Yahoo Lifestyle The 10 best serums for mature skin
Any treatment serum (think vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid) is an excellent addition to a skincare routine – particularly as our skin matures and benefits increasingly from a multi-pronged ingredient approach. But certain combinations are more effective than others at tackling specific concerns that come with skin in midlife and beyond.
There are a number of skincare issues that contribute to a complexion looking a little older than we'd perhaps like: "I would say fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and sagging are the three most prominent visible signs of ageing," explains consultant dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite.
Meet the experts
Dr Alexis Granite is a consultant dermatologist and founder of Joonbyrd body care.
Dr Maryam Zamani is a consultant oculoplastic surgeon, facial aesthetics doctor and founder of MZ Skin.
"Tired eyes, whereby they're puffy with dark circles, or perhaps hooded eyelids are also key visible signs of ageing," adds consultant oculoplastic surgeon Dr Maryam Zamani. Beyond our eyes (for which Bazaar has created this edit), Dr Zamani agrees that an uneven skin tone (melasma, sun spots, etc) and volume loss, "where the structures of the face have descended, causing sagging and jowling as well as mid-face volume loss," are top of the list.
The good news is that there are ingredient-led serums that tackle all three of these issues. Even better news? Serums, concentrates and anything developed to go on after cleansing and before moisturising is usually especially good at delivering these (mostly active) ingredients because the formulas – as well as being ingredient-heavy – tend to be very lightweight and easily absorbed. "While great ingredients can be found in both serums and creams, for the face, the most potent formulations tend to be in serums; they are often developed specifically to deliver concentrated active ingredients to the skin," says Dr Granite.
Which ingredients should I look for in an anti-ageing serum?
"There are many different topical ingredients to tackle the visible signs of ageing," says Dr Granite, "but a few of my favourites are vitamin C, peptides and retinol."
To combat hyperpigmentation: "Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps neutralise skin-damaging free radicals," continues Dr Granite. "It also stimulates collagen and elastin production while fading pigmentation. Vitamin C is a great option to use in the morning to help protect against the effects of environmental aggressors such as UV and pollution." As well as vitamin C, Dr Zamani is a fan of melanin-production-inhibiting "skin brighteners like tranexamic acid, alpha arbutin, and kojic acid, which all reduce the appearance of pigmentation. And I have to always add SPF, because prevention of pigmentation in the first instance is essential!"
To combat sagging and/or fine lines: "Peptides have come a long way, and help promote collagen and elastin production to structurally support skin density and promote generally healthier skin," says Dr Zamani. "Peptides are small chains of amino acids; they're the building blocks of proteins," continues Dr Granite, "and act as small messengers, instructing cells in this production of more collagen and elastin, so are great for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, too."
To combat all three: "And finally, retinol is a derm-favourite ingredient that helps accelerate skin cell turnover, reduce congestion, fade pigmentation and stimulate collagen and elastin production," says Dr Granite. "The way that vitamin A derivatives support this production, brighten the complexion and re-densify skin makes them a must in most skincare routines," agrees Dr Zamani.
Is there a best way to apply serums for mature skin?
"It’s important to be consistent in your use of active ingredients if you want to achieve lasting results," advises Dr Granite. "A bit of 'skin zoning' can be helpful too – that's applying different products just where you need them, reducing the potential for irritation and allowing for multiple products to be used at the same time," she explains. This might, for instance, mean retinol on the forehead and temples, while you use a vitamin C on the cheeks, nose and chin.
The best serums for mature skin, according to Bazaar
C E Ferulic
Much lyrical has been waxed about this serum, and for good reason (we've even given it its own History of the Hero entry). It really does make a marked difference to texture, wrinkle depth and overall evenness of skin tone, thanks to a carefully balanced but potent mix of vitamins C, E and collagen-production-boosting ferulic acid. We recommend following with a hydration-focused moisturiser.
Key ingredients: vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid
Key benefits: reduces fine lines, improves skin texture
Liquid Peptides Advanced MP
This new innovation from Brit brand Medik8 is one of its best to date. The updated Liquid Peptides formula combines tiny particle-sized actives that are delivered deep into the skin for maximum impact. These include peptides and proteins to aid collagen production and visibly smooth skin, and hyaluronic acid to give a plump, juiciness to the complexion.
