Best Face Serums of All Time
Give your routine a boost with these skin savers.
Cleansers and moisturizers might be considered the foundation of any skin routine, but the bare necessities will only get you so far. If you’re looking to level up your skin, a few drops of one of the best serums can go a long way. Typically a step between your toner and moisturizer, this lightweight layer is used as a vehicle to deliver powerful active ingredients like vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to the skin. Since most water- or oil-based serums are thinner than your typical creams and lotions, they can often penetrate the skin far deeper than the rest of your medicine cabinet.
“Serums are lightweight and fast-absorbing, so they tend to go on well under creams, sunscreens, and makeup without interfering with their application,” explains Rebecca Marcus, a broad-certified dermatologist in Dallas, Texas.
Shop the Best Face Serums
- BEST MULTI-PURPOSE Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum $55 AT ULTA BEAUTYRead More
- BEST VITAMIN C SERUMSkinCeuticals C E Ferulic$182 AT BLUE MERCURYRead More
- BEST FOR DRY SKINStriVectin Multi Action Hydration Multiplier Serum$69 AT AMAZONRead More
- BEST FOR OILY SKINThe INKEY List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum$10 AT SEPHORARead More
- BEST FOR ACNE-PRONELa Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum$43 AT DERMSTORE
There are a lot of serums to choose from—and no, we’re not just referring to the myriad of brands and price points. With formulas specifically built to combat everything from acne to aging, the options are endless—and that’s exactly what makes them so special. That’s why Daniel Butler, director of the Inflammatory and Aging Skin Research Program at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine, says serums are “the basis of a great skincare regime.”
“Facial serums serve many purposes; they may not be the same for all people,” he adds. “Different facial serums can target specific goals such as wrinkles, hydration, or dark spots.” But with so many options to choose from, where do you go to find the very best face serums? Here, of course. We culled the market for the very best face serums to buy now. From dermatologist recommendations to crowd-pleasers, this comprehensive list is bound to have something for just about everyone.
