The doctors have spoken, and these are the serums they swear by for firmer skin.
As each year flies by, everyone’s complexions do this wonderful little thing called aging. While decades of unrealistic beauty standards may make you shiver at the thought of forming wrinkles fine lines, it’s always key to remember that the skin aging process is a natural, beautiful thing that signifies all of the wonderful smiles and laughs that you’ve had throughout your lifetime. But, we get it — sometimes it may feel like our skin is showing signs of aging a little too fast. Though there’s no fountain of youth to dip into, the following best serums for mature skin will target a myriad of your skin-care concerns including the appearance of fine lines and skin sagging — but their skin-enhancing powers don’t stop there.
In case you aren’t aware, serums are essential to just about anyone and everyone’s skin-care regimens, but especially those with maturing concerns, for their high concentrations of key ingredients like firming peptides, brightening vitamin C, and fine line-reducing retinol (also known as vitamin A). “Serums are a great way to instantly improve the signs of aging in mature skin as they are formulated with concentrations of active ingredients that hydrate, soothe, defend, repair, and boost radiance for a more dewy complexion,” says Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist.
Finding the right serum for your maturing skin-care concerns can get confusing. Instead of going the trial-and-error route and hoping for the best, try out these dermatologist-recommended serums that’ll effortlessly improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity.
Best Overall: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
If there’s one vitamin C serum that nearly every doctor (and Allure staffer) swears you need to try in your lifetime, it’s the Allure Best of Beauty-winning SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. Erum Ilyas, MD a board-certified dermatologist based at Schweiger Dermatology Group in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, gives this stellar serum her seal of approval for its impressive combination of antioxidant vitamins C and E, which guard against free radical damage while minimizing dark spots and moisturizing skin. “I love this Skin Ceuticals product because it uses the more active forms of Vitamin C in the right concentration to work,” says Dr. Ilyas.
Best Instant Plumping Effect: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir
New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, says the skin-plumping effects of Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir are too good to beat. “This serum contains glycerin, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and polyglutamic acid — all humectants that help create an immediate plumping effect that makes the skin look younger and smoother,” she says. Along with these dryness-tackling additives, this nourishing face serum also contains a glow-boosting duo of vitamin C and niacinamide for a more even skin tone along with shea butter to seal in moisture.
Most Potent Retinol Formula: Beauty Pie Youthbomb Double Retinol Action Skin Overhaul Serum
Dr. King also gives this splurge-worthy pick two thumbs up for its active-packed formulation that contains two types of retinol, 3% microencapsulated retinol to maximize potency and 2% granactive retinoid for low-irritation resurfacing. Retinol has long been lauded as a gold standard ingredient for mature skin since it has the ability to increase cellular turnover and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.
“This serum also contains niacinamide, which helps to improve tone and texture lactic acid to gently exfoliate as well as increase penetration of the other active ingredients, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and ceramides support the skin barrier,” Dr. King says. As with all retinol products, be sure to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher during the day.
Best Lightweight Serum: Alastin HA Immerse Serum
Fun fact: Dry skin accentuates the look of fine lines and wrinkles, which is why Dr. Robinson says a hydrating serum like the Alastin HA Immerse Serum is essential to any maturing skin-care routine. Along with its star ingredient, hydrating hyaluronic acid, this splurge-worthy facial serum also contains a proprietary peptide blend that supports skin elasticity. “This is a lightweight formula that can be used in the morning under skin care and makeup as well as at night,” says Dr. Robinson.
Best Serum for Sensitive Skin: Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Instant Firming Serum
Those with sensitive skin may find intensive, retinol-infused formulas a little too harsh. That’s where this French beauty favorite steps in with its reservatrol- and peptide-based formulation. As the former brightens uneven skin, the latter refines skin texture by boosting firmness for a more youthful appearance.
Best for Tackling Hyperpigmentation: Clarins Double Serum
Silky-smooth skin is always in, and now it’s easily achievable with the Clarins Double Serum. As its name suggests, you can consider this a two-in-one formula that reduces the look of deep wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation while brightening the skin. This nutrient-rich serum contains a slew of skin saviors like radiance-boosting, antioxidant-rich turmeric for a glowing complexion, and hyaluronic acid to make skin feel smooth and velvety to the touch.
Best Retinol Alternative Serum: Isdin Melatonik Overnight Serum
For plumper, smoother skin overnight, follow Dr. Robinson’s orders and grab Isdin’s Melatonik Overnight Serum, stat. “This nighttime serum contains bakuchiol, a plant-based alternative to retinol, alongside vitamin C to stimulate natural antioxidant defenses and encourage collagen production to restore skin vitality and elasticity for radiant, healthy skin,” she says. As an added bonus, this retinol serum alternative also contains melatonin, an ingredient Dr. Robinson says provides overnight hydration and reinforces the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Best for Dull, Uneven Skin: Vichy Neovadiol Meno 5 Serum
Carmen Castilla, MD, a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist, says the Vichy Neovadiol Meno 5 Serum is a drugstore favorite specifically formulated to target multiple skin aging concerns in one simple, lightweight formula. “It provides antioxidants to prevent free radical damage and fatty acids that can help repair the skin barrier,” she says.
AHA-Packed Retinol Award Winner: Shani Darden Retinol Reform Treatment Serum
If you’re in the market for a tried-and-true retinoid serum, allow us to introduce you to Shani Darden’s Retinol Reform Treatment Serum. This Allure Best of Beauty winner contains a powerful blend of skin cell turnover-inducing retinol (encapsulated for maximum freshness/delivery), fine line–smoothing alpha hydroxy acids (or AHAs, specifically lactic acid), and hydrating glycerin to minimize irritation. Did we also mention this formula is fragrance-free? Wins all around.
Best for Treating Fine Lines: RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum
Looking to spend less than $50? The RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum is an Allure Best of Beauty-winning favorite for its powerhouse combination of wrinkle-reducing retinol and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
Best Antioxidant Serum: SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum
Both Dr. Robinson and Stacy Chimiento, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, Florida, say that SkinBetter Science’s Alto Defense Serum is one of their top recommendations for its antioxidant-rich formula that protects the skin from free radicals while reducing the look of previous signs of photoaging, including sun damage. ” It repairs the skin from environmental stressors and improves the appearance of skin tone and luminosity while decreasing redness,” says Dr. Chimiento.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum: Cetaphil Deep Hydration 48-Hour Activation Serum
The Cetaphil Deep Hydration 48-Hour Activation Serum isn’t your usual drugstore hyaluronic acid serum. Dr. Castilla says it’s one of the best serums on the market not only for its under-$20 price point but its moisture-retaining blend of HA, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E. “This serum absorbs easily into the skin, helps boost hydration, and works well for sensitive mature skin,” she says.
Best Naturally-Derived Formula: SheaMoisture Papaya and Vitamin C Brighter Days Ahead Serum
Dullness be damned because SheaMoisture’s Papaya and Vitamin C Brighter Days Ahead Serum is here to significantly enhance your complexion’s radiance — for less than $15. “The tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a super stable form of vitamin C), yuzu peel, and papaya fruit extracts in this serum provide potent antioxidant properties to protect against damage from free radicals to keep mature skin bright and radiant,” says Dr. King. “Papaya fruit extract also gently exfoliates with fruit enzymes while shea butter, jojoba seed oil, and sunflower seed oil support the skin barrier.”
As an added bonus, many of these ingredients are also known for easing breakouts, so it’s also a great pick for acne-prone skin types.