The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Best anti-aging serums around
The superheroes of skin care, serums contain fewer fillers, and they also feature highly concentrated active ingredients for a powerful age-fighting punch. Here are our Beauty Lab’s top performers.
Best firmer and brightener
Clinique Smart CustomRepair Serum ($60, clinique. com): The top perfomer in the test, Clinique received the highest scores for reducing both brown spots and pores, as well as firming and softening.
Tester notes: Consumers rated it fastest to be absorbed, with all agreeing that it had a nice texture. It also was the best at brightening and evening skin tone. “My jaw seems lifted and more defined,” one raved. “I will definitely purchase this product,” two said.
Lab lowdown: It increased skin’s firmness by 24 percent, and digital imaging showed a 7 percent improvement in both visible brown spots and pores after four weeks of use.
Wrinkle reducer
Skinceuticals Metacell Renewal B3 ($110, skinceuticals.com): No product surpassed the SkinCeuticals serum in our lab test for reducing the look of lines and wrinkles.
Tester notes: Testers praised the “almost immediate” fine-line improvement: “I was shocked by the plumpness of my skin the next day,” a tester said. Another said, “It’s one of the best products I have ever used.” Lab lowdown: In Lab measurements, it proved best at diminishing the appearance of lines and wrinkles (by 5 percent over four weeks).
Skin smoother
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum ($30, Walgreens): The best bargain of our top-tested products, this No7 serum worked as well as or better than pricier options: It scored nearly on par with the winner, and earned the best marks for smoothing skin’s texture. Tester notes: Described as “lightweight” by many, the serum made skin “look younger” and wrinkles “less visible,” though some reported slight irritation.
Lab lowdown: It received strong scores for improving firmness and texture and diminishing pores.