13 Best Neck Firming Creams That Actually Tighten Skin, According to Lab Testing
GH Beauty Lab scientists have real before-and-after images to prove it.
Reviewed by Danusia WnekSenior Chemist
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Newsflash: taking care of your skin doesn't stop at your chin. While we are all focused on anti-aging creams (myself included), it's just as important to protect and smooth your neck. "The skin on your neck is thinner than the skin on your face and has a lack of collagen compared to other areas of the body,” says Dendy Engelman, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. That’s why “you start to see crepiness earlier on the neck, especially if you haven’t protected it with sunscreen, as UV rays can break down collagen,” adds Sabrina Fabi, M.D., a dermatologist at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology in San Diego. “On the other hand, horizontal neck lines are a natural part of the anatomy where skin attaches to the underlying muscle, and with time, skin starts to sag, folding over the lines.”
You may also notice laxity, including a double chin (this can be genetic) and jowls (the dreaded turkey neck) along the jawline, Dr. Fabi says. Dryness can be an issue, too. "Neck skin is super thin because it has less oil glands, meaning it needs more moisture than the face," says Neda Mehr, M.D., a dermatologist and founder of Pure Dermatology Cosmetic and Hair Center in Newport Beach, California. "Since dry skin leads to fine lines and wrinkles, hydration is key for the neck area."
But don't stress — it's not good for your skin. There are specific anti-aging treatments that target this area: "Neck creams are typically thicker than face creams and are formulated with specific ingredients to help tighten and smooth the loose, crepey skin that occurs with age due to collagen and elastin loss," Dr. Mehr explains. To find the best neck creams, Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab scientists tested neck creams in the Lab using technical instruments and on consumer testers, analyzing 901 before-and-after clinical images and tester responses.
No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck Multi Action Serum
Pros
- Visibly tightened and firmed skin in before-and-after clinical imaging
- Soaks in quickly
- Can be used on face and neck
Cons
- A few testers noted irritation
Main ingredients: Retinyl palmitate, peptides | Key benefits: Firming, lifting | Size: 1 oz.
What made it a winner: The top performer in the GH Beauty Lab's neck cream test, this lightweight No7 serum with collagen-boosting retinoids and peptides was a heavy hitter for firming, outperforming the others. Before-and-after images taken with high-resolution professional photography showed the most improvement in tightening and lifting neck skin over 12 weeks (below: before, left and after, right).
Testers said: Consumer testers voted the drugstore buy the fastest-absorbing and most appealing in texture. “This made my neck more firm,” one reported. Another user noticed that her "jawline is firmer." A heads up for those with sensitive skin: a few users noted that it didn't react well with their skin and caused inflammation.
RoC Multi Correxion Even Tone + Lift Night Cream
Pros
- Measurably firms skin and reduces wrinkles
- Lightweight and fast-absorbing
- Bargain price
Cons
- Not as moisturizing as other formulas
Main ingredients: Shea butter, vitamin C, hexylresorcinol | Key benefits: Smoothing, firming | Size: 1.7 oz.
What made it a winner: This drugstore bargain night cream from RoC, which can be used on the neck, excelled at firming and smoothing skin in GH Beauty Lab testing. It increased skin firmness by 32% over four weeks of use in calculations with the Cutometer device, which gauges skin laxity. The formula also reduced the look of wrinkles by 8% per digital imaging with the Visia Complexion Analyzer. (A downside: It didn't hydrate skin as well in a test with the Corneometer, which measures skin moisture levels.)
Tester said: Users loved its lightweight texture that absorbed quickly. They raved about the visible results. "I noticed a difference in just three days," one marveled. "My skin looked firmer, smoother and brighter, with wrinkles decreased."
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Fresh Black Tea Firming Corset Cream
Pros
- Visibly reduces neck lines
- Makes skin feel and look moisturized
- Rich formula
Cons
- Texture may be too heavy for daytime
Main ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides | Key benefits: Minimizing neck lines, moisturizing | Size: 1.6 oz.
What made it a winner: This luxurious Fresh cream for face and neck, made with exotic botanical extracts like black tea, goji berry and lychee as well as hydrating hyaluronic acid, was the most loved among testers in the GH Beauty Lab's neck cream test. They gave the formula top points for making skin look and feel hydrated, and it scored well for visibly smoothing neck lines in clinical photo evaluations (below: before, left and after, right).
