Best neck cream: Firming creams and serums for your décolletage
Keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay with our pick of the best neck creams for every skin type
Most of us will happily invest in caring for the skin on our face, but move downwards and our necks are often neglected. To nourish and protect the skin on your neck, the best neck creams are a crucial step in your skincare routine.
The skin on our neck is just as delicate as that around our eyes, and as such is prone to losing elasticity and developing age spots and wrinkles. Despite this, most skincare routines tend to end around the jawline, ignoring the neck area entirely. Daily application of a neck cream can help reduce and prevent multiple signs of ageing in this area.
However, with so many products on the market, knowing which one will deliver results can be tricky. So, below you’ll find a handy buying guide to help you choose the right product for your particular skin type and concern, plus our pick of the best neck creams available.
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Best neck creams: At a glance
- Best neck cream for fine lines: Omorovicza Firming Neck Cream | £105
- Best value neck cream: bareMinerals Ageless Genius Firming & Wrinkle Smoothing Neck Cream | £45
- Best neck cream for long-lasting results: Natura Bisse Tensolift Neck Cream | £160
How to choose the best neck cream for you
What ingredients should I look for?
Ingredients lists (or INCI lists) are a goldmine of information, if you know what you’re looking for. However, few consumers have the specialist knowledge to pick out the ingredients that are good for their specific skincare concerns. Here are a few to keep in mind when choosing the best neck cream for you.
Humectants
As with any cream product, part of the goal is to keep the skin hydrated so that it appears plump and glowy. Humectants are hygroscopic, which means they absorb water. When applied to the skin, humectants draw moisture from the atmosphere into the skin, as well as drawing moisture from deeper in the skin; this is the reason it’s important to drink water to keep the skin hydrated from within. This added hydration makes the skin appear more plump and soft.
Some common humectants to look out for are:
- Glycerin
- Hyaluronic acid
- Panthenol
- Urea
Emollients
Trans-epidermal water loss – the evaporation of moisture from the skin – is a huge cause of dry skin. To prevent it, moisturisers use emollients to create a barrier between your skin and the outside, locking in hydration while allowing the skin to breathe. Good neck creams will use a combination of humectants and emollients to draw water into the skin and keep it there.
Emollients are plentiful, but here are some of the most common and effective:
- Petrolatum
- Lanolin
- Mineral oils
- Dimethicone
- Cetearyl alcohol
- Shea butter
- Stearic acid
Vitamin A (Retinol)
Retinol, or vitamin A, is one of the most widely researched skincare ingredients around, and it’s primarily used in cosmetics for its anti-ageing benefits. Since the best neck creams seek to target fine lines and wrinkles caused by ageing, formulas containing retinol are worth a look.
Be warned, though: retinol can be sensitising, making your skin more susceptible to sun damage, dryness and peeling. Always ensure you use a good facial sunscreen for protection, and monitor your skin for sensitivity during the first few months of use. If you have very sensitive skin, you may want to phase retinol into your routine once a week to allow your skin to get used to the ingredient.
Retinol, and ingredients with similar effects, are commonly listed on formula lists as:
- Retinol
- Retinoic acid
- Tretinoin
- Vitamin A
Antioxidants
Free radicals, UV and pollution cause oxidative damage to the skin, which can lead to redness and inflammation. Antioxidants are used to combat this unavoidable oxidative damage, strengthening the skin with long-term use.
The best antioxidants for neck creams include, but aren’t limited to:
- Vitamin C
- Coenzyme Q10
- Niacinamide
- Vitamin E
- Resveratrol
- Glutathione
Peptides
Many skincare products – including neck creams – that aim to strengthen the skin will contain peptides. These are short chains of amino acids, similar to those that make up collagen and keratin in the skin. Adding peptides to your skincare routine can stimulate the skin to produce more collagen, adding strength to the skin over time.
- Common peptides include:
- Palmitoyl pentapeptide
- Palmitoyl oligopeptide
- Tripeptide 1
- Acetyl tetrapeptide-9
When should I start using a neck cream?
As is always the case, prevention is better than cure. In fact, our necks can actually begin to show signs of ageing far sooner than our faces. As such, it’s never too early to start extending your skincare routine downwards, to cover your neck and décolletage. Having said that, if you’re already noticing signs of ageing then it isn’t too late. We’ve picked out creams that will give your skin a boost, regardless of your age.
How much should I spend on a neck cream?
We won’t beat around the bush – neck creams tend to be expensive. But while pricey, they’re a worthy investment. However, be mindful of the fact that you could be paying for a combination of pretty packaging, exotic ingredients and a brand’s reputation; and not necessarily the quality or effectiveness of the product.
