Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Comfort Mind Body may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my affiliate disclosure.
How this guide was made: researched from the American Academy of Dermatology, the FDA, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and dermatology research, plus Anna's own neck routine. Anna uses the BLUMBODY neck and chest pads and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5+. The Hygieia neck cream is a researched pick. Drafted with AI help, then checked and edited by Anna. This guide is educational, not medical advice.
Welcome to Comfort Mind Body, where self-care doesn't stop at your chin. Grab a cup of tea, and let's give your neck the attention it rarely gets.
Most of us spend years caring for our faces, then one day notice our necks in a photo. Rings, creases, a little loose skin. It can feel sudden, but it's been building for a while. The good news is that some neck lines soften with simple habits. Others need more help, and knowing which is which saves you money.
Your neck is one part of the map. See all the types of wrinkles on the face and neck.
Quick Answer: How To Get Rid Of Neck Wrinkles
You can soften most neck wrinkles and lines, but how much depends on the type. Horizontal "necklace" lines and crepey skin improve slowly with daily sunscreen, moisturizer and a retinoid. Vertical bands come from a muscle, and Botox is FDA-approved to soften them. Loose, sagging skin needs in-office treatment, because no cream can tighten it.
Start by working out which line you have. The table below makes that simple.
Why Your Neck Shows Age Early
Neck skin has far fewer oil glands than your face. One dermatology study counted about 100 per square centimeter off the face, compared with 400 to 900 on it. So neck skin is drier, and it can be more sensitive.
It also gets plenty of sun and very little care. Many people stop their sunscreen at the jawline. Over the years, UV light breaks down the collagen and elastin that keep skin firm and smooth.
Then there's movement. Your neck bends every time you look down at a phone, a laptop or a book. Dermatologists call the creases this can leave "tech neck". Genes play a part too: some people are simply born with more visible neck lines.
Anna’s Note
I'm 34, and my neck shows three of these: rings, lines on my chest and some sagging skin. So this guide is personal. I take my face routine down to my neck now, and I've tried silicone pads and plenty of homemade masks. I'll share what works for me in each section, next to what the research says. Here's my neck and chest before and right after my skincare. Moisture alone makes a visible difference.
Which Kind Of Neck Line Do You Have?
Neck lines and creases come in four main types, and most people have a mix. Look in a mirror in daylight, with a clean neck, and go through the checks below. They're a rough guide, not a diagnosis.
Four Kinds Of Neck And Chest Lines And What Can Help
Swipe left or right to view the full table on mobile.
| Type | What It Looks Like | Mirror Check | What Can Help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Necklace lines | Horizontal rings around the neck. Some people have them from a young age. | Tip your chin down. If the rings deepen, folding is part of it. | Moisturizer, daily sunscreen and a retinoid. Look down at screens less. |
| Vertical bands | Cords running from the jaw down the neck. | Tense your neck, as if grimacing. If the bands pop out, a muscle is behind them. | Botox, FDA-approved for these bands since October 2024. |
| Crepey, loose skin | Thin, crinkly skin, or skin that sags under the chin. | The lines stay after moisturizing, and the skin looks thin up close. | Sunscreen and a retinoid for texture. In-office lasers or ultrasound for looseness. |
| Chest lines | Vertical lines between the breasts. | Deeper in the morning after sleeping on your side. | Back sleeping, silicone chest pads, sunscreen. |
Comfort Mind Body Take
Match the fix to the line before you spend. A pricey neck cream can't relax a muscle band or tighten loose skin, and Botox won't fix crepey texture. Start with the cheapest step that fits your line, give it a few months, then decide if you need more.
Start Here: Take Your Face Routine Down To Your Neck
The simplest neck routine is the one you already do on your face, extended a few inches. These steps won't erase a deep line. They slow down new damage and help every other step work better.
- Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, every day. Take it down your neck and onto your chest, front and sides.
- Moisturize morning and night. Neck skin has fewer oil glands, so it needs the moisture more than your face does.
- Apply with upward, gentle strokes. Don't scrub or tug.
- Stop any product that stings, itches or turns the skin red.
Need help picking a sunscreen? See how to choose a sunscreen. If you're not sure your skin needs more water or more oil, read hydrating vs moisturizing.
