16 Best Anti-Aging Serums, Tested and Reviewed for 2023

In my experience, the best anti-aging serums and treatments are the prescription strength ones you’d get from a derm. They tend to be more powerful and yield faster and more visible results than over-the-counter options. That said, getting Rx skincare can be a hassle (the derm appt, the co pay, the insurance drama, etc,), which is why I love RoDerm’s Custom Rx Treatment. You fill out a questionnaire online and then a medical provider makes you a custom Rx-strength treatment serum (with ingredients like retinoids, tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and azelaic acid) tailored to your specific skin care needs and goals. I’ve tested RoDerm’s treatment on-and-off for years and am consistently impressed with the level of convenience and the anti-aging results.

• Key ingredients: Varies depending on skincare needs
• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Skin types: All
• Usage: Typically in the evening

THE REVIEW: “I know tretinoin and niacinamide can take several months to notice results, but in the 3 months I’ve been using it I’ve noticed results,” writes a tester.”My pores are smaller and look less clogged. My skin texture is smoother and brighter too.”

I’m so impressed by this anti-aging serum! I’ve been testing it for about three weeks now and normally I wouldn’t expect to see a difference at this point, but I really do think my skin—especially the area around my eyes—looks softer and firmer. Even my under eye concealer seems to go on smoother and crease less by midday too.

• Key ingredients: Growth factors, Kangaroo Paw flower extract, micro algae
• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Skin types: Dry, combo, oily
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “I put this on every morning and evening and I love how it goes on very smoothly with no need for tugging,” writes a tester. “A small amount goes a long way and it absorbs well. I am two weeks in now and can see some of the fine lines receding around my mouth! It definitely gives your face a softer appearance, almost radiant. I highly recommend!”

This anti-aging face serum makes your skin noticeably more glowy and plump, says Blancato. “It uses growth factors to regenerate skin and reduce all signs of aging, including fine lines, rough texture, and uneven skin tone.” Plus, it has a velvety texture that absorbs nicely into the skin. “Every patient I recommend it to comes back and tells me how many compliments they’re getting on their skin.”

• Key ingredients: Growth factors, peptides, beta glucan, red ginseng extract
• Fragrance-free? No
• Skin types: Dry, combo, oil
  
  
• Usage: Evening

THE REVIEW: “I love how it feels on my skin,” says a tester. “It’s thick so a little goes a long way. My skin is so much softer now that use this and it seems to be helping with my fine lines and wrinkles too!”

This anti-aging serum contains bakuchiol (a plant-derived alternative to retinol that helps smooth fine lines and improve skin texture), a great option for those who have sensitive skin, are unable to tolerate regular retinol, or haven’t used anti-aging actives before, says Dr. Love. It also contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to provide instant hydration and gradual improvement in skin discoloration, says Dr. Love.

• Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, combo, sensitive
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “As someone with sensitive skin, I’m always cautious about adding new products to my skincare routine. I decided to try this serum because it’s specially formulated for sensitive skin and I’m SO glad I did,” writes one reviewer. “I’ve been using it for about a week now and have noticed my skin is brighter, smoother, and more even.”

If you love drugstore skincare, this anti-aging serum from Neutrogena should be on the top of your list. The lightweight, fast-absorbing formula contains 0.5 percent retinol to smooth lines and wrinkles and improve skin firmness and elasticity too. Even better? It’s one of the least expensive options on the list.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, bisabolol
• Fragrance-free? No
• kin types: Dry, combo
• Usage: Evening

THE REVIEW: “I have been using this for about three weeks now and I’ve already noticed the fine wrinkles starting to soften around my mouth,” reads one review. ” It leaves my skin feeling so soft and dewy too.”

This is one the most unique anti-aging serums I’ve tested. It’s packed with a blend of Korean herbs that are designed to hydrate, plump, and smooth skin, and it has a super lightweight consistency (almost like an essence) that soaks into skin immediately so it’s easily layered with other anti aging serums and anti-aging moisturizers. Use it has the first step in your skincare routine post-cleanse for an instant glow and to help prep your skin for any other products you decide to apply on top.

• Key ingredients: Korean herbs
• Fragrance-free? No
• Skin types: Dry, combo, oily
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “This is the best part of my skincare routine,” writes a tester. “‘It makes my skin dewy, more even-toned (I can lean towards being a bit red), and hydrated. I love the smell too—I’m on my third bottle!”

The beauty brainchild of celebrity esthetician Shani Darden, this anti-aging serum is a favorite among her A-list clients (including Shay Mitchell and Jessica Alba) for its ability to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, improve the appearance of large pores and uneven texture, and give skin a bright, even-toned glow. The magic? A blend of encapsulated retinol, lactic acid, and antioxidant-rich apple fruit extract.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, AHAs, apple fruit extract
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, combo, oily, acne-prone
• Usage: Evening

THE REVIEW: “This product is amazing,” writes one tester. “After a solid month of use, my skin is brighter and smoother and I have less breakouts too.”

