We pay love, care and attention to our complexions with an army of rich, nourishing face creams – but so often that ends at the jawline.
At a recent dinner of beauty journalists, a dermatologist asked the group how many of us wash our necks when we cleanse at the beginning and end of the day. The minimal hands raised was illuminating. The problem is, our necks are exposed to the same external aggressors as our face, but generally with no SPF applied and skin-stressing dirt and grime not effectively removed. This, alongside the thinness of the skin, makes the area prone to developing wrinkles and sagging.
’s pick of the best firming neck creams at a glance:
Dr Rachna Murthy, co-founder of FaceRestoration, explains, “Neck skin is uniquely delicate – thinner than the face, with fewer oil glands – which is why it often shows signs of ageing first (or just after the eye area, which has no oil glands in the skin)”. Then there are concerns like ‘tech neck’ to contend with, which the expert describes as “fine horizontal lines that form from constant screen use”.
The proof that this is a growing concern can be seen in the ever-increasing quantity of aesthetic treatments designed specifically for the neck. Much like the face, you can have all manner of injectables – from Profhilo to polynucleotides – applied as well as radiofrequency or laser. But as a preventative measure, or as a less drastic solution, a neck firming cream is a simple, easy and cost-friendly way to care for your décolletage with effective results. Skin improvement and rejuvenation should not start and end with solely the face.
We reached out to four experts to find out whether it is worth investing in a neck firming cream, whether you need a separate cream from the one used on your face and what to look for when purchasing.
The Black Friday beauty deals have already begun, far ahead of the official 27 November sales event. There are deals across skincare aplenty, including neck creams. Find ’s top discounted formulas below.
Prevage Anti-Aging Neck and Décolleté Firm & Repair Cream
- Why it’s -approved: The accolades keep coming for the Prevage Firm & Repair Cream that has been a long-standing favourite in the space for nearly two decades. It has been clinically proven to smooth the skin and leave the neck area feeling restored and healthy. The texture absorbs quickly into the skin, softening crepeiness and crease lines, while combatting sagging.
- Idebenone, Thiotaine and Vitamin E Derivative
- Who it’s for: It's made for those looking to restore sagging
- Targets fine lines and pigmentation
- Highly moisturising
- Fast absorption
- Small pool during clinical testing (54 women over eight weeks)
Peptight Tightening Neck Serum Roller
- Why it’s -approved: With a cooling tip, StriVectin's serum rolls over the neck area to smooth as it imparts its potent lifting peptide-infused formula. It was created specifically to target tech neck with the motion designed to enhance absorption. Used regularly, you should notice a firming of the telltale horizontal lines that develop from looking down at our phones.
- Honey Locust Seed Extract, Lifting Dipeptides, Arctic Marine Ferment
- Who it’s for: It's for those looking to firm, smooth and soften
- Convenient applicator with a cooling sensation
- Targeted at tech neck
- Cleaning the applicator
- Why it’s -approved: “In recent years, I’ve noticed deeper horizontal lines forming across my neck, and combined with the pigmentation left behind by hormonal acne, I often feel quite self-conscious. Trinny’s fast-absorbing formula is a concentrated serum-moisturiser hybrid, which pampers and firms skin without clogging pores. After four weeks, my lines haven’t disappeared completely but they are a lot less deep, and I’ve seen great improvements to the dark spots and blemishes that usually crop up on my jawline and chest. It’s an investment, but it is worth the spend if you tend to neglect your neck.”
- Alpha arbutin, Isodonis Japonicus plant
- Who it’s for: Combatting tech neck and sagging jowls
- Addresses fine lines, skin texture, dryness and pigmentation
- Saw results in four weeks
- Refillable available
- Some may not appreciate richer texture
- Might not be suitable for sensitive skin
- Why it’s -approved: For skin that has experienced a loss of firmness and elasticity – be it on the face or neck – the high-performance formula of Medik8’s Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream is designed to tackle it by encouraging collagen production. This is done through the power of peptides and the brand’s own trademarked Growth Factor Mini Protein. They are designed to restore the skin and encourage firmness. In an independent clinical trial, elasticity was increased in just a week and hydration improved by 35 per cent.
- Growth Factor MiniProtein, NAD+ Longevity Booster, Anti-A.G.E. Peptide
- Who it’s for: For those with deep wrinkles
’s Ellie Davis testing Medik8 Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream
PDRN Collagen Gua Sha Neck Wrinkle Cream
Why it’s -approved: While a skincare product first and foremost, the PDRN Collagen Gua Sha Neck Wrinkle Cream from Medicube features a gua sha applicator to encourage lymphatic drainage and enhance absorption as you glide it along your neck and décolletage. To use, twist the end to “open”, squeeze the tube to coat the ends and swipe across the areas of concern in an upward motion to optimise lymphatic drainage. It is complete with a cooling tip for depuffing and firming.
