Eager to elevate your skincare routine this fall? Consider adding an anti-aging serum to your daily regimen. These potent elixirs deliver highly concentrated ingredients directly to your skin, far exceeding the benefits of a standard moisturizer. What’s even more exciting is that serums can be tailored to address your skin’s specific concerns, whether you’re combating fine lines, sagging, dryness, wrinkles, or discoloration.
Need guidance in selecting the ideal anti-aging serum to reduce and “smooth fine lines?” We consulted board-certified dermatologists and skincare experts to bring you four highly recommended serum options for mature skin.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, board-certified dermatologist and writer at My Psoriasis Team, Dr. Elaine F. Kung, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Future Bright Dermatology and Dr. HariKiran Chekuri, a dermatologist and the medical head of ClinicSpots.
4 Anti-Aging Serums That Target Wrinkles, Fine Lines And Dark Spots, According To Dermatologists
1. Senté Bio Complete Serum
Kung recommends this serum for women over 40 and describes it as a "complete" serum that can be used at nighttime. "I'm a simple skincare person who just wants to use one product after cleanser and before moisturizer to take care of all my skin care concerns - discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, and skin barrier repair," she shares, while explaining how this serum is effective for those reasons.
This product, while pricer than the others on this list ($118 via the Senté site), is a viable solution for those with sensitive skin, as it can effectively reduce the visibility of fine lines and result in a more refined and balanced complexion. Moreover, Kung says it is gentle enough to be utilized by individuals who have never used retinol before.
2. Urban Skin Rx Advanced Even Tone Day & Night Treatment
This serum-like formula is especially helpful for diminishing stubborn dark spots or acne scars over 40 while also promoting more supple skin, Kung says. "Some skincare ingredients that have been scientifically and clinically studied to help with discoloration include kojic acid, tranexamic acid, and bakuchiol, which are all found in this product," she explains.
For $48, you can grab this clean serum product via the Urban Skin Rx site, and Kung says it has the ability to effectively combat hyperpigmentation. Kung points out that this product's ingredients function to decrease the appearance of persistent dark spots, refine uneven texture, and visibly diminish signs of aging skin. Moreover, it is gentle enough for use twice daily, enabling users to target dark spots and fine lines throughout the day and night.
3. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil
Chacon deems retinol to be a "dermatologist-recommended type of vitamin A" and a "potent ingredient in this anti-wrinkle serum that fights fine lines, dullness, wrinkles, and dark spots." She recommends keeping an eye out for Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil when perusing the aisles of your local drugstore for a retinol serum.
This serum, available via Amazon for $22.47, also "contains hyaluronic acid," which Chacon says adds "plumping moisture to help hydrate and revitalize the appearance of skin." As for how often to use it, Chacon recommends "applying to a clean face and neck two times per day."
A pearl-sized amount should be "distributed evenly and massaged in until fully absorbed," she advises. When not in use, Chacon says to always "replace and tighten the cap."
4. The Ordinary "Buffet" Multi-Technology Peptide Serum
This serum, known as "the buffet", purportedly provides age-supporting benefits to the skin through its multifaceted peptide formula, according to Chekuri. Peptides "are short chains of amino acids that can act as messengers in the skin, signaling it to produce more collagen and elastin, which are the proteins that give the skin its firmness and elasticity."
Peptides (found in this $19.49 serum via Amazon) can also "help hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation, and repair damaged tissue." He notes that "peptide serums can be used both in the morning and at night, depending on your preference and routine."
The Bottom Line
Retinols, like in this product, have been "scientifically and clinically studied to help skin turnover and stimulate collagen," Kung says.
Retinols in serum or cream form are "probably in every dermatologists' skincare routine because we know that long-term use helps prevent and treat skin discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, and skin laxity," she concludes. Good to know!
