How to Treat Neck Wrinkles, According to Skin Experts

Despite our best efforts to stay eternally fresh-faced, neck wrinkles often appear all too quickly—and we can thank (or blame) biology for that. “The neck tends to age faster than our face because it is thinner; therefore, the natural loss of collagen and elastin in the skin can lead to sagging, loose skin (laxity), and wrinkle formation more readily,” says Caroline Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago. It doesn’t help, of course, that we’re constantly looking down at our devices, which causes repeated muscle contractions that lead to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the neck. (There’s a reason “tech neck” is a thing.) As yet another insult to the neck, many of us forget to treat it with the same finesse with which we care for our faces, and the application of rich moisturizers, SPF, and firming face serums all too often stops at the chin. But with a little awareness—and a few tweaks to your daily skincare regime—the neck can have an immeasurably smoother time of things.

Our top picks:

• Best Facial Massager: Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar, $195
• Best Laser: Lyma Laser, $2,695
• Best Microcurrent Device: NuFace Trinity+ Advanced Facial Toning Device, $395
• Best LED Mask: CurrentBody Skin LED Neck and Dec Perfector, $339
• Best Overall Neck Cream: SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Neck Repair, $136
• Best Neck Cream With SPF: RoC Multi-Correxion Even Tone + Lift Chest, Neck, & Face Cream, $28
• Best Biocellulose Mask: Exquisite Neck & Décolleté Renewing Masks, $100
• Best Firming Serum: StriVectin Peptight Tightening Neck Serum Roller, $79

“The best way to prevent neck wrinkles is a good daily skin care regimen, including sunscreen of at least 30 SPF, hydration, a healthy balanced diet, and avoidance of Instagram (just kidding), or at least elevating your smartphone so you are not constantly bending your neck,” advises Dr. Ira Savetsky, a board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon in New York.

And skincare doesn’t have to act alone. While smartphones may not be conducive to an unlined neck, other devices are. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best dermatologist-approved devices and skincare products that will help the neck defy gravity for a while longer. It’s all looking up from here!

Beauty Devices to Treat Neck Wrinkles

Look to beauty devices as a means to supplement in-office treatments and promote healthier skin with consistent use. Dr. Garshick explains that, because the skin on the neck is delicate and prone to irritation, sensitivity, and scarring, it’s better to use devices with caution and minimal pressure. Here are the gadgets our experts recommend:

• Why We Love It: Celebrity makeup artist Jillian Dempsey designed her vibrating tool to help her clients get the contoured profiles that shut down a red carpet. Her facial massager vibrates with 6,000 rotations per minute, de-puffing the cheekbones, jawline, and chin; it also smooths out tech lines in the neck. The gold-plated tool doesn’t just smooth and contour the skin, mind you, it also relieves tension and gives the skin a rosy glow. Because it promotes blood circulation, the massager gives the skin a healthy, pink flush.
• Type: Facial Massager
• Specs: 24K gold plated vibrating bar with 6,000 rotations per minute
• How to Use: After moisturizing the skin, move the device upward along the jawline towards the temples for up to five minutes. It can also be used to smooth out tech lines on the neck.

• Why We Love It: “[This] can be a great option for the neck as it combines microcurrent, LED [light therapy], massage, and therapeutic warmth to help tighten and lift the skin while also being easy to maneuver [through] the different contours of the face and neck,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Its multipurpose benefits and ease of use are what caught the attention of Vogue editors. In our trials, we saw smooth, firm, glowing skin after completing the treatment.
• Type: Skincare Wand
• Specs: Red light therapy, galvanic current, facial massage, therapeutic warmth
• How to Use: Apply serum to a freshly cleansed, damp face and neck. Move the wand over the face and neck using upward-and-outward strokes, spending a total of three minutes in each area. The total treatment should take 12 minutes total.

