Clinique CX Neck & Chest De-Aging Cream

Clinique has a winner with its CX Neck & Chest De-Aging Cream ($110). I was recently turned on to the value of neck creams. I had always used whatever moisturizer I was using on my face on my neck too. One neck product I really liked turned me to the idea of using a product targeted to the neck and chest. So, I jumped at the chance to try Clinique's CX Neck & Chest De-Aging Cream when Alexandra Tuluceanu at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria offered me some very generous samples (enough to last for months).

While I'm mentioning Alexandra Tuluceanu, I want you to know that she is a dynamite representative for Clinique. Knowledgeable, but not at all pushy, she can size up your skin-care needs in a heartbeat and recommend some great options for you. Because Clinique's price points are so good, it's pretty hard to resist - even the more expensive CX line. She is so professional.

Clinique says that within four weeks, you will notice measurable results from using this cream. I disagree. The change is much faster! The product works by rebuilding the natural collagen cushion, and it makes sense that a change in collagen would take that long. There's something about this cream that produces visible results in a week - and that's for someone who always uses a moisturizer and treatment product on her neck.

This densely hydrating and luxurious cream delivers a potent de-aging stimulus to the skin.

• Visibly firms and tightens
• Horizontal lines on the neck and vertical lines on the chest are less visible
• Skin looks smoother and brighter

The cream was designed for all skin types, and my skin slurped it up. It absorbs quickly, leaving behind no residue to stain or harm one's clothing during the day, yet leaves the skin feeling moisturized and soft. Neck creams are supposed to be light so that they don't exert a downward pull on the delicate skin on the neck. This one is. It even has a very pleasant cooling effect. That's lovely for anyone suffering from hot flashes!

What's in it? A who's who of skin-care ingredients, including many natural ingredients make this cream a stunner. It has jojoba seed oil, beeswax, glycerin, green tea leaf extract, St. Paul's work extract, birch extract, wheat germ extract, and many more botanical and scientifically proven ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C). The list is long. It doesn't include retinol (yea!). As with all Clinique products, it was allergy-tested and is fragrance-free.

Clinique advises to apply CX Neck & Chest De-Aging Cream day and night, smoothing over neck and chest in an upward motion. I use circular movements, but I seldom follow those upward movement recommendations. If it glides onto my skin, as this cream does, I use a light hand, and I doubt my application is pulling on the skin of my neck. The company reminds us to make daily sunscreen a habit to help stall visible aging and UV-induced damage to aging skin.

Once you notice lines on your neck, you'll be motivated to use a hydrating and treatment product on your neck. If you start to see lines forming on the upper chest area, you'll be doubly motivated. The lines aren't necessarily there all the time, but frightening when you see them. Why not start to use a product to prevent them? That product must improve elasticity while it builds collagen in the cells of the skin. Use this cream and the horizontal lines on the neck and vertical lines on the chest appear to "fill in." Your skin will look smoother, brighter, and more even-toned. Maybe it will take a month. Maybe you'll see a difference more quickly, as I did (a friend too). I want to hug Alexandra. I will next time I see her.

You can purchase Clinique CX Neck & Chest De-Aging Cream at Clinique counters, including Neiman Marcus, everywhere.

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus