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Creams and lotions that promise to slow (if not stop) the hands of time abound, and the best serum for wrinkles is no exception. Powered by time-tested, science-proven ingredients like retinol and peptides, these formulations set out to soften the look of wrinkles, restore lift and support to sagging skin, and rebuild lost volume—and, in some cases, address other skin concerns related to aging, such as dark spots. That may seem like a tall order, but it’s entirely realistic, “especially when you use them consistently and invest in the right ones,” says Dr. Tiffany Libby, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Providence.
Vogue’s Top Serums for Wrinkles
- Best Overall: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum, $295
- Best Retinoid: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Treatment, $87
- Best Growth Factor: Angela Caglia Cell Forté Serum, $395
- Best Peptide: Medik8 Liquid Peptides Serum, $64
- Best for Sun Damage: Alastin Restorative Skin Complex, $230
- Best for Expression Lines: SkinCeuticals P-Tiox Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum, $148
- Best for Sagging: Allies of Skin Multi Peptides and GF Advanced Lifting Serum, $188
In This Article
- What to Look for in a Serum for Wrinkles
- Does an Antiaging Serum Really Work?
- When to Apply a Serum for Wrinkles
- Meet the Experts
Those right ones can ultimately make a discernible difference in how your skin looks for years to come—which is why it helps to begin sooner rather than later. But it also helps to manage your expectations accordingly, since even the best antiaging serum can only do so much. “It will not typically convert deep wrinkles into completely smooth skin, as there are limits to what a topical preparation can do,” says Dr. Gloria Lin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York.
With signs of aging being a common concern for many, beauty brands have answered in kind—meaning that the sheer volume of options on the shelf can make it challenging to determine the best serum for wrinkles for your individual needs. With that, consider this curated variety to find the ideal option for you.
Best Overall: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
- Why we love it: Both dermatologists point to this fragrance-free serum as a gold standard for those with mature skin, as it uses “a unique growth-factor blend and mix of peptides that promote skin regeneration and collagen production,” says Dr. Libby. (Growth factors are produced by stem cells; they help with healing and skin rejuvenation, effectively directing skin cells to act more youthfully.) The sleek tube houses two separate chambers: One offers a blend of growth factors and peptides, while the other contains peptides alongside a blend of botanicals that help support key functions to repair and renew skin.
- Ingredients: Human fibroblast conditioned media, peptides, green microalgae
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: All skin types, but especially those with sun damage and signs of aging
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave it |
|---|---|
| Oft-recommended by dermatologists | We’ve found that the pumps don’t always dispense consistently |
| Contains unique ingredients |
Best Retinoid: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Treatment
- Why we love it: Encapsulated retinol—which is stored in a capsule and slowly released over time—isn’t difficult to find these days. This formula does it one better by pairing it with all-trans-retinol (yet another vitamin A derivative) and bakuchiol, a plant-derived ingredient that has a similar mechanism of action in skin. These work together to dial up collagen production and speed cellular turnover. If that sounds intense, don’t fret: Niacinamide, green-tea extract, and evening-primrose flower counterbalance the potential for irritation. As a bonus, the niacinamide and retinoids make this a worthwhile option for those with blemish-prone skin, too.
- Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, bakuchiol
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: Sun-damaged skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Formulated by a dermatologist | Polarizing scent |
| Uses multiple forms of retinol | Some find the pump finicky |
Best Growth Factor: Angela Caglia Cell Forté Serum
- Why we love it: Los Angeles esthetician Angela Caglia tends to some of the most recognizable faces in the business—Helena Christensen and Barbara Streisand, for instance—so it’s little surprise that she’d know a thing or two about antiaging serums. She’s powered this one with a patented blend of stem-cell conditioned media, a potent liquid created as a by-product of human stem-cell growth. It’s brimming with thousands of proteins, exosomes, and epidermal growth factors, which work alongside lipids and hyaluronic acid to firm, brighten, and rejuvenate skin.
- Ingredients: Human adipose mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) conditioned media, hyaluronic acid, Bacillus ferment extract
- Size: 1 oz.
- Best for: Dull, lax, or sagging skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Incredibly hydrating | High price point |
| Softens and smoothes skin |
Best Peptide: Medik8 Liquid Peptides Serum
- Why we love it: Rather than fussing with a mélange of ingredients, this serum aims the spotlight at peptides with an impressive 30% concentration. Among them are those that target expression lines, others to signal cells to build collagen, and even a copper peptide that helps deliver these to exactly where they’re needed most. The remainder of the formula offers nourishing ingredients, allowing it to serve as a complement to existing vitamin C and retinol products in one’s routine.
- Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, carnosine
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: Dull or dry skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Has a targeted delivery system | Dropper can make it tough to dispense |
| Lightweight texture sinks in quickly |
Best for Sun Damage: Alastin Restorative Skin Complex
- Why we love it: What sets this lightweight serum apart isn’t its amino acids and peptides, which work in tandem to restore volume, strengthen skin, and boost elasticity. Rather, it’s the brand’s proprietary TriHex Technology, a complex that helps skin remove damaged elastin and collagen, clearing the way for new, healthy fibers. Meanwhile, niacinamide helps soothe inflammation and brighten dark spots, giving this formula a 360-degree approach to aging skin.
- Ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, vitamin E, ceramides
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: All skin types
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A gentler alternative to retinoids | Works in a unique way to remove skin |
| Can take time to see results |
Best for Expression Lines: SkinCeuticals P-Tiox Wrinkle Serum
- Why we love it: Smiling, laughing, frowning—facial expressions are a frequent source of wrinkles, as the repeated movements etch lines deep into skin over time. (Consider this your cue to unclench your jaw.) The SkinCeuticals P-Tiox uses a combination of peptides that may help interfere with the signals that trigger contractions, thereby smoothing skin. For that reason, “for those looking to hold off on starting injectables, this could be a good addition to the skin-care routine,” says Dr. Lin, who notes that you’ll get the most benefit from twice daily use.
- Ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, polyhydroxy acid
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: People seeking a preventative effect
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Supplements the results of injectables | Can take a long time to see results |
| Leaves skin with a dewy glow |
Best for Sagging: Allies of Skin Multi Peptides and GF Advanced Lifting Serum
- Why we love it: The ingredient list for this concentrated serum reads like a roll call of antiaging ingredients, among them growth factors and peptides. Together, they help address deep wrinkles and sagging texture, even in areas that are difficult to treat otherwise, like marionette lines and nasolabial folds. The formula also delivers two forms of lipids, which increase skin’s moisture levels and can help yield more supple skin.
- Ingredients: Peptides, copper lysinate, phospholipids
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: Sagging or lax skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Addresses tough-to-treat wrinkles | Might pill beneath moisturizer |
| Has a smooth, silky texture |
Best for Sensitive Skin: 111Skin Repair Serum NAC Y2
- Why we love it: Formulated by London-based plastic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides, this formula takes a gentler, but no less effective, approach to signs of aging. At its heart is the brand’s proprietary complex, which pairs brightening glutathione with vitamin C and escin, an ingredient known to help quell inflammation (which plays a large role in premature aging). The trio works together to renew skin on a cellular level. Not only that, but the combination of Centella asiatica and calendula extract further soothes skin and eases redness, making this a good option for those with sensitive skin.
- Ingredients: Vitamin C, escin, glutathione
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
- Best for: Sensitive or eczema-prone skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Actively quells inflammation, a common source of aging | Reduces redness |
| Has an unpleasant scent |
Best Post-Procedure: Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum
- Why we love it: Clinique’s serum checks all the boxes for a results-driven antiaging serum. It brings together a retinoid, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to target wrinkles in different ways. Hyaluronic acid, in drawing in water, immediately plumps skin, while peptides work over time to cue cells to create new collagen. Meanwhile, a 1% concentration of a gentle retinoid also works to trigger new collagen production, ironing out fine lines—all while being gentle enough to follow laser resurfacing treatments.
- Ingredients: Hydroxypinacolone retinoate, peptides, hyaluronic acid, squalane
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
- Best for: All skin types, but especially compromised skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Doesn’t have a noticeable scent | Can feel a little sticky on skin |
| Complements the results of in-office treatments |
Best Drugstore: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum
- Why we love it: The drugstore aisles can often be a crapshoot for a truly effective wrinkle serum, but this upends expectations. The lightweight formula “uses a stabilized retinol to help reduce the appearance of lines over time,” says Dr. Libby, who calls it a potent yet affordable option. What it lacks in frills it makes up for in results—thanks to a blend of antioxidants and chelating agents that help keep the retinol fresh and therefore at its most potent.
- Ingredients: Retinol, bisabolol, vitamin C
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: All skin types
- Fragrance-Free: No
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Proprietary complex minimizes irritation | Doesn’t disclose the concentration of retinol |
| Contains fragrance |
Best Retinol Alternative: Isdin Melatonik
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- Why we love it: This is the rare vitamin C serum that goes beyond the usual companions (like vitamin E and ferulic acid). Instead, it contains a strategic combination of antioxidants and retinol alternative, which makes it “good for more sensitive skin types that can’t tolerate a retinol,” says Dr. Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY. It uses bakuchiol, the plant-based retinol alternative, to promote collagen production, while the vitamin C helps skin recover from damage incurred during the day—offsetting not only wrinkles, but also dullness and discoloration.
- Ingredients: Squalane, melatonin, bakuchiol, vitamin C
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: Sensitive skin types, or those who cannot use or tolerate retinoids
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Oft-recommended by dermatologists | Has an oily feel that some might not prefer |
| Doubles as a nourishing face oil |
Best for Crepey Skin: La Roche-Posay Rdermic R Retinol Cream
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- Why we love it: This retinol cream goes above and beyond the much-lauded ingredient by supplementing it with exfoliating properties. “The formula includes glycerin to maintain moisture, pure retinol for skin renewal, lipo-hydroxy acid (LHA) to promote cell growth, and soothing thermal spring water to calm and protect the skin’s barrier,” says Noah Gratch, MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist based. “This combination helps improve the skin’s texture while providing a fresh look,” Dr. Gratch says.
