The 13 Best Anti-aging Serums: Tested and Derm-Backed

Why We Love It: After eight weeks of applying this serum nightly, our tester’s skin was noticeably firmer and hydrated with fewer fine lines, especially around the forehead. It also kept skin soft and moisturized throughout the dry winter months without causing irritation or breakouts. The texture was lightweight to the point of watery, so it absorbed quickly, smelled deliciously (and not too strongly) of fresh pomegranate, and left skin nourished and refreshed. One pump did it all (we love a product that goes a long way). The serum can be used morning and night, but don’t skip sunscreen in the morning.

Who It’s for: Anyone looking to prevent or reduce fine lines and wrinkles might want to go ahead and grab a bottle of this popular serum. It’s not just great for all skin types but also safe for people prone to breakouts and irritation. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, alcohol, and synthetic fragrance. The company is also carbon-neutral certified, and the bottle is refillable and recyclable. 

Key Ingredients: Polypeptides, pomegranate, hyaluronic acid | Dosage: Two pumps twice daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Katherine, tester with combination, acne-prone skin: “I am very pleased that my fine lines have slightly reduced. The hydration the product has helped with is also visible to the eye.” 

Why We Love It: Just three drops of this water-based serum in the morning made our tester’s skin feel softer, smoother, and plumper. Her cheeks were noticeably more supple. She didn’t feel any bumpy texture or rough patches. There’s a slight vinegar scent to this serum, but it’s mild and fades, which is fine considering its affordability—less than one dinner out. And don’t discount the nice texture. We love how lightweight it feels—never greasy or sticky, and how well it layers under moisturizer and makeup. 

Who It’s for: This one’s perfect if you’re looking for an affordable, all-in-one anti-aging serum. It has something for everyone, including five peptide technologies, amino acids, and multiple hyaluronic acids to target fine lines, boost elasticity, hydrate, smooth, and firm. These ingredients also fend off oxidative stress, keeping skin healthier over time.  

Key Ingredients: Copper peptides, amino acids, hyaluronic acid | Dosage: A few drops daily, morning and night | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Janice, tester with dry skin and hyperpigmentation: “I’ve never used a serum like this before, but this one knocked it out of the park for me, and I’ll continue to use it in my morning skin care routine.”

Why We Love It: This pick has incredible lifting power. After applying the rich but quick-absorbing, lightly scented gel-like cream twice daily, skin was smoother, tighter, and more sculpted—chiseled even. On video calls, our tester could see greater definition in her cheeks, jawline, and neck. Someone even asked her if she’d gotten a neck lift! The serum spread evenly with a bit of massage, and then it felt like wearing nothing; it just left the skin feeling smooth. 

Who It’s for: This luxurious cream from the French brand Guerlain is for anyone looking to lift, tighten, and sculpt the skin. The secret sauce is a concentrated duo of orchid extracts thought to harness the flower’s significant longevity powers. Combined with “micro fillers” and firming peptides to shore up the skin’s elastic network, it’s great for mature skin—and mature wallets because it costs more than a month of groceries. 

Key Ingredients: A few drops twice daily | Dosage: Orchid extract, peptides | Cruelty-Free: No

Maria, tester with combination skin: “Can a serum redistribute fat on your face? Because I feel like this stuff did. It’s expensive, but it’s cheaper than a facelift.”

Why We Love It: After using this silky serum twice daily, it visibly smoothed formerly deep forehead lines and made the skin look a lot firmer and plumper. It also brightened up our tester’s complexion. The lightweight, mildly scented formula soaked in nicely after a few minutes—it felt like part of the skin—creating a perfect canvas for other skin products and makeup. We’re happy to report that it didn’t cause breakouts or irritation.

Who It’s for: This serum helps most skin types, especially sagging, dull, or dry skin, appear firmer thanks to a potent blend of antioxidants from bitter orange and vitamin E, along with thirst-quenching hyaluronic acid. It reinforces the skin’s natural barrier, locking moisture in and making it look smooth and glowy. It may do its best work at night when the skin is in repair mode. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and won’t clog pores since it’s free from parabens and mineral oils. 

Key Ingredients: Bitter orange, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid | Dosage: 3-4 drops daily, morning and night | Cruelty-Free: No

Masego, tester with dry skin and melasma: “My overall skin complexion improved. The main difference I noticed was on the lines, which had been deeper on my forehead. They seem less visible after consistently using the product.”

Why We Love It: Our tester noticed her skin tone looked much more even after the conclusion of the test period. It brightened her skin and faded the appearance of spots and hyperpigmentation. As a bonus, it also helped with blemishes and texture. She loved how her skin drank the serum right in, and there was no pilling, scaling, or slip-sliding of the heavy night cream she applied right afterward. Her skin felt soft and supple, hydrated, and firm after application. 

Who It’s for: This serum is great for anyone looking to reduce premature sun damage and soften fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also great for those with sensitive skin. This serum is powered by pure retinol, which speeds up cell turnover and improves the look of lines. It gets an assist from niacinamide, a B vitamin known for soothing skin, fading discoloration, and shoring up skin’s natural barrier function. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin bring hydration, and dimethicone, a silicone-based polymer, locks in moisture. (As with any retinol product, it’s not for use while pregnant or breastfeeding.)

Key Ingredients: Pure retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Dosage: 3-4 drops nightly | Cruelty-Free: No 

Rachel, tester with fine lines and discoloration: “Overall, my skin looks immensely better than it did in the before photos. I think this product is hydrating and helped perfect the flaws and blemishes in my skin.”

Why We Love It: Applying two pumps of this thick, creamy, luxe-feeling cream at night gave our tester a healthy glow and improved texture, including softening her fine lines. After taking a few minutes to absorb fully, our tester’s skin was beautifully hydrated, and did we mention the cream felt extremely luxurious? 

Who It’s for: All skin types with smile lines, laugh lines, and wrinkles of any kind will appreciate the lifting, toning, and tightening action of this plant-based serum. The serum is full of skin-firming peptides, brightening antioxidants (including vitamin C), plus algae extracts, one of the great unsung heroes of skin care. Algae contains antioxidants and detoxifying minerals to help unclog pores and reduce breakouts. It also blocks enzymes that break down collagen, helping skin stay supple. 

Key Ingredients: Peptides, vitamin C, algae extract | Dosage: A pea-size amount once or twice daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Michelle, tester with sensitive skin and dryness: “I liked the way the product felt on my skin. It was creamy and felt luxe. It helped brighten my skin and improve my overall texture/complexion.”

Why We Love It: Who wants smoother, bouncier, more even-textured skin? (Raises hand.) Ally Hirschlag, an associate editorial director on beauty commerce, used this lightweight, cloud-like serum twice daily, and each time, it was fully absorbed within 30 seconds and felt super smooth. She could apply makeup immediately, and there was zero pilling. After just a few weeks, the fine lines around her eyes looked a little less noticeable, and the skin on our cheeks was noticeably plumper and felt buoyant.

Who It’s for: This one works wonders on rough texture and helps slake the thirst of dry, sensitive skin. This cushiony formula gets its smoothing and plumping power from peptides and ceramides, which boost natural lipids and restore skin barrier health. Big-time humectants, including polyglutamic acid complex, a soybean extract, draw water into the skin and hold 5,000 times their weight in moisture. 

Key Ingredients: Lipid and peptide complex, polyglutamic acid, niacinamide | Dosage: 1-2 pumps daily, morning and night | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Ally, tester with combination skin: “My skin looks more even-textured, supple, and hydrated. It’s smoother and softer than it usually is at this time of year when I typically fall victim to a ton of dryness.”

Why We Love It: A clever blend of anti-aging and hydrating elements softened our fine lines with no irritation or dryness whatsoever; common risks with retinoids and risks magnified for sensitive skin types. Our skin slurped up this super lightweight serum (it absorbed like a water-based moisturizer) and felt soft and hydrated after each use. 

Who It’s for: Retinol and gentle aren’t words you often hear in the same sentence. But in this allergy-tested, 100 percent fragrance-free formula, you get wrinkle repair, firming, and radiance without any redness or flaking. Active ingredients include a retinoid to speed cell renewal, a peptide complex for skin strengthening, and hyaluronic acid for plumping and hydrating. It’s a godsend for sensitive skin and those who can’t normally tolerate retinol.

Key Ingredients: Retinoid, peptides, hyaluronic acid | Dosage: 1-2 pumps twice daily | Cruelty-Free: No 

Maggie, tester with combination skin prone to breakouts: “In the past, my retinol/retinoid products have been really drying, but this felt hydrating. I would recommend this product as a great introduction to retinol.”

Why We Love It: Textured skin is no match for this complexion-correcting serum from beloved dermatologist and skin champion Dr. Dennis Gross. After just a few weeks of applying this thin, fast-absorbing formula nightly (our tester was able to use less than the eight to 10 drops recommended), her skin was noticeably smoother. In fact, we would say that texture was the area with the biggest improvement. It also softened her crow’s feet a bit, which is a nice bonus. Retinols can make her skin red sometimes, but in this case, it wasn’t irritating in any way. 

