12 Experts Reveal How They Keep Their Neck Smooth and Taut

Refine your retinol

“The anti-aging benefit of retinols is indisputable, but using the same retinol on your neck as your face isn’t always the best option. The skin on the neck and chest is thinner and more delicate and many retinol formulations are too strong. SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Retinol Neck Repair Cream ($136) has a lower 0.2% concentration of time-released retinol so it helps to encourage cell turnover to firm and brighten skin with minimal irritation. Obagi ELASTIderm Neck & Decollete Concentrate ($198) is another option that combines retinol with arbutin, a natural alternative to hydroquinone, for additional brightening benefits.” —Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD

BUY SKINCEUTICALS – $136

BUY ON OBAGI – $198

Adopt a firming product regimen

“I use the Alastin TransFORM Body Treatment ($216) for my neck. It works wonders due to the TriHex technology within the formula which helps the skin to build collagen, thus improving overall firmness. I also use the SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair SPF ($70) which has antioxidants and helps to decrease sun damage. Finally I use SkinMedica’s TNS-Advanced+ Serum ($295) on my neck to further help with collagen production. The formula has growth factors and stem cells which help with toning and tightening the look and feel of the skin.” –Montclair, NJ dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD

BUY ALASTIN SKINCARE – $216

BUY SKINMEDICA SPF – $70

BUY SKINMEDICA SERUM – $295

Try a cocktail of skin-tightening treatments and neurotoxins

“I’m 62 years old, and my daughter got married recently and leading up to the big day, my neck was my biggest insecurity. My superstar combo for restoring the lower face and neck areas goes like this: First, Sofwave, then three Morpheus treatments for the lower face and jowls. I also follow that up with neurotoxin treatments. In terms of products, we have an exciting new SkinfluenceMD DNA Youth Recovery Body Cream ($100) that can be used all over the body including the neck area. It works by utilizing an advanced delivery system that effectively transfers three different kinds of plant-derived enzymes that repair damaged DNA strands.” –New York dermatologist, dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD

BUY NOW – $100

Facelifts and proper maintenance

“The holy grail of ensuring you have a beautiful neck and jawline is getting a facelift, and the key to having surgery results last for many years is keeping up with maintenance in the form of a good skin-care routine. Getting some preventative treatments that boost collagen and elastin production can help, too. The same principles apply for anyone looking for anti-aging who is not ready to go the surgical route. 

The Neocutis Neck & Décolleté cream ($142) helps tighten and firm skin while diminishing unevenness and dark spots. Another powerhouse potion is the SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Neck Repair ($136) that contains retinol. Not only does it smooth fine wrinkles and lines, it also helps with skin regeneration.” —Wayne, NJ facial plastic surgeon Jeffrey B. Wise, MD

BUY NEOCUTIS – $142

BUY SKINCEUTICALS – $136

Microneedling and maintenance

“Microneedling RF (Morpheus 8) and Synchronous Ultrasound (SoftWave) layered in a therapy combination is my best superpower duo for keeping the delicate and fragile ‘neck and dec’ area smooth and taut. Adding a neuromodulator for the platysma bands makes it a trifecta. Extending treatment to the corners of the mouth, chin and mandible improve the support structure and both lift the neck while reestablishing the distinction between the jawline and the neck eliminating the ‘Jeck.’ 

Topically, by day, I use Skin Medica’s Neck Correct ($135) followed by a broad-based SPF like Tizo Age Defying Fusion Tinted Sunscreen Tinted Sunscreen ($45) or EltaMD UV 40 Daily Face Sunscreen Moisturizer ($39) to improve crepiness of the décolleté and prevent some damage. Its concentrated group of specific peptides support skin plumping for the delicate skin in the area. It also has a unique feature using a watercress extract to help reduce the appearance of the platysmal bands. For an intense treatment-like cream, I like the Defanage 6-Week Perfection Neck Tightening Cream ($127), which contributes to skin strength and dermal thickness in the fragile neck area.” —Santa Monica, CA dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD

