Alright, here’s the secret: your neck and chest don’t need their own, special skin care products.

That’s right. We said it.

If you own a specialized neck or chest skin care product, that doesn’t mean you’ve been sold snake oil—products formulated for those areas still work. But, you don’t need to go out of your way to buy skin care for only your neck and chest…you can simply extend your application area!

When you’re practicing your daily skin care routine, you should take an extra few minutes to apply your facial products to your neck and chest areas. Yes, you’ll go through your products faster, but if they’re doing what you bought them to do, that just means you’re getting the results you want and staying on top of keeping your products fresh.

How to get a younger-looking neck and chest

Start with using your anti-aging skin care products every day. Most skin care provides cumulative (rather than immediate) results, and keeping on top of your routine every day is what will make the difference.

As you go through your daily skin care routine, bring application down around the jawline, over the front of the throat, and onto your chest—also known as your décolleté. You can do this with your cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, as well as treatment products that are pertinent to your neck and chest. The only products you may not want to extend onto your throat and chest are products you’re using to target specific areas, like patches of acne or rosacea.

Aside from using your facial products on your neck and chest, there are a few other lifestyle changes you can make to protect these areas from showing signs of aging.

First off, the neck and chest areas are prone to showing signs of sun damage and premature signs of aging since they’re so often exposed to the sun! Always, always apply your SPF to your neck and chest, even if you only expect to be exposed to the sun while walking to and from your car. Protecting your skin from sun damage is the #1 way to prevent visible signs of aging.

Secondly, consider a brightening skin care product. Many anti-aging formulas already contain brightening ingredients, but if you have more sun damage on your neck and chest, you may need to switch to a brightening formula for those areas before your face requires it.

Finally, protect your skin with layers of clothing or other physical protection when it seems appropriate. Obviously it’s not always fun or functional to keep your neck and chest covered, but specifically when the sun is a factor, protect your skin at all costs! If you don’t want to cover with clothing, find a shady spot, employ an umbrella or wide-brimmed hat, and put the health of your skin first. Remember that with health comes beauty!

Hopefully these tips show you how easy it can be to beautify and protect the skin on your neck and chest.