“The TriHex technology used in this formula is what makes it such a great anti-aging serum for daily use,” says licensed esthetician Brittany Blancato. “TriHex clears away damaged collagen and elastin and stimulates your tissue to rebuild, and regenerate new collagen and elastin in its place, resulting in smoother, healthier skin.” This serum also contains silver mushroom extract, a powerful hydrating ingredient (it’s ten times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid) that helps moisturize and plump skin, says Blancato.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, silver mushroom extract, niacinamide
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, sensitive
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “I’ve been using this serum for six months and my skin is absolutely glowing,” writes one tester. “I get compliments from family and friends about how amazing my skin looks! This is a must-have for anyone’s skincare regimen.”

This is one of the best vitamin C serums I’ve tested. It contains L-ascorbic acid—one of the most stable and effective forms of vitamin C to help fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation, soften the look of fine lines, improve skin texture and pore size, and help firm skin too. For best results, use it twice a day on clean skin, and don’t forget to layer on an SPF.

• Key ingredients: L-ascorbic acid, green tea extract, tartaric acid
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin type: Dry, combo, oily
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “This vitamin C serum doesn’t irritate my skin like other ones I’ve tried,” says a tester. “It has no smell and doesn’t turn brown in the bottle either. I haven’t gotten through the entire bottle yet, but I think my complexion already looks more even and smoother.”

Listen up, clean, green beauty lovers, because this one’s for you. Made with a blend of certified organic ingredients (like vitamin C, fruit-derived stem cells, and resveratrol-rich grape extract), this anti-aging serum from Juice Beauty helps minimize the look of wrinkles and boost your skin’s glow. What I really loved about testing this anti-aging serum was the texture. It immediately gives skin a silky smooth and plump texture that’s perfectly prepped for makeup application, thanks to emollient butters and vegetable-based hyaluronic acid.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, fruit-derived stem cells,
• Fragrance-free? No
• Skin type: Dry, combo
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “This serum has definitely helped to erase my fine lines! I noticed an improvement within a few days after using it both in the morning and at night,” says one tester. “This is definitely a staple in my routine now!”

There’s a reason why this cult-favorite serum has like a gajillion five-star ratings: It really, truly works. It uses a multitasking AHA called lactic acid (think of it as glycolic acid’s chiller sister) to exfoliate skin and boost its hydration levels too. After testing this for about a month, I noticed an improvement in my fine lines and uneven texture, a reduction in pore size, and fewer dark spots too.

• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, licorice extract, prickly pear extract
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, combo, oily, acne-prone
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “This stuff deserves 10 stars at least—it has totally changed my skin! It has smoothed out my texture texture, gotten rid of blackheads and clogged pores on my chin, and even helped fade my discoloration too. I use this everyday now under my moisturizer before bed.”

This topical serum (it has more of a cream-like consistency, FYI) contains a gentle, time-released form of retinol—the most well-studied anti-aging ingredient in the skincare world—that’s designed to be easily tolerated by sensitive and redness-prone skin types, says Dr. Love When retinol is time-released, it penetrates the skin more slowly, which in turn, reduces the likelihood of irritation. Basically, the ultimate retinol for sensitive skin.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, shea butter, calendula extract
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin type: Dry, combo, oily, acne prone
• Usage: Evening

THE REVIEW: “I know the importance of using a retinol, but in the past some formulas have been too harsh on my sensitive skin,” writes one tester. “The Obagi 0.5 retinol does the trick and doesn’t bother or irritate my skin one bit.”

This anti-aging serum is definitely on the pricey side, but reviewers say it’s worth every dollar. It uses a growth factor complex (it’s called TNS-MR technology) to support healthy skin function and jumpstart your skin’s renewal process, along with a blend of botanicals, marine extracts, and peptides to help increase collagen and elastin levels.

• Key ingredients: Growth factors, peptides, french flax seed, green microalgae
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, combo, oily
• Usage: Evening

THE REVIEW: “This serum is absolutely amazing,” writes a tester. “I’ve used it consistently for years and it’s taken a decade off my face, neck, and chest. It really gives your skin a gorgeous glow, smooths wrinkles, and makes your skin look virtually poreless too.”

A must-try for anyone who craves plump, bouncy skin, this serum from clean beauty brand Drunk Elephant checks all the right boxes when it comes to a good anti-aging product. It works on a cellular level to stimulate collagen and elastin production to improve skin’s firmness (ty, peptides), plus it contains 10 percent lactic acid to clear away dead skin cells on the surface of the skin for a smooth, even-toned glow.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, lactic acid, amino acids
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin type: Dry, combo, sensitive
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “This is the only anti-aging product that works for my skin,” reads one review. “I had severe redness and dryness and this product along with the Drunk Elephant luxury oil are heaven sent–my skin is so much smoother and happier.”