• Why We Love It: According to Dr. Savetsky, the Joanna Czech Facial Massager “helps improve circulation, which increases the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to the skin.” In as little as seven minutes per day, this promises an overall lifting effect and a more radiant complexion. One of Vogue’s favorite facial tools for a glowing, sculpted complexion, the angled roller sculpts the cheekbones and jawline. It also boosts product absorption and offers line-minimizing benefits below the chin.
• Type: Facial Massager
• Specs: Waterproof, durable aluminum and zinc-alloy design
• How to Use: To use it on the neck, start at the base of the neck near the collarbone, then roll it upward towards the earlobe several times. Avoid using the massager on the center of the throat.

• Why We Love It: Surely one of the most sophisticated LED light therapy devices on the market, this powerful FDA-cleared gadget targets wrinkles, skin elasticity, skin texture, and tone. “[The] Lyma Laser uses near-infrared laser light technology that reaches the deep level of the skin, causing a change at the cellular level to increase production of collagen and elastin,” Dr. Savetsky explains. Consistent use of the device results in an improved appearance of wrinkles, sun damage, redness, and pigmentation—and the laser has racked up quite the smooth-skinned cult following. Celebrity esthetician Joanna Czech has confided her fandom to Vogue.
• Type: Laser
• Specs: FDA-cleared, near-infrared 500mW laser technology
• How to Use: Use the laser to spot-treat areas of the face and neck by gliding it over a particular area for three minutes at a time. To use it on the neck, start at the top toward the bottom of the ear, then glide it slowly up and down.

• Why We Love It: For a targeted light therapy treatment to the neck and décolletage, look to CurrentBody’s hands-free collar. In a ten-minute treatment three to five times per week, the device delivers red and near-infrared light energy to combat wrinkles and fine lines. A clinical study reported that, after 12 weeks of use, 95 percent of users felt that their skin tone, texture, and firmness had improved.
• Type: Mask
• Specs: FDA-cleared, red (633 nm) and near-infrared (830 nm) LED light
• How to Use: Secure the device around a clean neck. Turn the device on and start the 10-minute treatment; the mask will automatically switch off once the treatment is done.

• Why We Love It: “The NuFace Trinity Toning device delivers a small electrical current which helps to boost collagen production,” Dr. Garshick notes. “[This] may help to tighten and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” The Vogue Verified microcurrent device is known to expertly lift and firm the skin; especially in the upgraded model, shown here, which boasts enhanced toning capabilities and microcurrent frequencies for a customized treatment.
• Type: Microcurrent
• Specs: FDA-cleared, 335 microamps at its highest intensity, three to five settings with intensity ranges of microcurrent
• How to Use: After cleansing the skin and applying a gel primer, activate the device and run it over the areas of the face and neck you want to treat. Start by using the device three to five days a week; after the first 60 days, usage can increase.

Skin Care to Treat Neck Wrinkles

Generally speaking, you should extend your facial treatments to your neck. “The principles of treatment for the neck and décolletage are the same as they are for the face, in that the goals are to protect, prevent, repair, and restore,” says Dr. Garshick. “This means at the very least incorporating a moisturizer and a sunscreen for your neck as well, and consideration of other ingredients like antioxidants, retinols, peptides, and growth factors.”

Dr. Adam Kolker, a double board-certified plastic surgeon in New York, also recommends products with hyaluronic acid to flood the neck with hydration, therefore plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines. He adds that peptides can increase collagen synthesis, which will ultimately strengthen the skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles. Finally, “antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea protect against photoaging and free radical damage,” Kolker says. However, Dr. Joyce Park, a board-certified dermatologist with Skin Refinery, emphasizes an important caveat: “The neck skin is particularly sensitive, so I would not use harsh acids like AHAs or BHAs or even a strong retinoid on the neck without testing it out first.”

• Why We Love It: One of Vogue’s favorite neck creams overall, SkinCeuticals’s retinol-infused formulation has been proven to boost the firmness and elasticity of the delicate skin on the neck. Dr. Mona Foad, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, previously sings its praises. “This cream is packed with retinol to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, tripeptides to boost collagen, and a glaucine complex to firm up the skin. It’s great for the neck—tackling sagging, crepiness, and wrinkles,” she tells Vogue. “Plus, it has hydrating ingredients to moisturize and improve skin texture.”
• Key Ingredients: Retinol, tripeptide complex, glaucine complex
• How to Apply: Using upward motions, massage the product into the jawline, neck, and chest every other night. After one week, increase to nightly use.