- Ingredients: Retinol, lipo-hydroxy acid (LHA), glycerin, La Roche-Posay’s thermal spring water
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: All skin types, but especially sensitive skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Gentle, yet effective—even for sensitive skin | Low concentration, so may not be strong enough for those interested in intensive results |
Best Preventative: Cetaphil Healthy Renew Face Serum
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- Why we love it: This serum works in a more strategic way to target folds and etches in the skin: namely, by supporting overall skin health. That’s more noteworthy than one might think. In pairing peptides with niacinamide (which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties), this cream “works well for sensitive or eczema-prone skin—and also helps repair the skin barrier,” says Dr. Castilla. That’s especially beneficial, she says, since “an impaired skin barrier can create low level chronic inflammation that ages the skin faster, leading to fine lines and wrinkles.”
- Ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, panthenol
- Size: 1 fl. oz.
- Best for: Very sensitive skin
- Fragrance-Free: Yes
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Gentle enough for even the most reactive skin types | The pump applicator can be finicky |
| Also targets dark spots and discoloration |
What to look for in a serum for wrinkles
First, consider the ingredients, with a retinoid, such as retinol, being the most important. It’s “a powerhouse ingredient known to accelerate skin cell turnover, boost collagen production, and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles,” says Dr. Libby. “It also helps improve skin tone and texture and overall skin appearance.” In short, there’s little it can’t do to improve skin and give it a more youthful appearance. (The downside? It can be drying on skin, leaving it red and irritated.)
In addition to retinol—or in lieu of it, for those who can’t use retinol or tolerate it due to its side effects—another worthwhile ingredient is peptides. “Peptides act as messengers to the cells to increase collagen and elastin production, minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and increase wound healing,” says Dr. Lin, who notes that these tend to be more gentle and don’t require an acclimation the way retinol does. Moreover, “there is also some evidence to suggest that the peptides may support the skin barrier to protect against UV damage, which can contribute to skin aging,” she says.
Retinol and peptides can take time to yield results, which is where hyaluronic acid can be especially helpful. Naturally found in skin, its supply dips with age—and restoring it through a topical product can offer an immediate improvement in skin texture. “For some, it can have a plumping effect and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Dr. Lin. “In addition, it may have wound healing properties and promote tissue repair.”
A word on collagen: Though you might see it as an ingredient, it doesn’t simply replace the collagen that gives firmness and structure to skin. “In its true form, collagen is too large of a molecule to penetrate the skin,” says Dr. Lin. And while you might find a hydrolyzed, or broken-down, version of it in formulas, it’s still unclear whether this can penetrate skin well enough to offer any true benefits. As a result, “it may be better to have ingredients that can increase collagen production instead,” says Dr. Lin. (However, collagen can have moisturizing properties, she says, so it still has use in some formulations.)
Does an antiaging serum really work?
Yes, so long as you use it consistently. And unlike other products, the formulation makes all the difference in terms of the results you might see. “While there are many categories of skin care like cleansers and moisturizers where you do not need to spend big, serums are a category worth splurging in,” says Dr. Libby. She recommends looking for brands that invest in research and development, as well as those that have robust clinical studies to back up their claims.
And, of course, adjust your expectations accordingly. While consistent, long-term use of the best serum for wrinkles can ensure smoother, firmer skin, you “may even need to pair your skin-care routine with in-office procedures to accelerate and achieve desired results,” says Dr. Libby.
When to apply a serum for wrinkles
Your 20s to early 30s are the ideal time to begin your search for the best antiaging serum. “The production of collagen and elastin starts to slow down in those years, and supporting these processes is key in prevention,” says Dr. Libby.
With your choice in hand, apply serum to clean skin (after your face essence or toner), and then follow it with a moisturizer designed for aging skin. “For the morning routine, a layer of sunscreen should go on after the moisturizer,” says Dr. Lin. “Retinol serums should be used at nighttime, so apply it to a clean face with the moisturizer afterward.” (That said, retinol can make skin sensitive to sunlight, so it’s of utmost importance to use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 during the daytime—and consider alternating it in your routine with exfoliants like glycolic acid, since the combination can often be too harsh.)
Speaking of sun protection: “Sunscreen is still the number one step for antiaging and prevention of wrinkles, as UV radiation from sun exposure causes skin damage,” says Dr. Lin. Without it, you’re ultimately undoing your antiaging serum’s progress—and jeopardizing your skin’s future appearance too.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Tiffany Libby, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and professor of dermatology at Brown University
- Dr. Gloria Lin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York.
- Dr. Carmen Castilla, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group in New York.
- Dr. Noah Gratch, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in treatments for acne, eczema, hyperhidrosis, rosacea, psoriasis, and skin cancer.