Key ingredients: peptides, hyaluronic acid, growth factor proteins
Key benefits: instantly reduces fine lines, improves bounce
CellEctive CellLift Serum
There's no expense spared in the formulating of Cellcosmet's products, all of which are made at the brand's Swiss lab. This lightweight (but mighty) serum was in development for five years, and is packed with skin-loving ingredients including black tea ferment, keratin, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and rose and aloe extracts. These combine to give a punchy firming effect (according to the brand, during clinical trials the testers found it too tightening, so they scaled the formula back), as well as a more radiant complexion.
Key ingredients: black tea ferment, collagen, hyaluronic acid
Key benefits: firms, tightens and promotes radiance
Skin Renewal Serum
This lightweight gel-serum formula uses a combination of antioxidants and adaptogens to target stress within the skin and the damage it causes, such as fine lines and dryness. Ingredients including ashwagandha and echinacea help combat free-radical-induced oxidative stress, which in turn helps improve the skin's barrier function. Peptides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin then work together to deeply hydrate and plump the complexion.
Key ingredients: niacinamide, polypeptides, vitamin E, ashwagandha, hyaluronic acid, echinacea
Key benefits: combats oxidative stress, deeply hydrates
Multi Peptides & Growth Factors Advanced Lifting Serum
This super concentrated serum (a little goes a long way) contains the brand's 9 per cent lifting peptide complex which, in layman's terms, tackles the skin sagging that comes with loss of volume, as well as wrinkles. The result is a firmer, healthier and generally more vibrant and refreshed-looking complexion.
Key ingredients: peptides, including 3 per cent sh-oligopeptide-1 growth factor complex
Key benefits: reduces sagging, helps skin repair
Youth Activating Instant Filler
We were taken by surprise by how quickly this serum takes effect; the brand uses a patented hyaluronic acid (HA) complex, which includes very small, very absorbable HA molecules to 'fill' fine lines, and within an hour you can see a difference. NAD and plant polymers then also aid in collagen production and skin firming respectively.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, NAD, plant polymers
Key benefits: instant visible wrinkle reducing, plumped skin
Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
It took its sweet time coming to the UK (our US friends has this vitamin C wonder serum a while before we did), but it was worth the wait. Here on the Bazaar beauty desk we love CeraVe for its no nonsense, science-first formulations (hello the Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50 and Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser) and the Vitamin C Serum is a particularly excellent example of this. The formula contains 10 per cent vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) but delivered with cushioning hyaluronic acid and ceramides, meaning it combats tone while also working on texture and fine lines.
Key ingredients: vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid), hyaluronic acid, ceramides
Key benefits: evened skin tone, smoothed texture
Skinesis Intense Hydrating Booster
Sarah Chapman's products (much like her treatments) are not just products; they are whole experiences. Sensorially delicious, this serum contains the scent of germanium and rose, the latter of which is packed with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, alongside low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Combined in this oil-free serum, they deliver a potent hit of hydration that instantly relaxes fine lines.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, rose water, beta gluten
Key benefits: intense hydration, reduced fine lines
Bio-Performance Skin Filler duo
Ok, this is technically two serums but be warned: this dynamic duo is one (well, two) of those products that once used, you can't live without. The science and research that goes into Shiseido's skincare formulations is some of the most thorough in the business, and it really shows in these – the apex of the brand's hyaluronic acid tech. Compacted high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid is distributed to the skin in the night serum, which re-expands during the day via the day serum for a (genuinely) filled-from-within look.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid
Key benefits: plumping, filling volume loss
Bouncy & Firm Serum
Bouncy juiciness is Laneige's thing, and in this brand new serum the Korean skincare specialists have added firming into the mix (for which we thank them). A peony and collagen complex provides skin with the brand's signature intense hydration, which in turn improves the appearance of its elasticity. A firmer and plumper-looking complexion then comes courtesy of peptide water, while 24,0001 SmoothTech capsules help improve skin texture.
Key ingredients: peptide water, collagen
Key benefits: plumping, intense hydration, bounce
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