Testers said: “I definitely see a difference in my neck,” one commented. “My skin looks much more even and brighter,” a second said. While many users loved the rich, creamy texture, a few noted it was too thick for daytime application.
NeoStrata Triple Firming Neck Cream
Pros
- Visibly reduces lines in before-and-after clinical imaging
- Softens skin
Cons
- Not as lifting as other formulas
Main ingredients: Vitamin E, shea butter, amino acids | Key benefits: Wrinkle reduction | Size: 2.8 oz.
What made it a winner: Tackle even stubborn neck lines with NeoStrata’s amino acid cream, which earned the highest marks for smoothing wrinkles in the GH Beauty Lab’s neck cream test. It was the best of all products evaluated at minimizing the look of testers’ neck lines and wrinkles in Lab digital imaging (below: before, left and after, right), although may not give as much lift as others.
Testers said: Users gave it high marks for making skin feel moisturized. The rich formula “improved my neck — I love it!” one commented. “Both my neck and my décolletage looked smoother,” another reported.
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment
Pros
- Softens and smooths skin
- Contains hydrating and anti-aging ingredients
Cons
- Scent isn't appealing
Main ingredients: Retinol, shea butter, grapeseed oil, evening primrose oil | Key benefits: Firming, smoothing | Size: 4 oz.
What makes it a winner: GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler uses this Paula's Choice cream on her neck and body; she loves that the rich formula contains retinol, a top anti-aging ingredient, at a gentle but effective concentration of 0.1%.
Expert says: "I found that it made my skin feel softer and smoother with regular use," she says. "It has a very emollient texture, thanks to the included shea butter, grapeseed oil and evening primrose oil, which are super moisturizing and help counteract the dryness that retinol may cause." However, she isn't a fan of the fact that it's fragrance-free, "so it smells like its ingredients which I don’t prefer."
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SkinBetter Science Techno Neck Perfecting Cream
Pros
- Helps firm lax skin
- Smooths crepey texture
- Dermatologist favorite
Cons
- Pricey
Main ingredients: Niacinamide, peptides, vitamin E | Key benefits: Firming, smoothing | Size: 1.7 oz.
What makes it a winner: If you have that telltale skin crepeiness and looseness known as "turkey neck" or even a double chin, turn to this SkinBetter Science neck cream, recommended by both Dr. Mehr and Jeremy Brauer, M.D., clinical associate professor at the New York University Department of Dermatology in New York City.
Expert says: "It not only improves the appearance of laxity and crepeiness, but also hydrates the skin, increasing its suppleness," Dr. Mehr explains.
Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced Neck Firming Cream
Pros
- Helps firm skin
- Smooths crepey texture
- Dermatologist favorite
Cons
- Expensive
Main ingredients: Peptides, vitamin C | Key benefits: Smoothing, firming | Size: 1.7 oz.
What makes it a winner: Dr. Brauer recommends this Revision Skincare neck treatment, made with eight types of firming peptides. While it boasts powerful anti-aging ingredients, it is on the pricier side.
Expert says: "Ingredients like peptides can help improve skin's structure and support collagen," he explains.
Mary Kay Timewise Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol
Pros
- Smooths wrinkles
- Improves skin texture
- Contains proven anti-aging active ingredient retinol
Cons
- Retinol can be irritating; be sure to ease into application
Main ingredients: Retinol, peptides, plant stem cells | Key benefits: Smoothing, wrinkle softening | Size: 1.7 oz.
What made it a winner: With a powerful combination of retinol, peptides and plant stem cells, this Good Housekeeping Seal star from Mary Kay helps smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles and keeps skin — on the face and neck — hydrated for 12 hours. According to a four-week independent consumer study, a majority of women agreed that their skin texture was dramatically improved and that lines and wrinkles in the neck area were visibly softened.
Testers said: Among testers, 82% said that their neck area looked noticeably smoother after four weeks of use.
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RoC Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Anti-Aging Daily Face Moisturizer
Pros
- Softens, firms and reduces wrinkles
- Soaks in fast
- Appealing scent
Cons
- Some testers reported breakouts
Main ingredients: Vitamin C, glycerin, SPF 30 | Key benefits: Firming, reducing wrinkles | Size: 1.7 oz.
