The Best Neck Creams and Serums for Tightening and Firming Skin

[Photo by Angélica Echeverry]

One of the areas on our body that we tend to neglect or forget about when it comes to application of skin care products is the décolletage, which is that delicate area of skin between the chin and chest. Despite the fact that it’s one of the first (and most noticeable) spots where signs of aging become noticeable, for the most part we ignore it until we have an actual problem—then we rush into panic mode trying to fix it.

These days we’re always looking down at our phones or computers (developing “tech neck”), and it also doesn’t help that due to the current climate, many of us are working from home and glued to our screens at all hours of the day. All of this is a recipe for fine lines and sagging skin, combined with the fact that collagen production in our bodies decreases as we age, so we lose that additional firmness and support that we take for granted during our teenage years and twenties.

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Because the skin on our neck area is thinner than the rest of the body, collagen loss becomes a lot more noticeable. Fortunately, there are many great treatments that have designed specifically for the neck and décolletage area to help tighten and tone for a younger and fresher appearance. No matter what age you are, it’s never too late to start taking care of and treating your neck area.

Here, we’ve rounded up the best neck creams and serums for tightening and firming skin that feature innovative ingredients such as 24K gold, crushed diamonds, patented technology, and more. With regular use, your neck and décolletage will look and feel better than ever. Read on to discover and shop:

Algenist Elevate Firming & Lifting Neck Cream ($84)

This ultra-firming, moisturizing neck cream targets the specific needs of the delicate skin around the neck and chest. Ingredients include alguronic acid, a patented and powerful compound that demonstrates significant properties to rejuvenate the skin for a more youthful appearance; and protein and peptide complex, which visibly tightens and lifts skin.

BABOR HSR Lifting Extra Firming Neck & Décolleté Cream ($125)

This neck & décolleté cream features active ingredients that help to improve the elasticity of delicate skin and and effectively combat the look of age spots. The HSR Lifting Complex visibly counteracts wrinkles, such as gravitational folds and creases, as well as loss of elasticity. An exopolysaccharide with the amino acids serine and alanine helps with regular use to reduce age spots and pigmentation, as well as helping to prevent their reappearance.

bareMinerals Ageless Genius Firming & Wrinkle Smoothing Neck Cream ($48)

Powered by mineral gold, age-defying peptides, this rich, fast-absorbing cream deeply hydrates the skin, while visibly reducing the appearance of wrinkles and horizontal neck lines around the delicate neck and décolleté areas. Edelweiss extract helps to improve skin’s elasticity for a more lifted-looking contour, while algae, jasmine, and gardenia extracts help to smooth rough, dry skin. 

Colleen Rothschild Extreme Recovery Cream ($75)

Designed for delicate, dehydrated skin, this cream provides maximum levels of continuous moisture while strengthening the hydro-lipid barrier. Next-generation ingredients fight signs of fine lines and wrinkles while evening out skin tone and texture. It’s also formulated with Level E3, an exclusive technology that helps key ingredients work harder and smarter.

Epicuren Tighten Up Neck Firming Cream ($88)

This luxurious, velvety cream sinks deep into skin for maximum hydration and so that its innovative ingredients restore skin’s ability to fight the aging process, leaving skin smoother and tighter. Antioxidants (edelweiss extract and vitamin E) aid and defend skin against oxidative stress; glycerin, palm oil, and shea butter lock in hydration to keep skin smooth and firm; while cell communicators (edelweiss extract and N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate) help rebuild damaged collagen fibers to strengthen and firm.

FarmHouse Fresh Moon Dip Back to Youth Ageless Body Mousse ($32)

This weightless body whip features a powder-soft texture that delivers top-performing peptides that visibly firm the look of skin over time. It loves neck lines and sun-kissed chests, arms, and legs, smoothing the look of wrinkles and dull, uneven textures. It’s also boosted by vitamin-rich emollient oils that lock in hydration and suppleness, accompanied by a delectable and light milk-oat scent.

Fresh Black Tea Firming Corset Cream for Face & Neck ($95)

This firming cream for the face and neck hydrates and hugs skin for a defined look. It helps to strengthen and define skin—like a corset for your complexion. With goji fruit extract and a firming peptide, it improves elasticity and tightens (without the feeling of tightness) for bouncy, supple skin. 

