Sagging skin, we don’t like you. We don’t want you, and we want to prevent you.
The love and affection you give to your dry skin (hint: use glycolic acid) and the occasional acne flare-up (pro tip: incorporate salicylic acid) should also be extended to your neck area when going through your skincare routine.
If there’s anything we learned from using the lotions and potions in our personal regimen is this: you always want to apply moisturizer in an upwards motion, and you always want to moisturize, nourish and treat your neck to help prevent anti-aging. It’ll take less than a minute, and you’ll thank us later. (Related: Best skincare brands we reviewed).
“By using a neck cream, you’re introducing beneficial ingredients directly to the neck skin, which has the potential to help firm loose skin and wrinkles,” Nava Greenfield, MD, board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Hospital specializing in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology, told the New York Post.
How to specifically apply? Dr. Greenfield recommends using the second and third finger to rub your neck cream of choice in a circular motion, gently massaging the cream into the skin. You’ll want to use a neck cream before your go-to moisturizer, too.
Ahead, find the best neck creams of 2023 our dermatologist expert rounded up. Even better, we provide testing notes for the specific formulations we reviewed for firsthand intel.
1. Mario Badescu Vitamin A-D-E Neck Cream
Our review: The Mario Badescu Vitamin A-D-E Neck Cream has an elegant, lightweight finish that’s easily absorbable when applied to the neck area. Not only does it have that “salon smell” (that amps up your self-care evening to the max) but it also contains a nourishing vitamins blend to help soothe the delicate skin area. For just $20, it’s worth the spot on your shelf.
“This product has multiple skin nutrients incorporated into the formulation including vitamins A, D and E which all could help lighten and brighten the skin as well as hydrate,” Greenfield highlights. “This is good for sun-damaged skin.”
2. Nécessaire The Neck Serum
Our review: The Nécessaire The Neck Serum, which is perhaps a bit pricier than other options on this list, is for you if you love something that feels like a second, lightweight layer of skin coating your neck area (similar to the brand’s Body Serum). Impressively, it’s fragrance-free — a dream for sensitive skin — contains five different peptides and niacinamide, the latter an effective ingredient for helping to support the skin’s barrier. If you’re willing to splurge, it’s worth the investment, especially if anti-aging is a front-and-center priority.
“This is a peptide-packed serum, which is great for thin and aged skin on the neck, and claims to trigger the skin to create more collagen,” Greenfield explains.
3. StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream PLUS for Firming & Brightening
StriVectin is one of those skincare brands that focuses on mature skin in the best way possible, and its TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream PLUS for Firming & Brightening is no exception. Namely, its proprietary Botanical Brightening Complex is said to help even the skin tone and even double as a dark spot corrector.
Aside from its brightening focus, it also helps target skin elasticity-related concerns, which makes it great for any age — either for prevention or treatment when used consistently.
4. goPure Actives Tighten & Lift Neck Cream
As far as neck cream goes, don’t sleep on Amazon. The goPure Actives Tighten & Lift Neck Cream contains the active ingredient hyaluronic acid to help plump and give your skin that “bouncy effect.” With a fresh, subtle almond scent. If you want to give your skin some extra love — especially in the elasticity department — this formulation is fairly priced and worth the buy.
“This product uses a proactive repair firming complex which claims to tighten skin on the neck and chest,” Greenfield says.
For more options, check out our guide to the best Amazon beauty products.
5. Neostrata Triple Firming Anti-Aging Neck Cream
“This product has been around for a long time and is a well-known neck cream,” Greenfield notes. “It uses hydrating ingredients to [help] improve the appearance of wrinkles and discoloration on the neck and chest.”
Additionally, this formula is enriched with pro-amino acids and a proprietary Neocitriate complex that’s said to help stimulate collagen production and, in turn, pave the way for healthier-looking skin over time. Though a splurge, its oil-free formula is simple to blend into the neck area with just a swipe or two.
6. ALASTIN Skincare Restorative Neck Complex
“This contains l-ornithine, hexapeptide 38, and triHex technology, which are specific to this brand,” Greenfield overviews. “The brand has some data that shows improvement of the appearance of low volume and supports collagen and elastin production.”
This is the real investment if you’re looking to not only help tighten and firm like the intent of well-formulated neck creams but also to help combat signs of discoloration and redness. Its ergonomic pump also allows for simple application before your moisturizer of choice.
7. RoC MULTI CORRECTION Even Tone + Lift Chest, Neck & Face Cream
“This is a well-priced option for a product that provides hydration and can improve the appearance of dehydrated skin,” Greenfield shares. Overall, the RoC MULTI CORRECTION Even Tone + Lift Chest, Neck & Face Cream checks off multiple boxes, an impressive feat for its less-than-$35 price point: it contains vitamin C to help brighten the skin, is non-greasy, is noncomedogenic (aka, it’s designed to not clog your pores), helps to hydrate dry skin and — of course — helps to firm up the neck area.
With nearly 5,000 exceptional reviews on Amazon alone, it’s one of those products that covers plenty of bases when used over time.
8. IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Neck Cream
It’s safe to say IT Cosmetics has a whole lot of confidence in its neck cream. On par with other formulations from the brand’s line — its Confidence in a Cream ($23) and Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep Night Cream ($64), as examples — you’ll come to love its whipped texture and made-for-all-skin-types intentionality. Because it’s richer than most, it’ll come in handy most for more parched skin.
“This product uses fucoidan seaweed extract, shea butter and a Tri-Structural Complex, and has some data to show that it can improve the appearance and firmness of the neck and chest,” Greenfield says. “This product is suited for very dry skin, especially.”
9. Gold Bond Age Renew Neck & Chest Firming Cream
Hello, budget-friendly neck cream. Shop the Gold Bond Age Renew Neck & Chest Firming Cream if you want to (1) save money or (2) are a beginner neck cream-user who simply wants to give it a go. Or, both.
” This cream demonstrates — clinically — the ability to improve firmness and texture by using a combination of effective moisturizers,” Greenfield explains, recommending the product.
Though marketed as being effective for normal to dry skin, it’s also fitting for those with more acne-prone skin because of its inclusion of salicylic acid.
10. Estée Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect Night Tri-Peptide Face and Neck Moisturizer
” This cream uses tocopherol acetate, an antioxidant, but also functions as a long-lasting intense moisturizer,” Greenfield explains, approving the Estée Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect Night Tri-Peptide Face and Neck Moisturizer as a worthy splurge.
More, it contains titanium dioxide in its ingredient list — a key ingredient for all well-formulated mineral sunscreens. And, on a scientific level, because titanium dioxide is insoluble in water and extremely gentle on the skin, it’s a great option for sensitive skin — helping to reduce the appearance of pores and firm the skin simultaneously. Win-win.
11. Clarins Extra-Firming + Smoothing Neck & Décolleté Moisturizer
“This is a pricier product that targets the appearance of neck lines and age spots for any skin type,” Greenfield notes.
However, while you may think, “why would I spend so much on neck cream that seems to be like others on this list?,” its plant-firming formula contains both shea butter and sunflower oil to help give you that lusciously lightweight feel — similar to its Super Restorative Anti-Anting Day Moisturizer ($132) that we’ve been loving.
Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.