• Why We Love It: This drugstore gem fights aging on five fronts. Infused with special Hexyl-R complex technology, the cream lifts and firms the skin on the neck and chest, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, evens out the skin tone, and revives dull skin with a boost of radiance. It also targets redness and dryness. What’s more, the cream is enhanced with SPF 30—and it doesn’t take long to work. “Some people notice results in as early as four weeks,” Garshick previously told Vogue.
• Key Ingredients: Hexyl-R complex technology, broad-spectrum SPF 30
• How to Apply: After cleansing in the morning, apply the cream to the neck and chest using upward strokes. To keep the sun protection active, reapply it every two hours.

• Why We Love It: Dr. Garshick explains that Revision Skincare’s neck cream works particularly well for those with moderate to advanced signs of aging through a blend of peptides, the brand’s Smart Antioxidant Technology, and red microalgae extract. “After regular use, skin is brighter, appears firmer, and more lifted while the appearance of crepey skin is reduced,” Dr. Robinson says.
• Key Ingredients: Lingonberry extract, everlasting flower, red microalgae extract, peptides
• How to Apply: The formula, which also counts Dr. Park and actor Julianne Moore as fans, should be applied twice daily in upward strokes. In the daytime, use a broad-spectrum SPF afterward.

• Why We Love It: Environ’s Youth EssentiA Vitamin Step-Up system uses a blend of antioxidants and peptides alongside vitamins A, C, and E to maintain a healthy glow. “This step-up system gently increases the concentration of vitamin A as you move through the serums,” Dr. Savetsky says. Regardless of the step you’re on, expect the formula to protect the skin against free radicals and reduce signs of aging.
• Key Ingredients: Vitamins A, C, and E
• How to Apply: Per Dr. Savetsky, this serum is best applied at night.

• Why We Love It: A sheet mask is always a good idea. Exquisite’s is Dr. Savetsky’s pick, which he describes as “a biocellulose mask that contains peptides, antioxidants, and rejuvenating nutrients that hydrate and smooth the neck and décolletage.” Think of this as a restorative treatment to promote hydrated, firm, supple skin in a quick, 20-minute session. The mask leaves the skin on the neck and chest feeling noticeably smoother and tighter, and it’s comfortable to wear as it fits easily over curves and contours.
• Key Ingredients: Marine peptides, nutrients, antioxidants
• How to Apply: Apply the mask to clean skin on the neck and décolletage. Leave it on for 20 minutes, and massage in any excess serum after peeling it off.

• Why We Love It: “This product contains a moisturizing complex, including peptides, to help firm and tighten the skin by supporting collagen and elastin, as well as antioxidants and glycolic acid to help diminish the appearance of age spots and uneven skin tone,” Dr. Garshick says. “It’s a great neck cream to help tone the skin.” She also says that its ingredient composition makes it an excellent neck cream to tone the skin. The cream can be applied morning and night, though it should be followed with sunscreen during the day.
• Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, jojoba seed oil, beet root extract, squalane
• How to Apply: Apply the cream to the neck and chest using upward strokes, morning and night. In the daytime, apply SPF afterward.

• Why We Love It: Through a blend of honey locust seed extract, gravity-fighting peptides, and arctic marine ferment, Strivectin’s serum roller is crafted to help tighten, firm, and lift the neck area. “[This] is applied using a cooling massage roller to help improve absorption and minimize pulling on the neck,” Dr. Garshick notes. “The lightweight [texture] makes it a particularly good option for those with oily skin.”
• Key Ingredients: Honey locust seed extract, peptides, arctic marine ferment
• How to Apply: Squeeze the bottle to release the serum, then use upward strokes to massage the roller over the neck and under the jawline.