HERLA Gold Supreme Rejuvenating Super Lift Cream with 24k Gold ($60)

This highly regenerative and rejuvenating lifting cream is enhanced with 24k gold nanoparticles and includes marula, argan, jojoba, sacha inchi, and avocado oils that greatly improve the look of aging skin. Suitable for all skin types, it minimizes visible signs of aging and prevents future damage, reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation and calms skin inflammation, and restores skin's natural barrier thanks to essential fatty acids.

Juice Beauty STEM CELLULAR Lifting Neck Cream ($60)

Formulated with an organic base of botanical juices instead of added water, this ultra-firming and moisturizing neck cream is formulated to help tighten the appearance of and smooth the delicate skin around the neck and décolleté for a more sculpted and youthful look. Create a lifting and firming effect for the neck and enhance the appearance of elasticity with this high-performance neck cream. Formulated with a proprietary blend of fruit stem cells infused into a vitamin C, resveratrol-rich grape seed formula.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Signature Serum ($80)

This powerful serum softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and is ultra-concentrated with advanced absorption technology for faster results. It helps skin feel firmer and more supple, and brings a renewed radiance to the complexion. It contains red clover flower extract, which is scientifically proven to enhance the hydrating role of hyaluronic acid and visibly smoothes lines and wrinkles. Its gel-like texture promotes fast absorption and forms a protective film on the skin's surface.

Kaplan MD Diamond Contour Lifting Rose Quartz Neck Serum ($115)

The newest addition to the Diamond Contour Collection, this serum is a powerful new anti-aging treatment that is clinically proven to improve skin firmness and elasticity after just one use. It features an exclusive Brazilian Rose Quartz Applicator, which glides the serum onto the skin to more effectively deliver key ingredients, while providing a soothing, contouring massage. It utilizes a proprietary combination of skin fortifying actives like crushed diamonds, 22 certified organic extracts, and fermented BioActive Complex, which provides superior anti-wrinkle, hydration, and cell vitalization benefits.

Kayo Age Defense Neck Cream ($62)

This restorative formula instantly tones and contours the delicate skin on your chest and neck while warding off future signs of aging. Caffeine and micro-algae help crepey skin look firmer and plumper after the first use. For long-term nourishment, it includes a blend of hydrating shea, mango, and cocoa butters, plus age-proofing antioxidants including resveratrol, mushroom extract, grape seed extract, and green tea.

La Mer The Neck and Décolleté Concentrate ($295)

This intensive balm delivers plumping hydration and concentrated cell-renewing Miracle Broth™ to help create a more youthful-looking neckline. Utterly sumptuous, it lends a more lifted look and firmer feel to your most delicate and alluring skin.

La Roche-Posay Substiane Riche Anti-Aging Cream ($56.99)

This daily anti-aging cream for mature skin combats signs of skin sagging and helps replenish skin's bounce. This intensely moisturizing formula helps skin feel firmer and tighter. Ingredients include Pro-Xylane, Linactyl, glycerin, and La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water.

Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Sub-D/Neck ($135)

This lightweight gel promotes a youthful-looking neck and a firm, sculpted jawline. This multitasking powerhouse visibly sculpts, firms, tightens, and contours the jawline and neck areas. It targets and improves the appearance of lines, wrinkles, uneven texture, sagging, and crepiness while smoothing skin and improving elasticity. Ingredients include DMAE, which helps visibly lift sagging skin; peptides to visibly improve skin thickness and firmness; and encapsulate caffeine, an antioxidant-rich stimulant that promotes visibly firmer, tighter, and firmer skin.

Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Face and Neck Contouring Cream ($75)

Clinical strength actives help skin look more youthful and contoured. Helps improve the appearance of definition, texture, crepiness, and fine lines while helping to brighten and even the look of skin tone. Key ingredients include 5% serilesine, which helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; and 3% zirhafirm, which helps to restore the look of skin elasticity and facial contours.

Phyto-C Skin Firming Cream ($120)

This rich formula contains 15% vitamin C that rapidly diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to refine and improve the skin’s texture. It provides advanced antioxidant properties; reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and crows feet; and nourishes, soothes, and rejuvenates the appearance of skin.

