Many of us stop our skincare at the jawline, but the neck is often one of the first areas to show visible signs of ageing – and that’s where a targeted neck cream comes in. If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to anti-aging skincare, dermatologists agree that this is the best anti-ageing skincare routine to follow.
“Neck skin is different from the skin on our face,” explains Dr Ash Soni. “It’s thinner and has fewer oil glands, which makes the neck even more susceptible to dry skin, wrinkles and loss of elasticity.” Necks are constantly moving and creasing, and tend to be exposed to UV radiation, which can accelerate the appearance of ageing. We also lose elastin (which helps to maintain skin’s firmness) as we age, leading to sagging and a loss of definition.
The good news? Extending your skincare routine below the chin can make a noticeable difference. While one of the best moisturisers for mature skin may offer some benefits, a dedicated neck cream is formulated specifically for this delicate area. As Dr Soni notes, these products are designed to address the structural differences between the face and neck, helping to smooth lines while improving firmness and lift.
If you’re looking to invest in a formula that delivers, we’ve rounded up the best neck creams worth adding to your routine.
Elsewhere, we’ve reviewed the best eye creams, best anti-ageing night creams and the best anti-ageing day creams – guides that are ideal when building skincare routine for mature skin.
Read more: 11 best night creams for overnight hydration and barrier support
The best neck creams for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Trinny London the elevator neck and decollete concentrate: £69, Trinnylondon.com
- Best budget buy – Prai ageless throat and décolletage crème: £23, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for brightening – Neostrata triple firming neck cream: £88, Neostrata.co.uk
- Best for sensitive skin – Meder arma neck cream: £115, Mederbeauty.com
- Best for firming – Strivectin TL advanced tightening neck cream: £49, Amazon.co.uk
Read more: 10 best anti-ageing serums that target wrinkles, dark spots and dullness
Trinny London the elevator neck and décolleté concentrate
Best: Overall
Key ingredients: Peptides, alpha arbutin, isodonis japonicus
How to use: Apply twice a day
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Rich and super nourishing
- Softens lines and tones
- Refillable (save £10 on next refill)
Take note
- Leaves skin slightly tacky
This product was a fast favourite. We love that this formula leaves skin feeling well-nourished, smoother and firmer. This concentrate has a high concentration of active ingredients, including a line-softening blend of peptides (to stimulate collagen and elastin production) and antioxidant alpha arbutin, which is known to brighten pigmentation and age spots, and prevent them from forming in the first place.
During testing, we found this product helped to even skin tone, but what really sets this formula apart is the inclusion of Isodonis japonicus – a plant that, thanks to its skin-conditioning properties, has been making waves in Japanese skincare. Within weeks of using this product, we noticed a strengthening and firming effect on our neck skin.
However, it’s not perfect. Though the formula feels rich and nourishing, it leaves skin slightly tacky – if you prefer something more lightweight and fast absorbing, try the This Works neck serum below instead.
Buy now £68, Trinnylondon.com
Prai ageless throat and décolletage crème
Best: Budget buy
Key ingredients: Sepilift dphp, saxifrage and grapeseed extracts, shea butter
How to use: Apply in gentle upward strokes from cleavage to chin AM and PM
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Affordable and effective
- Hydrates and brightens
- Quick results for fine lines
Take note
- Have to persevere for benefits
Prai says it sells one of these creams 60 seconds worldwide. It’s not hard to see why – this neck cream is affordable and effective, with squalane, hyaluronic acid and shea butter for hydration, vitamins A, E and F to protect and repair, and a handful of natural extracts to brighten and help with age spots. The company’s not-so-secret ingredient, sepilift, has a firming and moisturising action on the skin; another stand-out ingredient makes the formula unique.
It promises results in just seven days, and we quickly started to see improvements, reducing visible fine lines. However, it takes quite a lot of cream for it to work on sagging and crepey skin.
