20 Best Face Serums to Tackle Every Skin Concern
If there's one step in our daily skin-care routine that we dare not skip, it's applying serum. The best face serums deliver a highly concentrated, potent dose of active ingredients to the skin and target a range of skin concerns in one go. Whether it's antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, peptides, botanical agents, or other ingredients, serums can carry smaller molecules deep into the skin, where they benefit us most. Below, we've rounded up 20 of the best face serums below (many of them recommended by dermatologists, and all tested by us), so keep scrolling to find your new favorite.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum, $40
- Best Vitamin C Serum: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $182
- Best for Mature Skin: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum, $295
- Best Retinol Serum: Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum, $85
- Best Retinol-Alternative Serum: Tatcha The Silk Serum, $98
- Best Value: RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum, $30
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum, $42
- Best for Dullness: Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum, $196
- Best for All Skin Types Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum, $39
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why you should use a face serum
- When do I apply my serum?
- Can I use multiple serums at once?
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum
Why It's Worth It: Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut, says that no matter your skin type, La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum is a great place to start when it comes to adding serums to your routine. "This serum combines concentrated pure hyaluronic acid, madecassoside, and vitamin B5 for tons of hydration without the irritation," she explains.
Editor Tip: Though the brand claims this formula is sensitive skin-friendly, it does contain fragrances. To stay clear of irritation, sensitive skin types should try La Roche-Posay's fragrance-free Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum, which also doubles as a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, vitamin B5 | Who It's For: People with dry skin
Best Vitamin C Serum: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
Why It's Worth It: Allure editors, dermatologists, and our readers all agree: The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum is worth every single penny. As its name suggests, this Allure Best of Beauty- and Readers' Choice Award-winning elixir is formulated with a potent trifecta of antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to reduce free radical damage — and brighten your complexion, reduce discoloration and the appearance of fine lines, and improve firmness all at once.
Editor Tip: It also has glycerin, which gives it hydrating abilities, too.
Key Ingredients: Ascorbic acid, glycerin, ferulic acid | Who It's For: Anyone game to invest in a bestseller
Best for Mature Skin: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
Why It's Worth It: Board-certified dermatologist Heidi Prather, MD — who is based in Austin, Texas — has noticed that many technology-driven serums are turning their focus on elastin and collagen to enhance skin elasticity, which is one of the reasons SkinMedica's TNS Advanced+ Serum has become so popular in her Texas practice. "The formulation feels silky and smooth on your skin and provides a powerful combination of growth factors and plant-based antioxidants to boost collagen and elastin," she says.
Editor Tip: Growth factors work as intracellular messengers to stimulate cell growth.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, growth factors, linseed extract | Who It's For: People focused on prevention
Best Retinol Serum: Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum
Why It's Worth It: Sunday Riley's buzzy A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum packs a punch when it comes to smoothing the appearance of fine lines over time. It's one of the best retinol serums for those who want a potent, 6.5% retinol blend. With that being said, Allure associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen said, in her review of the serum, that this concentrated formulation is suitable for her sensitive skin when applied using the "sandwich technique."
Editor Tip: The combination of retinol and retinol alternatives makes this a good option for those still dealing with breakouts.
Key Ingredients: 5% retinoid ester, 1% liposomal-encapsulated retinol, .5% blue-green algae, CoQ10, bisabolol | Who It's For: People seeking a retinol product
Best Retinol-Alternative Serum: Tatcha The Silk Serum
Why It's Worth It: Tatcha's The Silk Serum won a 2023 Best of Beauty Award in the sensitive category because it swaps out retinol for cranberry extract and sea fennel, two next-gen (and plant-derived) alternatives that smooth the look of wrinkles without causing irritation. It's also infused with silk proteins, which bind to moisture to improve the look of fine lines and dryness.
Editor Tip: Unlike most retinol serums, this alternative can be used in your day and night routines, so you can double-dose your way to faster, more prominent results.
