From supercharged skincare to targeted treatments, beauty editor Laura Mulley asks the experts to explain what will really improve the look of jowls, jaws and crepey necks
We all have our beauty bugbears and for me, it’s my lower face. Not naturally blessed with a razor-sharp jawline or cute chin, additional ongoing breakouts plus early signs of skin ageing (neck creases, a double chin and the beginnings of what I fear may be jowls) have me retracting, turtle-like, into the biggest roll-neck jumpers I can find. I’m not alone either, with Google searches and hashtags for terms such as ‘masseter botox’ and ‘snatched jawline’ massively on the up.
I’ve tried plenty of ineffective solutions over the years (much to the amusement of my colleagues), from comedic chin masks to fat-dissolving injections that made my face balloon.
So I asked the experts for their go-to treatments for common chin, jawline or neck-related beauty niggles…
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Best jawline and neck treatments for 2025
For crepey skin
Treatment: Neck cream
It might sound excessive, but experts recommend using a specific neck cream. “The skin on the neck is thinner and less sebaceous than the skin on the face, making it more reactive. This, plus the fact we move our necks a lot, means it ages quickly,” explains aesthetic doctor and founder of Illuminate Skin Clinics Sophie Shotter. “Look for formulas containing peptides, hydrating ingredients, retinol (in lower percentages) and antioxidants.” Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced, £170, is one of her favourites, while PRAI Beauty Ageless Throat & Decolletage Creme, £28.99, is Boots’ best-selling neck cream.
For sagging skin
Treatment: ULTRAcel Q+
“Ultracel Q+ uses HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) to target and improve sagging skin, particularly in the jowls, chin and jawline,” explains Nyla Raja, cosmetic doctor and founder of Dr Nyla Medispa. “It stimulates the production of collagen by triggering the body’s natural healing process through controlled micro-injuries, resulting in skin-tightening effects. For mild cases of skin sagging,it works well as a stand-alone treatment.”
A word of warning: I’ve tried it and it’s uncomfortable (think of a powerful elastic band being repeatedly pinged against your face), but some people who have had the treatment reported seeing improvements after only one session, and the results can last up to an impressive two years.
For ‘tech neck’ lines
Treatment: Profhilo
‘Tech neck’ or ‘necklace’ lines are the horizontal creases on the neck and throat typically caused by years of looking down at phones and other devices. While fillers can be used to smooth them out, this requires a delicate approach to avoid an unnatural look, says aesthetic doctor and founder Nina Bal, who has her clinic Facial Sculpting by Dr Nina Bal in London. “Profhilo [a hyaluronic acid-based injectable skin booster], however, is an excellent treatment for tech neck lines because it delivers deep hydration, improves skin elasticity, and stimulates collagen and elastin production.”
For jowls
Treatment: Micro-current tools and in-clinic treatments
I see noticeable – albeit subtle and short-lived – lifting and sculpting results when I use my ZIIP Halo microcurrent tool, £379, in the mornings. However, this isn’t a long-term solution.
“Jowls are about a lot more than skin – they are also caused by volume loss in the face, and descent of the facial fat pads,” says Dr Shotter. “If you want lasting effects, consider advanced options such as Sofwave ultrasound treatment to tighten the overlying skin, dermal fillers to restore facial volume, and potentially enzymatic fat dissolving.”
For blemishes
Treatment: Supplements and skincare
“Very often breakouts in this area are caused by hormonal imbalances, although they can also be due to ingrown hairs, perioral dermatitis or simple congestion,” says Dr Shotter, who recommends tackling this with supplementation, thorough cleansing, and consistent use of acids. I’ve started taking zinc and green tea supplements, and swapped my strong BHA exfoliant for a gentler PHA one (Medik8 Press & Glow Daily Exfoliating PHA Tonic, from £9), and I’ve noticed a difference in my stubborn spots. I also like Lustre ClearSkin Solo, £63, a stick-on device that delivers bacteria-killing blue LED light to targeted areas.
For a heavy jaw
Treatment: Botox
Square jawlines caused by overactive masseter muscles can be slimmed down with Botox injections. This treatment is also becoming increasingly popular for reducing discomfort caused by clenching the jaw or grinding teeth. “It’s important to remember that the muscle doesn’t shrink overnight, just like if you stopped going to the gym, your biceps wouldn’t immediately shrink,” says Dr Shotter. “But with repeated treatment, the muscles do become less prominent and can lead to a softer face shape.”
And finally…
Tempted to try mouth taping, the trending practice at the moment of sealing your mouth shut while you sleep? While it might help to reduce snoring, there’s no evidence whatsoever that it’ll create a more snatched jawline. “Any type of face or mouth taping cannot provide lasting changes to the facial structure,” says Dr Shotter.
This serum from celeb-adored brand RoC is packed with three types of hyaluronic acid for instant skin plumping and smoothing of lines and wrinkles, alongside retinal to promote cell renewal.
One customer wrote: “Love love love love love. In the second week that I’ve been using this. I saw a huge difference in the fine lines on my face. I was skeptical at first but I can’t believe how great this stuff is.”
This instant skin smoother has been flying off the shelves since its launch, and uses Nivea’s famous Q10 complex plus ‘Bioxifill peptides’ to smooth out wrinkles in just five minutes, according to nine out of 10 testers.
Beauty editor Laura says: “This has an instantly smoothing and blurring effect on fine lines, like Facetune in a tube. It won’t work miracles on very deep wrinkles, but for a quick fix perhaps before a night out of an important event it’s great.