Buy now £23, Amazon.co.uk
Alumier MD neck and décolleté firming cream
Best: For dark spots and pigmentation
Key ingredients: Retinol, hydroxyphenoxy propionic acid and liquorice root extract
How to use: As part of evening routine only
Size: 90ml
Why we love it
- Brightens and fades the look of pigmentation
- Retinol smooths lines and firms the skin
Take note
- Have to register or do an online consultation to purchase this product
This powerful cream is full of actives that reduce the signs of ageing. The nourishing (and surprisingly light) formula includes encapsulated retinol (which boosts collagen and elastin production) and hydroxyphenoxy propionic acid (a derivative of pigmentation-blitzing hydroquinone, which brightens the skin).
After using this product consistently for a month, I found that dark spots and pigmentation looked softer, while lines appeared smoother. Give it even longer, and skin starts to feel firmer, too. Just remember, you’ll need to apply SPF daily when using this product – the retinol in the formula makes skin susceptible to sunburn. On top of that, this is such a concentrated formula that you may need a prescription to use it.
Buy now £74.58, Alumiermd.com
Neostrata triple firming neck cream
Best: For brightening
Key ingredients: Neoglucosamine, neocitriate, and pro-amino acid
How to use: Smooth over neck and décolletage twice daily
Size: 80g
Why we love it
- Non-greasy
- One pump is all you need
- Results in just three days
- Lifts and firms sagging skin
- Targets discolouration
Rich, yet non-greasy, this neck cream targets multiple signs of ageing. If you’re not familiar with the key ingredients, the blend of neoglucosamine, neocitriate, and pro-amino acid works to resurface and brighten discolouration. They also stimulate collagen production and support the skin’s structure to plump and smooth lines and firm the neckline.
One pump is all you need in your morning and evening skincare routines, applying it in upwards motions from your décolletage to your jawline. We loved how quickly we saw results with this product. After just three days, the nourishing formula made our skin feel beautifully smooth. Play the long game, as we did, and you can expect to see a more even skin tone and texture after a month, with a firming effect, too.
Buy now £88, Neostrata.co.uk
Necessaire the neck serum
Best: For fine lines and wrinkles
Key ingredients: Multi-peptides, niacinamide, squalane
How to use: Massage upwards for day and night use
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Chic packaging
- Nourishes and hydrated as well as smooths and firms
- Lightweight luxurious texture
- Helped create a more defined neckline
Much more than just chic, minimalistic packaging, Necessaire uses results-driven ingredients in its bodycare products for replenishing and renewing results. A stand-out in its line-up is this fragrance-free neck serum. It’s a powerhouse of five skin-strengthening peptides that help support the production of collagen, leading to smooth and firmer skin. It’s further boosted with nourishing squalane and niacinamide, which diminishes lines and improves uneven skin tone.
Light and luxe, the serum leaves the neck comfortably cushioned with a veil of dewiness on the skin when first applied. After a few days of use, we noticed improved skin hydration. After a few weeks, we started to see a more defined neckline.
Buy now £64, Sephora.co.uk
Strivectin TL advanced tightening neck cream
Best: For firming
Key ingredients: Gravite-CF lifting complex, NIA-114, botanical brightening complex
How to use: Apply to clean skin in the morning and night, massage into neck in an upward motion and around décolleté in circulate motion
Size: 30ml
Why we love it
- Strengthens the skin barrier to prevent moisture loss
- Tightens, lifts and firms
Take note
- Includes comodogenic soybean oil
As it’s the number one bestselling neck cream in the US, we expected big things from this product.
It’s powered by a form of niacin, or vitamin B5, that strengthens the skin barrier and prevents moisture loss – a hero ingredient in all the brand’s formulations. It’s also full of lifting and brightening ingredients.
This did nothing but impress, as, after two weeks of continuous use, lines and creases looked less visible and a toning effect had already set in. It seemed like a certainty for the top spot in this ranking, but unfortunately, one of its ingredients is soybean oil, which is comedogenic and can cause blackheads.