• Why We Love It: “Not only does this incorporate a peptide complex to help smooth the texture of the skin, but it also works to strengthen the skin barrier and has antioxidants, such as apple fruit extract, to help with hyperpigmentation,” Dr. Garshick explains. Shea butter and ceramides are featured, too, as a means to strengthen the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss. According to Dr. Garshick, “it’s great for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin, as it is fragrance-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, and sulfate-free. It can be used once or twice daily and is easy to apply as it layers in to nourish the skin without leaving the skin feeling greasy.”
• Key Ingredients: Peptide complex, apple fruit extract, shea butter, ceramides
• How to Apply: Starting with clean skin on the neck and chest, gently massage the product upward from the chest toward the jawline. The product can be used morning and night.

• Why We Love It: Perricone MD’s whipped moisturizer is powered by peptides, alpha lipoic acid, vitamin B3, vitamin C ester, and SPF 25 to treat the décolletage. “[These] ingredients work to visibly improve the thickness and firmness of the skin by supporting [the] rejuvenation of collagen that has been damaged and lost over time,” Dr. Robinson explains. The cream can be applied daily to improve the look of wrinkles, creases, crepey texture, uneven skin tone, and sun damage.
• Key Ingredients: Peptides, alpha lipoic acid, vitamin B3, vitamin C ester, SPF 25
• How to Apply: Use the cream as part of a daily, morning-skincare regime. Massage the product over the entire upper chest area using gentle, circular motions, moving up to the front and back of the neck.

According to Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, neck lines may not be entirely reversible—but they can certainly be improved. “I typically recommend a combination of preventative care, skin care, and in-office treatments,” she says. “Depending on the severity of your neck lines, your medical provider may recommend a combination of skincare and non-invasive treatments.”

For at-home skincare, Engelman recommends using hydrating creams, retinoids, and sunscreen. “These all play a role in preventing and managing neck wrinkles,” she notes. By day, she recommends applying SPF on the neck, starting just under the face and spreading the product down to the décolletage. “I also recommend nightly application of prescription-strength retinol specifically on the neck, followed by a rich, hydrating moisturizer,” she says.

For in-office treatments, one option is Botox, Engelman continues. “By injecting Botox into the platysma muscle [in the neck], it can soften the appearance of vertical bands on the neck, relaxing them and creating an overall smoother, younger-looking neck. Another option is using little droplets of filler to fill in and smooth out horizontal neck lines.” She adds that Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound energy to tighten and lift the skin on the neck, while Microneedling Radiofrequency is a good option for more advanced neck rejuvenation. “It stimulates collagen production and tightens the skin, which is great for treating neck sagging,” she explains.

As yet another in-office option, “Exion Microneedling combines microneedling with RF energy, which penetrates deeper into the dermis and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin texture, and tightens sagging skin,” Engelman says. “It also has minimal downtime in comparison to other micro-needling RF treatments and is a great non-invasive option for improving skin elasticity, texture, and tightness on the neck.”

​​To treat tech neck lines, heed the advice of schoolteachers everywhere and sit up straight! “Being mindful of posture can help prevent the formation of additional tech necklines,” Engelman says. To treat existing ones, “Botox is great for relaxing neck muscles and softening horizontal lines,” she notes. Microneedling with radiofrequency stimulates collagen production and tightens the skin to smooth wrinkles, she adds. Alternatively, laser resurfacing helps improve skin texture and reduce fine lines from sun damage and repetitive neck movement. “By combining posture correction with treatments like Botox, filler, microneedling with RF, and laser resurfacing, you can significantly reduce the appearance of tech-neck lines, improve neck skin texture, and prevent further aging,” she says.

• Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in New York City.
• Adam Kolker, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.
• Dr. Marisa Garshick is a New York City–based board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at Cornell University.
• Dr. Joyce Park is a board-certified and founding dermatologist at virtual clinic Skin Refinery and content creator at TeawithMD.
• Dr. Caroline Robinson is a Chicago-based board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Tone Dermatology.
• Dr. Ira Savetsky is a New York City–based and board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon.