The best neck creams to tighten, smooth and lift
If you’ve spent years neglecting your neck, it’s time to give it some TLC. Our expert shares her five favourite products.
If you’ve spent years neglecting your neck, it’s time to give it some TLC. Our expert shares her five favourite products.
In the family hierarchy of skincare, my neck has always been afflicted with middle-child syndrome. While my face got all the forensic attention traditionally lavished on a first born – "Are you dehydrated, darling?" "Need a treat?" "Let Mummy put some cream on!" – my poor, overlooked neck was expected to dutifully soldier on making zero demands.
But then, sometime around its 50th birthday, my neck started to quietly plan its revenge. "You know all those years you spent ignoring me?" it seemed to be saying. "Welcome to payback time."
It’s not until you reach midlife that your neck starts to officially enter the chat. Oh, those halcyon years when I naively viewed it as something that simply propped up my head. It’s only now that my neck has started to reveal its true purpose – my body’s worst secret keeper. And that’s mainly because the skin on our necks is far thinner and has far fewer oil glands than facial skin, making it more prone to ageing.
Then there’s sun exposure and the modern phenomenon of tech neck – yep, repetitive head tilting from scrolling genuinely does cause neck lines to form. Frankly, it’s no wonder my neck is practically classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in urgent need of restoration.
Some people simply opt for expensive cosmetic surgery at this point. And hell, if I had a Shih Tzu with slightly less extravagant tastes, I’d join them. But for now? My answer needs to lie firmly in a jar.
Neck creams can’t promise miracles, but the best ones can really improve firmness, elasticity and smoothness. And the good news? I’ve picked some absolute winners for you.
There’s no denying it, neck creams aren’t cheap, due to the need for concentrated ingredients. But one fairly priced offering that really packs a punch is No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck Multi Action Serum (1) (£19.94 for 30ml). Full of powerful peptides and ceramides to lock in moisture and improve elasticity, this non-greasy formula absorbs easily into the neck and, crucially, gets to work quickly – expect to see increased firmness after just a week.
This Works Perfect Cleavage & Neck Serum (2) (£45 for 150ml) had me at the word "perfect", and, to be fair, it damn near is. Formulated with collagen-boosting marine algae and vitamin C, along with hyaluronic acid to hydrate, this one left my neck feeling smoother, plumper and surprisingly firmer. Bonus points for the divine spa-like scent.
Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Lifting Face + Neck Cream (3) (£60.80 for 50ml) is a global bestseller for a reason. It’s a big investment, but this blend of skin-firming peptides, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil and shea butter really does the business. After just a few weeks, I saw a definite reduction in wrinkles, dryness and crepiness. The texture also makes it a velvety dream to apply.
Good old Prai has built an entire brand around targeting midlife skin concerns, and all I can say to Prai Ageless Throat & Decolletage Creme (4) (£31.99 for 50ml) is ‘ambassador, you really are spoiling us’. Featuring its unique Sepilift technology (me neither but, hey, it works) to lift and tighten sagging skin, as well as an impressive array of anti-ageing vitamins, this one left my neck looking a lot plumper and, dare I say it, younger.
Absolute Collagen specialises in products that boost collagen production and it’s also really delivered on the neck cream front with Absolute Collagen Deep Lift Neck & Dec Cream (5) (£55 for 50ml). Designed to sculpt, tighten and plump the neck and cleavage area, it also tackles wrinkles like a boss. I loved the light gel consistency and fresh floral scent.
Enjoy your neck creams. Personally? I’m bidding farewell to polo necks and strategically placed scarves. Buckle up, neck, it’s time to step into your scene-stealing diva era.
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