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Many people who want to stave off signs of aging start using face sunscreens, wrinkle creams, and anti-aging serums in their 20s and 30s, which is great. But as much as people do to prevent wrinkles on their forehead, they often ignore the skin underneath their chin, which tends to be thinner and age more rapidly than the skin on their face. Neglecting the delicate skin on your neck can lead to sagging over time, which is why you need to try one of the best neck firming creams.
"The skin on the neck has fewer oil glands as well as less collagen and elastin," says Cula Svidzinski, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Sadick Dermatology in New York City. "This makes the neck more susceptible to damage from free radicals and UV exposure. Neck firming creams help improve skin elasticity, repair damage, and minimize the appearance of fine lines."
The Best Neck Firming Creams
It's impossible to stop time, but you can treat the signs of aging with the help of the right neck firming cream. If you care about aging, hydration, and skin health, you should consider adding these hero formulas to your skincare routine.
What to consider
When purchasing a neck cream, its important to look at a few key factors, including which issues you're looking to tackle and then pairing your goals with the right ingredients to help you achieve them.
Key benefits
All the dermatologists we talked to for this story agreed that everyone should be using a neck cream. "Think of your neck as an extension of your face, so the same principles that help tighten the face are true for the neck," says dermatologist Dr. Margarita Lolis, who's based in Hackensack, NJ. "It should be incorporated into your skin care routine just as you would incorporate, for example, an under eye cream."
But some issues are easier to tackle by using a neck firming cream. "No one product will completely get rid of crepey, wrinkling skin," says Dr. Svidzinski. "But with consistent use they may help improve fine lines and wrinkles, though results will vary from person to person." Addressing severe sagging, on the other hand, may be too tall an order for a skincare product alone.
As for when you should start using a neck firming cream, the earlier the better. It's never too early (or too late) to start a good skin care routine! "It's important to start treatment your neck before you start to see signs of aging," says Dr. Prather. "This is a delicate area that can be difficult to rescue once crepiness and laxity sets in."
Ingredients
For some people, sagging and crepiness is an issue while others are more concerned about deep lines, which is why you need to focus on products for specific benefits and the right ingredients. According to Dr. Greenfield, the skin on the neck is thicker than the skin on the face and can handle creams that are more occlusive, hydrating, and feature more powerful active ingredients.
In general, look for antioxidants like vitamin C, green tea, or niacinamide. In addition to shielding your skin from the free radical damage that can cause wrinkles and sagging, antioxidants "can stimulate cellular regeneration and boost collagen and elastin to promote the growth of healthy new skin cells," says Dr. Svidzinski. Another ingredient to consider is retinol or retinol alternatives like bakuchiol, according to Dr. Lolis. Retinol is the gold-standard ingredient dermatologists recommend to treat multiple skin concerns, including sagging skin and wrinkles (just note that it may be too irritating for some skin types). Peptides are also key because they're short chains of amino acids that are crucial to skin's growth and repair. They also boost the production of collagen and elastin, leading to firmer and plumper skin, but without the irritation that can sometimes be associated with retinol.
Dry skin will appear more aged and show more fine lines and wrinkles. Make sure to keep your skin hydrated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, and allantoin to keep your neck skin hydrated and combat signs of aging.
How we selected
For the past few months, Women’s Health editors, including our editorial assistant Addison Aloian and beauty contributor Celia Shatzman, have been consulting dermatologists such as Dr. Margarita Lolis, Dr. Nava Greenfield, Dr. Cula Svidzinski, and Dr. Heidi Prather, for their top picks of the best firming neck creams. Then, several WH editors of varying ages and skin types put their recommendations to the test to find the best of the bunch.
Below, we've rounded up the best neck firming creams that could help lift sagging skin and soften fine lines and wrinkles.
Pros
- Softens crepey skin
- Non-irritating to sensitive skin
Cons
- The bottle is on the smaller size for the price
When asking our panel of expert dermatologists about their favorite neck firming creams, there was one clear winner: Revision Skincare's Nectifirm Advanced Neck Firming Cream. It's Dr. Lolis's favorite neck cream, who raves about the creamy consistency. "It's very hydrating and makes your skin feel so smooth," says Dr. Lolis.
