If you’re overlooking your neck, 1) you’re not alone, but 2) you shouldn’t be. The best neck creams help minimize and prevent sagging skin, crepiness, and dark spots, since the décolletage—the delicate area from the chin to the chest—is one of the first places on our bodies to develop signs of aging. As you enter your 30s, a dedicated neck cream can prove useful in reducing the effects of tech neck (as in, fine lines and double chin-like sagging caused by looking down at your smartphone, which we’ll dive into below) at bay. Whether you’re looking for temporary skin-tightening benefits or discoloration-reducing ingredients, we rounded up the creme de la creme of neck creams recommended by dermatologists (and our editors!), to firm, hydrate, and lift sagging skin.
Our Top Neck Creams
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream
Why it’s worth it: The SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream may be pricey, but its skin-plumping formula is worth every penny—after all, it won a 2023 Best of Beauty Award in the Splurge category for its ability to keep skin taut and smooth. This luxuriously rich cream treats your skin to a hefty dose of microalgae, rich in antioxidant vitamins A (also known as retinol), C, and E. This skin-firming cream also contains peptides and moisturizing mushroom extract for smooth, lifted skin—perfect for battling the beginning signs of tech neck. Noah Gratch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, says it’s one of his favorite neck creams to recommend to his clients for its slurry of skin-tightening ingredients. “This cream deeply hydrates, addresses hyperpigmentation, and tackles existing wrinkles while preventing new ones,” he says.
“Like every other young person in America, my screen time is horrifying. I’m on my phone for most of the day (for both work and pleasure) and because of that, I’ve developed the ‘ole tech neck. Tiny fine lines now etch across my once-smooth neck and sometimes, they are all I see in the mirror. So lately I’ve been reaching for SkinMedica’s Neck Correct Cream, a serum-like treatment made with firming peptides and hydrating squalene, twice a day to target said fine lines. It’s super lightweight and doesn’t interfere with any of my other skin-care products, nor does it irritate my sensitive skin (especially the thin-skinned neck area), so here’s to hoping it tackles those wrinkles while I work on finding a new hobby…away from my phone.” —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
- Key ingredients: peptides, shiitake mushroom extract, microalgae
- Who it’s for: those willing to make an investment
- Fragrance-Free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: iS Clinical NeckPerfect Complex
Why it’s worth it: The skin on your neck doesn’t always get the same love as your face, but it’s the first place that both dryness and signs of aging tend to appear. This formula takes an innovative approach by incorporating exfoliating acids to offset both. “iS Clinical NeckPerfect Complex has some key ingredients, like alpha hydroxy acids, that are going to give you a more even skin tone,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. It also includes hyaluronic acid to leave skin “hydrated and glowing,” she adds. With added antioxidants to fight visible signs of aging, this silky treatment helps lift, firm, and smooth the delicate skin below your jawline.
“After breastfeeding and pumping, my décolleté was looking dry and crepey—years of tugging (thanks, kids) definitely took a toll. NeckPerfect Complex glides on silky smooth and sinks in fast without any greasy residue. The skin on my chest actually feels hydrated now, and those tiny creases I used to see have basically disappeared.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, acacia senegal gum, mixed fruit acids, quinoa
- Who it’s for: people with dry skin who want to restore hydration, firmness, and elasticity
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Discoloration: Alastin Skincare Restorative Neck Complex
Why it’s worth it: Lifting the skin can be a tall order for many topical formulas, but Alastin Restorative Neck Complex deploys a unique, patented peptide blend called TriHex technology to replace damaged collagen and elastin with new, healthy fibers. This fast-absorbing formula also contains phytoene and phytofluene, two antioxidants that’ll brighten skin and even tone to address sun spots along your neck and décolleté. “The addition of phyto-antioxidants, along with the inclusion of niacinamide, allows this formula to improve hyperpigmentation,” says Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, Texas. This formula is quite lightweight and fluid, so it feels more akin to a serum—making it easier to spread one pump of the goodness down to your chest area. You’ll see the best results if you use it twice a day.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“Do I always have time to use neck cream? Not really—but I do whenever I remember, since I don’t always bring my skin-care products down to my décolleté (as the experts recommend). I love Alastin across the board, and appreciate that this stuff, which absorbs quickly and feels nourishing, delivers those same benefits below the face. So far, it’s done the trick to fade dark spots, and I’m hoping the investment pays off on wrinkles and lines down the road.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
- Key ingredients: peptides, phytoene, flaxseed extract
