The 21 Best Face Serums to Give Your Routine a Boost
Face serums are kind of like the daily vitamin of skincare routines, helping to address the ever-changing needs of your skin. These potent, powerhouse skincare products (used after cleanser and before moisturizer) are designed to target whatever you’ve got going on: fine lines, dark circles, discoloration, sun damage, zits, dryness, dullness…we could go on forever. But figuring out what you need in your skincare routine? That’s the tough part.
So to make life easier, we tested and rounded up our favorite facial serums that deliver a good skin day every day—whether that means you need to brighten, hydrate, tighten, or all of the above at once. Keep scrolling to get our list of best face serums for all skin concerns and skin types. We guarantee you’ll find your future favorite.
1. Best Face Serum for All Skin Types:
DRUNK ELEPHANT Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum
To find a serum that’s universally beneficial, we need a lot of boxes to be checked. This powerhouse serum employs 11 peptides, growth factors, lactic acid, and amino acid to gently fortify and exfoliate (yes, even sensitive types)—leaving skin feeling strong while looking smooth and bright.
2. Best Vitamin C Face Serum:
DR. BARBARA STURM Good C Vitamin C Serum
There are regular vitamin C serums and then there is this vitamin C serum. Using three types of vitamin C (plant based, oil soluble, and synthetic), the dermatologist-developed formula delivers a hefty 5% dose of vitamin C that is still gentle on our skin. We love that it also contains zinc, which helps increase the absorption of vitamin C.
3. Best Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum:
KATE SOMERVILLE® HydraKate Recharging Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
The IPSY team was collectively impressed at how our skin felt plumper and appeared more hydrated after applying this hyaluronic acid-packed serum. The dual weight hyaluronic acid helps to penetrate deeper into skin for up to 24 hours of moisture, making it one of the longest lasting hydrators that we’ve tested.
4. Best Face Serum for Dark Spots:
FENTY SKIN Watch Ya Tone Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum
When it comes to treatments that combat dark spots, we look for a well-rounded formula that can be used safely for all skin types and tones. This FENTY SKIN serum contains niacinamide, vitamin C, and licorice root extract to target dark spots and discoloration, giving a brighter complexion with regular use. We were particularly impressed by its ability to layer nicely with other skincare (like toners and moisturizers) and how it looked under makeup.
5. Best Brightening Face Serum:
ODACITÉ Brightening Serum, Vitamin C and E + Hyaluronic Acid
Another well-rounded brightening serum, this free radical fighter uses a combo of vitamin C and vitamin E with hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane to help address dullness. What sets this brightening serum apart from others? The unique encapsulation technology allows vitamins to be gently absorbed into skin and lower the risk of irritation.
6. Best Hydrating Face Serum:
LANEIGE Water Bank Serum
For thirsty skin types, here’s your tall drink of water. It’s an intensely hydrating serum that contains a special type of hyaluronic acid derived from deep sea algae. We particularly loved the dewy skin effect after each morning application (our skin drank this up!), which helped keep our complexions looking refreshed throughout the day.
7. Best Face Serum for Sensitive Skin:
GLOW RECIPE Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum
Whether your skin is sensitive by nature or experiencing temporary sensitivity, having a serum on hand to suppress irritation is crucial. GLOW RECIPE knocked it out of the park for us with this barrier-supporting serum that helps soothe angry skin by reducing redness, easing dryness, and strengthening the skin barrier. “I used this after I got a little too much sun on a hike and it really calmed down the skin. The next morning my sunburn was gone and my skin felt amazing,” reports one Ipster, proving just how handy it is to have this serum.
8. Best Retinol Face Serum:
SHANI DARDEN SKINCARE Retinol Reform® Anti-Aging Serum
If you’re up to speed on skincare TikTok, you’ve probably already heard of this viral retinol serum from SHANI DARDEN SKINCARE. The multi award-winning serum is well known for its ability to help deliver all the benefits of traditional retinoids (brighter, tighter, clearer skin) without the dreaded irritation that usually accompanies retinol. It’s definitely a winner in our books, too.
9. Best SPF Face Serum:
SUPERGOOP! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Serum
Our top pick in the sunscreen serum category belongs to the sun-protection superstars at SUPERGOOP!. We love that this formula pulls double duty by including vitamin C—an antioxidant to help boost the SPF and prevent future UV damage. It also gave our skin a glowy, lit-from-within finish that looked great on its own and under makeup.
10. Best Collagen-Infused Face Serum:
SONÄGE SKINCARE Collagen Boosting Serum
Collagen is a star ingredient for helping to plump fine lines and increase skin elasticity, but this collagen serum stood out for its use of a next-gen collagen that’s totally vegan. The formula felt incredibly hydrating and effectively helped plump our skin while minimizing the appearance of pores.