Buy now £39.75, Amazon.co.uk
Prai Beauty ageless throat and decolletage night cream
Best: Retinol option
Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
How to use: For evening use only
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Not as pricey as some other retinol neck creams
- Softens lines, brightens and strengthens skin
- Light, silky-smooth texture
Take note
- Retinol can cause irritation
I’ve already raved about Prai’s original neck cream in this roundup, but I also love this light and silky formula, which contains retinol (a form of vitamin A that can help rejuvenate skin).
Give it time (at least a month) to work its magic, and you’ll see this product’s brightening, smoothing and toning effects, as it speeds up the skin’s natural renewal process and boosts production of collagen and elastin.
Plus, the formula is jam-packed with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter, glycerin, squalane and aloe, so there’s no chance of it drying out the skin.
éAlthough retinol can cause irritation (depending on the strength of the formula and whether your skin is used to it), this is a relatively gentle formulation. If you’re not used to retinol, introduce it to your routine slowly, and note that, as retinol can make skin more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays, you’ll need to apply SPF daily when using retinoids in your skincare routine.
Buy now £36.99, Amazon.co.uk
Elemis pro-collagen neck & décolleté balm
Best: For crepiness
Key ingredients: Tree fern extract, sea buckthorn oil and marine actives
How to use: Massage a pea-sized amount using upwards strokes
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Iconic collection
- Antioxidant and vitamin rich
- Boosts hydration
- Smooths lines and firms skin
Take note
- Doesn’t feature as many anti-ageing ingredients as competitors for the price
Part of the beloved pro-collagen collection, if you’re a fan of Elemis’s marine cream, you’ll love this formula dedicated to the delicate neck area. This neck cream also contains antioxidant and vitamin-rich ingredients for a skin-protecting and rejuvenating formula.
For some instant gratification, the super-light, slightly fragranced balm immediately absorbs into the skin, leaving the area feeling silky and supple, but its youth-boosting properties get to work quickly, too. After one month’s use, we were impressed to see crepey skin looking smoother with fewer fine lines.
Buy now £60, Amazon.co.uk
This Works perfect cleavage and neck serum
Best: Lightweight formula
Key ingredients: Marine algae, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid
How to use: Massage into skin morning and night
Size: 150ml
Why we love it
- Great value (with three times more product than most neck creams)
- Absorbs and nourishes instantly
- Plumps neck and cleavage lines
Take note
- Contains botanical oils (scent may not be for everyone)
This one’s for you if you don’t like the feel of creams on your skin. We found this formula absorbed in seconds, resulting in a temporary tightening feel to the skin. With continued use, this smoothes, plumps and brightens thanks to ingredients like vitamin C, marine algae, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and antioxidants.
After four weeks, the horizontal lines on our neck looked softer, as did the chest wrinkles we get from sleeping on our side. We were impressed by how hydrated this formula left our skin, too. The fruity scent also added to the appeal, but it won’t be for everyone. If you prefer a fragrance-free neck serum, try Necessaire’s.
Buy now £45, Amazon.co.uk
Meder arma-neck cream
Best: For sensitive skin
Key ingredients: Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, almond oil, vitamin E
How to use: Apply to clean skin of the neck and décolleté with gentle upward strokes
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Great choice for sensitive skin
- Skin-plumping collagen
- Calms any skin irritation
Take note
- Expensive
Dermatologist-founded skincare brand Meder focuses on microbiome-friendly formulas without any harsh actives, making it a fine choice for those on the sensitive side or susceptible to irritation.
The hero ingredient in this bottle is a powerful peptide that stimulates the production of skin-plumping collagen, calms skin irritation and increases the skin’s hyaluronic acid levels.
Teamed with anti-oxidant and nourishing sweet almond oil and vitamin E, you can expect an all-round gentle formulation, which we found smoothed lines in a matter of weeks.
The drawback, however, is that this one of the most expensive formulas I’ve tested, nearly double the price of my number one pick.
