There are seemingly endless skin-care products on the market that claim to have antiaging ingredients. While moisturizers and eye creams are certainly important for hydration (which is key for plump skin at any age), serums are one of the best ways to tackle any loss in firmness or fine lines you’re noticing—both of which are totally normal, by the way, as you get older.
The best serums for mature skin can target concerns that other products in your routine may not be able to handle as well, says Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare. These products have a high concentration of active ingredients and a thinner water-based consistency that’s easily absorbed into the skin, she tells SELF.
Using intel from Dr. Marmur and other board-certified dermatologists, online reviews, and years of SELF Healthy Beauty Award testing, we’ve rounded up the best serums to help hydrate and brighten your skin. Shop our top picks below.
Our top picks Best Brightening: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid Best With Retinol: Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum Best for Textured Skin: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Best With Peptides: Skinmedica TNS Advanced+ Serum Best for Dark Spots and Hyperpigmentation: Glytone TranEXamide Discoloration Treatment Serum Best for Supporting the Skin Barrier: Alastin Skincare Restorative Skin Complex Best for Oily Skin: Jan Marini Bioclear Face Lotion Best for Dry and Sensitive Skin: Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Activating Serum Best Splurge: Augustinus Bader The Serum Best Drugstore: Pond’s Rejuveness Skin Tightening Serum
How do you use a serum for mature skin?
You can incorporate a serum into your routine after cleanser and toner, but before your moisturizer, says Jennifer Sawaya, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with US Dermatology Partners Scottsdale. After you apply a serum, you’ll want to wait about a minute before applying your next product, notes Dr. Marmur; this will give the serum enough time to sink into your skin.
Serums for mature skin often contain ingredients that can be irritating if you introduce them too quickly, like retinol and alpha hydroxy acids (or AHAs), Dr. Sawaya says. If you’re trying something new, she recommends introducing it once weekly and seeing how your skin reacts. If you don’t notice any irritation, you can start using it every other day or night, then once daily or nightly. It’s also a good idea to start with a lower concentration of retinol, she adds (think 0.5% or less), to prevent eczema or redness from flaring up.
Another note: If your serum does contain retinol, you should only use it at night, Dr. Sawaya says, since it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun and prone to burning. Other serums can be applied in the morning or even twice daily, she adds.
What should you look for in a serum for mature skin?
Your skin can lose moisture and firmness as you age, leading to wrinkles and a dull appearance. So antiaging serums are made with ingredients that exfoliate, brighten, hydrate, and promote cell turnover, Dr. Sawaya says. She recommends tretinoin (a prescription retinoid), retinol, or bakuchiol, all of which can help exfoliate dead skin cells, improve hyperpigmentation, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. She also likes alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic and lactic acid, for exfoliation.
To help hydrate and plump up the skin while blurring fine lines, Dr. Sawaya suggests looking for hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides. You can brighten your complexion and fade dark spots with ingredients like vitamin C, kojic acid, tranexamic acid, or hydroquinone.
Growth factors and peptides can help rejuvenate the skin at the cellular level, Dr. Sawaya says. Dr. Marmur also recommends seeking out serums that contain peptides, which can help restore collagen, a protein in the skin that provides structure and elasticity. (Retinol can boost collagen production too.)
It’s hard to find one product that has all of these ingredients at an affordable price point, so it’s fine to use multiple serums if you want to target a few different concerns. Just be on the lookout for irritation, and avoid layering too many at once if you notice your skin starting to act up. As always, make sure you’re wearing sunscreen during the day—your skin may be even more vulnerable to UV damage when you’re using antiaging ingredients.
Shop the best serums for mature skin
Browse our favorites below, including serums we’ve tested firsthand and ones our experts recommend to their patients.
Best Brightening: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid
SkinCeuticals
CE Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid
Pros
High concentration of vitamin C Contains soothing and hydrating ingredients
Cons
Pricey
This serum comes highly recommended by Justine Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Skin and Beauty Center in West Hills, California. “This iconic product is a treat for mature skin types,” she says, thanks to its potent combo of vitamin C and ferulic acid. These antioxidants fight free radicals that can lead to premature aging—plus, they can help fade dark spots for a more even complexion.
Other notable ingredients:
Moisturizing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E
Best With Retinol: Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum
Marie Veronique
Gentle Retinol Night Serum
Pros
Powerful retinol paired with a gentle formula Brightening
Cons
May take longer to see results, since it’s less potent, according to Credo Beauty reviewers
This serum balances powerful antiaging retinol with soothing, hydrating ingredients like green tea extract to fight wrinkles with less irritation. It’s made with microencapsulated retinol, specifically, which may be more gentle on the skin than typical retinol, as it’s designed to be released more slowly. “It’s also packed with vitamins C, E, and coenzyme Q, among other natural ingredients, for a powerful nightly treatment,” says Dr. Park. This antioxidant trio will help brighten dark spots and protect the skin from free radicals too.