Retinoids And Neck Creams
Retinoids have the best evidence for fine lines and crepey texture, on the neck as on the face. Tretinoin is a prescription retinoid. Over-the-counter retinol is milder. Results take months, and some people see little change.
Neck skin is more sensitive than face skin, so go slower here:
- Start two or three nights a week, with a pea-sized amount for your face and neck together.
- Put moisturizer on first if your neck gets red or flaky.
- Wear sunscreen on your neck the next day.
- Skip retinoids if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Do you need a special neck cream? Not really. A good face moisturizer works on the neck too. "Neck creams" are often richer, which suits this drier skin, but no cream can tighten loose skin or relax a muscle band.
What about hyaluronic acid, a favorite in neck serums? Harvard Health explains that it attracts and binds water, which can plump fine lines so they look smoother. Like any hydrator, the effect lasts only as long as you keep using it. Apply it before your moisturizer, so the moisturizer can hold the water in.
Anna’s Note
My neck gets the same routine as my face: tretinoin at night, sunscreen in the morning and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5+ as my deep moisturizer. On different days, I also use my Medicube device and my gua sha on my neck.
Anna's deep moisturizer
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5+
Best fit: dry neck skin, and skin that gets irritated from retinoids. It lists 5% panthenol, madecassoside and dimethicone as a skin protectant.
Watch: it's a thick balm, so a thin layer at night is enough.
Check on AmazonWant a cream made for the neck? Here's one researched pick, not a product I've used.
Product photo from the brand, used for identification only. Comfort Mind Body doesn't own it.
Researched pick: crepey neck and chest
Hygieia Smart Neck Cream
Best fit: a neck and chest cream if you don't use a retinoid yet. The brand lists idebenone, retinol, jojoba oil and vitamin E.
Price: $49 for one jar, $84 for two or $112.48 for three (October 2026).
Watch: it contains retinol, so don't layer it with tretinoin or another retinoid, and skip it during pregnancy. The idebenone results the brand cites come from a 2005 study, not from a trial of this cream.
Shop at HygieiaRead more about the Medicube and gua sha in my forehead wrinkles guide. If your skin feels raw, pause and protect your skin barrier first.
If you'd like one anyway, see my best creams for neck wrinkles, with the ones I use and the ones I dropped.Tech Neck: The Daily Fold
Every time you look down at your phone, your neck folds in the same places. Dermatologists say this repeated bending can deepen horizontal neck lines over time. You can't avoid looking down, but you can do it less:
- Hold your phone closer to eye level.
- Raise your laptop screen, or use a stand.
- Look up and stretch your neck between tasks.
Silicone Neck And Chest Pads
Silicone pads press flat against the skin and keep it from folding while you wear them. That's why lines can look softer right after you take them off. The effect fades during the day, and there's little independent research on them. Think of them as a short-term smoothing trick, not a treatment.
Anna’s Note
I've tried silicone pads on my neck and chest, with light results, and some I really liked. The brand sells them for overnight wear, but they fall off when I sleep. Wearing them for a few hours while I work is what works for me.
Product photos in this section come from the brand and are used for identification only. Comfort Mind Body doesn't own them.
Anna's neck pads
BLUMBODY Neck Wrinkle Patches
Best fit: horizontal neck lines. Reusable silicone pads that you wash and wear again, 4 pads per pack.
Watch: the smoothing is temporary. Wear them on clean, dry skin, and take them off if your skin gets red or itchy.
Check on Amazon Anna's chest pads
BLUMBODY Chest Wrinkle Patches
Best fit: vertical chest lines from side sleeping. Reusable silicone pads, 2 per pack, sold as a 30-day supply.
Watch: results fade during the day, and they won't change crepey or loose skin.
Check on AmazonHomemade Masks For The Neck
Homemade masks won't remove a wrinkle. What they can do is add moisture, and well-hydrated skin makes fine lines look softer for a while. On dry neck skin, that difference can be easy to see.
Anna’s Note
Homemade masks work for me too. My favorites are sour cream, flaxseed gel and avocado. Honestly, any homemade hydrating mask that leaves my skin looking fuller is a win. I've even tried a rice paper sheet mask.
If you try them, patch test on a small spot first, keep them on for 10 to 15 minutes, and rinse with lukewarm water. Follow with your moisturizer to hold the hydration in. Skip any mask that stings or itches.