This is all the more effective with the cream itself. Powering this fine light-fighting formula is a trio of the most talked-about skincare ingredients of the moment. First and foremost is PDRN. Sourced from salmon DNA (but not to be confused with the injectable polynucleotides), PDRN boosts hydration, encourages cellular repair and calms inflammation. This is supercharged through the addition of collagen, which, when applied topically, also serves to hydrate, plump and encourage a healthy glow.
To round off the powerhouse combination, there is volufiline, an ingredient that is just beginning to get the buzz it deserves. Designed to be used as a targeted treatment, it is included in the brand’s PDRN Pink Collagen Volume Multi Balm as well as a viral serum from The Ordinary. And in the Neck Wrinkle Cream, it works alongside the aforementioned components to plump fine lines, combat crepiness, and rehydrate areas of lost volume and hollowing.
The results are immediate when it comes to the glow, hydration and contouring when calling on the gua sha functionality. As for the fine line plumping, this has been more preventative for me, as I am yet to see deep-set lines on my neck, so it is hard to speak to these benefits. But I cannot deny the enjoyment of the gua sha. There is just something about the repetitive action that is calming and stress-relieving.
Tripeptide R Neck Repair Cream
- Why it’s -approved: Packed with pure retinol, this anti-ageing cream has been clinically proven to restore firmness and elasticity to the skin of the neck over time. It works best as a preventative measure when you first start to notice fine lines appearing, but you can also apply to existing ones, where the science-backed tri-functional technology enhances the absorption of the formula. Even so, the cream is lightweight and so well-suited for the delicate neck area.
- Pure retinol, tripeptide concentrate, glaucine complex
- Who it’s for: It is ideal for ageing skin, and has been proven to combat dryness.
- Contains retinol and peptides, two high-performance ingredients
- Lightweight texture
- May cause dryness or redness when introducing
- Must be followed with SPF the following morning
Peptight Tightening Neck Serum Roller
- Why it’s -approved: With a cooling tip, StriVectin's serum rolls over the neck area to smooth as it imparts its potent lifting peptide-infused formula. It was created specifically to target tech neck with the motion designed to enhance absorption. Used regularly, you should notice a firming of the telltale horizontal lines that develop from looking down at our phones.
- Honey Locust Seed Extract, Lifting Dipeptides, Arctic Marine Ferment
- Who it’s for: It's for those looking to firm, smooth and soften
- Convenient applicator with a cooling sensation
- Targeted at tech neck
- Cleaning the applicator
- Why it’s -approved: There is no product in the Pro-Collagen collection that hasn't solidified its place in our skincare rotation – and the Neck Decollete Balm is no different. First and foremost, it has the same delicious aroma as the rest of the collection, as well as the star Mediterranean-derived ingredient, Padina Pavonica, that boosts hydration. There is also sea buckthorn oil which is rich in skin-loving vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fatty acids to support the skin barrier of the delicate neck area. But the lifting and firming comes from the tree fern extract that works to increase elasticity.
- Padina Pavonica, Tree Fern Extract, Sea Buckthorn Oil
- Who it’s for: It's ideal for those looking to combat crepiness
- Rich texture
- Supports skin barrier
- Fragrance may be controversial
Prevage Anti-Aging Neck and Décolleté Firm & Repair Cream
- Why it’s -approved: The accolades keep coming for the Prevage Firm & Repair Cream that has been a long-standing favourite in the space for nearly two decades. It has been clinically proven to smooth the skin and leave the neck area feeling restored and healthy. The texture absorbs quickly into the skin, softening crepeiness and crease lines, while combatting sagging.
- Idebenone, Thiotaine and Vitamin E Derivative
- Who it’s for: It's made for those looking to restore sagging
- Targets fine lines and pigmentation
- Highly moisturising
- Fast absorption
- Small pool during clinical testing (54 women over eight weeks)
- Why it’s -approved: Supporting the skin barrier and health of the neck area, Sisley has the luxury solution. The cream is brimming with nourishing ingredients like the beloved shea butter and vitamin E, as well as some more unusual, lesser-known elements that work in tandem to lift and firm as skin starts to need extra care. It has a rich texture and lovely fresh scent.
- Oat seed extract, Rhatany extract, Lady’s Mantle extract, Soy fibre extract, Red Algae extract and Caffeine
- Who it’s for: It's ideal for lifting and firming with buzzy ingredients
- Best for dry, mature skin
- Rich texture
- Luxe experience
- Botanical-based rather than retinol like many other neck creams on this list