11. Best Face Serum for Hyperpigmentation:
GLOW RECIPE Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
No magic tricks are used here—aka glitter, mica, or pearlescence. Instead, the glow is brought on entirely by an emulsion of niacinamide, watermelon, and moringa seed oil, which help address an uneven skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, and brighten dullness. Plus, it’s popular among all ages. “I will be turning 59 in November, and have a lot of sun damage from the 70s and hormonal skin issues. Ugh. This stuff is awesome. It makes makeup application easier, softens my lines, and the scent is non-intrusive,” writes Ipster KT R.
12. Best Antioxidant Serum:
REN CLEAN SKINCARE Radiance Glow and Protect Serum
Like a vitamin-packed smoothie for the skin, this lightweight serum is powered by antioxidant fruits—kakadu plum, dragon fruit, and pomegranate—that help protect your skin from environmental aggressors. We love that it can be used both morning and night, which makes our routines easier and simpler.
13. Best Exfoliating Face Serum:
EARTH HARBOR NATURALS Luna Rain Phyto-Resurfacing Night Serum
We love instant gratification and one Ipster said it best: “You can tell a difference from the very first use.” This potent exfoliator uses a 15% AHA and BHA blend to slough away dead skin cells and improve skin texture with a gentle tingling sensation (so you know it’s working). It has become our go-to exfoliating serum whenever we want to perk up dull skin, even skin tone, and help keep breakouts at bay.
14. Best Serum for Tired Under-Eyes:
THE ORDINARY Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
The eye area needs to be treated with care, so we appreciated that this serum is designed specifically for the delicate under eyes. Its multi-peptide technology and high concentration of active ingredients helps to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines, crow’s feet, puffiness, and dark circles. A must for late nights and extra-early mornings.
15. Best Night Face Serum:
ESTÉE LAUDER Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex
It’s like beauty sleep in a bottle. This best-selling serum uses a proprietary 1-in-60 million night peptide, which helps adapt to your skin’s natural rhythm of needing antioxidant protection during the day and barrier recovery at night.
16. Best Face Serum for Dry Skin:
SACHEU BEAUTY Slick Skin - Essential Lipids Serum
For dry skin types, a waterless serum is essential for protecting moisture levels. This serum is indulgently silky thanks to a formula of lipids, ceramides, and squalene that helps leave skin feeling hydrated for longer. Our favorite feature is that it’s the ultimate accompaniment for facial massage and gua sha.
17. Best Face Serum for Oily Skin:
GLOW RECIPE Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops
This ingenious serum packs a big punch when it comes to oily T-zones and enlarged pores. Thanks to mattifying tapioca and oil-absorbing rice, our skin was left with an instant soft-focus finish. We love that it can be used under moisturizer to address visible pores, under makeup as a primer, and as a midday touch up in place of blotting paper.
18. Best Anti-Aging Serum:
JUICE BEAUTY Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum
Signs of aging are completely normal, but sometimes we just want them to slow their roll a bit (also a normal feeling). This lightweight gel serum is powered by resveratrol-rich grapeseed, which helps fight free radicals, pigmentation, and discoloration while keeping our skin clear and hydrated through all the seasons of life.
19. Best Face Serum for Combination Skin:
CLARITYRX Get Balanced Probiotic Serum
Keeping combination skin happy often means meeting the needs of both oily and dry patches in one fell swoop. That’s where this plant-based, skin-balancing serum reigns supreme. Probiotics and fermented ginseng root extract help strengthen the skin’s natural microbiome to restore balance. Add in antioxidant-rich extracts and hyaluronic acid into the mix and combination skin will be on its way to hydrated, happy, and glowing.
20. Best Serum for Acne-Prone Skin:
111SKIN 3 Phase Anti Blemish Booster
Thousands of Ipsters with acne-prone skin have found their holy grail in this anti-blemish booster serum. “I’ve suffered with severe acne my entire life, and now I have skin I didn’t know was possible for me—without tens of thousands of dollars spent on dermatology, medications, and resurfacing,” writes an IPSY member. The active ingredients of salicylic acid, kojic acid, and colloidal sulfur help regulate sebum production and reduce acne-causing bacteria.
21. Best Firming Serum:
NEOGEN DERMALOGY Real Bakuchiol Firming Serum
As we age, our skin naturally loses its elasticity—which is exactly why this firming serum became a must-have for our anti-aging repertoires. The inclusion of bakuchiol (a pregnancy-safe alternative to retinol), peptides, and aloe vera leaf extract helped our skill feel firmer and smoother. We also loved its gentleness, which is due in part to a soothing antioxidant “multivitamin” of five plant extracts.
We’re here for your skin journey, helping you get face serums targeted to your specific needs. Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started with your own IPSY beauty subscription. Already an IPSY member? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and TikTok @IPSY.
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