Who It’s for: If you’re concerned with texture and/or intimidated by retinol, this serum is for you. Yes, it uses several forms of retinol, which works like a Zamboni on an ice rink, smoothing texture, fading spots, and boosting collagen. But this serum includes antioxidants like phytochemical ferulic acid and rambutan to minimize irritation, so you get retinol’s excellent benefits without redness or flaking. For our oily friends, the trans-retinol and encapsulated retinol in this formula tamp down the overproduction of blemish-causing sebum, meaning fewer breakouts.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol | Dosage: 8-10 drops once or twice daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Karah, tester with combination skin and blemish scars: “I was really pleased with the results and was so surprised by how smooth my skin was every morning. I do feel like the product did what it said it would.” 

Why We Love It: Winter and dry skin go hand in hand, but with this lightweight serum, our tester’s skin was actually softer and more hydrated than it typically is. It spread easily and absorbed quickly and just felt lovely. It was not heavy, creamy, tacky, or sticky, which you’d expect from a super-moisturizing product. After applying it twice daily, her skin felt smoother, silky, and generally healthier. It never caused any irritation or dryness, typically a big problem for dry skin in winter.  

Who It’s for: All skin types can benefit from a kiss of moisture, but people with dry skin will especially appreciate the hydrating, plumping, and smoothing powers of this iconic serum. Hyaluronic acid, a prebiotic, and a gentle vitamin C antioxidant prop up barrier function, sealing in that moisture and defending against environmental assailants, including pollution and dry air. 

Key Ingredients: Bifidus prebiotic, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C | Dosage: A few drops daily, morning and night | Cruelty-Free: No 

Jessica, tester with dry skin and wrinkles: “Putting the serum on my face was a pleasure. I enjoyed spreading it on, and I felt like I was doing something kind for my skin each time I applied it. It never caused any irritation or dryness, which is typically a big problem for me in the winter months.”

Why We Love It: Hello, glow! After absorbing quickly, this serum felt amazing on the skin—not at all tight or sticky—and imparted a megawatt radiance. Consistent use as part of our a.m. routine kept the glow going and made skin look smoother, with fewer dark spots. There was zero irritation or breakouts to report, and it worked well under makeup.   

Who It’s for: This exfoliator is for anyone who wants that lit-from-within vibrancy. It includes 10 percent lactic acid, a chemical exfoliant that gently dissolves the bonds that hold dead cells together, like the mortar that binds bricks together. It’s a much gentler process than manual exfoliation, which uses tiny scrubbing beads that can be abrasive. Once you’ve sloughed off the dead cells that were dulling your complexion, a peptide complex helps bind moisture to strengthen, hydrate, and firm, and the antioxidant snow mushroom extract fends off further damage.

Key Ingredients: Peptides, lactic acid, amino acids | Dosage: A few drops daily | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Carrie, tester with sensitive skin: “I feel like the product was good for my skin. Overall, it provided a nice glow and smooth skin and maybe reduced my dark spots slightly.”

Why We Love It: After applying this lightweight, mildly scented serum twice daily, our tester saw a softening of lines around her eyes, mouth, and forehead, which is pretty impressive after years of sun-worshipping back in the day. The effect was so pronounced that if she missed a night, she could tell! Her favorite thing about this product was how soft it made her skin feel and how hydrated it looked.

Who It’s for: This is an ideal preventative serum for common aging concerns: loss of firmness, uneven tone, lines and wrinkles, dullness, and dehydration. The key players here are a proprietary peptide blend that promotes cell renewal and firming, hyaluronic acid for moisture, and antioxidants to ward off free radical damage. Supporting actors are biome-bolstering probiotics, tightening caffeine, and hydrators glycerin and squalene. 

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptide | Dosage: A few twice drops daily | Cruelty-Free: No 

Stacey, tester with dry skin: “My over 40 skin was feeling old and very dry. Now, when I wake up in the morning, my skin feels so soft and hydrated. It did help reduce fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes and mouth. My skin is visibly more plump and supple.”

Why We Love It: To borrow Visine’s old slogan, “It gets the red out.” The redness reduction is the standout difference between the before and after photos. Our tester said her skin looks better overall, too—brighter, plumper, more balanced, and less splotchy. It’s remarkable since she tested it during the dead of winter, a time of year when her skin typically looks worse than usual. She applied two pumps twice daily, which went on fast and clean, melting into the skin in seconds. We love the pump over a dropper because it made it so simple to use. 

Who It’s for: This best seller is for anyone battling redness, dry or combination skin, uneven texture, and sagging. The combination of herbal ingredients and ginseng go to work, fortifying the skin’s moisture barrier and improving elasticity. That means firmer skin with hydration in and irritants out, topped off with a dewy radiance. Ginseng, in particular, is an adaptogen known to calm skin—hence the reduction in redness.

Key Ingredients: Ginseng | Dosage: Three pumps daily, morning and night | Cruelty-Free: No 

Jodi, tester with combination skin and fine lines: “I am happy with the results and the overall look of my skin. For the difference I’m seeing, I think it’s worth adding this product to my daily routine.”