- Who it’s for: people with sagging or crepey skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Fine Lines: NeoStrata Triple Firming Neck Cream
Why it’s worth it: NeoStrata’s Triple Firming Neck Cream is a favorite of Mamina Turegano, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Orleans, who says that it frequently sells out at her practice. This rich, indulgent formula features a special ingredient called NeoGlucosamine, “an amino sugar (building block of hyaluronic acid) that helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” she explains. Furthermore, it’s enriched with amino acid chains (also known as peptides) to firm the skin while shea butter and antioxidant vitamin E condition.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I almost always bring my facial skin-care products down to my neck, but because the amount of product that actually makes it down there varies a lot, I like the added assurance of using a dedicated neck cream—similarly to how I like a standalone sunscreen, even if I’m using a skin tint or foundation that has SPF over it. Neostrata’s Triple Firming Neck Cream is oh-so buttery, my goodness, and infused with peptides, bakuchiol, and some ingredients I can’t even begin to explain (looking at you, NeoGlucosamine). My skin always looks dewy and hydrated after each application and I do think my horizontal neck lines (from constantly crouching over my laptop and looking down at my phone) have softened a bit. They may not be as prominent now but that’s not stopping me from playing the long-term prevention game.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: NeoGlucosamine, NeoCitrate (a patented ingredient of NeoStrata that claims to boost collagen production and plump the skin), amino acids
- Who it’s for: NeoGlucosamine, NeoCitrate (a patented ingredient of NeoStrata that claims to boost collagen production and plump the skin), amino acids
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best with Tretinoin: Musely The Neck Cream
Why it’s worth it: When prescription-strength skin care meets convenience, you get Musely The Neck Cream—a customized, dermatologist-prescribed formula designed specifically for the delicate neck and chest. The star ingredient is tretinoin, a powerful retinoid that “stimulates collagen and elastin production while thickening the skin over time,” says Dr. Chacon. While she notes that tretinoin can be a bit strong for thinner, more sensitive areas like the neck—“it can be especially irritating to thinner skin with less oil content”—it’s still a highly effective option for improving tone and texture, especially if you’re noticing signs of sun damage or aging.
- Key ingredients: tretinoin, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
- Who it’s for: people with age/sun spots or uneven texture
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Retinol: SkinCeuticals Tripeptide R Neck Repair
SkinCeuticals
Tripeptide R Neck Repair
Why it’s worth it: Living up to the SkinCeuticals hype is the Triple-R Neck Repair, a daily, fragrance-free retinol cream created solely for the delicate skin around your neck and chest to target a variety of signs of aging, including wrinkling and sagging. Since it’s infused with retinol—a beloved active known to boost cell turnover and promote collagen production—we recommend using this moisturizer as an intensive night cream.
Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama, uses Triple-R as part of his own skin-care routine, so if it’s good enough for someone who treats skin for a living, it’s certainly good enough for us (and you). “Once I turned 40, I realized that I could no longer ignore my neck,” says Dr. Hartman. “Luckily, SkinCeuticals formulated its Tripeptide-R Neck Repair to incorporate retinol in a formulation that doesn’t cause irritation or unnecessary dryness.”
- Key ingredients: retinol, peptides, glaucine
- Who it’s for: mature skin, normal-to-oily skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Redness: PCA Skin Perfecting Neck & Décolleté
PCA Skin
Perfecting Neck & Décolleté
Why it’s worth it: If your neck and chest are starting to show signs of sun damage—think redness, discoloration, or uneven tone—PCA Skin Perfecting Neck and Décolleté is worth a spot on your vanity. This lightweight, silky cream is formulated with retinol to boost cell turnover and fade blotchiness, plus brighteners like licorice root to even out tone. “It’s also a great option for those looking to firm and tone sagging skin in the neck area since peptides and calcium hydroxymethionine as key players for smoothing wrinkles and improving firmness,” says Dr. Chacon.
- Key ingredients: niacinamide, licorice root, peptides, shea butter
- Who it’s for: people with redness/discoloration
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Multitasker: Obagi ElastiDerm Neck and Décolleté Concentrate
Obagi
ElastiDerm Neck and Décolleté Concentrate
Why it’s worth it: Obagi’s Neck and Décolleté Concentrate is certainly a splurge but we think of it as a worthwhile investment for this delicate area of skin. This lightweight formula contains a max-strength blend of a retinoid called retinyl palmitate (a low-concentration derivative of retinol) along with two skin brighteners (niacinamide and alpha arbutin) to intensively address fine lines and discoloration. To offset any irritation from its main active ingredient, hydrating glycerin makes a strong appearance to soothe and replenish moisture.
