The fastest way to treat your skin needs? Bag yourself a good serum
The best serums are potent and powerful (Don’t believe us, just look at eyelash growth serums – they achieve magnificent things.) With roots in Japanese beauty, the best face serum will deliver a more potent dose of skin benefiting ingredients than your day cream. In other words, you definitely need one in your routine. We promise you won’t regret it for the change to your skin is worth it.
With a much lighter consistency than face creams, they contain a higher concentration of active ingredients. The smaller molecular weight can penetrate the skin much deeper than a heavier cream. In fact, serums are the ones that do all the hard work. If you could only use one skincare product for the rest of your life, we’d say grab a serum.
They help combat a number of skin issues, everything from dehydration and wrinkles, to dullness and pigmentation. Once you’re done applying the best face serum, be sure to follow up with one of the best moisturisers for dry skin, or one of the best moisturisers for oily skin, depending on your skin type.
Finding the best face serum for you
There are so many serums out there it’s tricky knowing which one is right for you. You can either look for one that suits your skin type, for example if you have dry skin you ought to opt for one with high levels of hyaluronic acid, whilst if you suffer from breakouts vitamin C will do wonders. Alternately, your serum can help with any specific skin concerns you might have like dullness (vitamin C again) or pollution (in which case – you’ll need one with a dose of antioxidants.) In our opinion it’s good to have serum wardrobe that you can turn to in the morning once you’ve assessed the state of your skin.
Best vitamin c serum
Balance Me Vitamin C Repair Serum, £27.20 Look Fantastic
If, when you look in the mirror, your skin looks a little lacklustre and in need of a boost or you’re concerned about pigmentation, then you need a vitamin C serum in your life. There are plenty on the market, but we’re huge fans on the Balance Me Repair Serum. It has a 98% naturally derived formulation and helps to brighten dark spots and boost radiance. With the added bonus of hyaluronic acid, it also helps to keep your skin flushed with moisture.
Buy Now: Balance Me Vitamin C Repair Serum, £27.20 Look Fantastic
Best serum with retinol
Beauty Pie Super Retinol Ceramide-Boost Anti-aging Face Serum, £80
Retinol is the bees knees. A retinol serum, plus SPF worn every single day, is said to the ultimate duo to fight the signs of aging. Retinol (a vitamin A derivative) was first used to help acne sufferers, which incidentally it does help with, but people started noticing how much it helped with fine lines and wrinkles. This Beautypie serum is a wonder – it’s got encapsulated retinol, which makes it super gentle on the skin, and also has hyaluronic acid (all hail HA) and lactic acid, which gently exfoliates. It’s basically a super serum. Ah, now we understand the name.
Buy Now: Beauty Pie Super Retinol Ceramide-Boost Anti-aging Face Serum, £80
If there’s one beauty tip we can give you, it’s to use a serum.
Here’s our roundup of the best of the rest…
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Caudalie Premier Cru The Serum, £90, Fabled
When an antioxidant derived from the skin of red grapes meets an amino acid from beetroot and is applied to the skin, the size and quantity of mitochondria increases by 98% and collagen production by 46%. Polyphenols are antioxidants found in grape seeds and protection your face from ageing effects of UV and pollution. Meanwhile hyaluronic acid, together with vine reservatrol, stimulates your skin’s natural production of these hydrating molecules, so that the skin’s surface looks plumper and smoother.
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Clarins Double Serum, £57, Boots
The multi-award winning Double Serum is the only intensive anti-ageing treatment serum rich in 20 plant extracts that boosts the skin's vital functions. An innovative serum with a two-phase system that targets all aspects of skin ageing in one complete skin care concentrate.
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Darphin Uplifting Serum Eyelids Definition, £46, Fabled
Best for: Eyes
Specially formulated to tighten, renew and protect the skin around the delicate eye area. Use before bed for an overnight lift or give eyes an instant brighten after a sleepless night.
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Origins Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum, £50, Fabled
This beauty editor favourite contains sea buckthorn and skin-repairing reishi, irritant-soothing chaga and cordyceps mushrooms, which are used in Chinese medicine to heal, promote longevity and improve health. The soft and smooth formula is easily absorbed into skin and over time reduces redness and gives skin a more even appearance.
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EVE LOM Intense Firming Serum, £75, Fabled
This beautifully-textured skin serum contains a milk extract to firm, brighten and rejuvenate skin. Use twice a day alongside Eve Lom's cult classic treatment cleanser.
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La Mer The Regenerating Serum, £250, Fabled
Containing a high concentration of the brand's signature miracle broth, this anti-ageing (and super-soft) skin serum plumps skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Skin feels softer after the first use.
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Espa Radiance Intensive Serum, £47, Espa
If, in the morning, you look in the mirror and skin is looking lifeless and dull, then you must invest in this serum. It has super ingredient vitamin C in it, which brightens your skin and also evens out any discolouration.
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Skinceuticals Hydrating B5, £65, Skinceuticals
Nothing, and we mean nothing, is better at hydrating skin than hyaluronic acid. This serum, whilst a bit spenny, is so good we basically slather our entire bodies in the stuff. Hyaluronic acid appears naturally in the skin and it's job is to retain moisture. retaining moisture. As one molecule, it can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water. You need this in your life if you get dry flaky patches.
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No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum, £26, Boots
A cult classic serum and one of the most affordable anti-ageing products that really delivers on the market. Giving skin an instant anti-ageing boost, fine lines and wrinkles appear reduced after a few uses, and results improve over time. Add a little into your foundation to increase its skincare benefits and give a sheer, radiant finish. There were waiting lists and actual queues out the Boots doors when it first launched and it keeps getting better.
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Perricone MD H2 Elemental Energy Hydrating Booster Serum, £80, John Lewis
This serum is like a two pronged attachk - it's excellent at rehydrating parched skin and due to the abundance of moisture skin starts to glow with regular use. Two birds one stone springs to mind.
