The 15 Best Firming Neck Creams Of 2023 For Tight, Toned Skin

I want to call out that the first ingredient on the list is aloe vera—not water. Why is this important? Well, aloe is a known skin-plumping humectant (it’s also what gives this cream its bouncy, easily spreadable texture), and this night cream has basically buckets of it. 

There’s also postbiotics to fortify the skin barrier, vitamin C to support collagen production, shea butter to fill in microcracks, rosewater to soothe, allantoin to reduce inflammation, and I could go on. If you’re looking for one cream to use all over, trust me, this is a stellar pick. 

What our tester says

I’m consistently floored by the price of my Andalou Naturals goodies. I mean, this formula is so high-quality, rich, and brimming with science-backed ingredients—all for under $30. The texture is also positively whipped and airy, sinking effortlessly into the skin (read: no greasy pillowcase). When I apply, I slather on all over: My face, my neck, my décolettage, my hands…you name it. 

True Botanicals is known for their high-quality, certified-organic, and wild-harvested ingredients, and their Boob Cream is the definition of moisture: In addition to ceramides, rosehip oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil, it also includes antioxidant-rich peach butter to soften the neck and chest. If you’re a fan of scent, you’ll also fall in love with the earthy ylang ylang, neroli and frankincense aroma. 

What our tester says

If you’re looking for a nighttime neck-firming ritual, you can’t go wrong with this balmy pick. It has a rich, pillowy texture that does take a little bit to work into the skin. But I use those extra few minutes to really massage my neck and décolletage—this stimulates blood flow and circulation, which, in turn, supports collagen production and keeps skin firm. 

This cream contains a trifecta of neck-firming ingredients: retinol, peptides, and antioxidants. It actually features a 0.01% retinol concentration, so it remains gentle enough for the sensitive skin on the neck; as for peptides, the cream includes a very special hexapeptide, which "can produce a mild, Botox-like effect, inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters that keep facial muscles from forming wrinkles,” board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., previously told mbg about the ingredient. Finally, you’ll find niacinamide and green tea extract, and vitamin E for antioxidant power and brighter tone.  

What our tester says

The brand markets the cream as “ultra-rich,” but honestly, I find it to be more lightweight and spreadable than many others on this list. To each their own! It is quite creamy, though, and super hydrating—my neck and chest look just as dewy in the morning as they did when I slathered on. If you’re nervous about starting a retinol journey, this one is a great option for you to try—the 0.01% concentration is gentle enough for beginners, but you’ll certainly see results.

Board-certified dermatologist Geeta Yadav, M.D., founder of FACET Dermatology, considers this her go-to pick for sagging neck skin: “This formula from SkinCeuticals features both retinol and peptides to help strengthen the skin on the neck,” she says. “It's safe and comfortable for daily use, even though it has retinol, and the brand has performed clinical studies demonstrating its efficacy.” In that 16-week study, 27% of participants found an average improvement in crepiness, 16% had a better appearance of horizontal neck lines, and 13% saw improved appearance of sagging. 

AHAs are great for easing discoloration concerns, as well as smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. This specific blend features both lactic and glycolic acids, which are top notch for fading dark spots. Glycolic acid in particular is best known for its ability to reduce hyperpigmentation, all while thickening the skin and making it more plump. As if those powerful AHAs weren’t enough, this formula also includes edelweiss stem cells to visibly firm the skin, as well as shea butter to keep everything smooth and soft. 

What our tester says

This is one of the thickest creams of the bunch, which is a good thing here—it piles on the moisture, counteracting any potential irritation from those AHAs. I will say it does have a slight banana-like scent; I personally don’t mind the aroma and find it quite subtle, but some shoppers do call it out in reviews.

Can’t tolerate retinol? Get yourself a stellar retinol alternative, like this powerful-yet-gentle number from fresh. It features a signature BT Matrix of black tea and rambutan tea extracts for their retinol-like effects—both have been shown to improve firmness and smooth wrinkles. You’ll also find ceramides and squalane to flood the skin with moisture, as well as pink porcelain lily extract to improve skin texture and enhance the structure of the dermis. 