Key Ingredients: Cranberry extract, sea fennel, silk protein | Who It's For: Those who want the benefits of retinol without harsh side effects
Best Value: RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum
Why It's Worth It: Out of all the retinol serums we got our hands on, the RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum is the best we've tried in 2022 — so it's no wonder it won an Allure Best of Beauty Award. This under-$50 serum also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin for a plumper, more supple complexion.
Editor Tip: It contains retinol to boost cell turnover and address fine lines and wrinkles over time, so consider it a night serum — and don't pair it with a separate retinol cream.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, retinol, swertiamarin | Who It's For: People concerned with signs of aging (or simply want to stave off said signs)
Best for Dullness: Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum
Why It's Worth It: This comprehensive serum is designed to address signs of aging on all fronts. It's brimming with botanical ingredients — think Spanish lavender, willow bark, and sea fern — that work together to target wrinkles, lax skin, pigmentation, and dryness, and leave skin feeling soft and supple. Also, the light floral scent is a nice touch.
Editor Tip: For extra radiance-boosting benefits, the brand recommends applying this serum while your face is still damp from applying an essence, like the best-selling Hydrating Floral Essence.
Key Ingredients: Mango seed butter, rose hydrosol, hyaluronic acid | Who It's For: Those with dull or dry skin
Best for All Skin Types: Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
Why It's Worth It: Peach & Lily's Glass Skin Serum has a long list of fans (including us), and it's all due to its cocktail of ingredients that treat a range of skin concerns in one heavy-hitting formula. Those include niacinamide for brightening dark spots and scars from breakouts, peptides for boosting collagen production, centella asiatica-derived madecassoside for soothing, and hyaluronic acid for deep hydration. It's oil-free so it's safe to use on acne-prone skin, but beneficial for all skin types.
Editor Tip: The formula is intended to impart "glass skin," the K-beauty concept of skin so luminous and smooth that it resembles glass.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, madecassoside, niacinamide | Who It's For: People looking for radiance
Best Exfoliating Serum: Dr. Dennis Gross 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum
Why It's Worth It: Dr. Dennis Gross's 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum is a 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner that takes a strategic approach by pairing 15% L-ascorbic acid — a.k.a. pure vitamin C — with lactic acid, a gentle exfoliant that clears dead skin cells and, in doing so, allows the vitamin C to better penetrate skin. Together, they can address uneven skin tone and skin texture, making this serum a powerful one-two punch in any routine. That also makes this brightening serum a winner for dealing with acne scars.
Like many serums, this one also has the added benefits of vitamin E and ferulic acid, two antioxidants that stabilize vitamin C and promote skin healing.
Editor Tip: Since it contains an exfoliating acid, don't skip SPF after applying. (Though you should be wearing SPF during the day — period.)
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, lactic acid, licorice, vitamin E, ferulic acid | Who It's For: People looking to target multiple signs of sun damage
Best for Combination Skin: Clarins Double Serum Light
Why It's Worth It: Clarin's Double Serum expanded its reign with this lightweight version (and 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner), which was designed with oily skin types in mind. While it contains the same plant extracts found in the original, like tone-evening turmeric and conditioning avocado, the dual-phase formula now features an oil phase that's far lighter — so it doesn't feel as tacky on the skin.
Editor Tip: It's a good option for anyone who live in warm/humid climates, or generally for warmer months.
Key Ingredients: Oat extract, mango oil, vitamin C | Who It's For: People prone to oil
Best Fragrance-Free: CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Why It's Worth It: New York-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, is a fan of CeraVe's Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum — and hyaluronic acid serums in general — because this classic humectant attracts and binds to water molecules and increases the water content of the skin. That's something everyone can benefit from. "Skin hydration is important because hydrated skin looks plumper, healthier, and more vibrant," she tells Allure, noting that it's an especially high-priority ingredient in colder months.