If you’re short on funds to splash out on an expensive cream designed specifically for the neck area, then we recommend applying a hydrating facial moisturiser instead. Although it won’t always include anti-ageing properties, it will provide the nourishment your skin needs to maintain a youthful complexion.
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The best neck creams to buy in 2023
1. Omorovicza Firming Neck Cream
Price: £95 (50ml) | Check price at Cult Beauty
The Omorovicza Firming neck cream targets fine lines, sagging and sun spots, with a supercharged formula that instantly plumps parched and dull skin. This neck cream is enriched with white truffle enzymes and leontopodic acid, which gently resurfaces the skin for a smoother texture. Proteins help lift the skin for a firmer appearance and ultra-moisturising hyaluronic acid tackles wrinkles.
For best results, apply the neck cream morning and night in an upward motion until it’s fully absorbed. Thankfully, because of the ultra-rich formula, only a small blob is needed – you won’t get through the tub too quickly. Our thoughts? Replenishing and elasticising, the Omorovicza Firming neck cream should be your first port of call for correcting the first signs of ageing.
2. Too Cool For School Egg Mellow Cream
Price: £27 (50g) | Check price at Space NK
If you’re only beginning to think about anti-ageing skincare, or simply fancy a fuss-free, do-it-all product, the Too Cool For School Egg Mellow is the all-in-one cream you’ve been looking for. The firming cream targets your face, eyes and neck, working as a primer, serum, moisturiser and sleeping mask in one. Suited to all skin types, the Egg Mellow Cream gives dull, dry skin an instant shot of radiance for a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion.
Egg extract moisturises the skin, while collagen fibres plump up fine lines; niacinamide brightens and smooths for an even texture. As a gateway into anti-ageing skincare, there’s no beating Egg Mellow. We’re sure your skin will be looking fresh and nourished in no time at all. We’re big fans of the Korean brand’s funky packaging, too.
3. InLight Beauty Neck Firming Serum: Best cruelty-free and vegan neck serum
Price: £68 (50ml) | Check price at InLight Beauty
Those looking to add a bit of luxury to their skincare routine may want to consider this innovative neck serum from certified-organic brand, InLight Beauty. Unlike the other creams in this roundup, this oil-based serum uses a combination of dry oils – plus natural forms of retinol, vitamin E and antioxidants – that sink beautifully into the skin.
Apply the serum using your hands, or as part of a daily Gua Sha routine. InLight Beauty recommends massaging the oil into your neck every day as part of a relaxing wind-down, which will not only contribute to lymphatic drainage but will boost circulation, too. The pump applicator makes it incredibly easy to dispense the perfect amount, while the glass bottle in which the serum is packaged gives the product a premium feel.
4. Estée Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect Tri-Peptide Face and Neck Moisturiser Crème: Best cream for face and neck
Price: £84 | Check price at Boots
Estée Lauder is one of our go-to skincare brands for good reason. Its reasonably priced, hardworking formulas actually deliver on their promises – and this is exactly what you can expect with this neck cream. Those after a low-maintenance solution will be pleased to discover that it can be applied to both your face and neck, while the SPF 15 will help protect your neck against sun damage.
Formulated with a clever Tri-peptide Lift Complex, your face and neck will instantly feel firmer, tighter and look more radiant, while the array of antioxidants will work to make your skin more resilient. What more could you want?
5. bareMinerals Ageless Genius Firming & Wrinkle Smoothing Neck Cream: Best value neck cream
Price: £45 (50ml) | Check price at Boots
Rich, hydrating and replenishing – the bareMinerals Ageless Genius Firming & Wrinkle Smoothing neck cream is a fantastic product that comes in at an attractive price point. Using age-defying peptides, collagen levels are replenished to improve elasticity and help combat deep-set wrinkles.
The formula also uses a plant-based alternative to retinol. Phyto-Retinol minimises the appearance of fine lines and, with long-term use, will make the skin appear plumper and firmer.
6. Natura Bisse Tensolift Neck Cream
Price: £172 (50ml) | Check price at Space NK
Natura Bisse is renowned for its use of high-quality ingredients and forward-thinking formulas. The brand may promise a lot, but trust us, it delivers. Packed full of micropeptides, collagen, elastin and amino acids, the skin instantly feels plumped, lifted and firm after a single application. The cream immediately sinks into the skin without any sticky residue, and a little goes a long way.
The Tensolift neck cream’s active ingredients encourage skin cells to regenerate, gradually giving you a firmer, more youthful-looking complexion over time. Just don’t expect results overnight; it isn’t a miracle-worker.
