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In our 30s, we start to implement anti-aging ingredients into every single product we use. Serums are no exception. Common problems we deal with throughout our 30s include, but sadly not limited to, are dehydration, dull-looking skin, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and loss of skin elasticity. The best anti-aging serums for your 30s are highly efficient in addressing these issues.
Supercharged with anti-aging ingredients like vitamin C, botanical exfoliants, and retinol, anti-aging serums are at the core of a proper skincare routine for 30-year-olds. They have the ability to work their way into the deepest possible layers of the skin, giving them an advantage over creams.
As serums are usually water-based, featherlight, and weightless on the skin, they offer the quickest way to deliver potent anti-agers into the skin. So cheer up! Whether you’ve just started using anti-aging products or you’re looking to diversify, I’ve got the best anti-aging serums for your 30s.
The Best Anti-Aging Serums For Your 30s
For fellow 30+ women dealing with fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, find below the best anti-aging face serums to use in your 30s.
1. Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Instant Firming Serum
If you’re looking for a no-muss daily anti-aging serum to use on 30s skin, this is absolutely amazing! This is an antioxidant serum made with resveratrol. It’s a plant-derived ingredient that protects the skin from free radicals.
The serum has collagen, peptides, and hyaluronic acid for max hydration. And it’s absolutely amazing for instantly filling up wrinkles and plumping up the skin.
So if you can’t be bothered with heavy active ingredients that require some getting used to, this is an effective anti-aging serum that is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. And it has a beautiful dewy finish.
2. Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum
Normally, our skin is able to cope with UV rays or pollutants with its own network of antioxidants. But as we age, it becomes less efficient in doing so (1). That’s why topical antioxidants are like supportive players in preventing free radical damage in your 30s (2).
This is an antioxidant-rich face serum that can dramatically improve your appearance by protecting it from daily UV damage or blue light from screens. It’ll block those harmful effects from showing on your face as wrinkles all thanks to purslane.
It’s an anti-inflammatory plant extract and crazy rich in vitamins A, C, and E to fend off free radical damage and the wrinkles that come with it. The serum’s a bottle of antioxidants created for this purpose only and is one of the best anti-aging serums for your 30s no matter your skin type.
3. Lancome Renergie H.C.F. Triple Serum
You guys, if I had to describe this serum using one word only, it would be ‘glorious’! Yes, I’m in my late thirties now and I’m able to spare some good money on skincare products and try new things. But this is something else!
It’s a combination of three different serums. One is a hyaluronic acid serum to hydrate and plump fine lines. The other is a combination of vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten the skin. And the third one is a ferulic acid serum for enhanced antioxidant benefits.
You mix the three in the palm of your hands and achieve this super creamy, consistency. It instantly and visibly illuminates your skin. And it has a volumizing effect, which gives the appearance of firmer, lifted skin. You can target wrinkles and hyperpigmentation at the same time.
4. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum
Our skin cell turnover rate becomes slower with age. It takes longer for the skin to get rid of dead skin cells. It takes even longer for it to get rid of any discoloration or scarring. That’s where exfoliating serums come in.
This is a night serum and it contains a mixture of alpha and beta hydroxy acids, namely glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid. By the way, salicylic acid works exceptionally well for oily and acne-prone skin.
The vegan serum gently exfoliates the skin, speeds up skin turnover, and reduces the look of wrinkles, lines, and discolorations. It also clears up clogged pores and gives you a smoother skin texture. Overall, it’s an effective exfoliating serum for your 30s.
5. iS Clinical Super Serum Advance+
Another skin concern we deal with in our mid to late 30s is dark spots, giving us uneven-looking skin. But when it comes to hyperpigmentation, this brightening vitamin C serum is gold! It’s pure vitamin C combined with arbutin, which is another ingredient for hyperpigmentation.
The super-concentrated brightening serum boosts collagen production and helps reverse photodamage. So if you have a lot of sun damage, acne scars, or sunspots, this one is going to help a lot.
Just a heads up, iS Clinical serums seem to be top-shelf products for Bryan Johnson per his YT channel. He’s the guy that’s aging in reverse! Measurements done in 2021 showed his biological age was 47 but his facial age was 31!
6. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum
We’ve established that vitamin C helps with collagen growth, the appearance of wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Similarly, vitamin E is also an antioxidant with added soothing and moisturizing properties.
But when the two are present, vitamin C constantly renews vitamin E. This means that they increase each other’s antioxidant capacity.
Mixing these vitamins with ferulic acid guarantees efficacy as ferulic acid enhances the potency of other antioxidants. These targeted antioxidants make this science-backed serum one of the best anti-aging vitamin C serums for your 30s to achieve even and youthful skin.
7. Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
I’m all for heavy anti-aging ingredients like retinoids and exfoliants. But here’s the thing, not everything has to be about putting your skin through a whole renewal period -possibly an irritating one. I’ve grown to love gentle antioxidant serums more.
Because I don’t know about you but sometimes, even if I seemingly have nothing wrong with my skin, it still looks dull and blah. If this sounds like you, this is an incredible serum to nourish, hydrate, and illuminate 30-something skin.