Texture aside, this product has a unique combination of ingredients to tackle the visible signs of aging holistically. Dr. Heidi B. Prather, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, TX, cites the cream's specialized blend of eight peptides that can enhance skin texture and firmness as a standout. She also loves that it's full of antioxidants like green tea and notes that it feels smooth on application. Plus, Revision's product has hydrating squalane to moisturize.
Finally, Dr. Svidzinski also recommends this cream, particularly if you have sensitive skin. That's because it's mainly relies on peptides to brighten, smooth and firm the skin with minimal irritation. With this many qualified recommendations, it's no wonder why this neck cream made it to the top of our list.
"I've noticed the effects of tech neck starting to creep in, but this cream has everything needed to ward them off as long as possible," says beauty writer Celia Shatzman. "In addition to antioxidants like lingonberry extract, it's spiked with red microalgae extract to firm and lift, as well as eight peptides to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."
The formula is also safe for sensitive skin. "My neck is where I'm mostly likely to experience eczema flares—which are sometimes exacerbated by skincare products—but this didn't trigger any reaction at all," Shatzman says.
Main Ingredients | Eight-Peptide Blend, Green Tea, Squalane |
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Key Benefits | Boosts firmness and elasticity |
Size | 1.7 oz |
Pros
- Oil-free formula
- Leaves the skin looking dewy and plump
Cons
- Not fragrance-free
Neck creams tend to be more expensive than traditional moisturizers because the formulas contain pricey peptides that soften wrinkles and lift sagging skin. Though this affordable option doesn't include peptides, it still packs in plenty of science at an accessible price. It features a blend of nourishing vitamins and powerful antioxidants that are specifically formulated to target fine lines and wrinkles, including vitamins C, E, B3, and B5.
An impressive multitasker, the simple-yet-elegant night firming cream replenishes moisture overnight, visibly smoothes fine lines and wrinkles to reveal plump skin by morning. It also even skin tone, shrinks the appearance of pores, and visibly minimizes dark spots. The light and creamy consistency make it a winner, and it makes skin feel fresh and firm.
Main Ingredients | Vitamins B3, B5, E, C, and A, Green Tea, Glycerin |
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Key Benefits | Hydrates, replenishes, brightens, evens tone, minimizes the look of pores, visibly firms, and visibly smoothes |
Size | 1.7 oz |
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Pros
- Reduces redness and pigmentation
- Provides an instant plumping effect to minimize lines
Cons
- Pump may stick or take a bit to dispense product
Your neck is composed of relatively thin skin, which makes it more prone to dryness. As you age, the top layer of your skin weakens, leading to a loss of skin elasticity. This cream from Alastin targets skin elasticity at the cellular level for a firmer, more lifted look.
Formulated with a potent combination of antioxidants, squalene, and peptides, Dr. Svidzinski recommends this neck cream for loose, sagging skin. Dr. Lolis agrees, noting that "its patented technology not only works on building collagen but also builds elastin."
Expect a visible change in the appearance of crepey skin and wrinkles after four weeks of consistent use. "But you certainly don't have to wait long to see results," Shatzman says. "Dry skin can make lines look more pronounced, but this instantly plumps and smooths skin thanks to its hydrating effects. Designed to trigger collagen and elastin production, while the appearance of firmness is immediate, it provides real firming over time." It's even effective at diminishing deep wrinkles and giving sagging skin a much-needed lift.
The one downside, say our testers, is that the pump doesn't always dispense the right amount of product and can stick a little. And if your skin isn't overly dry, you may find this product to be too thick for your liking.
Main Ingredients | Peptides, Niacinamide |
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Key Benefits | Improves the appearance of crepey skin, fine lines and wrinkles |
Size | 1.7 oz. |
Pros
- Tightens skin with consistent use
- Non-greasy texture
Cons
- Dry skin may still need to apply additional moisturizer
Though the word "cream" is on the label, this one has a much lighter serum-like texture, making it a great fit for anyone who doesn't feel they need heavy-duty hydration below the chin.