Repêchage Vita Cura Triple Firming Cream ($85-$145)

This powerful moisturizing cream utilizes Repechage's patented triple-firming action to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while improving skin elasticity and firmness. Its formula features super-skin-softening shea, mango, and cocoa butters combined with messenger peptides and seaweed extracts. The Vita Cura Skin Care series combines nurturing seaweeds and other skin-softening ingredients with pentapeptides to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

SeneGence Neck Cream ($90)

This rich cream formula is specifically formulated to work powerfully and effectively to firm, smooth, and even the delicate skin around the neck and décolletage area. Infused with advanced anti-aging complexes, it helps the neck and jawline look tighter and more sculpted. Vitamins, powerful anti-aging ingredients, and natural botanical extracts work at a cellular level to help plump, hydrate, and smooth wrinkles

Skin Laundry Wrinkle Release Neck & Chest Sheet Mask ($15)

This concentrated multi-tasking, anti-aging neck and chest mask has 19 skin-conditioning extracts that leave skin looking younger, brighter, and tighter. Organic-7 helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and brighten skin tone with its antioxidant blend of organic celery root, white cabbage, rice bran, tomato fruit, turnip leaf, carrot root, and broccoli extracts obtained via low-temperature extraction to preserve the vitality of the vitamin complex. Adenosine helps support collagen and elastin production for skin strength and elasticity. Niacinamide helps fight visible signs of aging; strengthens and refreshes skin while helping to brighten and improve tone and texture. Sodium hyaluronate keeps skin moisturized and supple. 

SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Neck Repair ($120)

This corrective retinol neck treatment targets early to advanced signs of visible neck aging, including lines and wrinkles due to repetitive movements from looking down at mobile devices. Formulated with 0.2% pure, slow-release retinol, 2.5% tripeptide concentrate, and 5.0% glaucine complex, this corrective technology is clinically demonstrated to target multiple signs of visible neck aging. Tripeptide-R Neck Repair is specifically formulated for delicate neck skin, is appropriate for daily use, and complements professional treatments.

Skin Owl Neck ($68)

This  super-smoothing and contouring neck concentrate is made with superstar age-defying ingredients to create a smooth, youthful, and contoured neck and décolleté. Skin looks smooth, supple, and quenched, with dark spots and crease marks visibly reduced. The super concentrated gel-balm features a combination of healing herbs, along with restorative plant and flower compounds to tighten and tone skin.

StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream PLUS ($95)

This powerful cream features the breakthrough Gravitite-CF Lifting Complex™ to improve skin elasticity and provide visible lift, while smoothing the appearance of horizontal neck lines and sagging. Botanically-derived Brightening Complex helps even skin tone on the décolleté, while patented NIA-114™ technology strengthens the skin barrier. The effects of gravity appear reversed for more refined, toned definition.

Suzanne Organics Neck Firming Serum with Tightening Peptide Formula ($59.99)

This serum features the Organic Line Filler and revolutionary Tightening Peptide Formula, which visibly smoothes the surface of the neck by visibly reducing the appearance of wrinkle depth. Packed with peptides, antioxidants, vitamins, and potent botanical elements, it also helps support skin’s moisture barrier, visibly erases signs of fatigue, and combats the appearance of chronological skin aging.

Valmont V-Neck Cream ($295)

The newest addition to Valmont’s Anti-Wrinkle Firmness (AFW5) line, this neck cream is an ultra-concentrated lifting and firming beauty elixir designed specifically for the neck and décolleté areas. It contains the groundbreaking formula found in the AWF5 skincare line, which is comprised of of two complementary collections: V-Line Lifting (to combat wrinkles and lines) and V-Shape Filling (to address volume loss and sagging). Now for the first time ever, Valmont has combined the finest technical features of the two collections to offer the high-performance, firming, and restorative neck cream.

The V-Neck Cream features rich and emulsifying properties, and ensures visible improvement in uneven texture, wrinkles, and lack of facial volume by smoothing minor defects in skin’s texture, filling in fine lines, and resculpting facial contour. The brand’s exclusive AWF5 Complex strengthens skin’s structure and creates a smoother, fuller appearance. Ingredients also include Valmont’s patented Triple DNA and Liposomed RNA to stimulate healing, revitalize skin, and provide unparalleled moisture.  

XOUL Cosmetics Layered Cream ($58.24)

South Korean beauty brand XOUL is debuting in the US this fall and its products are infused with adipose-derived stromal cells, which are bio-compatible with the human body and allow the ingredients to be assimilated into the skin better for anti-aging, diminishing wrinkles, accelerating skin regeneration, and promoting collagen production. This ultra-soft moisturizing cream nourishes and hydrates with 20,000ppm stem cells, 17 kinds of amino acids, 6 kinds of peptides, and more.

[Images courtesy of brands]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk