The best neck creams for rejuvenating and firming results

Rich, yet non-greasy, this neck cream targets multiple signs of ageing. If you’re not familiar with the key ingredients, the triple blend of hard-working actives works to resurface and brighten discolouration, 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 AM and PM skincare routines, applying in upwards motions from your décolletage to your jawline. We loved how quickly we saw results with this. After just three days of use, 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 taking place too.

Part of the iconic pro-collagen collection, if you’re a fan of Elemis’s marine cream (who isn’t!) you’ll love this formula dedicated to the delicate neck area. This also contains marine extracts that are teamed with 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. We were impressed to see after one month’s use, crepey skin looked smoother and there was a reduction in the look of fine lines.

Much more than just chic, minimalistic packaging, Necessaire uses results-driven ingredients in its body care for real replenishing and renewing results. A stand-out for us in its line-up is this fragrance-free neck serum that we can’t get enough of. 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 superstar active niacinamide that diminishes lines and improves uneven skin tone.

Light and luxe in texture, the serum leaves the neck feeling comfortably cushioned with a veil of dewiness on the skin when first applied. After a few days of use, we started to notice a difference in how well-hydrated the area not only felt but looked. And with ongoing use, we started to see a more defined neckline.

When you first apply this velvety gel, you notice how cooling it feels on the skin. Left to absorb it leaves the neck and décolletage instantly feeling better-hydrated (our skin would literally drink up the formula) but best of all it also blankets the skin in glow. This is thanks to its infusion of rejuvenating ingredients that not only work to tone and firm the skin but 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 key with this one is to keep going and you’ll see better and better results.

This glass jar is packed with 95 per cent natural ingredients that focus on targeting skin strength for a firmer toned neckline. It’s packed with firming peptides to boost collagen production and skin-tightening polysaccharides leading to a firming and lifting effect. Furthermore, it’s combined with glycolic acid for gentle exfoliation and a more refined skin texture – great for those wanting to smooth out stubborn creases.

While this is suitable for all skin types, our tester found it particularly restorative on her dry skin with it being both soothing and rehydrating. For a firming effect, we started to feel the benefits of the peptide-rich formula around the one-month mark.

We’re already big fans of the eye serum from the same “tighten and lift” range (£58, Boots.com) – which took the top spot in our round-up of the best eye serums in 2021 – so we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the neck cream, too. It’s also the No 1 bestselling neck cream in the US, so we expected big things from the jar.

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.

One of these cult neck creams sells every 60 seconds worldwide, and what’s even more noteworthy is it’s the bestselling beauty product at M&S.

The reason this award-winning neck cream is so popular is that it’s affordable and effective – boasting squalane, hyaluronic acid and shea butter to hydrate and lock in moisture, 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, which has a firming and moisturising action on the skin, is another stand-out that makes the formula unique.

Promising results in just seven days, we quickly started to see results in the form of less visible fine lines, but we found you do have to persevere for it to work on sagging and crepey skin.

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-around gentle formulation, which we found smoothed lines in a matter of weeks.

The first thing you’ll notice when you open up this jar is the sorbet-orange light cream that fills the senses with its zesty fragrance. Promising to rejuvenate and firm like “shapewear for your neck”, we did see instant results when it came to hydration. Our skin would drink up the formula, infused with hyaluronic acid, moisture-retaining ceramides and smoothing shea butter.

We were pleased to see in a matter of days that ageing horizontal necklines looked a little less prominent but give it longer to see its real smoothing and firming abilities. Once we stopped applying it, we noticed it was missing.

Perfecting a formula that contains retinol – the gold standard in skin-rejuvenating actives – but is still tolerable to the delicate neck area was always going to be a tough ask. But if there’s a skincare brand that could do it, and do it well, it’s SkinCeuticals. The brand has always been ahead of the game when it comes to retinol skincare.

You have to build up a tolerance with this one, so go easy to start with. Try every other night to begin with, in your evening skincare routine only, and remember to wear SPF the next day applied down to your chest, as it will make the skin more sensitive to the sun.

Like all retinol formulations, perseverance is key. We started to see visibly long-term results after a month with this one, in the form of a stronger and firmer skin texture teamed with a reduction to the look of deeper lines.

While most skincare brands are new to neck creams, Sisley first introduced one back in the Eighties, so they know a thing or two about formulating a top-tier product.

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, which is a plant-based astringent that tightens the skin temporarily. However, for long-term results, the caffeine, red algae and horse chestnut work their magic alongside moisturising ingredients that smooth and plump fine lines.