Why Your Skincare Shouldn’t Stop at Your Jawline
When most of us think about skincare, the face takes center stage. We apply SPF, layer serums, even explore treatments like Botox or resurfacing. But just below the chin, the story changes. The neck, chest, forearms, and hands quietly collect sun and time, and they often betray us by unrealistically emphasizing the years more than the face ever does.
Think about your chest after summers in sundresses. Your forearms after afternoons in the garden. The backs of your hands on the steering wheel, exposed to sunlight through the glass. Some of us even remember the baby oil tanning days — carefree and glistening, never questioning (or at least underestimating) how much those choices would show up years later. Our skin carries all of it: the seasons, the memories, the hours we’ve soaked in the sun.
How Aging Skin Changes Beyond the Face
Even if you’ve been diligent with facial SPF, staying out of the tanning booth, and using moisturizers, the skin of the neck and décolleté is thinner and has fewer oil glands. That makes it more prone to dryness, visible lines, and discoloration. The forearms and hands, with their constant daily exposure, are often the first to show thinning, roughness, and sun spots.
And unlike your face — which you see mostly in a mirror — your hands and arms are visible to you all day long. When they feel parched, papery, or spotted, it can quietly impact how you feel about yourself.
Why Hydration + Nourishment Matter
Hydrating from within is essential — water, electrolytes… we know the basics. But topical care is just as important. As skin grows thinner with age and long-term sun and environmental exposure, it needs more cushion, more antioxidants, and consistent replenishment to stay comfortable and resilient.
Tips for Caring Beyond the Face
Even before you add in treatment creams, these simple steps can make a lasting difference:
SPF sweep: Extend your sunscreen down the neck, across the chest, and over the forearms and hands every day.
Hydrate inside + out: Drink water, yes — but also use moisturizers with humectants (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid) to pull in hydration, and emollients to seal it in. Whether you prefer a lightweight serum like our super popular Aloe & Hyaluronic Acid or a more nourishing lotion like our Blue Tansy Everyday Lotion, we’ve got you covered.
Gentle exfoliation: A mild scrub or exfoliating mask on the chest and arms once a week helps smooth texture and improves absorption of creams. Old Soul Enzymatic Exfoliator is an option.
Shade + cover: Scarves, light layers, and SPF clothing on long drives or sunny days offer quiet but effective protection. (We don’t have links for those but we can shop together!)
Consistency: Even a thin layer of care daily is more effective than once-in-a-while intensity. Renew Dew is a fun and refreshing mist great for a refresh. If nothing else, though, a quick splash of water helps too.
This is where Un-Sun comes in.
Meet Un-Sun
Repair • Nourish • Glow
I designed Un-Sun as a restorative cream for the long-term effects of sun exposure and aging — not for yesterday’s sunburn, but for the years of light that have shaped us. It’s a face-quality formula created to extend support the chest, arms, and hands as much as the cheeks.
What makes it effective:
Bakuchiol — a plant-based retinol alternative that smooths texture and supports tone without irritation.
Sea Buckthorn + Rosehip Oils — antioxidant-rich oils that soften the look of discoloration.
Gotu Kola + Licorice Extract — herbs that calm, repair, and help reduce the appearance of sun spots.
Niacinamide + Panthenol (B5) — strengthen the barrier and hydrate thinning skin.
Mango + Cupuaçu Butters, Squalane + Jojoba — provide cushion and long-lasting moisture.
Lightly scented with mandarin and sweet orange, it feels bright and uplifting as you apply it leaving only comfort behind.
When + How to Use It
The best times to replenish these areas are:
Right after the shower, when skin is still slightly damp and most receptive.
At night, when the body naturally shifts into repair mode.
Smooth a small amount over the chest, forearms, and hands, or massage into the décolleté before bed. If nothing else, make it a daily habit to hydrate those areas — your future self will thank you.
A Fresh Perspective on Care
Skincare as we age isn’t only about the face. It’s about the chest that’s felt the sun on summer days, the arms that carried us through work and play, the hands that have held people we love. These areas deserve the same thoughtful care — not hidden, not forgotten, but nourished and supported.
Aging beautifully is less about erasing and more about tending. Your skin tells your story — care for it, and it will carry you forward with strength and grace.
✨ Tell Me More is where I share the why behind the products. You can explore Un-Sun here.
