Retinol, in many cases, is literally what the doctor ordered for nearly all visible skin ailments. Acne, aging, you name it, and retinol has got your back! Retinol helps increase skin thickness, boost collagen production and significantly reduce wrinkles. What’s more than that could you want from a skincare product? The only challenge is to find the best retinol serums for your aging skin.

When used regularly, retinol may also help keep skin more hydrated by improving water retention. Thus you can protect the skin barrier. With so many benefits, incorporating the best retinol serums into your skincare routine seems like a good place to start.

Why Choose a Serum?

While serums can be more costly than other skincare products, they typically contain concentrated forms of targeted ingredients designed to support skin health. Serums absorb quickly and are easy to layer with other skincare products. They can also help soften and moisturize skin, especially when used with moisturizer.

Serums may also help improve the appearance of wrinkles and photodamage after just a few weeks of use. This is beneficial when it comes to retinol because retinol can take weeks, if not months, to show any difference. So a serum may help the product take effect faster.

Like moisturizers, serums can contain other ingredients to specifically help with skin aging, such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which we’ll look at in a moment.

Perfect for layering under moisturizers, on top of toner, and using as a thirst-quencher for dull, tired or dry skin, serum—especially a serum with retinol—is absolutely a worthy consideration for your skincare routine!

Here Are Our Top 5 Picks From Best Retinol Serums

YOU can find retinol in many skincare products, from eye cream to moisturizers to serums. Retinol in serum can be more concentrated and produce visible results faster. Here are some of the best retinol serums to consider for mature skin!

1. Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum

Marie Veronique’s Gentle Retinol Night Serum packs some powerful ingredients in its formula, along with retinol. This serum contains argan oil, vitamins C and E, Kakadu plum, and even kombucha for the skin. 

Kakadu plum has one of the highest vitamin C contents of all foods. And vitamin C is responsible for helping improve collagen production and accelerate wound healing in damaged skin.

It also contains green tea. Whereas green tea has been shown to help improve the appearance of mature skin and even protect it from sun damage.

This serum also contains ceramides, which are a type of fat molecule that can help protect the skin barrier. Ceramides are an important player when it comes to improving the appearance of skin aging!

2. 100% Pure Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum

This night serum from 100% Pure contains squalene derived from olives, rosewater, vitamins C and E, and sea buckthorn oil along with retinol.

Sea buckthorn oil contains unsaturated fatty acids which can help repair and restore mature skin in addition to improving oxygenation of the skin. It also easily penetrates the skin to reduce inflammation and inhibit aging.

This serum also contains niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, which not only has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin but also works to improve skin elasticity, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.

It also features hyaluronic acid, which is another key player in skin aging. Hyaluronic acid plays a major role in helping the skin to retain moisture. Thus it can reduce your fine lines and wrinkles and keep your skin looking plump.

3. Maya Chia The Straight-A Serum, Advanced Gentle Retinol Treatment

With chia seed oil, encapsulated retinol, raspberry seed oil, and vitamins C and E, Maya Chia’s serum packs important nutrients tired and dull skin needs to be rejuvenated.

Encapsulated retinol contains the same amount of retinol as non-encapsulated retinol, but it releases it more slowly onto the skin. Encapsulated retinol may help reduce the irritation some people experience from using retinol while still providing the same effectiveness.

This serum also contains rosehip oil, which is high in vitamin C. And it can help combat free radical damage to the skin and reduce the appearance of aging.

Chia seed oil also has a high fatty acid content, in particular, linoleic acid, which can protect the skin barrier, lower inflammation, and potentially help improve the appearance of skin aging. Combined with retinol, these protective fatty acids, and beneficial vitamins can help keep skin looking young.

4. Shani Darden Retinol Reform®

Shani Darden’s Retinol Reform® is formulated with encapsulated retinol, aloe, niacinamide, and apple fruit extract to soothe and transform mature skin.

Niacinamide helps to reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity while apple fruit extract may help reduce the oxidative stress that accelerates skin aging. Niacinamide is also known for being soothing and having an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.

This serum also contains 2% lactic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) to gently exfoliate the skin. Although you can use this product in case you have sensitive skin, Shani recommends avoiding using other products that contain AHA on the same day when using this formula to avoid any potential irritation.

5. Truly Vegan Collagen Facial Serum

With aloe, witch hazel, turmeric, and vitamin C, this facial serum contains vegetable collagen and retinol to keep skin looking youthful. Aloe is particularly beneficial for skin aging as it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. But it can also lower skin inflammation and protect & soften skin for improved resilience and beauty.

Curcumin, one of the most beneficial compounds in turmeric, has also been shown to be helpful for skin aging, especially skin that’s been damaged from the sun. Vitamin C can help stimulate collagen production in the skin, help protect against sun damage, and can even reduce hyperpigmentation and skin inflammation.

Grab This FREE Printable Guide on Mixing Retinol

Have YOU tried any of these serums or their star ingredients for anti-aging? Let us know in the comments below. And grab our free printable guide on mixing retinol so you can have the best success with this skincare product, including the best retinol serums!