5 Serums for Mature Skin and Signs of Aging

As you get older, your skin also ages. It’s a beautiful reality of aging and, contrary to decades of misinformation in the beauty industry, isn’t something anyone should be ashamed of. Aging skin is normal and has its own set of needs, which means you’ll want to evolve your skin care routine from what it was when you were a teenager or young adult. One product you should consider adding to your skin care routine is an anti-aging serum — like a niacinamide serum or retinol serum — dedicated to your skin’s needs. 

Now, “anti-aging” is a popular phrase often used to describe skin care targeted toward aging skin, but it’s usually used to describe skin care that helps prolong signs of aging by targeting dull skin, fine lines, deep-set wrinkles and dark spots. For this article, the term anti-aging is used to describe skin care that reduces these signs of aging. In the same way there is nothing wrong with aging, there is nothing wrong with wanting to reduce the appearance of aging, and as long as your skincare regimen includes a face wash, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen of some kind, you’re on the right path.

Here, read all about the best anti-aging serums so you can find the right one for your aging skin concerns, as well as tips for pampering your beautiful complexion.

What Is the Best Serum for Aging Skin? 

As skin ages, it needs added hydration, exfoliation and targeted treatments to care for mature qualities. Serums are the best products to use for this because they offer a concentrated amount of active ingredients, making them the ideal choice for those with mature skin who want to reduce wrinkles or rectify a loss of radiance. 

Keep in mind that the best way to slow down the signs of aging is to use a dedicated routine of products for mature skin before wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots become more prominent. Here, we’re sharing five of the best anti-aging serums for mature skin, including our favorite face serum for wrinkles.

The Best Serum for Dry, Mature Skin 

Mature skin can feel dry because it loses moisture as it ages, so if hyaluronic acid isn’t already part of your anti-aging skin care routine, let this serve as your sign to add a hyaluronic acid serum to your regimen right now. This intensely hydrating ingredient can help enhance your skin’s moisture retention. Introduce your skin to hyaluronic acid with the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which absorbs quickly to re-plump and hydrate your skin and help it look replenished and youthful. 

Bonus: Take your mature skin care to the next level by adding a double dose of hydration by topping your hyaluronic acid serum with a niacinamide moisturizer. According to the British Medical Journal, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide work well together to strengthen the outer layer of skin to lock in moisture. Try the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Pressed Night Moisturizer with Retinol + Niacinamide to hydrate the skin. This moisturizer is formulated with retinol to visibly reduce wrinkles and niacinamide to even skin tone for a smoother texture. And yes, you can use retinol, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid all in the same regimen. 

The Best Serum for Dull, Mature Skin

As you age, skin can start to look less radiant since aging skin isn’t able to regenerate and renew as well, per the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Besides applying more moisturizer, an illuminating serum can seriously help with both. The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Anti-Aging Midnight Serum is formulated with an exclusive antioxidant recovery complex that works at night when the skin reaches its peak of cell renewal. After eight weeks of consistent use, you’ll see smoother and more radiant skin, as well as visibly smoother wrinkles. Even after one use, you’ll notice your skin feels softer and looks more moisturized. Though the name makes it sound like a nighttime-only product, You can use this pick morning and evening.

The Best Serum for Uneven Skin Tone

Mature skin is no stranger to an uneven skin tone since wrinkles and fine lines are one of the biggest signs of aging. While you can’t erase these concerns completely, you can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines with the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum. After one week of use, this serum resurfaces skin for a younger-looking appearance thanks to the infused glycolic acid, a known skin exfoliant. You can use this serum in your nightly skin care routine, just make sure you wear sunscreen in the morning since your skin will be more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays. If you have sensitive skin, start by using this serum two to three times a week before increasing your usage. 

Per the NCBI, glycolic acid can be irritating to the skin. If you’re dealing with sensitive skin, use a formula like the one mentioned above that can be used on all skin types. If you’re still worried about irritation, layer glycolic acid and niacinamide together to soothe the skin. Niacinamide in a skin care routine is known to calm and comfort skin, per the Cleveland Clinic, making it a beneficial ingredient in skin care for mature skin that gets more temperamental as it ages.