Tester feedback from Kinonen
“Despite the fact that my skin-care routine used to be in the double digits a few years ago, these days, my regimen is a lot more, well, regimented. Recently, though, after staring at my neck and the tiny little fine lines now etched into it (I blame TikTok scrolling), I decided to add in something new: Obagi’s Neck and Décolleté Concentrate, a blued-hued, gel-like moisturizer that’s such a refreshing take on the traditional neck cream. It’s super light in texture, doesn’t pill, and is jam-packed with fine line-fighting retinoid and texture-smoothing niacin amide to really smooth out my newfound ‘tech neck.’ As someone with sensitive skin, Obagi’s formula doesn’t irritate or inflame—in fact, it blends and layers quite nicely—which makes it easy to use daily before moisturizer.” —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
- Key ingredients: retinyl palmitate, niacinamide, alpha-arbutin, glycerin
- Who it’s for: those looking to target fine lines, crepiness, and discoloration with one formula
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Sagging Skin: StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus
StriVectin
TL Advanced Tightening Neck Plus
Why it’s worth it: StriVectin’s TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus is loved by both beauty editors and derms alike because of the brand’s patented, high-performing ingredients. This cream features a niacinamide-powered technology called NIA-114 alongside a proprietary, bio-engineered peptide chain called Alpha-3 Peptide, which targets the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin along the neck, jawline, and décolleté in as little as four weeks. It also has shea butter and spilanthol, a botanically-derived fatty acid that plumps and moisturizes skin.
“The bad news: If you ever owned a cassette player, it’s probably time to start using a neck cream. The good news: StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream+ exists. The formula has a rich, creamy texture that absorbs into skin surprisingly quickly. I’ve been using it on and off for the past couple of years, and I do believe it’s kept my décolleté from looking less crepey than it would otherwise.” —Dianna Singh, features director
- Key ingredients: shea butter, hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide
- Who it’s for: those who want immediate and long-term benefits
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Age Spots: Revision Skincare Nectifirm
Revision Skincare
Nectifirm
Why it’s worth it: Revision Skincare Nectifirm checks all the boxes: it’s fast-absorbing, loaded with firming peptides, and delivers a solid hit of antioxidants to brighten and hydrate. “It provides a nice dose of antioxidants [including tone-brightening vitamin C and moisture-retaining vitamin E] for a brightening effect,” says Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist James Y. Wang, MD. Dr. Turegano also praises its “red algae to lift and firm” and “superior blend of peptides” to improve elasticity. For deeper wrinkles or more advanced concerns, there’s also a stronger version: Nectifirm Advanced.
- Key ingredients: peptides, vitamin C, vitamin E, red algae
- Who it’s for: most skin types (not sensitive)
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does neck skin age faster?
That’s unfortunately by design. “The neck area has thin, sensitive skin compared to other parts of the body,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, previously told Allure. Combine that with gravity and the constant craning over smartphones, and it’s an area uniquely at risk for fine lines and sagging. In other words, “tech neck” is very real.
What over-the-counter treatments and ingredients should I look out for?
Retinol is a common additive because it promotes collagen production and therefore addresses the appearance of wrinkles and improves skin texture. “This can help with skin sagging, wrinkles, and some crepiness,” says Dr. Wang. “Since the neck is a sensitive area, the retinol concentrations tend to be low and the results are subtle.”
Peptides are a newer area of exploration for neck creams as they’re frequently touted for their skin-firming benefits. Many neck creams also contain hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and squalane, to keep the skin smooth and plump.
When should I consult with a dermatologist?
If you’ve noticed any difference in skin laxity around your neck and chest area, Dr. Wang recommends consulting a dermatologist for an evaluation of any inflammation, lumps, and nodules. He adds that significantly loose skin, like the so-called turkey neck, may require in-office interventions, but neck creams can still be beneficial for replenishing hydration and subtly decreasing the look of lines on the neck skin.
Meet the experts
- Mamina Turegano, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Orleans
- Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama
- Noah Gratch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, Texas
- James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Metropolis Dermatology in Los Angeles
- Arash Akhavan, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City
- Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
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When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best neck creams, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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