What made it a winner: One of the best formulas in the Beauty Lab's anti-aging day cream test at smoothing skin texture, this moisturizer from RoC, which can be used on the neck as well, protects skin with broad spectrum SPF 30. It ranked the highest in the test at firming, reducing wrinkles and softening skin.
Testers said: They loved that it absorbed quickly and had a nice scent, but a few found it caused breakouts. "It made my skin feel plump, smooth and glowing and it smells so good," a tester remarked.
SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream
Pros
- Minimizes the look of neck bands
- Makes skin feel tighter
- Non-irritating
Cons
- Pricey
Main ingredients: Peptides | Key benefits: Line smoothing, firming | Size: 2 oz.
What makes it a winner: Packed with smoothing peptides, SkinMedica's neck cream is a GH beauty editor holy grail. (The brand's TNS Recovery Complex is also one of Dr. Fabi's recommendations for an effective alternative to retinol treatments; it contains high levels of human growth factors to reduce wrinkles on the face and neck without irritation.)
Experts say: "This product has noticeably reduced the band-like lines around my neck and made the skin feel tighter over time," GH's beauty director notes. "The formula is gentle and although it's expensive, the bottle lasts a long time." Grace Wu, a GH Institute product analyst, is also a fan, especially of the texture. "I love the gel consistency — my skin feels instantly hydrated and softer when I use this neck cream," she says.
Pros
- Gentle on reactive skin
- Smooths texture
- Dermatologist-recommended
Cons
- Pricey
- Pump doesn't always work
Main ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramides, peptides | Key benefits: Replenishing, firming | Size: 1.7 oz.
What makes it a winner: Alastin's anti-aging neck treatment recommended by Dr. Brauer is hypoallergenic and made with ingredients to replenish sensitive skin. To treat redness and sensitivity in the neck area, "look for ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides," he suggests. The formula also contains peptides to help firm.
Expert says: "It makes my neck look smoother and less obviously horizontally lined, maybe a little tighter," said GH Health Director Stephanie Dolgoff. "It is not thick and goopy so it doesn't build up, and has no scent, which is a plus for me.” One downside: some complained that the pump in the container didn't work and they had to open the container to use it.
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Neck and Decollete Firm and Repair Cream
Pros
- Concentrated treatment ingredients
- Nourishes crepey skin
- Dermatologist-recommended
Cons
- Pricey
- May be too thick for some
Main ingredients: Antioxidant idebenone, retinol, hyaluronic acid | Key benefits: Firming, lifting | Size: 1.7 oz.
What makes it a winner: Dr. Engelman calls this Elizabeth Arden treatment one of her favorites. The neck cream is rich in peptides, plant oils and shea butter to fortify lax skin on both the neck and chest area.
Users say: It "does take away the crepiness in the lines," one reported. Two drawbacks are that it's expensive and some users commented that the consistency was too thick for them.
StriVectin Peptight Tightening Neck Serum Roller
Pros
- Makes skin feel hydrated
- Cooling massaging applicator
Cons
- Some reviewers didn't notice results for a while
Main ingredients: Peptides | Key benefits: Skin softening, soothing | Size: 1.7 oz.
What makes it a winner: Infused with peptides, this unique StriVectin tightening neck serum claims to visibly tighten skin and smooth lines on the neck. Plus, it has a special metal rollerball applicator to soothe skin as you apply.
Expert says: "The formula felt extremely moisturizing and I loved the cooling massage roller — it felt so nice on my skin," says GH's former beauty assistant. While most reviewers noted the speedy results, a few felt they didn't see the effects for some time.
RELATED: Best Skin Tightening Creams That Measurably Firm Your Face
How we test the best neck creams
In the GH Beauty Lab's neck cream test, our scientists measured each product's ability to reduce the look of lines and wrinkles on the neck and lift and tighten neck skin with high-resolution clinical photography before and after 12 weeks of use (pictured below).
Consumer testers applied the label-masked products at home over the time period and evaluated them on factors like texture, irritation, scent, absorption, moisturization effects and the look and feel of skin after application. In total, Lab experts tallied 901 clinical imaging and consumer feedback data points to find the winning neck creams.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing.
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