Other notable ingredients:
Moisturizing glycerin, argan and jojoba oil, and shea butter, skin-protecting antioxidant resveratrol, skin-barrier strengthening squalane and ceramides
Best for Textured Skin: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
The Ordinary
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Pros
Gentle formula that’s unlikely to cause irritation Fades sun damage and scarring Budget-friendly
Cons
May not be as effective at smoothing wrinkles as other options
This creamy serum is a great pick for fading blemish scars (because we all know pimples don’t always stop after your teenage years). Azelaic acid is an excellent exfoliant that has been shown to improve hyperpigmentation and skin texture. Dr. Park also likes this one for brightening the complexion overall and fighting dullness.
Other notable ingredients:
Best With Peptides: Skinmedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
Skinmedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
Pros
Contains peptides to help plump wrinkles Growth factors can improve firmness Fragrance-free
Cons
Pricey
The combination of peptides and growth factors in this serum make it a top choice for Dr. Sawaya. It also contains green microalgae to boost collagen and elastin production even more, and flaxseed to hydrate and soothe the skin.
Other notable ingredients:
Best for Dark Spots and Hyperpigmentation: Glytone TranEXamide Discoloration Treatment Serum
Glytone
TranEXamide Discoloration Treatment Serum
Pros
Good for blemish-prone skin Brightening Contains moisturizing ingredients to prevent over-drying
Cons
May not be as effective at addressing wrinkles as other options
This serum contains tranexamic acid and kojic acid, two powerful antioxidants that can help brighten the skin and fade dark spots caused by sun damage and blemishes. These “powerful lightening ingredients,” as Dr. Park calls them, also provide protection from free radicals that can contribute to dull skin. Dr. Park also approves of the addition of niacinamide, which calms inflammation and can help fight acne, making it a good choice for anyone dealing with signs of aging and breakouts at the same time.
Other notable ingredients:
Best for Supporting the Skin Barrier: Alastin Skincare Restorative Skin Complex With TriHex Technology
Alastin Restorative Skin Complex
Pros
Peptides can help improve the look of wrinkles Contains ingredients that support the skin barrier Plumping and smoothing
Cons
Pricey
This serum’s proprietary peptide complex can offer a major boost to the skin’s firmness and elasticity by amplifying collagen production, which makes it a top pick for Dr. Sawaya. “This is my favorite line for post-procedure skin,” she says, since it helps with cell turnover and speeds up the healing process. Ceramides and squalane can also help restore the skin barrier, while niacinamide lends some soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.
Other notable ingredients:
Hydrating glycerin and shea butter
Best for Oily Skin: Jan Marini Bioclear Face Lotion
Jan Marini
Bioclear Face Lotion
Pros
Helps clear breakouts and fight hyperpigmentation Exfoliating
Cons
May not work well for dry skin
Glycolic, salicylic, and azelaic acid combine forces in this ultra-brightening serum to tackle hyperpigmentation and texture for a fresh, smooth, more even complexion. “This is my favorite blend of exfoliating acids for an instant glow,” says Dr. Sawaya. The inclusion of salicylic acid makes this a great option for anyone with oily skin too.
Other notable ingredients:
Hydrating butylene glycol
Best for Dry and Sensitive Skin: Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Activating Serum
Skinfix
Barrier+ Triple Lipid Activating Serum
Pros
Contains wrinkle-fighting peptides Contains several hydrating ingredients Fragrance-free
Cons
Not as exfoliating as other products
Dr. Marmur praises this lightweight serum’s B-L3 Complex, made up of peptides, lipids, and vitamins that help the skin build the proteins that give it structure. “I like that this serum goes beyond the surface to target signs of aging,” says Dr. Marmur. In addition to plumping peptides, this formula is packed with polyglutamic acid, which gives skin a healthy dose of hydration, and niacinamide, which helps tame inflammation.
Other notable ingredients:
Moisturizing glycerin and jojoba oil, exfoliating lactic acid, skin-barrier strengthening ceramides
Best Splurge: Augustinus Bader The Serum
Augustinus Bader
The Serum
Pros
Contains antiaging peptides Reduces redness Packed with antioxidants to brighten and protect skin
Cons
Very pricey
A favorite of Dr. Marmur’s, this formula combines peptides and amino acids with an array of antioxidants to help tighten skin and provide a super glowy complexion. “This is a great all-around serum that not only targets wrinkles and fine lines, but also boosts the skin’s radiance and reduces any redness,” she says, thanks to the inclusion of anti-inflammatory rice bran oil.
Other notable ingredients:
Free-radical-fighting vitamin C, ferulic acid, resveratrol, skin-barrier supporting squalane
Best Drugstore: Pond’s Rejuveness Skin Tightening Serum
Pond’s
Rejuveness Skin Tightening Serum
Pros
Contains retinol and moisturizing ingredients Budget-friendly
Cons
Contains fragrance
This affordable serum, which Dr. Marmur calls “simple, yet very effective,” has exfoliating and collagen-boosting retinol, as well as hydrating ceramides and vitamin B3 (a.k.a. niacinamide). The combination “does a fantastic job at strengthening skin elasticity and the skin’s moisture barrier,” she says.
Other notable ingredients:
Hydrating glycerin and smoothing dimethicone
Related:
Dermatologists Swear By These Color Correctors for Tackling Redness 11 Best Retinol Eye Creams in 2024, According to Experts The Best Products for Shinier, Stronger Gray Hair
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