I really like all of Skinbetter’s products, but I absolutely swear by this serum. It’s perfect for anyone who has acne-prone skin and is concerned about signs of aging (like fine lines and rough texture) thanks to a combo of retinol, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and zinc PCA. I’ve been using it nightly under a lightweight moisturizer for a few months now, and my skin looks visibly smoother with smaller pores, and I’ve had minimal breakouts too.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, salicylic acid, lactic acid
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Combo, oily, acne-prone
• Usage: Evening

THE REVIEW: “I’ve been using this product now for a few months and have noticed a huge difference in the appearance and texture of my skin,” says one tester. “Other retinols have caused me to peel and this one does not—it works like a dream. And even though it’s a bit pricey, I’ve found that a little goes a very long way!”

Glycolic acid (one of the main ingredients in this anti-aging serum) has been shown not only to exfoliate but also to stimulate dermal collagen production—two key things for reducing the appearance of fine lines, large pores, and skin discoloration. In addition to glycolic acid, the formula contains retinol to plump and smooth skin plus antioxidants (like vitamin C and E) to protect skin from the aging effects of free radical damage.

• Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, oily, acne-prone
• Usage: Morning and/or evening

THE REVIEW: “This morning when I woke up I looked in the mirror and felt truly happy with my skin,” wrote one person who tried the product. “This product is amazing—and took the place of three different products in my routine. Seems pricey but it’s worth it if you ask me.”

Yes, anti-aging serums really do work. “Most skin care products simply sit on top of the skin. However, a good serum is designed to penetrate deeply,” says Dr. Ip. For the most part, serums have a light, clear gel-based consistency and contain high concentrations of their active ingredients.

“Every skin type can benefit from a good anti-aging serum, including those with sensitive skin and those who may be pregnant or nursing,” adds Dr. Ip, but she cautions pregnant people to stay away from retinol ingredients (you can use bakuchiol). If you have sensitive skin, consider staying away from botanical extracts, fragrances, or super-high ingredient concentrations (Dr. King adds AHAs/BHAs, too). Chat with your derm if you have questions.

Also to note? It can take time, at least six weeks, for you to see significant changes in your skin. So be patient, especially if you’re using a gentle concentration. And, as always, “Make sure to be vigilant about sun protection—because this is the best anti-aging prevention we have, and also because some of these ingredients can make the skin more sun sensitive,” says Dr. King.

Assess the active ingredients in the formula.

There are a ton of different ingredients used in anti-aging serums, and they each have their own specific benefits. Use this lil cheat sheet below to help you narrow down the options.

• Retinol: Derm-favorite anti-aging ingredient that jumpstarts cell turnover and stimulates collagen and elastin production.
• AHAs: Exfoliating acids that resurface, smooth, and brighten skin.
• Peptides, stem cells, and growth factors: Skin regenerating ingredients that improve skin function and signal collagen and elastin production.
• Vitamin C and niacinamide: Two of the best skin-brightening antioxidants that protect skin from the aging effects of free radical damage.
• Hyaluronic acid: Humectant that hydrates skin to temporarily plump fine lines.

Consider your skincare habits and current routine.

Your skincare habits and existing routine should influence the type of anti-aging serum you choose. For example, most serums with exfoliating acids and/or retinol are designed to be used at night, so if you’re the kind of person who forgets to wash their face before bed, they’re prob not the best formulas for you. And if you currently use a moisturizer or face mask with AHAs and BHAs, you may want to reconsider using a serum with acids or retinol as well since doubling up on exfoliating ingredients can cause skin irritation.

Prioritize your specific skin needs.

There’s not one serum that works for everyone. “If you are looking for a serum that is anti-aging, you may want to consider one that contains retinol, caffeine, green tea, or sodium hyaluronate. A brightening serum might contain ingredients like azelaic acid, kojic acid, vitamin C, or glycolic acid,” says Dr. Ip.

“A hydrating serum will contain humectants like glycerin, dimethicone, and hyaluronic acid. Finally, antioxidant serums (which are essential for helping the skin repair from environmental free radical damage) may contain vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea, polyphenols, resveratrol, and niacinamide.”

• Elyse Love, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at GlamDerm in New York, NY. Dr. Love is an expert in clinical and cosmetic dermatologist and takes a holistic approach to skin wellness that includes fitness and diet.
• Brittany Blancato is a licensed medical esthetician based in New York, NY. Blancato’s trusted expertise and simple but effective methods using the best technologies and devices in the medical-grade aesthetics world has made her one of the most sought-after experts in the industry.
• Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip, MD, is the CEO of Vibrant Dermatology and Skin Bar MD and a dermatologist in Boston, MA.
• Hadley King, MD, is a dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology in New York, NY.