The 7 best neck creams for the neck and chest

Key takeaways

• The skin on your neck can be thinner and more sensitive than the skin on your face, so it often shows sun exposure early.

• Our top pick is The SCULPT Neck + Décolleté Concentrate from U Beauty, a serum-like concentrate with ectoin, a peptide and several forms of hyaluronic acid for the neck, chest and jawline.

• On a budget, RoC Derm Correxion Contour Cream pairs retinol with hyaluronic acid for $26.99.

• A good neck cream can help the skin look smoother and more hydrated, but in one placebo-controlled trial the placebo base helped too, so moisturizing does part of the work.

• Daily sunscreen on the neck and chest matters as much as any cream on this list.

Do neck creams work?

They can help with how the skin looks, within limits. Cleveland Clinic explains that the skin on your neck “can be thinner and even more sensitive than the skin on your face” and is “one of the first places to show signs of aging.” It points to sun exposure, smoking and air pollution as common causes, and lists sunscreen, retinoids, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid among the ingredients worth looking for. It also notes that “a high price tag doesn’t mean that a product is more potent.”

The research on neck products is small. In a 2020 randomized, double-blind trial of 31 people, a neck serum and cream were compared with a placebo base over two months, and both groups saw improvements in wrinkles, laxity, pigmentation, dryness and texture. That’s a useful reality check: part of what a neck cream does is simply keep the skin moisturized. Cleveland Clinic’s guide to crepey skin makes the same point from the other side, saying moisturizers “work well for mildly crepey skin, but they have limitations.”

We compared each product on its published ingredient list, not on hands-on testing. We looked at the main ingredients (peptides, retinoids, hyaluronic acid), whether fragrance is listed, where the brand says to apply it, and the price.

1. U Beauty The SCULPT Neck + Décolleté Concentrate: best overall

The SCULPT Neck + Décolleté Concentrate is U Beauty’s treatment for the neck, chest and jawline. It’s a serum rather than a thick cream, built around ectoin, acetyl hexapeptide-8 and several forms of hyaluronic acid, with ceramide NP, squalane and antioxidants, all powered by proprietary SIREN Capsule Technology™. U Beauty says it helps soften the look of fine lines while visibly improving the appearance of thin, crepey-looking skin.

Key features:

• A dedicated neck and chest formula. It’s made for the neck and chest, and U Beauty’s directions have you massaging it upward from the décolleté to the jawline.

• Peptide plus hydration. Acetyl hexapeptide-8 sits alongside four forms of hyaluronic acid and ceramide NP.

• Published study figures. In a 27-volunteer instrumental study after 28 days of twice-daily use, U Beauty reports that 96% saw an improvement in the look of skin elasticity and 88% in the look of skin firmness.

Tradeoff: it contains a fragrance ingredient, methyldihydrojasmonate, so it isn’t a fragrance-free pick.

Best for: people who want one product designed for the neck, chest and jawline, used morning and evening.

Price: $138 for 50 ml.

2. SkinMedica Neck Correct Neck and Décolleté Cream: best for neck bands

SkinMedica Neck Correct Neck and Décolleté Cream combines a peptide (acetyl tetrapeptide-2) with paracress extract (acmella oleracea), algae extracts and squalane. SkinMedica says it’s “clinically proven to visibly lift, firm, and smooth the skin,” and that the paracress extract helps reduce the appearance of platysma bands, the vertical cords at the front of the neck.

Key features:

• Made for the neck and chest. The directions call for upward strokes on the neck and décolleté, morning and evening.

• No fragrance on the ingredient list. The formula doesn’t list fragrance or essential oils.

• Silicone-rich texture. Dimethicone is the second ingredient, right after water, alongside other silicones.

Tradeoff: at $135 it’s one of the pricier picks, and SkinMedica doesn’t publish study figures on the product page.

Best for: people most bothered by visible vertical bands on the neck.

Price: $135 for 1.7 oz.

3. StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream PLUS: best-known neck cream

StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream PLUS is a rich cream with shea butter, a peptide technology the brand calls Alpha-3 Peptide, spilanthol and bearberry extract. StriVectin cites Circana sales data to call it the number one prestige neck cream in the US for 2024, and it reports that 94% of 35 people said they saw visibly improved firmness in an eight-week consumer perception study.

Key features:

• Rich shea butter base. It suits dry skin on the neck and chest.

• Directions for the whole neck. StriVectin says to apply it morning and evening to the front and sides of the neck, along the jawline.

• Several sizes. It comes in 0.25 oz, 1.7 oz and 3.4 oz.

Tradeoff: it contains fragrance and limonene, which may not suit sensitive skin.

Best for: dry skin that likes a thicker cream.

Price: $99 for 1.7 oz.

