15 best face serums of *all time* to level up your skincare routine
Face serums – lightweight in texture and formulated with higher concentrations of active ingredients – can penetrate your skin on a much deeper level than other skincare products, helping you achieve impressive, and most importantly, lasting results. They’re formulated to help with a variety of skin concerns – be it hyperpigmentation, dryness, fine lines, blemishes, clogged pores and even a damaged skin barrier – one drop at a time.
When paired with a hydrating moisturiser, a replenishing toner and a broad-spectrum sunscreen, facial serums can supercharge your skincare by targeting your skin’s specific needs. Think of them as a way to customise your routine while tailoring it according to your skin type or any particular concerns.
For example, if you’re someone who has dry or dehydrated skin, you may want to go for a hyaluronic acid serum to boost your skin's hydration levels. And if your complexion is looking a bit dull and lacking that dewy glow, a vitamin C serum is always a good shout too.
Are you more on the oily or acne-prone side? Consider niacinamide-infused formulas to smooth texture and minimise inflammation. On the lookout for a serum that'll help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles? Try gentle retinol serum formulations that'll boost your collagen production and skin cell turnover to keep your complexion looking fresh, plumped and rejuvenated. And let’s not forget that you can also layer your serums and alternate them depending on the time of the day to best suit your skin without damaging your skin barrier.
To help you narrow down your pick, we've enlisted the help of Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist at Skin 55, and also tested all the best derm-approved and most innovative face serums first-hand. Here's everything you need to know.
SKIP TO: Can you use a facial serum daily? | In which order should I apply a face serum? | Do you still need to use a moisturiser after your serum? | How to choose the best face serum for your skin type | Our full reviews.
Best face serums at a glance:
- Best for brightening: Medik8 C-Tetra Vitamin C Serum
- Best for oily skin: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Best for dry and sensitive skin: Murad Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Serum
- Best for mature skin: Medik8 Crystal Retinal
- Best for combination skin: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
Meet the expert:
- Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist at Skin 55
In which order should I apply a face serum?
You should apply your face serum after cleansing, exfoliating and toning and before your moisturiser or facial oil, eye cream and SPF. A facial serum can be used alone, but since they tend to be so lightweight, they're easy to layer. Pro tip: invest in one of the best silk pillowcases to ensure everything soaks into your skin properly.
How we tested the best face serums:
The GLAMOUR team has been carefully reviewing and testing hundreds of face serum formulations over a decade, having trialled over a hundred formulations collectively. Our beauty editors have tested all the best facial serums based on their efficacy (how well they hydrated/soothed/brightened our complexions), value for money and long-term benefits.
Read up on all the best face serums for every skin concern…
Medik8 C-Tetra Vitamin C Serum
- Best for: Brightening.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: Hands down, one of the very best vitamin C serums on the market, this gentle formulation is ideal even for the most sensitive of skin types and helps balance as well as brighten dull skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Impressive, right?
- Courtesy of brand
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Best for: Smooth skin and even skin tone.
- Suitable for: Oily skin.
Why we love it: Now, if you're someone who experiences regular breakouts and an increased production of sebum, hear us out: your skin needs to meet The Ordinary Niacinamide & Zinc serum. It helps keep blemishes at bay by minimising pores and gently decongesting yourr skin through regulating sebum production. Just make sure to keep in mind that this formula features a high concentration of niacinamide, so make sure to use it with caution and don't over-apply.
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Medik8 Crystal Retinal
- Best for: Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and smoothing down your skin's texture.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: If you're someone who associates retinol with breakouts, skin flare-ups and dry patches, we have good news for you, because with the dermatologist-approved Medik8 Crystal Retinal range, you won't have to worry about any similar concerns. This serum does a fabulous job at smoothing, plumping and transforming your skin overnight, thanks to its unique formula that features 0.03% of a stabilised retinal.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum
- Best for: Overnight TLC.
- Suitable for: Mature and dry skin.
Why we love it: A beauty industry mainstay. This night serum is a skincare classic and easily one of the most popular products around, offering 72 hours worth of hydration with every use. It's formulated with a healthy splash of hyaluronic acid, which is perfect for giving your skin the pick-me-up it deserves while you sleep.
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Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
- Best for: A dewy base.
- Suitable for: Combination skin.
Why we love it: It's probably safe to assume that just about every skincare obsessive has come across this viral hydrating serum at least once on their FYP. No surprises there: this dew-boosting formula is infused with niacinamide and is bound to give your skin that coveted glowy finish. In fact, many beauty lovers have applauded this serum's ability to add healthy shine that will even peak through a full face of makeup.
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SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier Serum
- Best for: Tightening.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: A favourite within the GLAMOUR beauty team, this cult serum from Skinceuticals tightens and firms the skin like no other. Thanks to the featured 10% Proxylane (a patented molecule) and various botanical extract, this formula will also help improve your skin's texture an elasticity all the while being incredibly fast-absorbing. Talk about a multi-tasker.
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Murad Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Serum
- Best for: Deeper hydration.
- Suitable for: Sensitive and dry skin (also helpful for rosacea).
Why we love it: This serum may seem pricey at first glance, but trust us when we say it's worth every penny. Filled to the brim with science-backed skincare ingredients such as avocado oil, bilberry seed oil, fatty acids, biomimetic hexapeptide-9 as well as omega 3 and 6, this formula is carefully designed to help restore your skin barrier at the cellular level. The best part is that it's gentle enough for us sensitive skin types as well.
Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Instant Firming Serum
- Best for: Plumping and lifting.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: Infused with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane and resveratrol, this plumping serum is great for firming up your complexion and giving it the lift it deserves. It's particularly great for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by deeply hydrating your skin with each use. A must-have skincare product for all skin types.
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SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum
- Best for: Protecting against environmental aggressors.
- Suitable for: Sensitive, dry and combination skin.
Why we love it: This vitamin C is considered top-tier among dermatologists and aestheticians, and for a good reason too. It contains a potent, antioxidant-rich dose of vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid, which give you all the protection you need to fight off free radicals and environmental aggressors such as pollution. Definitely one for the wishlist, especially if you’re looking for something that can help create a more even skin tone and give you a smoother and more balanced complexion.
La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Intense Anti-Dark Spot Serum
- Best for: Acne scars, dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: Looking for a skincare product that can help you deal with dark spots, dark circles, hyperpigmentation and acne scars? Not to worry – thanks to the inclusion of 10%-strength niacinamide, the Mela B3 Intense Anti-Dark Spot Serum is clinically proven to help soothe skin, boost your natural barrier and help rid you of persistent pigmentation.
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Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
- Best for: Smooth and even skin tone.
- Suitable for: Mature skin.
Why we love it: It's hard to pinpoint exactly what this concentrated serum does when it just seems to make everything... better. This anti-ageing serum has been expertly formulated with eight botanical ingredients in order to to activate your skin’s natural inner defences so as to support its immunity and stimulate circulation. Use it as a booster before other products and watch your skin tone even, lines fade and bumps smooth. Magical stuff.
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Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Serum Toner
- Best for: Hydration.
- Suitable for: Combination skin.
Why we love it: If you're a fan of hybrid skincare formulas, you'll love the Dr Jart Ceramidin Skin Barrier Serum Toner. It aims to strengthen your skin barrier, soften your skin and act as a hydrating veil to supercharge your routine a step further. Its nourishing formula is also packed with glycerin, ceramides and panthenol (otherwise known as vitamin B5) to deliver lasting hydration.
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The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum 30ml
- Best for: Hydrating.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: This powerful topical hydrating serum from The INKEY List is an absolute must-have all year round. It helps your skin look smooth and plumped, which helps keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay. The best part? Hyaluronic acid is one of the most universal skincare ingredients that’s perfectly suitable for all skin types, even those of us with sensitive and acne-prone complexions. Apply it straight after your favourite cleanser and before your other go-to toners and serums.
Byoma Brightening Serum
- Best for: Brightening.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: Made specifically to help brighten dull-looking skin, this bestseller brightening serum contains a potent blend of barrier-boosting tri-ceramide complexes as well as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which work together to hydrate your complexion and improve your skin tone with each use. It also has an ultra-lightweight texture upon application, which allows it to absorb into the skin very quickly.
Drunk Elephant Bouncy Brightfacial
- Best for: Gentle exfoliation.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: Thanks to a gentle yet effective formula that contains a blend of azelaic acid and salicylic acid, this radiance-boosting elixir targets dark spots and hyperpigmentation, leaving your skin feeling and looking bright and glowy. And it's vegan and cruelty-free to boot, which is always a big plus.
Can I use face serum daily?
Absolutely. It's recommended that you use your facial serum twice daily, depending on the ingredients. Some serums contain key ingredients like retinol or acids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid (also known as AHAs and BHAs) and ferulic acid. Some have been especially formulated for resurfacing so as to remove dead skin cells, while other formulas also shield from external aggressors such as pollution and further UV damage.
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How to choose the best face serum for your skin type:
How to choose the best face serum for your skin type:
It's important to keep in mind that everyone's skin is different – if you suffer from dehydrated skin and you’re hoping to get a boost of hydration, look for a serum containing humectants such as hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract or vitamin E. If it’s a youth-boosting serum you’re after, retinol is the gold standard, and to brighten your complexion, anything with vitamin C that can help boost collagen production and help maintain your skin's elasticity is bound to be a sure-fire hit. And if you want to treat sun damage or have more sensitive, acne-prone skin, you might want to go for a gentler fragrance-free option.
Dr Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist at Skin 55, discussed when it's best to introduce or amp up active ingredients such as peptides in our routines: "In your 20s your skin is still youthful, but after mid-20s collagen levels start to fall so incorporating vitamin A [or retinoid/retinol] serums at night to help with cell turnover can be beneficial in reducing early development of fine lines especially in fair skin."
"Signs of ageing of the skin start to develop for most people in their 30s, such as fine and deeper lines and wrinkles as well as uneven skin tone or pigmentation. Adding in a vitamin C serum under sunscreen can help with skin brightening as well as additional benefits of acting as an antioxidant."
“As we proceed through our 40s, oestrogen levels start to decline which can result in dryness. Incorporating a hyaluronic acid serum under a moisturiser and layering the products can help prevent dryness and create the appearance of more supple looming skin.”
Feeling inspired to upgrade your skincare routine? Check out our guides for the best face masks, night creams, sun cream, eye creams, cleansing bars, best retinol serums and eye serums.
