One Anti-Aging Serum to Rule Them All

When your days start to feel chaotic, a little convenience here and there can feel like a luxury. In the world of skincare, serums are made to deliver big results in a convenient one-step treatment – and we often rely on these little formulas to answer our biggest skincare problems.

Let’s be clear: our Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants PM Serum won’t solve all your problems. It won’t get that wine stain out of the carpet, or feed your cat – but it does contain a convenient blend of vitamins and antioxidants to help you tackle some of your biggest skin concerns.

Think fine lines, wrinkles, congested pores, and hyperpigmentation. If you have a busy schedule – or simply don’t want to apply multiple treatments – this nightly serum can definitely simplify things.

It’s important to remember that skin concerns tend to accumulate over the years. The effects of excess sun, our most potent physical ager, are not always evident immediately. That means it will take more than one day to significantly improve the appearance of your concerns. But taking the first step is always the most important!

Antioxidants are useful for protecting our bodily systems against harmful free radicals. But not all topical antioxidants can be fully absorbed by skin; some are better off acquired through food.

Therefore, it’s important to identify the ones that our skin actually does absorb! Our anti-aging serum uses 5 particular antioxidants that complement each other well. Read on to find out which ones they are!

Retinol
This handy little antioxidant is actually a derivative of vitamin A. Vitamin A derivatives, like retinol and retinoic acid, are known for significantly boosting collagen and other markers of youth in your skin. Collagen is responsible for plump, firm skin; it’s a fiber that gives our skin shape and structure. That’s why replenishing our collagen levels leads to less sagging and lessened appearance of fine lines and wrinkles – a big benefit for crepey skin.

We can find retinoic acid in prescription products, but those products are usually quite strong and irritating at first. Not the best for sensitive skin, or beginners to anti-aging products.

Retinol is a great way to build up to those stronger forms. Our over-the-counter anti-aging serum offers a 1% dose of retinol, which is often the minimum starting concentration. Niacinamide and vitamin E can also help accustom your skin to this new ingredient – but more on that later!

CoQ10
Our cells need energy to repair and regenerate themselves. They usually have enough energy in our teen years, but these levels decrease as we age. Fun fact: removing toxins is a big part of our cells’ duties. If we can’t remove these toxins due to low energy levels, our skin ends up congested and dull. CoQ10 helps to revitalize sluggish cells and keep them working efficiently.

This enzyme keeps our skin active, but it also inhibits tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that creates melanin in response to skin irritation and sun damage. CoQ10 prevents this enzyme from doing its job, meaning less dark spots. It’s no wonder we decided to include this energizing, brightening enzyme in our anti-aging serum!

Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, best known for controlling excess oil and balancing skin tone. This vitamin fights off the UV damage that causes hyperpigmentation, and works effectively to diminish existing dark spots. Niacinamide has been used to treat inflammatory skin conditions like acne and rosacea since it helps with redness and irritation.

Our superstar PM serum contains 10% niacinamide for a major boost of skin-balancing benefits.

Vitamin C
In our anti-aging serum, a dose of 10% vitamin C helps to boost collagen production and brighten dull or damaged skin. Normally, antioxidants are best for protection against damage before it happens. But vitamin C (along with retinol) is one of the best ingredients for repairing and preventing the effects of degraded collagen and sun damage. These effects can include fine lines, wrinkles, crepey skin, and lack of firmness.

Chemically speaking, you don’t often see a serum containing both niacinamide and vitamin C together. But the form of vitamin C we use, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, is the least irritating and most stable form. You can thank its pH rating of 6, which is close to our skin’s natural pH of 5.5. This also happens to be niacinamide’s pH – making them totally synergistic when used together!

Vitamin E
This PM serum contains 10% Vitamin E, which tends to be a good choice for most skin types as it’s generally non-irritating. Its benefits don’t necessarily lie in creating collagen, but in boosting vitamin C’s antioxidant power and adding essential lipids to our skin.

As we age, our skin tends to become drier, enhancing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. We stop producing the natural lipids that prevent our skin from losing moisture. This causes our hydration levels to decrease, meaning loss of youthful, supple looking skin.

Like niacinamide, vitamin E helps to replenish your complexion so that you can retain moisture. It’s also majorly anti-inflammatory – so if you’re prone to redness, blotchy skin or irritation, this antioxidant can help calm your skin.

PRO TIP: While your skin uses this vitamin effectively, consuming vitamin E daily is another great idea. Get an antioxidant boost by eating healthy foods like avocados, olive oil, sunflower seeds, mango, and red sweet peppers!

This anti-aging treatment is worth trying if you have:

Crepey skin
Loss of elasticity or ‘bounce’
Dark spots from acne scars or sun exposure
Wrinkles around your eyes, mouth, and forehead
Frequently congested pores
Dull-looking skin
Constant exposure to pollution or other environmental stressors

By age 20, collagen production decreases by 1% every year. That means you’re creating less collagen to support your skin’s firmness and elasticity. Even if you don’t see significant signs of visible aging now, aging is an accumulative process: worsened by sun, stress, pollution. Ultimately, an anti-aging serum is as much a preventative measure as a reactive one!

The next day after using this anti-aging serum, remember to follow up with a broad-spectrum SPF. Sunscreen should be a daily essential, especially if you’re using retinol. This vitamin can make your skin more sensitive to the sun and more susceptible to sunburns. One final tip: allow your serum to absorb for 60 seconds before following up with a moisturizer!

Can anti-aging serums be used on all skin types?

Since serums are typically lightweight, water-based or gel-like textured products, all skin types can benefit from anti-aging serums. Since serums also target specific skin concerns, they can be easily tailored to your skin type.

How do anti-aging serums differ from anti-aging creams?

Compared to the lighter weight consistencies of serums, anti-aging creams are typically thick, rich, and luxurious and are designed to hydrate and nourish the skin. On the other hand, anti-aging serums are fast-absorbing, and are designed to penetrate the skin more deeply and deliver potent active ingredients.

Can I use multiple anti-aging serums at the same time?

Serums can be layered, but there are several factors to consider when doing so. Piling on more products is not only time-consuming, it also reduces the chances of each ingredient getting properly absorbed by your skin. Some of the ingredients from anti-aging serums may also not be compatible with the ingredients in your other serums.

What are the potential side effects or skin reactions to anti-aging serums?

Anti-aging serums have more concentrated active ingredients than say, moisturizers. Some skin types, like sensitive and reactive types, may develop skin irritation, such as redness, itching, or a burning sensation when using anti-aging serums. It’s important to always patch-test skin first.

When should I start using an anti-aging serum in my skincare routine?

Our skin cell renewal tends to slow down as we age, meaning our skin can lose its firmness and the first signs of aging can appear. While we can't stop the aging process, applying the right skincare products as early as our 20s can help start to lessen any skincare concerns.

However, this does not mean that people in their 20s need to purchase an anti-wrinkle cream specifically. There are plenty of skincare products containing active ingredients that help to brighten and plump the skin, without being labeled anti-aging.