While many of us are perfectly proficient at spending any amount of time (and money) on the latest treatments, products and gadgets for the skin on our faces, when was the last time you spared a thought for that oft-neglected area just south of the chin?
Phenomena like ‘tech neck’, for example, have prompted many to hone in on ways to prevent wrinkles supposedly formed by excess smartphone use (a sadly appropriate dilemma for our times), and damage from increased exposure to blue light from screens.
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Phone addiction aside, the skin on our necks and around the jawline is prone to showing ageing earlier due to the thinner, more delicate skin in that area and, well, gravity.
Treatments to encourage a ‘snatched’ (taut) jawline in particular are on the rise, and an innovative new product from French skincare brand Sothys promises to focus on this very goal.
The Perfect Shape Neck Stretch Mask is like a sheet mask for your neck and jaw. Presented as a stretchy fabric in an individual sachet, it’s soaked in active ingredients like hibiscus stem cell extract, algae extract and almond seed extract, which aim to brighten, moisturise, lift and rejuvenate.
The shape was custom developed to fit the lower half of the face, so one applies it to the very bottom of the chin and jaw, pulling up either side and hooking the mask around the ears to enhance the stretch and pulling-up effect.
Having never tried anything like this before, I was certainly intrigued and excited to give it a go. I have to confess I’m not the biggest fan of sheet masks, finding them claustrophobic around my nose and mouth, however I had no such trouble with this one as it hooks comfortably onto the ears and around the jaw, leaving the rest of the face free.
Leaving it on for 15 minutes, I also used the gua sha tool I have at home to work the mask and its extracts even more into my jaw and neck — a technique I’d highly recommend, seeing as it doubles as a tension-reducing massage and helps absorb the products into the skin.
After removing the mask and any product residue further into my skin (this is a no-rinse product), I have to say the skin around my jaw and upper neck felt incredibly soft, and remained that way for the day.
While at the tender age of 28 I’m not yet in need of anti-aging products around my jowls, I whole-heartedly believe prevention is the best cure and so would definitely enjoy adding the Perfect Shape Neck Stretch Mask into my pampering routine.
