17 best face serums of *all time* to level up your skincare routine
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As someone who regularly interviews dermatologists, I'd like to think I know a thing or two about the best face serums – and, more importantly, how to find a formula that suits your exact skin type.
Consider these skincare heroes a way to supercharge and customise your skincare routine to target a specific concern: be it dryness, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, blemishes, clogged pores or a damaged skin barrier.
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.
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 some 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 between them depending on the time of the day to best suit your skin's needs.
No matter which facial serum you go for, the key is to make sure that your serums pair well with the rest of your regimen. After all, the last thing you want is to overwhelm or irritate your skin if your moisturiser, toner or a cleanser already includes actives such as BHA or AHA.
To help you find the best face serum, the GLAMOUR team has done all the hard work for you and has enlisted the help of Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist at Skin 55 to help narrow down the most effective formulas out there, having also tested all the best derm-approved and most innovative iterations first-hand. Here's everything you need to know.
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
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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. Find out more about how we test here.
Read up on all the best face serums for every skin concern…
Best face serum overall
- Best for: Brightening.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: The Medik8 C-Tetra is undoubtedly one of the best vitamin C serums around. It has a gentle yet potent formulation that works for even the most sensitive skin types. And when it comes to rebalancing and brightening dull skin while protecting your complexion from environmental aggressors and reducing the appearance of fine lines, there's no product that comes close. A favourite among the GLAMOUR staff.
Best overnight face 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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Best face serum for a dewy base
- 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 niacinamide serum at least once on their FYP. No surprises there: this dew-boosting formula is infused a hydrating blend 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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Best face serum for mature skin
- 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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Best multi-tasking face serum
- Best for: Brightening and hydrating.
- Suitable for: All skin types.
Why we love it: This versatile product is an absolute sensation when it comes to simplifying your skincare routine. It features five ingredients – niacinamide, vitamin C, collagen peptides, vitamin E and AHAs – that combine together to hydrate and brighten your complexion while evening out your skin tone and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Really, there's not much it can't do.
SKIP TO: Can you use a facial serum daily? | In which order should I apply a face serum? | How to choose the best face serum for your skin type.