19 Best Neck Creams for Firming Skin, Tested by Experts

The winner of 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.

Testers voted the drugstore buy the fastest-absorbing and most appealing in texture as well as least irritating. “This made my neck more firm,” one said. A heads up for those with sensitive skin: a few users noted that it didn't react well with their skin and caused inflammation.

GH Beauty Lab testers loved the lightweight texture of this great value firming night cream from RoC, which can be used on the neck. Noting its quick absorption and fruity scent — which a few users didn't love — they felt it left their skin feeling smooth and refreshed. "I noticed a difference in just three days," a tester marveled. "My skin looked firmer, smoother and brighter, with wrinkles decreased."

While not designed exclusively for the neck, Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler uses it from her chin down and loves that the rich body cream contains retinol, a top anti-aging ingredient, at a gentle but effective concentration of 0.1%. "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." The one element that Butler doesn't love is that it's fragrance-free, "so it smells like its ingredients which I don’t prefer."

Created by Dr. Mehr, this pricey hydrating cream combined with a replenishing serum is ideal for both the face and neck of dry and mature skin types. "The dual pump serum and moisturizer is full of potent antioxidants," she explains, plus plumping hyaluronic acid and strengthening ceramides. For extra hydration, layer a heavy moisturizer like Aquaphor Healing Ointment on top, Dr. Mehr recommends.

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 Dr. Brauer. "It not only improves the appearance of laxity and crepeiness, but also hydrates the skin, increasing its suppleness," Dr. Mehr explains.

Made with eight types of firming peptides, this Revision Skincare neck treatment is recommended by Dr. Brauer. "Ingredients like peptides can help improve skin's structure and support collagen," he explains. While it boasts some top notch ingredients, it is a pricier pick.

A winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s neck cream test, this luxurious Fresh cream made with exotic botanical extracts like black tea, goji berry and lychee as well as hydrating hyaluronic acid was the most loved among testers. They gave the formula top points for making skin look and feel hydrated, and it scored well for visibly smoothing neck lines in before-and-after photo evaluations. “I definitely see a difference in my neck,” one said. “My skin looks much more even and brighter,” a second commented. While many users love the rich, creamy texture, a few noted it was too thick for daytime application.

A winner of GH's Best Anti-Aging Skin Awards, No7's drugstore buy was one of the best-performing anti-aging creams tested that can be used on both the face and neck. Testers loved its long-lasting hydration, firming power and texture. "I've received compliments from friends, family and coworkers," one raved. Another reported: "I noticed particular improvement in skin texture on my neck." While some testers loved the fragrance, others reported that it was too potent and "perfume-y."

In GH Beauty Lab testing, Caudalie's moisturizer made with plant-based natural ingredients was one of the most hydrating formulas, with reviewers noting its quick absorption and subtle scent, although a few felt the scent was strong. In Lab measurements with the Corneometer device, which measures hydration, it increased skin's moisturizaton by an impressive 43% over six hours. Nervous about creams feeling thick or greasy on the neck? Testers said it has a "light and fluffy" texture.

While definitely a splurge, this Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner can be used on the face and neck and has great instant and long-term benefits to the skin. It absorbs quickly and our Lab data evaluations found that the serum delivers immediate plumping and smoothing effects and will improve skin’s texture over time, thanks to the hyaluronic acid and peptides in the formula.

With a powerful combination of retinol, peptides and plant stem cells, this Good Housekeeping Seal holder 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. More specifically, 82% of testers said that their neck area looked noticeably smoother.

This cream from Olay (which can be used on the face and neck) does more than just moisturize. Over 70% of testers said it "visibly improved skin's firmness and appearance." Testers also liked that it felt rich but not greasy (73%) and agreed that it improved skin's texture (70%). Plus, it's fragrance-free so it's ideal for anyone who doesn't like or can't tolerate fragrance. One thing to watch out for: a reviewer noted that it can pill after applying.

"Protection and prevention from future damage, like limiting sun exposure and using sunscreen daily, is the best way to keep your skin bright, plump, and firm," says GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek. A winner in the Beauty Lab's anti-aging day cream testing, this moisturizer from RoC, which can be used on the neck too, protects skin with broad spectrum SPF 30 and ranked the highest within the study at softening, firming and reducing wrinkles. Testers loved that it absorbed quickly and had a nice scent, but a few found that the applicator occasionally got clogged. "It made my skin feel plump, smooth and glowing and it smells so good," shares one reviewer.

Tackle even stubborn neck lines with NeoStrata’s amino acid cream, a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s neck cream test that earned the highest marks for smoothing wrinkles. It was the best of all products evaluated at minimizing the look of testers’ neck lines and wrinkles in standardized digital imaging, although may not give as much lift as some other products. Users also gave it high marks for making skin feel moisturized. The rich formula “improved my neck — I love it!” a fan said. “Both my neck and my décolletage looked smoother,” another reported.

Packed with smoothing peptides, SkinMedica's neck treatment is a new GH beauty editor holy grail. "This cream has actually noticeably reduced the band-like lines around my neck and made the skin feel tighter in a few weeks of use," GH's beauty director notes. "The gel-like formula is gentle and even feels soothing so I look forward to using it, plus the bottle lasts a very long time." Grace Wu, a product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute is also a fan, especially of the texture. "I love the gel consistency — my skin almost feels instantly hydrated and softer when I use this neck cream," she says. The one thing she doesn't love: the fragrance.

One of Dr. Engelman's favorite neck creams, Elizabeth Arden's formula is packed with peptides, plant oils and shea butter to fortify lax skin on both the neck and chest area. It "does take away the crepiness in the lines," a reviewer reported. A rich cream, some users commented on the thick consistency.

This 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 slack skin. "It makes my neck look smoother and less obviously horizontally lined, maybe a little tighter," says Stephanie Dolgoff, GH Deputy Health Director. "It is not thick and goopy so it doesn't build up, and has no scent, which is a plus for me.” The only downside: some complained that the pump in the container didn't work and they had to open the product to use it, potentially reducing its efficacy.

To treat discoloration on the neck and chest, look to Algenist's rich formula, which scored high for diminishing UV spots in GH Beauty Lab testing and testers saw visible changes. It reduced the appearance of hyperpigmentation by 11% in four weeks and raised skin hydration 33%, although didn't show as much change in firming the skin. "My skin looks so much brighter," and "it really is removing my dark spots," two testers reported.

Packed with peptides, this tightening neck serum claims to visibly tighten skin and smooth lines on the neck. Plus, it has a super application method: you turn the applicator on, squeeze to release the serum and roll it in an upward motion on the neck and jawline. "The formula was extremely moisturizing and I loved the cooling massage roller — it felt so nice on my skin," says Good Housekeeping Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn. While most reviewers noted the speedy results, a few felt they didn't see results for a while.