We talk a lot about anti-aging on Best Products, covering everything from retinol eye creams and wrinkle-fighting face massagers to more intensive treatments like chemical peels. Though we always stand behind the products we feature, sometimes we forget that we should give equal attention to our skin below the face. Luckily, that’s where neck serums come in handy. Neck serums are lightweight and contain a high concentration of active ingredients to treat signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and lack of firmness.

To help you treat and prevent signs of aging on your neck, our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders, asked one of our most trusted medical experts for a breakdown of everything you need to know about neck serums.

Best Neck Serums

What to Consider

Neck Serums Versus Neck Creams

Why do we need a serum or cream specifically for our necks? Can we just use our face cream or serum? The skin on our necks is thinner and more sensitive than our faces and bodies. So, neck serums are designed to target anti-aging needs for the delicate skin of our necks.

How do neck serums compare to neck creams? Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lauren Prenzi, M.D. says neck creams are usually thicker and more hydrating than neck serums. “They can also be very good for anti-aging, but will not contain as high a concentration of certain active ingredients as serums,” she says.

So, when should you use a neck serum instead of a neck cream? Prenzi says neck creams work well for general maintenance, hydration, and prevention of photoaging and photodamage. When you want to target more specific concerns such as pigmentation, fine lines, and more advanced photoaging, she recommends including a neck serum in your regimen every day. If you can only afford one neck product and you're concerned about things beyond hydration, your best bet is a neck serum.

Best Ingredients

As any skincare enthusiast will tell you, it's essential to understand a product's ingredient label. "When shopping for a neck serum, keep the specific issues you want to target in mind (dryness, fine lines/wrinkles, pigment issues, etc.), as some ingredients are better for some issues than others," says Prenzi. "Keep in mind also how sensitive your skin is, since some ingredients, such as retinol and alpha hydroxy acids can be very irritating." Here, Prenzi, and fellow derm Dr. Hadley King, M.D., share a few of their go-to ingredients that are most beneficial for a neck serum.

• Growth factors and peptides increase collagen and elastin to visibly firm and lift skin.
• Niacinamide, sometimes called vitamin B-3, helps support the skin barrier and helps fade hyperpigmentation and improving uneven skin texture.
• Retinol is a form of vitamin A and helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles. If you have sensitive skin, you can try a super gentle retinol neck cream, like the Retinol Anti-Aging Serum from The INKEY List.
• Humectants like hyaluronic acid (found in the Tata Harper Boosted Contouring Serum) and glycerin are great for hydrating and plumping the skin.
• Emollients, such as triglycerides and ceramides, are great for supporting the skin barrier.

How We Chose

Neck serums are an excellent way to treat and prevent signs of aging, like wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin, but what does this all mean for you? Well, Saunders carefully researched neck serums across your most trusted retailers, including Sephora and Amazon, and found promising options totally worth your money. For added reassurance, she asked our experts for their honest feedback on each neck serum, and these five made the final cut.

StriVectin

sephora.com

$79.00

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With a fair entry-level luxury market price, rave reviews from Prenzi, and a near-flawless Sephora rating, we knew this was our best overall recommendation.

Prenzi is most impressive with its amazing application method: It sports a cooling roller that helps distribute the anti-aging neck serum. She loves that this effective option will reduce fine lines and tighten, while assisting with lymphatic drainage.

Not only does it visibly lift and firm your skin, but it helps fight against the potential anit-aging effects of blue light emitted from your tech, including laptops and cell phones.

“This really does work! I noticed a difference after a few days [and] I couldn’t believe it. My husband even commented on the difference,” says one 5-star Sephora review. “It’s easy to use and feels good with the massage roller. Worth every penny. I’m so excited I found a product that works quickly.”

Dermalogica

amazon.com

$85.00

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You don't have to worry about this neck serum leaving behind a sticky residue on your skin or clothes. It's made with lightweight ingredients such as flex lift contour technology, to reduce the look of lines and wrinkles, while lifting and tightening. It’s also infused with rye seed and rambutan extracts to smooth, firm, and tone your neck.

Prenzi and King consider Dermalogica's neck serum great for all skin types to provide a lifting and tightening effect, smooth fine lines, and help protect skin against pollution. King is most impressed that it contains antioxidants and rambutan extract, which she describes as potentially the next bakuchiol.

“Rambutan leaves are rich in corilagin and have been shown to stimulate production of collagen and elastin. The peel, pulp, and seeds are rich in sugars, tannins, and flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties, as well as other antioxidants such as vitamin C and manganese,” she explains.

Nécessaire

sephora.com

$60.00

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Prenzi is a fan of this excellent neck serum because it is loaded with five peptides that support the moisture barrier to smooth fine lines and also assist with collagen production. There's also niacinamide (vitamin B-3) to improve your skin barrier and soothing rosewater.

The Neck Serum is also the only option on our list that earned Clean + Planet Positive at Sephora, indicating it meets the retailer's standards for clean ingredients, climate commitments, sustainable sourcing, responsible packaging, and environmental giving.

“This serum has totally transformed the texture of the skin on my neck. It was generally dry even though I moisturize daily, and wrinkles,” says one 42-year-old Sephora reviewer. “My neck feels soft, supple, and moisturized all day long! [It’s the] new secret weapon in my arsenal against the signs of aging.”

The INKEY List

sephora.com

$10.99

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We get it: Sometimes you just don't have a ton of money to invest in skincare products, and that's 100% OK. Thankfully, The INKEY List is a cheap, but effective brand you can trust. Need further proof it's a legit brand? Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nava Greenfield, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group, says "I like Inkey because their products are always very straightforward and accessible."

Penzi also appreciates that this super affordable, no-frills neck serum helps reduce fine lines and neck wrinkles. It combines hydrating and soothing squalane with a gentle, slow-release retinol to prevent the risk of irritation.

"More powerful than products twice the price," declares one 5-star Sephora review. "I absolutely love this retinol. It's strong and does the job. This is my second time buying it, and truly I love it more than any other retinol I've tried —including pricier brands."

Tata Harper

nordstrom.com

$125.00

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Ugh, I know spending $125 is low-key a lot to ask of you, but Prenzi says given the quality of ingredients, it makes this neck serum a worthwhile splurge. “Tata Harper Boosted Contouring Serum is an expensive, but excellent choice to target loss of firmness/elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles, and dryness,” she says.

The secret is 62 clean and effective ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, coconut extract, and rose hydrosol, to plump and hydrate your skin. There's also vitamin E, calendula, and green tea, which are rich in antioxidants to fight free radical damage.

“Though it is at a higher price point, I’ve found that it is so worth it as it immediately transforms my skin to youthful suppleness with one application,” says one 5-star review on Tata Harper’s site. “It’s incredible. It really is like getting a facial every time I use it. I highly recommend!”