These 21 Serums Are So Good You’ll Forget You’re Even Aging
Aging? Wrinkles? Dark Spots? I don’t know her.
March 22, 2020
Photo: Courtesy
Behind every good skincare routine lies one very important step: serum. With active ingredients that lift, brighten, hydrate, and smooth, a concentrated serum targets skin problems more effectively than moisturizers and lotions. The watery, silky texture brings skin-loving ingredients right where you need them most and is easily layered with all your favorite products.
After you cleanse your skin (and before SPF or makeup in the a.m.), pat on a serum with ingredients that target your specific skin concerns. The 21 listed below are undoubtedly the best serums of all time.
L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid Serum Ampoules, L'Oréal Paris
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Best for: instantly plumping skin. When your skin feels particularly lacklustre, these highly concentrated L’Oreal Paris ampoules with pure hyaluronic acid serum can be used twice a day for one week to intensely hydrate, plump skin, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. And they’re travel-friendly! (Pro tip: use the top to seal until nighttime).
Best for: dark spots. This vitamin C serum knocks out dark spots while preventing future damage—it’s no wonder some fans have been repurchasing bottles over and over again for years.
Best for: serious anti-aging. Just a couple drops per night from this tiny, yet powerful bottle reveals thicker, firmer, and smoother-looking skin. Devotees swear by it.
Best for: serious brightening. This is like the Tesla of vitamin C serums—often imitated, never duplicated. It doesn’t smell like roses, but it does dramatically lift dark spots thanks to L-ascorbic acid and ferulic acid.
Best for: stressed-out skin. Come for the cooling, non-sticky formula, and stay for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers courtesy of raspberry stem cells.
Best for: an instant glow. In addition to plumping skin with hyaluronic acid, royal jelly, and tons of other nutrients, the formula also contains a boost of 23-karat gold, so the radiance results are instantaneous.
T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, Drunk Elephant
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Best for: fixing texture. This shockingly gentle glycolic acid serum exfoliates and intensely brightens while using only natural, skin-loving ingredients.
Best for: multitasking. This clean formula brightens, resurfaces, renews, and tightens to reveal smoother and brighter skin within 3-6 days. One user even called it a “magic potion.”
Best for: the retinol curious. With two kinds of retinol—plus skin-soothing colloidal oatmeal—this retinol serum is the perfect first step to getting all the anti-aging benefits without having to ask your doctor for a prescription.
Midnight Recovery Concentrate Serum, KIEHL'S SINCE 1851
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Best for: oil-lovers. Not only does it smell divine (thanks, lavender oil) but this rich oil-serum intensely hydrates better than some traditional moisturizers.
bareMinerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Infusion Serum, bareMinerals
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Best for: serum newbies. This hydrating serum is like a glass of cold water for your face. It makes your skin look plumper and brighter right away and over time, but it won’t dramatically reverse the signs of aging.
Anti-Aging Rapid Response Booster Gel Serum, LA PRAIRIE
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Best for: fine lines. Technically you’re only supposed to use this serum on your face, and not near your eyes—but our crow’s feet looked way less noticeable when we tapped this on night after night for about a week
Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate Serum, SHISEIDO
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Best for: skincare junkie. Press this serum into your skin before you apply the rest of your 10-step skin routine. The formula helps anything you layer on after it work better and faster.
Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, Estée Lauder
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Best for: overnight repair. If you need to look a little fresher by the time your alarm goes off in the morning, reach for this serum. It’s not one of the best-selling skincare products of all time for no reason.
Best for: dry skin. Pat this serum on before moisturizer, and you’ll find that you need less moisturizer. Over the next few weeks, you’ll notice your fine lines are less noticeable, too.
Best for: natural beauty-lovers who don’t want to sacrifice quality. This antioxidant-rich hyaluronic acid serum intensely hydrates, repairs damage, and prevents future damage by using only the safest natural ingredients.