BUY SKINMEDICA – $135

BUY TIZO – $45

BUY ELTAMD – $39

BUY DEFANAGE – $127

Botox Cosmetic for neck wrinkles

“I personally use the SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum ($295) and Alastin Restorative Neck Complex with TriHex Technology ($142). I also use Botox Cosmetic to relax my neck bands and to help smooth my jawline. I routinely use my no-downtime, tissue-tightening devices, nonablative fractional resurfacing, or microneedling combined with radiofrequency or Ultherapy to reduce the laxity and treat the crepey skin.” —Delray Beach, FL dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby

BUY SKINMEDICA – $295

BUY ALASTIN – $142

Hydrafacials and laser therapies

“It is important to me to treat my neck and chest areas as a continuation of my face. This being said, daily application and reapplication of sunscreen is my number-one priority. In addition to this, I apply my treatments of growth factors, peptides and antioxidants onto my neck to promote and protect the collagen and elastin. A topical hyaluronic acid is also important to keep my neck supple.

I use many noninvasive treatments in combination [with my at-home products] to keep my neck supple. Hydrafacials are a regular procedure to cleanse, nourish, and hydrate the face and neck. I do Ultherapy every 12 to 18 months to help tighten the skin. Ultherapy is a customized ultrasound treatment that goes deeply to stimulate collagen and elastin. To help remove superficial sun damage and stimulate skin rejuvenation from the top down, I do laser therapies such as Permea, Fraxel, Pico, or IPL starting in the fall.” —Fresno, CA dermatologist Kathleen Behr, MD

Zinc-based SPFs

“Neck care is just as essential as face care. My number one secret for a youthful neck is to start using a zinc-based sunscreen while young and use it every day! [I use] sunscreen and always reapply. For my skin type, I use the DermaCare Neck Décolleté Cream ($106) as needed. Also, I do [fractional CO2 laser] every other year.” —Richland, WA dermatologist Sidney B. Smith, MD

BUY NOW – $106

Ultherapy and fillers

“For skin laxity along the jawline, under the chin, and on the neck’s skin, I am a fan of Ultherapy and have been getting treatments regularly since 2011. It really does lift that skin! For sun damage, textural changes, and some discoloration, I had fractional CO2 resurfacing in 2008 and a TCA 30% chemical peel in 2012. I also use Botox off-label for treating my vertical platysmal neck bands, which really makes the neck look more youthful. The next thing I plan to do is to have some [filler] injected to improve skin quality and optimize the response to future energy-based device treatments.

“During the day, I cleanse my neck daily, apply a neck cream, and then put on sunscreen daily—rain or shine! At night, I clean the neck area with micellar water and apply neck cream. The sunscreen I use is the ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Sunscreen SPF 50 ($70) because it is sheer, 100-percent mineral, and contains a clinically proven DNA repair enzyme. The neck creams I use include Revision Nectifirm Advanced ($154), Senté Neck Firming Cream ($96), and NeoCutis Neo Firm Neck and Decolleté Tightening Cream ($142). —San Antonio, TX dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD

BUY ISDIN – $70

BUY REVISION – $154

BUY SENTÉ – $96

BUY NEOCUTIS – $142

Mind your application (always upwards)

“Applying a skin-tightening cream twice daily, in an upwards movement covering the full neck up to the jawline, [is important]. Currently I use the Revision Nectifirm Advanced ($154). It is my favorite neck cream for skin tightening and collagen production. I use it two times a day.” —Melville, NY dermatologist Kally Papantoniou, MD

BUY NOW – $154

Superior sun protection

“For me, a lifetime (55 years) of sun protection has kept my neck’s skin color and texture the same as the rest of my body. I treat my neck exactly as I treat my face—same cleanser and topicals. The ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Sunscreen SPF 50 ($70) is my daily go-to sunscreen for my face and neck. I love the silky, easily absorbed texture and invisible physical block. For moisture, I vary between Caudalie Premier Cru Anti-Aging Rich Cream ($129) and Alastin Skincare Ultra-Nourishing Moisturizer with TriHex Technology ($88). I don’t use creams labelled for neck because while they might be lovely, it’s easier for me to use one product for both the face and neck.” —New York dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, MD 

BUY ISDIN – $70

BUY CAUDALIE – $129

BUY ALASTIN – $88