Editor Tip: It has a gel-cream texture that can double as moisturizer for oil-prone skin types.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid | Who It's For: Those looking for a simple, fragrance-free option
Best for Dullness: iS Clinical GeneXC Serum
Why It's Worth It: iS Clinical's GeneXC Serum is ideal for mature skin types thanks to its potent yet non-irritating formula that addresses visible signs of aging. This vitamin C-rich formula features two sources of the powerful antioxidant — L-ascorbic acid (a stabilized form of vitamin C) and kakadu plum — to target dullness and discoloration. This serum is also infused with a proprietary blend of enzymes to gently exfoliate deal skin cells and sugarcane, a humectant that draws moisture into the skin.
Editor Tip: The thin, lightweight texture sinks in especially quickly, so it's a great addition to pre-makeup morning routines.
Key Ingredients: Enzymes, kakadu plum, vitamin C | Who It's For: Those with sensitivity
Best Luxury: Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale Ultimate Redefining Concentrate
Why It's Worth It: The Chanel Sublimage L'Essence Fondamentale Ultimate Redefining Concentrate is pricey, but considering that this formula is packed with ingredients to hit multiple skin-care bases at once, it's oh-so worth every penny. It contains a skin-care tag-team of hyaluronic acid for ample hydration, antioxidant-rich vanilla planifolia water to reduce the look of blemishes and dark spots, and solidago extract, another ingredient rich in powerhouse antioxidants that'll tone, smooth, and firm skin.
Editor Tip: Its light, milky, and cushiony texture makes this pick great for oily and dry skin types alike.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vanilla planifolia water, solidago extract, shea butter | Who It's For: Anyone who wants a multitasking topical
Best for Barrier Repair: Paula's Choice Resist Omega+ Complex Serum
Why It's Worth It: Shea butter and jojoba oil are some of the best ingredients out there for soothing and nourishing dry, dehydrated skin. You'll find both (plus omega fatty acids — hence the name) in the Paula's Choice Resist Omega+ Complex Serum.
Editor Tip: It won a Best of Beauty Award back in 2018 for its lightweight formulation that still packs an intensive conditioning punch.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, fatty acids, Omega 3, 6, and 9 oils | Who It's For: People who want to balance moisture with a lightweight feel
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum
Why It's Worth It: Glow Recipe's Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum smoothes texture and decongests pores while it actively calms skin — basically, a multitasking skin-care wizard. A combination of salicylic acid, mandelic acid (a type of AHA), and strawberry enzymes effectively (and gently) clear breakouts while hyaluronic acid and allantoin replenishes hydration and soothes skin. The payoff? Clear skin without compromise.
Editor Tip: The salicylic acid is encapsulated to preserve efficacy and minimize dryness, thanks to a slower release.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, mandelic acid, azelaic acid, succinic acid, hyaluronic acid, allantoin | Who It's For: People who deal with breakouts and/or excess shine
Best for Dry Skin: Neocutis Bio Serum Firm
Why It's Worth It: It may seem like a no-brainer, but Dr. Prather says seeking out a serum with more hydrating factors when you have dry skin is a must. Luckily, if skin thirst isn't your only concern, a formula like Neocutis Bio Serum Firm can address any unwanted signs of aging, too. "You get the benefits of hydration with sodium hyaluronate," a form of hyaluronic acid, "while boosting elastin and collagen production through the patented formulation of growth factors and peptides," she explains.
Editor Tip: Your skin-care routine shouldn't end at your face — use this serum on your neck and decollete to give these delicate areas of skin a firmer, smoother appearance.
Key Ingredients: Human growth factors peptides, hyaluronic acid | Who It's For: Dry and maturing skin types.
Best for Discoloration: Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%
Why It's Worth It: If there was a skin-care dictionary, you'd find Revision Skincare's C+ Correcting Complex 30% pictured underneath "do-it-all." Dr. Prather says this lightweight formula is great for combination skin because its potent tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD, for short) — that's an oil-soluble form of vitamin C — allows the product to stay pH-neutral, preventing irritation from the start. "It is also packed with ingredients that work hard to protect, brighten, and boost your skin health without breaking you out," she adds.