It’s made with botanicals. Individually, they don’t mean much to me but the serum is very well formulated. It visibly softens dehydration lines and gives me bouncy skin. It’s a feel-good serum that actually works.
8. StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum
In your 30s, you may notice that the wrinkles on your face don’t always go away when you relax your face. It’s usually the sign of them settling in, becoming more prominent and visible. It’s common knowledge that our skin loses elasticity and tends to look saggy towards our late 30s.
And nothing works better for those than a good old retinol serum. Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, is one of the most effective ingredients in stimulating collagen production (3). And this one combines retinol with vitamin C as well as niacinamide.
The power duo is specially formulated to offer the benefits of each. As retinol speeds up skin turnover, it diminishes wrinkles and reveals healthier, smoother skin. The combination of vitamin C and antioxidant-rich Acerola cherry makes sure the new skin is brighter and more resilient against UV-induced damage.
9. Tata Harper Resurfacing AHA + BHA Serum
Something happens to our skin in our 30s! Several factors contribute to the aging process causing our skin to lose its overall glow. Maybe because of pollution, an unhealthy lifestyle, or just the reflection of our occasional misery, we lose that youthful glow.
Those times call for exfoliation. If you want the natural route to youthful skin, this non-toxic, natural daily exfoliating face serum is perfect for your 30s. It contains a blend of naturally derived hydroxy acids.
Lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acids exfoliate the skin and give you a healthier and brighter look. The serum also contains one of the richest sources of vitamin C, Kakadu plum, to restore your natural glow. It plumps up the skin and gives it the perfect juice for natural radiance. Plus, it’s super light on the skin.
10. Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Multi-Zone Wrinkle Concentrate with Niacinamide
If you have prominent expression lines, such as smile lines, laugh lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines, maybe you’ve heard of wrinkle patches. This is like that but in serum form. This is a wrinkle filler.
These products are used to fill in wrinkles so the skin appears smoother instantly. This skin-plumping serum is made with 5 %niacinamide, and chlorella, a botanical with strong anti-aging benefits.
Also, it has hyaluronic acid to hydrate, vitamin C, licorice extract, and caffeine to brighten and tighten. Use it to restore volume on expression lines or as an overall face serum.
11. Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector
If you want to start using an anti-aging face serum but aren’t sure which way to go, this is it. This drugstore anti-aging serum is made with retinol perfect for 30-somethings who are new to retinol.
It’s sustained-release, meaning that the skin slowly absorbs it. This helps reduce irritation especially if you’re a beginner retinol user. Plus, it contains a vitamin C derivative to amplify the skin-brightening effects and reduce the look of dark spots.
If you’re new to retinol and don’t want to spend too much just yet, test the waters with this affordable one to see how retinol works for your skin.
12. Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum
As we’ve established, retinol is one of the most powerful ingredients to revive mature, aging skin. It promotes cell renewal which usually becomes slower with age. This one transforms your skin by promoting cell turnover with retinol with a concentration of 0.1%.
It helps resurface the skin, remove any impurities along the way, and do that at the most profound level. And it contains antioxidants to amplify the anti-aging effects and prevent future free radical damage to the skin.
To eliminate the potentially drying effects of retinol, it comes with a soothing blend of botanicals. Its fast-absorbing formula works by hydrating, rejuvenating, and smoothing out the skin.
So these are some of the best anti-aging serums you can use in your 30s. Remember that serums alone will not be enough to keep your skin wrinkle-free.
Always wear sunscreen and protective clothing. Additionally, whether it’s an exfoliating serum or a retinol serum, use it once a week until your skin builds tolerance.
If you want to keep anti-aging for your evening skincare routine, check out the best night serums to use in your 30s.
What To Look For in an Anti-Aging Serum To Use in Your 30s
Active Ingredients
For daytime use, anti-aging serums made with antioxidants are perfect for 30-somethings. And the most effective of the bunch are vitamin C, vitamin E, and botanical antioxidants like green tea and ferulic acid.
For your specific concerns, go for a daily vitamin C serum to tackle hyperpigmentation. If vitamin C is irritating to your skin, try plant-based serums made with licorice root, and turmeric.
They’re equally brightening but they don’t irritate. Retinol can be another ingredient if you want to go all-in on anti-aging.
Hydrating Ingredients
Regardless of the active ingredient, make sure your anti-aging serum is packed with humectants like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, and the like. Because they’re exceptionally helpful in plumping the skin immediately and reducing the look of lines and wrinkles.
FAQ
References:
- Addor F. (2017). Antioxidants in dermatology. Anais brasileiros de dermatologia, 92(3), 356–362. https://doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175697
- McDaniel, D. H., Waugh, J. M., Jiang, L. I., Stephens, T. J., Yaroshinsky, A., Mazur, C., Wortzman, M., & Nelson, D. B. (2019). Evaluation of the Antioxidant Capacity and Protective Effects of a Comprehensive Topical Antioxidant Containing Water-soluble, Enzymatic, and Lipid-soluble Antioxidants. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 12(4), 46–53.
- Mukherjee, S., Date, A., Patravale, V., Korting, H. C., Roeder, A., & Weindl, G. (2006). Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clinical interventions in aging, 1(4), 327–348. https://doi.org/10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.327
