The skin on the décolleté is subject to early signs of aging, as it’s thinner and has fewer oil glands than the skin on the face. And while an ounce of prevention (i.e., sunscreen) is worth a pound of cure here, the best neck creams “can make a big difference over time,” says Noah Gratch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York and Long Island.
“Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher to the neck every single morning is the most important step in slowing collagen breakdown,” he continues. “When wrinkles are already present, I usually combine at-home and in-office strategies.”
Depending on the patient and how deep their neck lines are, Dr. Gratch recommends anything from fractional laser resurfacing to ultrasound-based tightening treatments or Sculptura injections in the office, paired with a home routine that includes retinoids, peptides, and hydrating creams.
“Using a neck cream can help maintain the skin’s suppleness and complement professional treatments,” he explains. “I often tell my patients that a high-quality cream on the neck is not about overnight results but about consistency and supporting the skin long-term.” Which neck creams are the most supportive?
Vogue’s Favorite Neck Creams
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Ahead, browse the 18 neck creams that dermatologists most recommend for a range of skin types and concerns. Choose the right one for your neck to keep smoothness and suppleness looking up.
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Best Defining the Jawline: Valmont V-Lift Neck
- Why we love it: Suited for all skin types, Valmont’s cushiony cream targets wrinkled, crepey skin on the neck and chest; it also gives the face a more contoured look by firming the jawline. The Swiss cream features Valmont’s Triple DNA and RNA, a signature ingredient that combines salmon DNA, which can retain 10,000 times its weight in water, with liposomal RNA that supports the skin’s natural reparative processes. It’s also formulated with vitamin C, peptides, and copper lysinate. “The Valmont V-Lift Neck Cream contains some intriguing ingredients, such as DNA fragments and RNA particles, but the real effects likely come from its film-forming polymers that provide a temporary tightening and lifting sensation,” says Kseniya Kobets, MD, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care in New York. “Its moisturizing components—humectants like glycerin and urea—combined with emollients such as shea butter and petrolatum, help soften the skin and maintain hydration through occlusion.” The peptides in the formula may support collagen production over time, she adds, while the antioxidants contribute to overall skin health. For more pronounced lifting and firming, the brand recommends using the cream as part of a four-step process: Before or after using V-Lift Neck on the décolleté and jawline, apply V-Lift Serum, V-Lift Cream, and V-Lift Eye on the face.
- Ingredients: Triple DNA & RNA, peptides, vitamin C, shea butter, grape seed oil, copper lysinate
- Who it’s for: Those looking to tighten, firm, and tone the neck, smooth the décolleté, and contour the face
- Size: 50 ml/ 1.7 fl oz
Best Anti-Aging: SkinCeuticals TriPeptide R Neck Repair Cream
- Why we love it: Packed with pure retinol, the anti-aging cream has been clinically proven to restore firmness and elasticity to the skin of the neck over time. Dr. Mona Foad, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, cosigns its efficacy. “This cream is packed with retinol to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, tripeptides to boost collagen, and a glaucine complex to firm up the skin. It’s great for the neck—tackling sagging, crepiness, and wrinkles,” she says. “Plus, it has hydrating ingredients to moisturize and improve skin texture.” Clinically tested in a 16-week study, the fast-absorbing cream has stats to back up its benefits. “This neck cream touts 27% average improvement in neck skin crepiness, as well as 16% average improvement in the appearance of horizontal neck lines,” Foad cites.
- Ingredients: Pure retinol, tripeptide concentrate, glaucine complex
- Who it’s for: The cream is ideal for aging skin, and has been proven to combat dryness.
- Size: 1.7 fl oz