Gone are the days of drowning our faces in cold cream and heavy moisturizers. Now the go-to anti-aging product still comes in a handy bottle (though not a jar) and packs ingredients that take it to an almost treatment-worthy level. We’re talking about serums, but not just any-super serums to be exact.
Unlike lotions and creams that tend to be water-based and work to seal moisture into the skin, serums are sheer, light and help to smooth it. They also tend to be translucent so they work on most skin types and tones. “There are patients who would never put cream or lotion on their face because they just hate the feeling or people who have acne that are afraid of clogging pores,” says New York dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD. Plus, serums truly multitask because they treat, smooth and seal the skin. “Instead of having a four-step process every night, you have more like one. Super serums are just the most sophisticated anti-aging products out there now,” she says.
And sophisticated they are thanks to breakthroughs in anti-aging ingredients that seem to be more efficacious when delivered to the skin in a serum. “Because of their lighter texture and smaller size molecules, serums are able to penetrate the surface layers of the skin more quickly and easily than lotions or creams,” says Los Angeles dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD.
If you haven’t started using serums yet, it just might be time. Below are three super serums that pack a mighty anti-aging punch in no particular order. So here’s to younger looking, smoother skin in one little bottle.
StriVectin-SD Power Serum ($99): The newly launched serum fights signs of aging by combining the brand’s patented NIA-114, an ingredient that fights free radicals and reverses sun damage, with plant stem cells and peptides to repair and minimize wrinkles, boost skin clarity and smooth pores.
Lancome Visionnaire ($87): This serum addresses wrinkles, pores and uneven skin tones with the help of an ingredient called LR 2412, a molecule that’s designed to penetrate skin layers and deliver it’s anti-aging benefits.
Orlane Extreme Anti-Wrinkle Regenerating Night Serum ($325): A serum that works overnight with active ingredients like rice and soy extract to repair DNA and stimulate skin cells to smooth skin, plump and improve elasticity, as well as caffeine to purify and decongest the skin.
