Although aging is a natural process and is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about, there are some products on the market — including anti-aging serums — that can be used to accompany the process to reduce the visible effects of aging on the skin.
Kunal Malik, a board-certified dermatologist from New York City, explains that “anti-aging serums work by delivering high concentrations of active ingredients deep into the skin, targeting specific aging concerns by stimulating collagen production, increasing cell turnover and providing antioxidant protection.”
Shop TODAY tapped board-certified dermatologists to learn more about anti-aging serums, specifically how they work, their benefits and their ingredients (both the good and the bad), along with some of their expert recommendations.
Once your skin experiences the power of one of these expert- or editor-recommended anti-aging serums, you’ll be one step closer to aging like fine wine — you can thank us (and our experts) later. As part of our inaugural Shop TODAY 2025 Mature Beauty Awards, we also included 10 serums to round out the list which are beloved by our editors, as well as their mothers and grandmothers.
Budget-friendly, award winner$undefined$14.90
Best serum for hydration$undefined$39.99
Ingredients to look for in anti-aging serums
When shopping for anti-aging serums, Kseniya Kobets, the director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care, recommends prioritizing products with active topical ingredients including vitamin C and retinol.
Dr. Brendan Camp, a double board-certified dermatologist, also tells us that "retinol, which is potentially irritating, has a proven track record at being an effective anti-aging ingredient." However, he continues, "Bakuchiol is a plant-based alternative that may offer similar benefits without being as irritating."
“Besides vitamin C, other antioxidants are beneficial for anti-aging by fighting free radicals, like vitamin E, niacinamide, squalane and polyphenols (like resveratrol and green tea),” says Kobets.
Malik adds that these ingredients have been proven to tighten up skin, prevent and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and balance out skin tone.
On the other hand, you want to ensure that if you’re shopping for skin serum to reduce or prevent the effects of aging, you steer clear of those containing fragrances, grease and chemicals including parabens, phthalates and formaldehyde, adds Melanie Palm, San Diego-based board-certified dermatologist.
Shop TODAY Mature Beauty Award-winning serums
This budget-friendly serum — which won a beauty award for Best Value Retinol — is made with clean ingredients and helps firm skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Infused with encapsulated retinol, this brightening serum is recommended by the brand to be used weekly at first and gradually increased to twice a week (a few days apart) for best results.
Associate editor Shannon Garlin's mom Mary Lou McGarry tested this hydrating serum and loved how it felt on her skin. "As a 65-year-old woman, I have tried many facial products and I would recommend this one for maturing skin," she explained. "It felt so soothing and has a firming effect. I did not have to apply much. I would definitely continue to use this product."
Suitable for all skin types, this soothing serum helps reduce redness and improves skin reactivity. This gentle formula helps with rosacea and feels super soft on skin.
Shop TODAY contributor Kristin Granero tested the Truskin Vitamin C Facial Serum and saw positive results. "After a few days, I noticed my skin appeared more radiant," she said. "After one week, my skin also felt much smoother to the touch. While I didn’t have any acne or many dark patches at the time (some reviewers have noted the serum’s ability to make blemishes and spots disappear), my skin appeared clearer and more even overall."
"I love how gentle this formula is — people often speak to the harshness of certain retinol products, but this one doesn't burn at all," shared partnerships editorial assistant Erica Marrison. "It's pricey, so it's something I would think of as a nice-to-have not a need-to-have, but a great product overall. For anyone looking for a body retinol, I'd recommend."
"There were several things I liked about this product," noted Sarah Whitman, mother of associate editor Lauren Witonsky. "The product has a wonderful consistency, light yet hydrating. It has a nice subtle smell. I liked the combination of benefits, with both clarifying ingredients and soothing ingredients."
This moisturizing formula is enriched with salicylic acid to help target blemishes and acne.
This jaw and neck firming serum helps lift saggy skin and can even help to reduce your double chin. Formulated with niacinamide, this lightweight serum hydrates and tightens the skin for a refreshed look. Satisfied Amazon customers love how easy this beauty product is to use and that it is free of fragrances.
