The best anti-ageing serums for your 20s to retain that youthful look for as long as you can

While it may feel like your life has only merely begun in your 20s, the unpleasant truth is your skin has already started to age. You may not need to invest in a full anti-ageing routine just yet, but it’s important to incorporate some products that can prevent premature signs of ageing to make you look youthful for as long as possible.

We have rounded up the best anti-ageing serums for 20-somethings looking to get into the overwhelming world of anti-ageing products. These products tend to have a more lightweight consistency, and less irritating formulas while still offering you the necessary anti-ageing benefits – perfect for preventing your first signs of ageing.

1. COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid

If you are into chemical exfoliation, you most likely have heard about AHAs, or alpha hydroxy acids. They are essential ingredients in any anti-ageing routine, being able to dissolve the uppermost layers of the skin to reveal newer, fresher skin underneath, which makes your overall complexion clearer and younger looking.

If you are only getting into AHA serums, start with a lower concentration such as the COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid. With 7% glycolic acid, this serum gently exfoliates your skin to improve the skin texture and fade dark spots.

It has a very lightweight, almost watery formula also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate dry skin and soften the look of wrinkles and fine lines on your skin.

COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid retails for SGD20.70, available on Shopee.

2. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum

If you are looking for something with a little stronger exfoliating power, give the Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum with 12% glycolic acid a try.

Even though it has “glycolic” in its name, the exfoliating and skin-refining power of this serum comes from both AHA (glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric acids) and BHA (salicylic acid) to effectively exfoliate and resurface the skin to reveal a brighter, smoother and clearer complexion with less pronounced wrinkles and fine lines.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum retails for SGD128 (30ml), available at Sephora.

3. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum

Your 20s is a confusing time. On the one hand, your skin is starting to show the first signs of ageing. On the other, you are still combating acne from time to time. If only there’s an ingredient that can tackle both…

Good news, there is! Vitamin A is among the most well-researched ingredients that have been proven to be effective in treating acne and preventing signs of ageing by unclogging pores and boosting cell renewal. Talk about a do-it-all ingredient!

The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum is one of the most affordable yet effective anti-ageing serums for 20-somethings. Formulated with retinol and hyaluronic acid, this serum helps plump up your skin and refine skin texture to keep your skin looking youthful and wrinkle-free for longer.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum retails for SGD29.90, available on Shopee.

4. First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum

Retinol’s skincare benefits are well proven, but the downside is that it can be quite irritating! For those who are new to this ingredient, or those in their 20s with younger skin, the best option would be the First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum.

This beginner-friendly anti-ageing serum features First Aid Beauty’s exclusive Skin Saver Complex to deliver active ingredients to the skin without causing irritation. Formulated with not only retinol but also peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E to repair, nourish and regenerate the skin at the same time.

First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum retails for SGD95 (30ml), available at Sephora.

5. Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum

As we mentioned, for all its amazing skincare benefits, retinol can be rather irritating. However, don’t think that just because you have sensitive skin, you won’t get to enjoy the benefits it offers.

Instead of retinol, the Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum uses Bakuchiol, a plant-derived alternative to retinol that offers all the same skin-refining benefits and efficacy of retinol but without the risk of irritation.

Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum retails for SGD43 (10ml), available at Sephora.

6. Skinceuticals Serum 10

The Skinceuticals Serum 10 is an ideal beginner anti-ageing serum for 20-somethings looking to incorporate vitamin C into their skincare routine. It contains 10% L-ascorbic acid, to help accelerate skin renewal, fade dark spots and brighten the complexion, along with ferulic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can prevent sun damage such as dark spots.

Skinceuticals Serum 10 retails for SGD178, available on Skinceuticals website.

7. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Day Serum

Looking to up your vitamin C game? Try the Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Day Serum with 15% L-ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid and 1% vitamin E. Besides the skin-renewing benefits, this serum is also intensely hydrating with pumpkin ferment extract and pomegranate enzyme.

The best thing? It comes in a lightweight, easy to absorb formula that doesn’t feel sticky on the skin, unlike many other vitamin C serums. One of the best anti-ageing serums for your 20s? You bet!

Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Day Serum retails for SGD114, available at Sephora.

8. Paula’s Choice Peptide Booster

Peptides are an ingredient you start to hear a lot about once you enter your mid-20s. They are fragments of collagen, made up of amino acids and act as building blocks for our skin, nails and hair.

It’s important to incorporate peptides into your skincare routine as our body produces less and less collagen as we age, which weakens the structure of the skin and causes damages such as wrinkles, fine lines, saggy skin.

Paula’s Choice Peptide Booster contains eight highly-targeted peptides and hydrating amino acids to strengthen the skin structure, making your skin feel firmer and more resilient against the threat of wrinkles and fine lines.

Paula’s Choice Peptide Booster retails for SGD76 (20ml), available on Paula’s Choice website.

9. Mizon Peptide 500 Serum

Want to give peptides a try without breaking your bank? Try the Mizon Peptide 500 Serum, which contains 45% peptides to firm up the skin and restore its elasticity while keeping wrinkles at bay.

Formulated without fragrance, artificial color, or parabens, this fast-absorbing is ideal for those with sensitive skin or those who prefer a more lightweight texture in their anti-ageing serums.

Mizon Peptide 500 Serum retails for USD18.89, available on Amazon.

10. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Any skincare enthusiast will probably have at least one product in their routine containing niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, that has been the “It” ingredient in the skincare world. It is very effective in fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation, which your skin tends to be prone to as you enter your late 20s.

For an affordable, fuss-free niacinamide serum, the The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is your best bet. With 10% niacinamide, this serum helps lighten up darks spots and discolouration, and brighten up your overall complexion. The addition of 1% Zinc salt helps control sebum production to prevent acne and blemishes.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% retails for SGD10, available at LookFantastic.

11. Neutrogena Hydroboost Hydrating Serum

Dehydrated skin tends to look older, more tired with more pronounced wrinkles and fine lines, which is why hydration is key to any anti-ageing routine.

To amp up the hydration level in your skin, look for serums with hyaluronic acid, which draws in moisture from the environment to keep your skin supple and well-hydrated.

The oil-free formula is also particularly great for those in their 20s and early 30s, whose skin tends to be less dry than mature skin and might still be dealing with sebum overproduction.

Neutrogena Hydroboost Hydrating Serum retails for SGD29.48, available on iHerb.

12. Skin Inc Vitamin B3+ Serum

If you want to incorporate both niacinamide and hyaluronic acid into your routine, you don’t need to invest in two different serums.

Skin Inc Vitamin B3+ Serum contains both of these two ingredients along with panthenol, another humectant to act as the ultimate moisturising serum that helps strengthen the skin’s barrier.

This serum is especially great for those with normal to oily skin as it doesn’t leave a tacky film on the skin.

Skin Inc Vitamin B3+ Serum retails for SGD68 (10ml), available at Sephora.

13. Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Serum

Moisturising is an important part of any skincare routine but especially so as you get older and have drier skin. To minimise the effect of skin dryness such as more pronounced wrinkles and fine lines as well as tired looking skin, incorporate moisturising ingredients in more than just your moisturiser.

Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Serum is one of the best anti-ageing serums for 20-somethings as it helps to repair your skin barrier in order for it to retain moisture more effectively. Your skin will also feel firmer and smoother and look more vibrant.

Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Serum retails for SGD69 (40ml), available at Sephora.