Buy now £115, Mederbeauty.com
Gatineau Paris defi lift firming neck and decollete gel
Best: For brightening
Key ingredients: Peruvian tara fruit extract, elkhorn sea moss extract, valine and vitamin E
How to use: Apply AM/PM with upwards movements
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Velvety gel texture
- Instant hydration
- Perks dullness and reduced redness
Take note
- Takes a while to work
When you first apply this velvety gel, you notice how cooling it feels on your skin. Left to absorb, it leaves the neck and décolletage instantly hydrated (our skin would drink up the formula), but best of all, it also makes your skin glow. This is thanks to its infusion of rejuvenating ingredients that not only work to tone and firm the skin but also perk up dullness and reduce redness.
We saw ongoing benefits the longer we used this gel. It brightened the skin tone, toned crepiness and smoothed necklace lines so well that we missed it in our routine when we stopped using it – always a sign of a great product. The only drawback is that it takes a little while to work. The key with this one is to keep going, for improved results.
Buy now £56, Amazon.co.uk
Sisley neck cream
Best: High-end buy
Key ingredients: Oat seed extract, soy fibre extract, caffeine with red algae and horse chestnut extract
How to use: Massage in circling motions on side of the neck, upwards motions on the front and left to right below the chin
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Refreshing
- Lightweight
- Immediately firming
Take note
- Expensive
While most skincare brands are new to neck creams, Sisley first introduced one back in the Eighties. The light, luxe texture of this cream felt refreshing when massaged into the skin, and it melted in an instant, thanks to soothing and nourishing shea butter and sunflower oil.
The immediate firming effect we saw comes from oat seed extract and rhatany, a plant-based astringent that temporarily tightens your skin. However, for long-term results, the caffeine, red algae and horse chestnut work their magic alongside moisturising ingredients that smooth and plump fine lines.
Just bear in mind the price tag – at £150, this is the most expensive cream we tested, and six times more expensive than our budget pick.
Buy now £154, Spacenk.com
Clinique smart clinical repair lifting face and neck cream
Best: For face and neck
Key ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid
How to use: Apply in the morning and evening
Size: 50ml
Why we love it
- Smooths and firms skin
- Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive
Take note
- Formula may be too rich for some
If you prefer a simplified skincare routine, try this face and neck cream in one. It’s a rich cream packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil and shea butter, but it doesn’t feel greasy – just beautifully nourishing. We found it was easy to massage into our skin, too.
Marketed as a lifting cream, it’s ideal for mature skin if your biggest concerns are loss of elasticity and more prominent lines and wrinkles, as the formula’s blend of peptides stimulates collagen and elastin to smooth and firm. You have to play the long game to see results, but after a month, we were surprised by how much smoother, younger and firmer our skin looked and felt.
Buy now £53.42, Amazon.co.uk
What is the best neck cream?
My top spot goes to the elevator neck and décolleté concentrate from Trinny London. Instantly smoothing, strengthening, and firming the skin over time, the formula was a real hit, but it is on the pricey side. If you’re looking to spend less, Prai specialises in looking after the neckline, and both the brand’s ageless throat and décolletage crème and ageless throat and decolletage night cream are well worth adding to your skincare routine.
How I tested neck creams
Each neck cream was tested for at least two weeks, but most were tested for more than a month. Each product was used per the brand’s instructions as part of morning and evening skincare routines. I looked at how the formulas made the neck and décolletage feel, but ultimately, I looked at whether they improved the skin’s appearance. I considered the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
As an experienced beauty journalist and reviewer, Sabine Wiesel has covered a range of beauty products, especially anti-ageing products. She has tested neck creams for IndyBest for years, putting the latest launches through their paces as well as assessing bestselling products. She knows which are the top performers when it comes to boosting hydration, smoothing lines and firming the skin, and she will only recommend products she believes are worth the investment.
Want more recommendations? Check out our guide to the best sunscreens for your face