What our tester says

The Black Tea collection is perhaps my favorite fresh range—it’s smooth, plumping, and luxuriously soft. This cream in particular absorbs quickly and leaves my skin looking dewy and—dare I say—fresh. I love the gentle firming power of the retinol-like tea extracts: I faced zero irritation, but I definitely noticed a plumper appearance.

The Tatcha experience is simply unmatched, and their fluffy neck cream certainly fits the bill: It’s rich yet airy, creamy yet spreadable, lightly scented yet gentle. I seriously want to slather this formula all over—in fact, I often massage a dollop on my chest and shoulders, too. In terms of ingredients, it features lovely Japanese botanicals and extracts known to plump and fortify aging skin, including the brand’s Hadasei-3 complex: a trio of Uji green tea, Okinawa red algae, and Akita rice to soften, hydrate, and smooth.

What our tester says

My neck tends to get red and splotchy when I wake up in the morning and feel itchy throughout the day (which only makes the skin angrier). Since using this Tatcha cream, I’ve noticed my skin looking so much calmer and hydrated. When I do feel the occasional itch coming on, a swipe of this hydrating formula instantly soothes the area. 

I’ll say it upfront: This is a pricey serum. But trust me, the innovative formula is worth the steep price tag: The brand’s patent-pending Subtopical Firming Technology directly delivers hyaluronic acid and peptides into the skin and allows those actives to perform at optimal potency levels. And the skin-plumping results are astounding—the serum truly is like filler in a bottle. Ourself even conducted clinical trials specifically for neck and décolletage, where 88% of participants found an improvement in crepiness, skin texture, and smoothness in just two weeks. 

What our tester says

My immediate thought: This isn’t your average hyaluronic acid serum. For starters, it’s not clear like most pillowy HA formulas—it resembles more of a milky hydrating serum, since the HA is encapsulated by lipid-rich compounds (that encapsulation is what helps deliver the HA more effectively into the skin). And while you should always apply hyaluronic acid to damp skin to avoid drying out the surface, you actually don’t need to worry about dehydration with this formula; because of the top notch delivery system, it chauffeurs the HA into the deeper layers of the skin without any water droplets. Essentially: This is a high-tech serum that deserves space in your line-up.  

This cream is thick, thick, thick. We can thank shea butter and candelilla wax for the rich texture, while the chaga mushroom and hyaluronic acid drench the skin in much-needed hydration. Those humectants also provide a temporary plumping effect, which can help fill out those bemoaned “tech neck” lines. In fact, the brand conducted a 12-week consumer study and found 92% of participants had visible improvement in the neck area. Plus, the cream features a plant-based retinol alternative to further tighten the skin and smooth wrinkles.

What our tester says

mbg beauty director Alexandra Engler has previously sung the praises of this Kiehl's cream: "I’ve used this as a night cream on both my face and neck, and it’s notable how refreshed it makes my complexion come morning,” she says. “My face looks plump and lifted, and the neck looks smoother. I found it to be an excellent cream to pair with retinol, in case you want to amp up your skin boosting routine. And while this isn’t directly related to skin health, I do appreciate that the chaga mushroom is grown using regenerative farming methods."

This formula features a special kind of retinoid—hydroxypinacolone retinoate—that has been shown to be more stable and cause less skin irritation than retinol. That said, it’s a great option to promote collagen production and ease fine lines without the dreaded retinol side effects. In addition, you’ll find melatonin, which has topical antioxidant properties, as well as chaga mushroom extract and quinoa seed oil for hydration. 

What our tester says

A good measure of a cream’s skin-plumping ability is how “bouncy” it feels in the jar. Tap your finger lightly against the top of the formula, and watch how it reacts to your touch: Does the cream stay put, or does it rebound immediately? This plush formula feels especially bouncy, thanks to the ultra-hydrating humectants, and it makes my skin feel just as juicy.  

