The Most Effective Drugstore Anti-Aging Serums

Best Drugstore Anti-Aging Serums

We independently select and review the products we recommend. If you make a purchase using our affiliate links below, we may earn a commission.

You’re severely mistaken if you think that you have to pay a ton to deal with aging skin. There are some amazing drugstore anti-aging serums that work just as well as their high-end counterparts, if not better. And we’ve found them all! These drugstore serums will help you transform your skin with the help of different key ingredients like retinol, antioxidants, and exfoliants.

When we talk about anti-aging, we refer to ingredients that prevent the formation of signs of aging as well as treat the existing ones. This can be done in several ways depending on your skin type.

There’s no cookie-cutter approach to an anti-aging skincare routine. And you shouldn’t go ahead and grab the first retinol serum without paying attention to your skin. To help you find the best serum for your concerns, here are a couple of pointers to guide you.

If you have very dry skin, your primary focus should be repairing the skin barrier. This will prevent dehydration and keep that protective layer intact so that your skin can protect itself against wrinkle-causing elements.

Slathering your face with retinol day and night will not work until you do something about your compromised skin barrier.

To give another example, if your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation, even a simple habit of daily sunscreen use can qualify your routine as an anti-aging one.

If you don’t do that, don’t waste your money on vitamin C serums to help you with anti-aging. The point is that anti-aging is not about bathing in retinol.

It’s about what your skin needs to maintain its health and what it needs to improve its health. And for that, here are the best drugstore anti-aging serums.

Best Drugstore Anti-Aging Serums

Whether you’re looking for an affordable retinol serum or a budget-friendly antioxidant serum, find below the best drugstore anti-aging serums.

1. La Roche Posay Retinol B3 Pure Retinol Serum

La Roche Posay Retinol B3 Pure Retinol Serum - Best  Drugstore Anti-Aging Serum

It rarely gets any more anti-aging than vitamin A. Retinol is the golden child of anti-aging skincare ingredients. It helps with adult acne, scarring, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and textured skin. And this drugstore serum is perfect for targeting all of those!

It has retinol besides sustained-release retinol. The sustained release makes the serum work longer. It also makes the formula gentler by letting the skin adjust to retinol. The serum also contains niacinamide to support the skin barrier as well as to provide anti-inflammatory benefits. The oil-free formula is suitable for sensitive skin as well.

Quick Tip: You can try using La Roche Posay’s Hyaluronic Acid Serum, or any other drugstore hyaluronic acid serum, before applying this retinol serum. It helps buffer retinol and works great when your skin is prone to dryness.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide
Key Benefits: Reduces lines and wrinkles, supports the skin barrier
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free, non-comedogenic, contains fragrance

2. Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum

Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum - Best Drugstore Anti-Aging Serums

Roc offers one of the most effective and affordable drugstore anti-aging serums. This award-winning formula has retinol to completely renew the skin by accelerating skin turnover. The serum helps with scarring, textured skin, and deep-set wrinkles.

And it’s enhanced with several minerals to support the skin and avoid irritation. For a hands-on anti-aging approach, add this serum to your skincare routine. Use regularly and consistently to reverse wrinkles and fade dark spots.

Key Ingredients: Retinol
Key Benefits: Stimulates collagen, reduces lines and wrinkles
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Non-comedogenic, contains fragrance

3. Pixi Collagen & Retinol Serum

Pixi Botanical Collagen & Retinol Serum - Best Drugstore Anti-Aging Serum

With the help of retinol and skin-repairing collagen, the serum rejuvenates the skin without compromising its barrier. Collagen supports the skin barrier function and helps with the visibility of wrinkles. Additionally, the serum is infused with skin-soothing chamomile extract to help with irritation and redness.

Plus, it has vitamins C and E to guard the skin against free radical damage. The serum combats signs of aging with both retinol and nourishing antioxidants, making it one of the best drugstore anti-aging serums for all skin types.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, collagen
Key Benefits: Improves skin texture, plumps up fine lines
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, scented

4. Loreal 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum

Loreal 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum

This one is perfect for normal, combination, and oily skin types who could use some exfoliation to smooth out the skin texture. With glycolic acid’s incredible ability to clear up the skin, the serum cleans out pores, eliminates blackheads, and gets rid of dead skin cells. This helps a lot with flaky, dull, rough, and congested skin.