Chest Wrinkles
Chest lines often run vertically between the breasts. Board-certified dermatologist Mitchel Goldman, MD, notes that sleeping on your side compresses the skin there night after night, and sun damage weakens the collagen that helps it bounce back.
- Try sleeping on your back, or use a pillow that keeps you from rolling fully onto your side.
- Take your sunscreen down onto your chest, especially in low-cut tops.
- Moisturize your chest along with your neck.
- Silicone chest pads can soften the morning lines for a while.
Botox, Lasers And Other In-Office Options
If home care hasn't helped after a few months, or your main concern is bands or loose skin, a dermatologist can do more. Two treatments now have FDA backing for the neck and chest specifically:
- Botox for vertical neck bands: in October 2024, Botox Cosmetic became FDA-approved for moderate to severe vertical bands connecting the jaw and neck. It was the first time it was approved beyond the face.
- Ultherapy for loose skin: this focused ultrasound treatment is FDA-cleared to lift loose skin on the neck and under the chin (2012), and to improve lines and wrinkles on the chest (2014), according to its maker.
In-Office Options For Neck And Chest Lines: Benefits, Risks And Costs
Swipe left or right to view the full table on mobile.
| Option | Best For | What To Know | 2023 US Average Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botox | Vertical neck bands | Temporary, so it needs repeat visits. Ask about the risks, as with any injection. | About $435 per session |
| Laser resurfacing | Crepey texture and sun damage | Redness and downtime. Ask how it suits your skin tone. | About $1,829 (skin resurfacing average) |
| Focused ultrasound (Ultherapy) | Loose skin on the neck and under the chin, chest lines | Non-invasive, so there are no cuts. | Not tracked. Ask for a quote. |
| Filler | Deep horizontal necklace lines | Dermatologists warn it can look lumpy in the neck. Ask a specialist, and read the FDA's filler safety advice first. | About $715 (hyaluronic acid filler average) |
These are 2023 average physician fees from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, across broad procedure groups, so treat them as a guide, not a quote. Insurance doesn't cover treatments for signs of aging. For what a Botox visit is like, see the section in my forehead wrinkles guide.
Neck Lines In Your 20s And 30s
Neck lines can show up early. Some people are born with visible necklace lines, and hours of looking down at screens can add more. At this age, the basics matter most:
- Make sunscreen on your neck a daily habit now.
- Moisturize your neck every time you moisturize your face.
- Bring your screens up to eye level.
- Consider a retinoid if fine lines bother you and your skin tolerates it.
For a full routine, see the anti-aging routine for your 30s.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
Neck lines aren't one problem, so they don't have one fix. Necklace lines and crepey skin need sunscreen, moisture and time. Vertical bands respond to Botox. Loose skin needs in-office help if it bothers you.
The easiest change is also the most useful: take your face routine down to your neck, every day.
Your neck carries your head through every conversation, every laugh and every late-night scroll. Give it a little kindness back. For more honest routines, browse all our Skin & Beauty guides.
With care,
Anna
P.S. from Sushi: Mommy's neck has a whole routine now. Mine has fur and a collar. I'm told only one of us needs sunscreen.
Safety Notes
This article is educational and not medical advice. Patch test new products and homemade masks on a small area first. Don't use retinoids during pregnancy.
Stop any product or pad that causes burning, itching, a rash or swelling. Get Botox, filler and in-office treatments only from a licensed provider trained in the procedure.
See a doctor for a new lump or swelling in your neck, or a spot that changes, bleeds or won't heal.
Helpful Resources
- American Academy of Dermatology: 11 Ways To Reduce Premature Skin Aging
- American Academy of Dermatology: Retinoid Or Retinol?
- American Academy of Dermatology: Botulinum Toxin Therapy
- Practical Dermatology: Botox Approved For Platysma Bands (2024)
- Ulthera: FDA Clearance For Neck And Under-Chin Lift (2012)
- Ulthera: FDA Clearance For Chest Lines (2014)
- Journal of Drugs in Dermatology: Assessment Of An Anti-Aging Neck Cream (2015)
- Cosmetic Laser Dermatology: The Best Treatments For Chest Wrinkles
- FDA: Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Cosmetic Procedures Average Cost 2023
- Harvard Health: Hyaluronic Acid For Skin
- Hospital for Special Surgery: Loose Skin After Weight Loss