"I’ve been using this product for months now and I love how clean and plump my skin has felt since," explained commerce writer Jannely Espinal. "The oily texture feels like a relief on my skin and I love how smooth the texture is." It's also worth noting that this Shop TODAY Beauty Award winner for Best Splurge Retinol received a near perfect overall score of 4.83/5.
This luxe serum can be used on both the face and neck to help plump skin. Made with collagen, this hydrating formula also reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles for more youthful looking skin.
"My favorite thing about this serum is how absorbent it is on the skin," shared associate editor Shannon Garlin. "As soon as I apply it, my face immediately drinks it up, which allows me to apply moisturizer almost immediately. This is also good to wear under makeup too, since it doesn't leave a greasy feel. I haven't seen hyperpigmentation benefits yet but I have been experiencing brighter and plumper skin. I look forward to using it more and more to see if the dark spots on my face fade in time."
Best anti-aging serums, according to experts
Dr. Noah Gratch, a board-certified dermatologist, calls this retinol serum by The Ordinary an "amazing" choice, mainly due to its retinol component that, again, "boosts collagen and promotes cell turnover." At under $10, it's an effective budget pick for anyone serum shopping.
Sometimes, dispensing the perfect amount of serum from a bottle becomes tricky — but these pre-measured capsules take the guessing away. The easy-to-open capsules, which Camp recommends, contain a blend of anti-aging ingredients in the form of serum that's designed to be applied to your complexion.
This dermatologist-tested serum, which Camp calls "lightweight" and "hydrating," is infused with not only hyaluronic acid but also skin-barrier-friendly volcanic water.
Malik particularly recommends this retinol face serum from La Roche-Posay for combating wrinkles. “This gentle yet effective retinol serum helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin texture and tone,” explains Malik.
Made with a combination of pure and gradual-release retinol, vitamin B3 and niacinamide, this non-comedogenic formula features thermal spring water that hydrates skin with just three or four drops. This serum is even suitable for sensitive skin–just make sure to stay away from the eyes.
Camp also recommends this serum from La Roche-Posay, which is formulated to work as a dark spot corrector. He says this product can help reduce sunspots, post-acne spots and more. This serum can be applied twice a day (morning and night), per the brand.
If you’re looking for an anti-aging serum packed with vitamin C, consider this one from Charlotte Tilbury. “This serum includes powerful antioxidants including vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten skin and help improve the appearance of dark spots,” says Jeannette Graf, board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology.
A little bit goes a long way when you use this serum, as all it takes is four to six drops of this serum twice per day to notice results over time. We can’t forget to mention that it is a buildable product that you can put on under your sunscreen for some extra protection.
When it comes to anti-aging serums that can be worn while you sleep, Malik recommends this one from Drunk Elephant. “This AHA/BHA blend exfoliates and resurfaces the skin, promoting a more youthful appearance,” says Malik.
Made with antioxidants, this lightweight gel serum is vegan, cruelty-free and easy to apply before bed. It even contains raspberry extract to provide some extra hydration to the skin.
Although this anti-aging serum is an investment with a price tag of $130 (for 1.7 ounces), it is packed with peptides. “This serum includes a blend of peptides to help renew and replenish skin’s appearance and hyaluronic acid to help increase skin hydration,” says Graf.
Plus, this anti-aging serum can be used at night so you wake up with a glow and visibly hydrated skin for up to 72 hours.
Best anti-aging serums, according to editors
This CeraVe retinol serum won the award for best budget anti-aging serum during the 2023 Shop TODAY Beauty Awards, all thanks to its skin-rejuvenating ingredients combined with the addition of retinol.
One Shop TODAY writer who tried this product even said that "adding this anti-aging ingredient to my skincare regime was an easy and inexpensive beauty move."