Ingredient-wise, this dermatologist favorite features antioxidants like micro-algae, firming peptides and active botanicals like lemon balm and shiitake mushroom extracts to encourage dermal thickness and promote skin elasticity. Dr. Svidzinski is a fan of this cream because of the persuasive clinical studies, which show significant improvement after eight weeks with consistent use.
Consistency is key to seeing and maintaining your impressive results. "After using this for just a week, I noticed the fine lines on my neck appeared smoother and my skin's texture was improved," Shatzman says. "Since it's a serum, it's easy to layer a moisturizer over it for extra hydration."
Main Ingredients | Peptides |
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Key Benefits | Smoothens fine lines and wrinkles |
Size | 2 oz. |
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Pros
- Deeply hyrdating but not too thick and gloopy
- Safe for sensitive skin
Cons
- May not work on deep lines or severe crepiness
When your skin is dry, it magnifies wrinkles. Hydrating the skin around your neck is one of the best things you can do for a fuller and firmer appearance. The texture of this hydrating cream is thicker than a gel but without being heavy and sticky, like some creams tend to feel.
"I recommend Ren's's Bio Retinoid Youth Cream because the active ingredient, a plant derived retinoid alternative, has data that shows using it results in firmer and more hydrated skin which help the loose skin on the neck," says Dr. Nava Greenfield, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.
Those who seek out natural formulas will appreciate the list of clean ingredients, including Bidens pilosa, a plant-derived retinol alternative. There's also red microalgae to lift and smooth. The best part: All of these ingredients allow the product to achieve real results with minimal irritation, making this a perfect option for someone who may be more on the sensitive side.
Main Ingredients | Plant-Based Retinol Alternative |
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Key Benefits | Smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, with a visible lift effect |
Size | 1.7 oz. |
Best For Sagging Skin
StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus
Pros
- Tightens and strengthens skin around the neck
- Improves skin texture
Cons
- Consistency may feel too thick for some
Even the best neck cream can't turn back time, but this one comes pretty close. The advanced formula delivers noticeable improvements in skin elasticity and firmness while keeping the area hydrated all day long. With consistent use, we found that our neck felt firmer and looked more lifted.
According to Dr. Greenfield, certain ingredients can encourage a slower process of collagen loss in the skin and result in enhanced collagen production, which will also make the skin appear more round with fewer lines and wrinkles. "Strivectin uses hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, and a unique lifting complex as well as vitamin B3 for hydration and barrier support," she says.
While the price point may be higher than some other neck creams on the market, the results are worth the investment. "This product simply feels luxe," Shatzman says. "The buttery consistency has major payoff when it comes to lifting and firming."
Main Ingredients | Patented Alpha-3 Peptide™, spilanthol, bearberry & clary sage extracts |
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Key Benefits | Visibly tightens, lifts, and improves the look of wrinkles and discoloration |
Size | 3.4 oz. |
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Meet The Experts
Margarita Lolis, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Hackensack, NJ. Cula Svidzinski, MD, is a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist at Sadick Dermatology in New York City. Heidi B. Prather, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, TX. Nava Greenfield is a dermatologist practicing at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.
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Cristina Montemayor
Freelance Writer
Cristina Montemayor is a freelance writer and journalist living in Austin, Texas, covering beauty, grooming, style, and culture. Her work has appeared in Very Good Light, BRIDES, Elite Daily, among others.
Celia Shatzman
Celia Shatzman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has penned stories on topics ranging from beauty to fashion, travel, celebrities, health, entertainment, finance and more. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, she is a beauty and style contributor at Forbes and her work has appeared in New York, Cosmopolitan, WWD, ELLE, Conde Nast Traveler, Afar, Travel + Leisure, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Byrdie, Refinery29 and NYLON, among others.
Reviewed byBrian Underwood
Beauty Director
Brian Underwood is the beauty director at Women’s Health. He is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle for several national media outlets and previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily. His work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Life & Style Weekly, Good Housekeeping, and many more. He also serves as a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and lives in New York City with his daughter.