10 best anti-ageing serums that target wrinkles, dark spots and dullness

This comes at an entry-level price and will make a really brilliant addition to a skincare routine, whatever your age. You can use this concentrated serum daily, mixed in with your moisturiser, or on its own twice weekly for a highly effective result.

The formula combines the benefits of plant-derived collagen with honey locust seed extract and algae extracts, to smooth the skin and the collagen helps to support hydration. But it is worth noting that the formula is very lightweight, so if you have more mature skin, you may need something more moisturising. That said, it works wonders and it’s a real steal.

At a modest price point, this active-ingredient-infused serum is great for sensitive skin that displays dryness, tightness or irritation, it’s also fragrance-free and doesn’t clog pores. Its purpose is to diminish those pesky dark spots that amass with age – I always come back from holiday with freckly patches, especially on my forehead, and this really helps to quickly fade them.

I’ve also found it leaves me with a brighter, more glowy complexion almost immediately, which is a winner in my book. Light in texture, it includes the power punch of niacinamide (vitamin B3) – which is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin barrier-strengthening properties – sea daffodil (which works to even skin tone) and antioxidant C to instantly diminish signs of dullness and fatigue.

I applied a 1p coin-size amount evenly all over my cleansed face, morning and night, and I looked markedly more rested, hydrated and glowing after use.

Known as “Botox in a bottle”, this serum is an advanced peptide-filled anti-wrinkle formula proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and crow’s feet. The clear fluid comes in a pipette and I used it to target lines around my mouth, nose and eyes, known as ‘contraction’ lines, as these are the most common expression lines we all get as we age. I saw an immediate plumping effect in my general appearance and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this product, particularly for 50+ skin, thanks to its ultra-hydrating, softening properties.

For a gentle introduction to retinoids, I’d recommend this face serum from Skin Rocks by skincare expert Caroline Hirons. It’s been formulated with a gentle strength and it works to minimise the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and it helps to leave the skin with a more even-looking tone. Designed for use in the evenings, I’d recommend allowing it to absorb fully before following with your usual moisturiser. Gentle, effective and suitable for sensitive skin, this is an excellent entry-level serum for superior moisturisation.

This vegan-friendly serum smells of oranges and has an airy texture. The potent formula contains peptides and niacinamide, and promises an anti-ageing, rejuvenating effect, so you see fewer visible lines and pores. This formula helps skin boost its naturally occurring collagen and relax the appearance of expression lines, while the addition of anogeissus helps support the skin’s youthful bounce.

When testing, I applied this liberally over my face, neck, and décolleté, and it really helps the appearance of lines and wrinkles on that notoriously hard-to-treat area.

Sarah Chapman is renowned for her uplifting, firming facials, and this formula’s smooth cocktail of vitamins, peptides and omega oils is (almost) as good, leaving you radiant and relaxed.

It is designed to improve skin texture as you sleep and it reduced my freckly forehead visibly, so it’s a big yes from me. It has an oil consistency, which is lovely overnight, but not so useful under makeup, so I’d not recommend using it in the morning.

This powerful formula calls on the hydrating hero that is hyaluronic acid, which draws in and retains up to 1,000 times its weight in water. I found the daily serum to visibly smooth, plump and hydrate my complexion and it also worked to reduce the appearance of fine lines and deep-set wrinkles.

This three-in-one skincare treatment is jam packed with skin-loving ingredients that help moisturise, plump and resurface the complexion. At the heart of the formula is a blend of twice-fermented akita rice, okinawa algae and uji green tea, which all merge to deliver high levels of gentle AHAs and lactic acid, to help remove the dead skin cells that can dull our complexion. The addition of hyaluronic acid helps to make the skin appear fuller and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while squalane locks in moisture. Add this creamy gel into a skincare routine to help restore a supple, radiant complexion.

It’s fair to say this is an outlier in this roundup, as the formula is more like a traditional cream and comes in an environmentally friendly refillable pouch. The unique dual-action release and fill system works to provide immediate and long-term wrinkle reduction. Neuropeptides help relax expression lines, while hyaluronic acid works to hydrate from within. Over time, collagen is stimulated, as is elastin production, leaving the skin feeling firmer and smoother. This is now a non-negotiable part of my twice-weekly routine.

Estée Lauder’s place in the serum pyramid is unique because of its beneficial effects on ageing skin, as tried and tested by everyone in the know. And this award-winning serum is a must-have in everyone’s arsenal for good reason. It gets to work while you sleep, so you wake with a radiant, even complexion.

The serum helps to visibly soften, smooth and plump the skin with its hyaluronic acid formula that helps to lock in moisture, so you wake up looking as refreshed as you would if you’re returning from a two-week vacation. A sure-fire winner.