and the elements, tends to show the same signs of ageing as the face, often starting around age 40”.
What do LED masks do to the neck?
She adds, “LED (light emitting diode) is comprised of a spectrum of different wavelengths of light that exert a variety of effects on the skin. Neck LED masks tend to utilise red and near-infrared light as these are the two with the most reported benefits for photo-aged skin”.
Do LED masks work on the neck? Can you reverse sagging at the neck?
Dr Granite believes so, but stresses that consistency and regular use is key. She says, “Using a neck LED regularly (minimum 5 days per week) can help to boost collagen and elastin production, improving the quality of neck skin and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles”.
Unsurprisingly, they are much less powerful than the ones you will find during professional treatments: “Neck LEDs can help but are not as powerful as in-clinic non-surgical treatments such as resurfacing lasers and skin boosters and the results definitely do not approach those of a surgical neck lift. However, as part of an overall skin treatment plan including a healthy lifestyle and targeted skincare, I do recommend neck LEDs to help combat and prevent the signs of skin ageing on the neck”.
Shop the best LED masks for the neck below
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The Light Salon Boost LED Bib
The Light Salon
Light therapy is this brand’s bread and butter and its bib design provides an all-encompassing solution for the neck and chest to bring the power of LED to your anti-ageing practices. The combination of red and near-infrared wavelengths soothe inflammation and redness, brightening the skin while combatting the signs of ageing. The treatment is just 10 minutes, is comfortable and it automatically switches off when it’s complete. What’s more, due to its entirely flat flexible design, you can apply it to other parts of the body - wherever you desire to combat uneven tone and texture.
The brand is also offering just the collar for £195.
Buy now£395, Cult Beauty
CurrentBody LED Neck & Décolletage Mask
CurrentBody
CurrentBody is one of the biggest names in the LED masking game with its original face design ubiquitously spotted on social media (as well as a guest feature adorning the face of Lily Collins’ character in Emily in Paris). Not content on letting your complexion be the only part able to maximise the many benefits of red and near-infrared light, the brand has created a design for the neck and decolletage with the trials to back it up. According to the brand, use consistently for a month and you should notice a decrease in the volume of wrinkles by 24 per cent. Crepey skin? Forget it as the 50 LEDs encourage firmness.
Buy now£269, CurrentBody
Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device
Dermalux
To get the most out of the Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device, you must lie down, relax and take some well-deserved me-time as unlike many of the other facial gadgets in this edit, it does not attach to your face, so multitasking is out of the question.
Nonetheless, it is one of the most potent LED gadgets on the market that uses three wavelengths; blue (415nm), red (633nm) and near-infrared (830nm), all of which have been clinically proven to reduce the look of ageing, soothe inflammation and minimise the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
There are 360 bulbs and a curved design for full facial exposure. It even reaches the neck too. In user tests, the brand has found that beyond the anti-ageing properties of stimulating collagen, it has found results in healing of wounds, busting blemishes and calming likes of rosacea.
The Dermalux has been clinically proven to clear mild to moderate spots by 76 per cent in a month of usage, increase skin elasticity by 36 per cent, improve skin texture and smoothness by up to 79 per cent and increase cell regeneration by up to 200 per cent.
Buy now£1999, CurrentBody
Dr Dennis Gross DRx Spectralite Bodyware Pro
Dr Dennis Gross
Not limited to any body part in specific, board-certified dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross created the DRx Spectralite Bodyware Pro to be versatile. One of the lesser known and appreciated benefits of LEDs is pain relief and it is just one of the treatments available using this device. Over 14 minutes, this function harnesses the power of red and blue light to ease tension at the muscles and joints. You still get the anti-ageing benefits too, but these come into play during the three-minute session that sees to breakouts, fine lines and wrinkles. The device is wireless and designed to adapt to the contours of the body - whether you place at the back, neck or shoulders.
Buy now£334.95, lookfantastic
FAQ 211 Anti-Ageing LED Neck & Décolleté Mask
FAQ
FAQ is an arm of the Foreo brand that has perhaps less name recognition and yet the same high performance as the Scandi label’s better-known collection. While it is less instantly recognisable (there are no bright pink or blue hues), the FAQ 211 Anti-Ageing LED Neck & Décolleté Mask is still a striking piece of kit with its see-through design that allows the 761 optimised points of light to shine through. There are a whopping eight wavelengths treating the often overlooked bit of skin to tackle concerns like sagging, age spots, acne and a loss of radiance. The mask itself is made from silicone, a flexible material that moulds to the area in which it is place - and you can place on the neck, back or wherever you’re looking for a boost.
Buy now£379, Foreo
Sensse Silhouette LED Neck Mask
Sensse
A quality product at the more budget end for this product type, Sensse has packed a lot of power into its device. The first thing you will notice is its flexible construction that makes it comfortable to wear, no matter where you apply. There are four wavelengths red, blue, near-infrared and purple that it flits between on the 171 LED lights spaced out across its surface. It takes about a month of usage to start noticing the benefits which include the improvement of fine lines, uneven skin, hormonal breakouts and combatting a loss in elasticity. The treatments are customisable and take just 10 minutes.
Buy now£99.99, Boots
Price Comparison
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Silk'n Neck LED Mask
Silk'n
While red and blue lights are typically favoured on LED face masks (working to improve fine lines and wrinkles and acne respectively), there are an additional two wavelengths on this LED mask from Silk’n, all without costing an arm and a leg. You can make the most of the yellow light, which has been selected for its ability to boost hydration to dry skin and soothe sensitivities as well as purple which has additional anti-ageing properties. Using the remote provided, you can switch between these modes manually or else go on automatic to sit back and relax while the mask takes you through a treatment.
Buy now£140, Amazon
Solawave Neck & Chest Rejuvenating Mask
Solawave
Wearing an LED mask - be it one designed just for the neck or the whole face - can often result in a double take from those around you for their horror movie-esque appearance. But not Solawave. This brand creates attractive gadgets that are as powerful as they are good-looking. Pink toned on the exterior, the inside of the Neck & Chest Rejuvenating Mask illuminates with red and near-infrared lights that are designed to minimise the look of fine lines and wrinkles and leave the area revived and bright in just 10 minutes.
Buy now£234.99, Healf