By gently and consistently exfoliating the skin, the glycolic acid serum softens the look of fine lines and fades away dark spots. Plus, chemical exfoliation helps the skin better absorb your skincare products. It means that your other serums and creams will work better for your skin.

Key Ingredients: 10% Glycolic acid
Key Benefits: Exfoliates, brightens, softens fine lines
Skin Type: All except for very sensitive skin
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, oil-free

5. The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA

The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA - Best  Drugstore Anti-Aging Serums

Well, when retinol or exfoliants are too sensitizing for your skin, you can always go for peptides to iron out wrinkles. Signal peptides trick the skin into producing collagen and elastin. And they’re not as irritating as other active ingredients may be.

And this anti-aging serum is the best affordable peptide serum on the market. It packs a blend of signal peptides to soften wrinkles and hyaluronic acid to plump up the skin.

Quick Tip: I love layering a nice moisturizer on top of this to kind of lock all that hydration in. Do that if you want long-lasting moisture and if you have dehydration lines.

Key Ingredients: Peptides
Key Benefits: Stimulates collagen without irritation, plumps skin
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, cruelty-free, vegan

6. Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Serum

Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Serum - Best Drugstore Anti-Aging Serums

This one is going to be your new favorite serum to add to your evening skincare routine. With retinol, collagen-boosting peptides, and skin-restoring niacinamide, the night serum addresses all age-related concerns.

From skin elasticity to deep-set wrinkles and anything in between, the serum gives you a night-long treatment to help you wake up to youthful skin. By retexturizing the skin with retinol and stimulating it for collagen formation, the serum aims to resurface a healthier layer that’s smoother and much more radiant. All you need is 3 drops!

Key Ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide, peptides
Key Benefits: Promotes cell turnover, evens skin tone
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily
Size: 1.3 oz/40 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free

Related: Best Products For Uneven Skin Texture

7. Honest Beauty Sleep Resurfacing Serum

Honest Beauty Sleep Resurfacing Serum

For textured skin, enlarged pores, and dark spots, you can use a multi-acid exfoliating serum like this one to smooth things out. It has a blend of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic, lactic, and tartaric acids. With gentle exfoliation, the serum gets rid of dead skin cells and hyperpigmentation and just polishes the complexion.

It hydrates with hyaluronic acid to fill in wrinkles and fine lines. And it has soothing aloe, chamomile, and anti-inflammatory niacinamide to care for the skin. The vegan and clean formula is a simple and effective anti-aging serum to clear up the skin and brighten the complexion without breaking the bank.

Quick Tip: If you have dull or lackluster skin, use this serum at night and use a vitamin C serum in your morning routine. Pairing exfoliants with brightening vitamin C will give you glowing skin in no time.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid
Key Benefits: Exfoliates, gets rid of surface discolorations
Skin Type: All
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free

8. Cerave Skin Renewing Retinol Serum

Cerave Skin Renewing Retinol Serum

It can be tricky to try to get rid of wrinkles with retinol when you have dry skin. As retinol can cause further dehydration, your dedication to retinol will be tested along the way. However, with an affordable and gentle serum like this one, you can minimize the drying effects of retinol.

Because it has some of the most effective ingredients to restore the skin barrier. It has hyaluronic acid to increase hydration and ceramides to prevent dehydration. Plus, it has niacinamide to calm the skin as well as support its barrier function. But the best part of this serum is the delivery method.

We talked about encapsulated retinol before. Retinol is released into the skin slowly and gradually to minimize the side effects. Gently retexturizing the skin and nourishing it all the while, the anti-aging serum diminishes wrinkles and lines, making it suitable for all skin types.