4. ALASTIN Restorative Neck Complex: best for texture and dark spots

ALASTIN Restorative Neck Complex with TriHex Technology combines several peptides with niacinamide, ceramide NP, squalane and plant extracts. ALASTIN says it’s clinically proven to improve the appearance of skin texture, pigmentation and wrinkles on the neck and décolleté.

Key features:

• Niacinamide included. It pairs several peptides with niacinamide, ceramide NP and squalane for uneven-looking skin.

• No fragrance on the ingredient list. The formula doesn’t list fragrance.

• Simple routine. ALASTIN’s directions call for one pump, morning and evening, using upward strokes.

Tradeoff: ALASTIN’s study details are listed as data on file, so the page doesn’t give a sample size or percentage.

Best for: people who notice dark spots and rough texture on the chest as well as lines on the neck.

Price: $158 for 1.7 oz.

5. Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced: best peptide blend

Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced is built around what Revision calls eight distinctive peptides, including palmitoyl tripeptide-38 and palmitoyl tripeptide-5, plus a vitamin C derivative (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) and ceramide NG. Revision positions it for moderate to advanced visible signs of aging on the neck and décolleté.

Key features:

• The longest peptide list here. It’s the pick for people who want a multi-peptide formula for the neck.

• Vitamin C derivative included. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is an oil-soluble form of vitamin C.

• Two sizes. It comes in 0.5 oz and 1.7 oz.

Tradeoff: at $164 it’s the most expensive cream on this list, and it contains fragrance.

Best for: people who want the widest mix of peptides for the neck and chest.

Price: $164 for 1.7 oz, or $64 for 0.5 oz.

6. Olay Regenerist Face & Neck Lifting Treatment: best mid-price pick

Olay Regenerist Face & Neck Lifting Treatment combines niacinamide with four peptides, including palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and acetyl hexapeptide-8, plus panthenol and what Olay calls Triple Collagen Peptide. It’s applied with a built-in roller. Olay labels it fragrance-free, and it’s made for both the face and the neck.

Key features:

• Face and neck in one. You can use it on both areas, day and night.

• Niacinamide plus peptides. Niacinamide is the second ingredient.

• Fragrance-free. Olay labels it fragrance-free.

Tradeoff: Olay gives a headline figure (96% saw visible improvement in 14 days) but no study size or method, and the directions suggest finishing with a moisturizer, so it may add a step.

Best for: people who want one peptide product for the face and neck without a prestige price.

Price: $46.65.

7. RoC Derm Correxion Contour Cream: best budget pick

RoC Derm Correxion Contour Cream pairs retinol with hyaluronic acid, a vitamin C derivative (3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid) and swertia extract. RoC says it visibly firms the face and neck in one week, and reports that horizontal neck lines were visibly reduced by 49% after one week in a consumer study.

Key features:

• Retinol included. It’s the only pick here with retinol, one of the ingredients Cleveland Clinic lists for the neck.

• Formulated without fragrance. RoC says so on the product page.

• Face, neck and jawline. The directions call for upward motions over all three.

Tradeoff: retinol can irritate at first, so RoC suggests starting every other night, and you’ll need sunscreen during the day.

Best for: people who want to try a retinol neck cream for under $30.

Price: $26.99 for 1.7 oz.

How to use a neck cream

• Apply it after cleansing, using upward strokes. Every brand above suggests upward strokes, and U Beauty and Revision both say to work from the chest up to the jawline. Our guide to skincare routine order shows where it fits.

• Go gently with retinoids. Cleveland Clinic suggests using a lower strength on the neck, because the skin there has fewer oil glands. If you’re new to retinol, our list of retinol products for beginners explains how to ease in.

• Wear sunscreen on your neck and chest every day. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and reminds you not to forget your neck.

• Give it time. Most brands above describe results over four to 12 weeks of consistent use.

Frequently asked questions

Do firming neck creams actually work?

They can help the neck look smoother and more hydrated, but the research is limited. In one 2020 trial, both the active neck products and the placebo base improved the look of wrinkles and texture over two months, which suggests regular moisturizing does part of the work. Cleveland Clinic recommends daily sunscreen on the neck and chest, plus a lower-strength retinoid.

Do you need a separate neck cream?

Not necessarily. Many face creams can be used on the neck, and Olay and RoC make products for both. A dedicated neck cream is worth it if you want directions and textures made for that area, or if the neck is your main concern.

What ingredients should you look for in a neck cream?

Cleveland Clinic lists retinoids, antioxidants like vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid and sunscreen. Peptides are common too, and several creams on this list combine more than one.

Can you use retinol on your neck?

Yes, but carefully. Cleveland Clinic suggests a lower strength on the neck than on the face. RoC Derm Correxion Contour Cream is the only retinol pick on this list, and RoC suggests starting every other night.

When should you start using a neck cream?

There’s no set age. If you already use a face moisturizer and sunscreen, extending both down to your neck and chest is the simplest place to start, and a dedicated neck cream can come later.