There’s a reason many beauty experts consider this the ultimate splurge-worthy serum: It is seriously good. In it, you’ll find 14 ingredients known for their ability to lift and firm the skin (think gotu kola and kelp), 22 players for skin-plumping hydration (like hyaluronic acid and rosewater), 11 sources of antioxidants (green tea oil, vitamin E, etc.), and 15 ingredients beloved for smoothing wrinkles (think white willow bark and camellia oil). Essentially: This little serum packs quite the punch. One reviewer even notes their skin “feels tighter and smoother right away.” 

What our tester says

While it’s marketed as a serum, I find it has the consistency of a lightweight moisturizer. Think of a super pillowy, plush serum rather than a thin, water-based number. However, the serum does deliver enough slip for a quick gua sha routine and leaves behind a dewy glow —in other words, it’s capital-P perfect for the neck. It does have essential oils, if you’re sensitive to those, and it’s quite fragrant, but I actually love the wafts of floral as I tuck into bed. To me, it smells like pure luxury. 

For those with sensitive skin who don’t want to slather on any retinoids or exfoliators, consider peptides your BFFs. Peptides are beloved for gently encouraging younger, firmer, smoother skin—and this serum includes five (yes, five) of them to help promote collagen production and strengthen the skin barrier. This serum also features niacinamide for even more barrier support, as well as rosewater to soothe the easily-irritated area. But just because it’s gentle doesn’t mean it’s not effective: In a four-week clinical study of over 50 participants, 92% said their neck looked firmer and visibly repaired after using the serum.

You need to protect your neck from sun damage, especially if you’re using retinol or exfoliants, as both can increase photosensitivity. And UV damage is a major culprit for sagging, crepey neck skin—so lather up! If you’d like to treat your neck with smart actives and protect it from UV rays, this SPF 25 has you covered. With peptides, vitamin C, and niacinamide, it provides antioxidant support, moisturizes, and evens tone “After using Perricone Cold Plasma+ Neck & Chest for barely 2 months, I can see and feel visible results for the first time,” one 75-year-old reviewer writes. “Redness has faded, neck skin is firmer, and chest skin is smoother.”

What our tester says

While I tested most of these creams at night, I decided to slather this one on in the morning given the SPF protection—I was delighted to find my neck soft, soothed, and moisturized all day long. It’s not as spreadable as other options I’ve tried, but the added SPF is worth the extra effort.

This confection features palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, both of which have impressive skin care benefits. The former peptide promotes the production of collagen, while the latter is great for reducing inflammation (and inflammation is perhaps the No. 1 culprit for crepey skin). "It is thought that this peptide may be able to reduce inflammation and stimulate skin regeneration," King says. Then to further protect the sensitive skin from oxidative stress and promote cellular resilience, the cream contains brown algae extract and apple fruit extract. 

What our tester says

I’m a Renée Rouleau superfan at this point (I’ll slather on whatever the famed esthetician tells me to at this point), so I knew I’d fall in love with this ultra-moisturizing neck cream. Just like the name implies, the hydration is intense—I can literally feel my skin drinking it up. Even after a few days of testing, I could already notice my skin looking plumper and more even-toned. 

This rich moisturizing cream was formulated with menopausal skin in mind, so its main gig is to plump, hydrate, and soften mature, sensitive skin. In it, you’ll find a gentle retinoid to increase elasticity, chrysolepis extract to protect against oxidative stress, and ecotine—an innovative yet underrated ingredient to strengthen the skin barrier and soothe dehydrated skin. Feel free to slather it on your face, neck, and décolletage—trust us, you’ll want to. 

What our tester says

While I am not in menopause, I have found myself gravitating towards this luxe night cream. The skin-plumping ingredients are just too good to pass up, and anyone can benefit from the brand’s smart firming technology. Plus, there’s something so chic about the airless pump packaging—I proudly display it (along with my Stripes Power Move serum) on my vanity.