Jess Bender, deputy managing editor, says these capsules are "an effective solution to keep my face hydrated overnight, especially in my dry apartment where my skin is always thirsty and salivating for nourishment." She continues, "It also serves as a perfect travel-friendly option to keep my skin care routine going while I’m separated from my precious beauty standbys and don’t want to put product in a variety of tiny bottles."
This vitamin C serum is recommended by Bender, who says, "I recently received a sample of this from the Typology team and have been really impressed with how glowy and bright this makes me look with such little product needed (only 3 to 4 drops max)."
She continues, "While I’ve come across a lot of serums that are borderline unpleasantly sticky, this one has a more aqueous feel that goes on super smoothly. While the brand recommends using during both the morning and evening, I’ve strictly been using during the AM hours to even out my complexion."
Bender also recommends this retinol serum by Retinol Reform. She says, "Now that I’m in my mid-30s, it’s probably time for me to start taking my skin care routine much more seriously. This being my first retinol serum ever, I was a little hesitant going in knowing that retinol could lead to flaking or dryness."
Bender continues, "However, after about two months of usage so far, I haven’t had either of those effects thus far! The immediate results I’ve seen are more tied to an increased brightness in my complexion and a more even skin texture, so I’m eager to see the long-term effects over time."
What serums are best for wrinkles?
When it comes to tackling wrinkles, Malik notes that serums containing retinoids (including retinol) are key.
Debra Jaliman, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist from New York City, adds that serum formulas containing peptides can also be helpful to prevent wrinkles.
Many of our dermatologist experts agree that sun protection or SPF is also a critical component. That said, it is a best practice to look for serums containing SPF.
If your serum of choice does not contain SPF (of at least 30), wearing sunscreen regularly (but preferably daily) is recommended.
What serums are best for under your eyes?
According to Kobets, under-eye serums containing moisturizing ingredients including shea butter, glycerin and hyaluronic acid can be particularly helpful to prevent aging impacts on the areas of skin surrounding the eyes.
Graf also previously told us that "incorporating it [an under-eye serum] into a skin care routine can give the under-eye area a boost in hydration."
How do you add Shop TODAY as a Preferred Source on Google?
Google’s new Preferred Sources feature allows users to manually select their favorite publishers and news outlets for a more customizable experience tailored directly to the reader. Once you’ve opted to receive our content, you’ll begin seeing more of our recent and trending articles displayed within your Top Stories news feed.
The easiest way to add us as a preferred source is to click here and type in “TODAY.com.” Once the box is checked and you’ve refreshed the page, Shop TODAY content will start appearing in your feed.
How we chose
To compile our list of the best anti-aging serums, Shop TODAY considered the recommendations provided to us by our team of editors and the board-certified dermatologists we interviewed. We spoke to the professionals about anti-aging serum ingredients, benefits and more. We also included award-winning products to help round out the list.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on the best serums. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Kunal Malik, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and assistant professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
- Debra Jaliman, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and author of “Skin Rules” (St. Martin’s Press).
- Melanie Palm, MD, MBA, is a San Diego-based board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at Art of Skin MD
- Connie Yang, MD is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist at PFRANKMD by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank.
- Jeannette Graf, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mt Sinai School of Medicine.
- Kseniya Kobets, MD, director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care.
- Dr. Noah Gratch, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery.
- Dr. Brendan Camp, MD is a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York City.
- Has your product been featured?
- Shop TODAY is editorially independent and our team of editors and writers work hard to pick the best products to share with our readers and viewers. We may license our logo to brands or products that have been featured on Shop TODAY. Click here if you’re interested in licensing your inclusion in Shop TODAY content or to learn more from our licensing partner, Wrights Media.
- Our top picks
- Ingredients to look for in anti-aging serums
- Shop TODAY Mature Beauty Award-winning serums
- Best anti-aging serums, according to experts
- Best anti-aging serums, according to editors
- What serums are best for wrinkles?
- What serums are best for under your eyes?
- Frequently asked questions
- How do you add Shop TODAY as a Preferred Source on Google?
- How we chose
- Meet the experts