The Best Serum for Deep Wrinkles

Not all wrinkles are the same. If you have deep wrinkles, you need something made to target that specific concern. The L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Night Serum, 0.3% Pure Retinol is formulated with pure retinol, which is a top dermatologist-recommended anti-aging ingredient that’s proven to help fight deep wrinkles. Immediately, skin feels moisturized with a more refined texture, and over time, wrinkles are visibly reduced. 

Use this serum at night, and in the morning add sunscreen like the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion, to protect your skin from the sun — especially since retinol has been proven to increase skin’s photosensitivity. As always, keep in mind that retinol cannot turn back the clock and completely remove deep wrinkles, it’s best to add serums like these to your routine before signs of aging set in. 

Editor’s tip: You don’t have to pick just one serum for your mature skin. Layering ingredients like retinol and niacinamide together (for example) offers added benefits with the latter moisturizing and calming skin, while the retinol does its magic. 

The Best Serum for Dark Spots

Age spots can be another unwelcome effect of aging, and they can come in the form of sun spots,post-acne marks and other age spots. To clarify, age spots can affect anyone, no matter the age. However, as the skin ages, its ability to repair itself and lighten dark marks decreases, but the right serum can help with that 

Try the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal 12% [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum to visibly reduce the appearance of dark spots. Topical niacinamide has a lot of benefits including helping fade dark spots of all types, while ferulic and amino sulfonic acids gently exfoliate the skin to improve skin texture and brightness. 

How to Use Anti-Aging Serum

The correct order for your skin care can get tricky when you have multiple products. A general rule of thumb is to apply skincare based on consistency, with the thinnest textures going first. To cut out any confusion consider the step-by-step guide below on how to apply an anti-aging serum.

1. Cleanse Your Skin

All skin care routines should start with a clean face. Wash your face with a cleanser of your choosing to rid your skin of impurities like dirt, oil and sweat. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 3.5% Glycolic Acid Cleanser gently cleanses the face while exfoliating it with the infused glycolic acid to improve texture for a brighter complexion.  

2. Add Your First Serum

Apply an even layer of your serum of choice onto your freshly cleansed, dry skin. Use three to five drops of serum to cover your entire face and allow it time to sink into your skin before layering anything else. 

Some serums (like retinol) may have an acclimation period, and this means you shouldn’t jump straight into applying it every day. Check the product instructions before your first use to determine the most effective application. 

3. Layer Subsequent Serums

Layering serums is a very popular skin care trick that allows the skin to enjoy multiple skin benefits in one regimen. This step is optional. When using more than one serum in the same routine, apply them starting with whichever one has the thinnest consistency, and work your way up to the thickest. 

Avoid layering serums together that contain exfoliating actives (like retinol and glycolic acid) as they can irritate your skin. Layering two hydrating serums (like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid) is safe for most skin types, but as always speak to a dermatologist for more details about your specific skin. 

4. Add Hydration With a Moisturizer

After your serums, follow up with your moisturizer. If you’re afraid of skin feeling too greasy with multiple layers of skin care, use a hydrating water-based moisturizer. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic acid + Ceramides line-plumping water cream which absorbs quickly into the skin for deep hydration and visibly plumper skin.

5. Finish With Sunscreen

The last step in any skin care routine should be the application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen like the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion. This sunscreen protects against the sun’s dangerous UVA and UVB rays which speed up signs of aging and create wrinkles, fine lines and sun spots. 

Next: ICYMI: Bethenny Frankel Is Wild About This Affordable L'Oréal Paris Moisturizer 

Photographer: Nelson Huang, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Producer: Becca Solovay, Beauty Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Visual Designer: Sarah Duvivier, Wardrobe Stylist: Alexis Badiyi, Wardrobe Assistant: Jazmine Alzado, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Digi Tech: Jacky Jiang, Photo Assistant: Tyler Andrews, Model: Erin Williams