Editor Tip: It's infused with prebiotic sodium carboxymethyl beta-glucan and diglucosyl gallic acid, a duo that helps support the skin barrier via its microbiome.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-glucan | Who It's For: People with dull skin or discoloration
Best Under-$50: Olay Super Serum
Why It's Worth It: Packed with peptides, niacinamide, and antioxidants, Olay Super Serum is an affordable drugstore fave that took over social media upon its launch and boasts a coveted 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner seal. Its souped-up combination of vitamin C, niacinamide, and peptides can smooth lines, brighten skin, and even defend against external aggressors all at once.
Editor Tip: This formula actively hydrates skin, so oily types might get away with just this (and no moisturizer) in the summer.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, collagen peptide, niacinamide | Who It's For: People looking for a multitasking formula
Best Post-Treatment Serum: Alastin Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar
Why It's Worth It: Whether your skin is chronically sensitive or experiencing temporary irritation or fragility after an in-office treatment, Dr. Prather says Alastin Skincare's Regenerating Skin Nectar is a great treatment for getting your skin back to its best self. This water- and fragrance-free formula is so much more than just a soother. "It is preservative-free, bacteriostatic, and the patented TriHex technology is packed with peptides that boost elastin while calming inflamed skin and decreasing downtime post-procedure," she tells Allure.
Editor Tip: Try it after laser resurfacing, microneedling, or IPL to seriously calm your skin.
Key Ingredients: Arnica, phytoene, phytofluene | Who It's For: People who have super sensitive skin and/or consistently get in-office procedures
Best for Oily Skin: Shani Darden Lactic Acid Exfoliating Serum
Why It's Worth It: Dark spots be damned, because Shani Darden's Allure Best of Beauty-winning Lactic Acid Exfoliating Serum is here to tackle hyperpigmentation with its hero ingredient. It contains an exfoliating mix of lactic and polyhydroxy acids to discoloration and texture. These two acids are considered gentler than an intensive AHA like glycolic acid or BHA like salicylic acid because they have larger molecules, which means they don't penetrate as deeply into the skin. Meanwhile, a soothing complex of hyaluronic acid, aloe, and green tea targets dryness and irritation.
Editor Tip: Since this formula contains active ingredients, you'll want to reserve it for your evening routine during retinol-free nights.
Key Ingredients: 9% lactic acid, gluconolactone (PHA), glyercin, hyaluronic acid, aloe, green tea | Who It's For: People with large pores
Frequently Asked Questions
Why you should use a face serum
Face serums have become a mainstay in every Allure editors' skin-care routine, and they should be in yours, too. Kenneth Howe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, explains that "in contrast to moisturizers, serums don't contain air-tight, occlusive ingredients, which allow them to penetrate more deeply into the epidermis, carrying their active ingredients with them."
Another reason these facial serums are a mainstay for skin-care novices and lovers alike? The good, old feel factor. "Serums are the new moisturizers," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD, tells Allure. "They are perfect for layering — like a primer on clean skin before makeup or sunscreen."
When do I apply my serum?
According to New York City-based dermatologist David Kim, MD, you should apply your serum after cleansing and before your moisturizer. "Serums have more active ingredients in higher concentration, and they are formulated to either brighten, hydrate, or calm the skin," he says. "Then a moisturizer goes on top to lock in the moisture and to repair the skin barrier."
Can I use multiple serums at once?
Dr. Kim says you can tag-team multiple serums to tackle multiple skin-care concerns, but just make sure you aren't flooding your pores with too many harsh active ingredients at once — that can lead to sensitivity and irritation. "For example, you can apply a lightweight vitamin C serum with a hydrating serum on top before sunscreen," says Dr. Kim. “This is particularly effective for people with oily acne-prone skin who don't like a heavier thicker moisturizer.”
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best face serums, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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