17 Best Neck Firming Creams of 2024, Tested by Experts

The GH Beauty Lab scientists analyzed over 1,700 data points to find the products that really work.

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Wearing moisturizer and SPF daily on your face is important for keeping skin healthy and youthful, but the skin on your neck is 50% thinner than that on your face — that means it's more prone to wrinkles and looseness. Adding one of the best neck creams with anti-aging properties to your skincare regimen can smooth, tighten and firm neck skin (as long as you continue wearing effective sunscreen!).

"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." In addition, she says, "neck skin becomes crepey quicker than the face because the collagen layer is thinner."

To find neck creams that actually work, our scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab evaluate neck creams and treatments both in the Lab using technical instruments and on consumer testers over 12 weeks. Experts calculated 1,711 data points to find the best neck creams of 2024 that firm skin and smooth wrinkles.

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 said.

"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."

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 as well, protects skin with broad spectrum SPF 30.

It 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 said. The one thing she doesn't love: the fragrance.

Elizabeth Arden's formula is a favorite of Dendy Engelman, M.D, a dermatologist in New York City. This neck cream 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," said 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.

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," said Good Housekeeping Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn. While most reviewers noted the speedy results, a few felt they didn't see results for a while.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab's neck cream test, experts measure each product's ability to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles on the neck and lift and tighten neck skin over 12 weeks of use. Consumer testers use the label-masked products at home and evaluated them on factors like texture, irritation, scent, absorption, moisturization effects and the look and feel of skin after application.

In the Lab, GH Beauty Lab scientists analyzed over 200 images taken with high-resolution professional photography to gauge changes in neck lines and skin laxity before and after 12 weeks of neck cream use, as pictured below. In total, Lab experts tallied 1,711 data points to find the winning neck creams.

A side-by-side photo of a woman's neck before and after our neck cream test.

Yes — to an extent. "The purpose of neck creams and treatments is similar to those for skin of the face, to maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin, including the integrity of the skin's barrier function and moisture, all while attempting to protect against and repair environmental damage," says Jeremy Brauer, M.D., clinical associate professor at the New York University Department of Dermatology in New York City.

In GH Beauty Lab tests, users apply neck creams daily for twelve weeks to see changes in skin. "Neck creams are typically thicker than facial creams and are formulated with specific ingredients to help lift and tighten the loose, crepey neck and décolleté skin that occurs as we age, due to collagen and elastin loss," Dr. Mehr explains.

That said, there's no such thing as a neck lift in a bottle: "You shouldn't expect miracles from topical neck treatments," advises GH Beauty Lab Chemist Danusia Wnek. "If you are looking for a drastic change, you may want to visit a dermatologist or plastic surgeon." And remember, daily habits can have an effect too: Laxity of the neck skin is happening earlier than ever thanks to "tech neck" from looking at our phones repeatedly, Dr. Engelman says. Along with a neck firming cream, she adds that you can also use products like moisturizers to help strengthen the skin against signs of aging.

April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.

Dori Price is a New York City-based freelance writer and editor and beauty, style and wellness expert who was the Beauty & Fashion Director at Family Circle for 13 years before she joined Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day as a freelance beauty editor. She has also written for WomensHealthMag.com, Elle.com and HealthCentral.com.

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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