A great anti-ageing serum can take your skin from so-so to super. Here's our pick of the best.
In the beauty industry, the best anti-ageing serums are relatively new. Yes, they’ve been in the background for a while, but it’s only recently that serums have been touted as a skincare essential. And, as with most beauty elements that gather hype, there comes a slew of products to choose form, which can make it quite difficult to work out which one you need. So if you’re in the market for one of the best anti-ageing serums, you’ve come to right place, because we’ve done all the hard work for you.
Over the course of time, and with the help of several beauty editors, we’ve pulled together a list of the most effective and subsequently, best anti-ageing serums out there. There are serums that will help protect and prevent wrinkles and lines in the early stages. There are those that will stop time in its place. And a few of the very best serums can almost turn back the hands of time.
When to use the best anti-ageing serums
Anti-ageing products, particularly those with antioxidants, can be used as early as in your 20s, but the most important thing is to use anti-ageing products that are appropriate for your skin type. Remember that serums contain the highest concentration of active ingredients that you can get without a prescription, so it’s important to get the right one for you.
If you’re acne-prone, look for vitamin C. If you have dry skin, look for vitamin E. And if your skin appears dull, look for antioxidants, which will help protect your skin from free radicals, such as pollution.
Once you’ve found the best anti-ageing serums, how should you use them?
After cleansing your skin, apply your anti-ageing serum to slightly damp skin. Then, press the serum into your skin with an open palm instead of fingertips to release the active ingredients. Leave to sink in properly for at least 5 minutes. If you’ve come across the best moisturiser for your skin type, apply it afterwards. But, if your skin feels nourished enough just from using the serum, simply add a sun protection product (SPF) and you’re ready to go.
Scroll through the best anti-ageing serums below to find the perfect one for you…
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Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin Tone Cor, £56 Fabledecting Serum
An uneven skin tone is more ageing than wrinkles. Fact. This brightening serum harnesses the pigment blitzing properties of Rosa Roxburghii (the fruit of a variety of rose) – plus essential fatty acids and vitamins A, C and E - to brighten skin and help to repair UV damage, post-inflammatory pigmentation and age spots. Clever stuff.
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Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, from £55 Fabled
Layer this serum under your nightly moisturiser and you’ll spur your skin into regeneration while you sleep. It uses technology that works inline with the skins nighttime rhythm and, essentially, makes the whole skin renewal process more efficient. It’s a beauty editor favourite.
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Olay Regenerist Luminous Skin Tone Perfecting Serum, £19.99 Boots
Our skin requires a lot of energy to do what it needs to do to look good. When we’re young and sprightly we have skin energy by the bucket load, it’s why our skin looked so plump and fresh. But, as we get older, skin energy takes a drop and so cell turnover slows down and our skin is less able to repair damage. Sad times.The technology in Olay’s new Regenerist serum boosts re-energises our skin cells while also targeting dark sports with Sepiwhite and speeding up cell turnover with niacinamide (a B vitamin). Your skin will love this.
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SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E, £98 Amazon
Ok, so it’s not technically a serum but you apply this before your moisturiser. It’s a gel like formula packed to the rafters with the powerful antioxidant reseveratrol plus Baicalin and Vitamin E. Wear it at night so that, with it, your skin has a fighting chance of repairing the damage that occurred during the day.
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Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate, £57 Boots
The multi-award winning Double Serum is the only intensive anti-ageing treatment serum rich in 20 plant extracts that boosts the skin's vital functions. An innovative serum with a two-phase system that targets all aspects of skin ageing in one complete skin care concentrate.
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Oskia Super 16 Pro Collagen Super Serum, £85 Cult Beauty
This dynamic fusion of 16 super nutrients and bio-actives are designed to increase collagen synthesis, lift and firm the skin and reduce fine lines.
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Dr Hauschka Regenerating Serum, £55 Fabled
Apply 1-2 pumps of this super serum to the face and neck daily for amazing anti-ageing results.
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La Mer The Regenerating Serum, £260 Fabled
If you're in need of a serious splurge, then Crème de la Mer's Renewal Serum is a price worth paying for. Turn back the clock in a matter of days.
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No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Advanced Serum, £26 Boots
Supercharge your skincare regime with this unique complex of anti-ageing technologies that help to repair, enhance and protect the skin.
Matrixyl 3000 Plus, the star technology for helping to restore a more youthful appearance to your skin, plays a huge part, as does
Hyaluronic acid, for added firmness and a patented antioxidant complex, to protect the skin against environmental stress. Rice peptide and alfalfa complex also work to help preserve levels of collagen and fibrillin in the skin.
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Shiseido Bio-Performance Lift Dynamic Serum, £90 Fabled
This serum brings visible improvements to skin from its first application. Anti ageing benefits intensify over time and daily use. Immediately skin texture is refined, hydration levels go up and lines less visible. Then, after 1 week firmness is improved and facial contours lifted and defined.