Key Ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, ceramides, niacinamide
Key Benefits: Softens skin texture, minimizes wrinkles
Skin Type: All skin types including sensitive
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, derm favorite

9. Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum

Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum - Best  Drugstore Anti-Aging Serums

To mix things up a bit, here’s a bakuchiol serum that also contains retinol. Bakuchiol is commonly known as vegan retinol or nature’s retinol. It’s a plant extract that works just like retinol but doesn’t come with side effects. And this serum has an excellent formulation to help you get all the anti-wrinkle benefits without irritation.

It has encapsulated retinol paired with bakuchiol to speed up collagen formation. That way, the serum doesn’t cause redness, itchiness, or sensitivity. It’s actually made for beginner retinol users. It also packs botanical extracts to avoid dehydration. It’s much more affordable than mainstream retinol products and is one of the best clean anti-aging serums you can find at the drugstore.

Key Ingredients: Encapsulated retinol 0.03%, bakuchiol 0.05%
Key Benefits: Gently prompts skin turnover, reveals smoother skin
Skin Type: All skin types including sensitive
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

10. Derma E Anti-Aging Regenerative Serum

Derma E Anti-Aging Regenerative Serum

This one has all the goodies you want in your serum. It has glycolic acid to exfoliate and renew the skin. It has vitamins A (retinol) and E to reverse free radical damage and protect the skin against its formation. And it has the potent antioxidant green tea to amplify the effects.

The polyphenols in green tea help fade dark spots, soften lines, and improve skin texture. Plus, it has vitamin B5 to hydrate the skin and soothe it all the while, making it an effective and affordable drugstore anti-aging serum to tackle wrinkles.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, bakuchiol, retinol, vitamin E
Key Benefits: Exfoliates, reduces hyperpigmentation
Skin Type: All except for very sensitive skin
Size: 2 oz/60 ml
Good To Know: Low price per ounce, vegan, cruelty-free, contains fragrance

11. Avene A-Oxitive Antioxidant Defense Serum

Avene A-Oxitive Antioxidant Defense Serum

As we’ve established, retinol or exfoliants aren’t the only anti-aging ingredients in your anti-aging serum. Antioxidants are equally effective in preventing wrinkles and reversing skin damage. And this is the best drugstore anti-aging serum made with antioxidants. It’s a bit pricier than average drugstore anti-aging serums but it catches a wide net, so to speak. Because it’s practically suitable for every skin type and helps with major signs of aging.

It’s made with antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E. It has a light, hydrating, oil-free base made with mineral-rich thermal water and hyaluronic acid for instant plumping benefits. It repairs sun damage and prevents free radicals from causing further damage. You can target signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots without worrying about irritation.

Related: Full Review of Avene A-Oxitive Antioxidant Serum

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E
Key Benefits: Neutralizes free radicals, hydrates, minimizes wrinkles
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free, contains fragrance, vegan

So these are some of the best drugstore anti-aging serums to prevent the formation of premature wrinkles and minimize the existing ones. Again, it’ll all be for nothing if you don’t protect your skin by wearing sunscreen regularly! If you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, take a look at our round-up of the best drugstore vitamin C serums, or keep reading to learn how to choose drugstore anti-aging serums.

How To Choose a Drugstore Anti-Aging Serum

Look For Anti-Aging Ingredients

Look for anti-aging ingredients such as retinol and antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea. Also, look for exfoliating ingredients like glycolic acid and lactic acid. These are the most effective ingredients that help with signs of aging like hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles.

Keep Your Skin Type in Mind

When choosing an anti-aging serum, you still need to choose depending on your skin type. Pay attention and see if the serum is comedogenic or not as it can cause acne on oily, blemish-prone skin. If you have sensitive skin, choose a gentle serum formulated with low-strength active ingredients without potential irritants such as alcohol or fragrance.

Go For Multi-Purpose Formulas

Drugstore anti-aging serums that contain a blend of active ingredients or ones that come with additional ingredients will give you the most bang for your buck. These types of rich serums can help you address several skin issues with one formula. The more the merrier! So look for additional ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides in your serum.

Read Next: How to Use Retinol for Best Results

Scroll to Top