These deeply hydrating formulas make a strong argument for a dedicated below-the-chin moisturizer. You’ve likely heard dermatologists advocating “don’t forget your neck,” but if you’ve still been overlooking the area, you may want to give neck creams a spot on your vanity. If you didn’t already realize, the décolletage—the delicate area from the chin to the chest—is especially vulnerable to signs of aging because its skin is inherently thinner than other parts of your body.
So, 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—moisture loss, sun spots, and any other concerns that develop with age. Key ingredients to look out for are similar to the ones in our face serums and moisturizers—hey, hyaluronic acid and peptides—but some actives, such as retinol, are formulated at lower concentrations to avoid irritating this fragile section.
Our Top Neck Creams
Best Overall: SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream, $135
Best with Retinol: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer, $30
Best for Sensitive Skin: Alastin Skincare Restorative Neck Complex, $158
Best for Tech Neck: NeoStrata Triple Firming Neck Cream, $98
Whether you’re looking for temporary skin-tightening benefits or discoloration-reducing formulas, we rounded up the crème de la crème of neck creams for all skin types—as recommended by dermatologists and editors.
Best Overall: SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream
Why it’s worth it: The Allure Best of Beauty-winning SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream is a top neck cream to recommend to clients, says Noah Gratch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. “It deeply hydrates, addresses hyperpigmentation, and tackles existing wrinkles while preventing new ones,” he says. How? The cream is chock-full of microalgae and antioxidant-rich vitamins A (also known as retinol), C, and E to prevent moisture loss (a common concern as we age) and encourage cell regeneration for improved laxity—with regular use, of course. To round it out, peptides and mushroom extract also boost firmness.
Texture-wise, Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama, says it’s so lightweight that it quickly absorbs into the skin (which our editors can also vouch for), so you never have to worry about stickiness. Consider our every tick box checked.
Best with Retinol: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer
Why it’s worth it: Retinol is likely the beloved do-it-all ingredient you’ve heard your derm (and us!) recommend time and time again—and it’s especially useful for the neck. Why, you ask? “[Retinol] can help stimulate cell turnover as well as collagen production,” Ron Robinson, a New York City-based cosmetic chemist, previously told Allure. The L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer uses retinyl palmitate, a derivative of the active, to help firm facial contours, smooth texture, and fill in the look of wrinkles with consistent use. Add in hyaluronic acid and glycerin to further plump skin, plus brightening niacinamide and vitamin C to improve your overall skin tone without compromising your barrier—and you’ve got it all. In other words, this rich cream packs a punch—minus the heavy residue, of course—at just under $20.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Alastin Skincare Restorative Neck Complex
Why it’s worth it: Because the skin on our neck is prone to the same vulnerabilities (sun damage, dryness, oh my!) as our faces, it, too, can be prone to sensitivity. Alastin’s Restorative Neck Complex deploys a unique, patented peptide blend called TriHex technology to signal collagen and elastin production. It’s so gentle that Austin-based dermatologist Kristina Collins, MD, says it’s great for post-procedure recovery. “It helps the skin repair itself, which is especially important in an area that tends to age faster than the face,” she says. The fast-absorbing formula also contains niacinamide and phytoene and phytofluene (two phyto-antioxidants to guard against free radical damage), all of which help improve hyperpigmentation (such as sun spots) along your neck and décolleté, Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, adds.
This formula is quite lightweight and fluid, so it feels more akin to a neck serum—making it easier to spread one pump of the goodness down to your chest area. Pro tip: You’ll see the best results if you use it twice a day (once in the morning and once at night).
Best for Tech Neck: NeoStrata Triple Firming Neck Cream
Why it’s worth it: If you’ve heard the term “tech neck” constantly being tossed around but don’t actually know what the heck it is, it’s colloquial for the horizontal lines caused by crouching or looking down at your phone. NeoStrata’s Triple Firming Neck Cream swoops in to treat and smooth out the look of these creases. This richer formula uses two proprietary ingredients called NeoGlucosamine, “an amino sugar that helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Mamina Turegano, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Orleans, explains, which helps boost hyaluronic acid production and gently exfoliates dead skin cells, and NeoCitriate (a collagen-boosting molecule) to improve texture and tighten skin at a deeper level. These, along with the cream’s recent upgrades, MicroDiPeptide, a new proprietary technology, and plant-derived bakuchiol, increase hydration and smooth the look of horizontal folds without causing irritation.
Furthermore, it’s enriched with amino acid chains (also known as peptides) to firm the skin, while shea butter and antioxidant vitamin E restore and strengthen your barrier. While this buttery formula may take a beat to fully absorb, the results are well worth the few extra seconds (and putting away your device from time to time).
Best for Uneven Texture: StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus
Why it’s worth it: If smoothing texture is your highest priority in a neck cream, StriVectin’s TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus goes above and beyond. The brand’s patented ingredients help firm the appearance of the skin: NIA-114, a niacinamide-powered technology, alongside Alpha-3 Peptide, a bio-engineered peptide chain, help jump-start 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. Shea butter and spilanthol, a botanically-derived fatty acid that plumps and moisturizes skin, chime in to seal in hydration and, thus, prevent moisture loss.
Because your neck is also prone to sun spots and burns, StriVectin offers a broad-spectrum SPF 35-infused neck cream to provide ample protection against UV damage.
Best for Sagging: SkinCeuticals Tripeptide R Neck Repair
Why it’s worth it: If a dermatologist uses a product in their own skin-care routine, you know it’s good enough for us (and you). Recommended by Dr. Hartman, the SkinCeuticals Triple-R Neck Repair goes beyond the surface to treat the deeper layers of your skin, targeting signs of aging, including wrinkling and sagging. First up is a slow-release retinol, which, according to Dr. Hartman, is far less likely to cause any unnecessary irritation or dryness. (If you have sensitive skin and veer away from any mention of retinol, rejoice!). The cream also uses a proprietary glaucine complex (derived from poppy seed extract) to block the enzymes that go on to produce fat cells. Dr. Hartman adds that the formula contains tripeptides, which signal the skin to produce collagen, helping to plump, tighten, and “fill in” smaller wrinkles. The formula doesn’t skimp on moisture, either, with plenty of hydrators like glycerin and soybean oil.
Best for Crepey Skin: Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced
Why it’s worth it: Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced, an iteration of the original Nectifirm for those experiencing more advanced signs of aging, is one of Dr. Collins’ go-to recommendations for more noticeable laxity and crepiness. She touts its blend of eight(!) peptides (palmitoyl tripeptide-38 and -5, to name a few) to improve elasticity, antioxidants like lingonberry extract to promote brightness, and plant-based ingredients like red microalgae extract to help improve firmness and texture. Also of note: Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (or THDA, a highly stable, oil-soluble form of vitamin C that’s well-tolerated by sensitive skin) and diglucosyl gallic acid (a melanin inhibitor) help treat hyperpigmentation and dark spots. All in all, this is a formula that feels “incredibly luxurious,” according to Dr. Collins, absorbs quickly, and does much more than simply moisturize.
Don’t neglect the neck—or anywhere below:
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