Often overlooked in your daily skincare routine, the neck is one of the first areas to show visible signs of ageing. Between “tech neck,” sun damage, and loss of firmness, that thinner skin below the chin can benefit from a little extra love. Ahead, experts explain what makes neck skin different, and the products and treatments to target that very visible area, by editor Trudi Brewer.
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What is ‘tech neck’?
A term used to describe the horizontal lines and wrinkles that develop across the neck, often associated with repeatedly looking down at phones, tablets, and laptops. While it suggests technology is the cause, these lines are usually the result of repeated neck movements and the natural ageing process.
Like the skin on the face, the neck ages in the same way. Skin produces less collagen and elastin—the proteins that keep it firm and resilient. But the skin on the neck is particularly vulnerable because it’s thinner than the skin on the face and contains fewer oil glands, making it more prone to dryness, sagging, and wrinkle formation. Add in the repeated bending, and the neck can make existing lines more noticeable over time.
Do You Need a Specific Neck Skin-Care Routine?
Because the neck is one of the first areas to show signs of ageing, Dermatologists Dr Deborah Longwill and Dr Sue Ellen Cox agree that giving the neck area some attention is worthwhile. Neither expert, however, believes it necessarily requires a separate set of products from those you use on your face.
Are Face Products effective on Your Neck?
“We live in an era of overconsumption where more is often seen as better, but for most people, simply extending your facial skin care down onto your neck and chest is all you need,” says Dr Cox, and Dr Longwill agrees, noting that one of the biggest mistakes she sees is stopping products at the jawline. “I recommend introducing active ingredients like retinoids gradually,” says Dr Cox. “Dedicated neck creams are available, and many are excellent,” says Dr Cox, who often recommends them when the neck is a primary concern or a patient is undergoing in-office treatments.
What Age Should You Start Using Skin Care on Your Neck?
“Prevention is always easier than correction. I encourage patients to start caring for the neck in their mid-20s by making sunscreen and moisturiser part of their daily routine,” says Dr Longwill. Dr Cox agrees that your 20s are a smart time to begin, particularly as frequent phone use can make horizontal neck lines more noticeable.
What are the Must-Have Steps in a Neck Skin-Care Routine?
“Sun protection is by far the most important step because the neck receives significant UV exposure but is often overlooked. A daily broad-spectrum sunscreen should be non-negotiable,” says Dr Cox. Dr Longwill agrees that consistency with sun protection makes the biggest difference over time. Beyond SPF, the essentials are fairly simple. “Cleanse, apply an antioxidant such as vitamin C in the morning, moisturise and use a retinoid in the evening if your skin tolerates it,” says Dr Longwill. Those looking to build out their routine can also consider skin ingredients like growth factors, peptides and DNA repair enzymes, which Dr Longwill says may “Help support collagen production and improve skin quality.” For more advanced signs of ageing, in-office treatments may offer more significant improvement. Dr Longwill points to microneedling, laser resurfacing and biostimulatory injectables as options to discuss with your doctor.
The latest filler, HarmonyCa, can benefit the neck area
Concerned about those tech neck lines and crepey skin on the neck? The latest injectable HArmonyCa could be a good option. This skin filler offers dual benefits: it instantly adds a glow to the skin while plumping and lifting. According to Dr Rachel Lee from La Pelle Skin Clinic on Auckland’s Karangahape Road belives, “HArmonyCa is a dual-action hybrid skin injectable that combines hyaluronic acid (HA) for an immediate lifting and volumising effect, and calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHa), to stimulate your body's natural collagen production.” Currently in New Zealand, it’s licensed for the mid and lower face, particularly in areas where mild volume deficiency and skin laxity are beginning to appear. Specifically, the cheekbone, jawline, cheek hollowing in front of the ear, and the area near the mouth. Advanced practitioners may use this product 'off-license' in other areas to achieve additional lifting, such as the neck. Dr Lee adds, “The treatment is done the same way as the face, using a cannula needle (a blunt-tipped, flexible, hollow tube used in medical and cosmetic procedures), inserted along various points of the neck to cover the entire neck evenly on both sides. I have used other biostimulators (without added filler) in the past with good results too.”
As well as a consistent skincare routine (including daily SPF), treatments such as microneedling or ultrasound that tighten skin by stimulating collagen deeper within the tissue. Botulinum toxins (Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin) can soften prominent platysmal bands (vertical, rope-like cords that appear on the neck and become more prominent with age). Laser resurfacing can also help improve fine lines, uneven texture, and sun damage.
Neck Creams To Try
TRONQUE NECK AND DÉCOLLETAGE ELIXIR, $130
TRONQUE has always focused exclusively on the body, creating high-performance formulas designed to hydrate, nourish and rejuvenate the skin below the jawline.
This new Neck and Décolletage cream was three years in development and is dedicated to one of the most overlooked areas of our skincare routine. The lightweight, gel-like cream formula features Pentavitin®, a 100 per cent naturally derived, plant-based carbohydrate complex that acts like a moisture magnet, binding to the skin to deliver long-lasting hydration. It also combines antioxidant-rich Kakadu plum extract, a natural source of vitamin C, and a microalgae extract to help support the skin's resilience against environmental stressors. Add curry leaf extract, along with the humectants betaine and glycerin, and it becomes ultra-hydrating. What we love most is the sensorial experience. Cooling peppermint and menthol oils instantly refresh the skin and awaken the senses as the lightweight cream glides over the neck and décolletage with the applicator provided, then sinks in within minutes. The brand aims to transform neck care from an afterthought into a daily self-care ritual—and this luxurious elixir makes a compelling case for doing just that.
Trinny London The Elevator Neck Décolleté Concentrate, Mini, $62, Full size $158
This cream fits into the multi-benefit beauty buy camp with ease. It feels more like a nourishing face cream than a traditional neck cream (I have applied it on my face and neck, and it’s so nourishing). It sinks in fast and works under SPF without feeling greasy. It targets firmness, wrinkles, pigmentation and skin sagging. Its hero ingredient is a peptide complex (deca-, oligo- and nonapeptides) to help boost collagen production and improve skin firmness. As well as Enmeiso, a fermented soy bean extract, which the brand calls its "cohesion technology", designed to strengthen the connections between skin layers to boost firmness further. Next, encapsulated alpha arbutin, a trusted brightening ingredient, helps to reduce the appearance of sun spots and uneven pigmentation on the chest and neck. Finally, it has a nice herbal scent. This cream is refillable, and it comes in a travel-size, pictured here.
If you can get your hands on this serum (it’s constantly out of stock), it’s a great beauty buy. The brand now has a limited edition jumbo-size bottle on offer, thanks to its popularity. It has garnered thousands of reviews on the brand's website with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5, but most importantly, die-hard fans recommend it.
Its ingredients have come up trumps for ageing skin too, including Edelweiss extract, which the brand says helps support collagen production and protects against oxidative stress.
But it’s the star ingredient, Tef seed extract (a natural peptide derived from the tiny Ethiopian teff grain), that forms a flexible film on the skin, giving an immediate tightening effect while helping improve skin firmness over time. There is also a vegan collagen alternative made from amino acids and hydrolysed proteins, as well as glycerin to hydrate and plump the skin.
Here’s the below-the-chin truth.