SECRET SAUCE
The best face serums for glowing skin are here. Infused with vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid, these derm-approved serums address all skin concerns.
By Deanna Pai and Annie Blackman
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The best face serums make it easy to get in your daily dose of potent, skin-loving actives. Whether they're dishing out antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, peptides, or botanical agents, face serums are excellent at delivering ingredients deep into your skin, using smaller molecules (compared to your moisturizer, for example) to do so. Whatever your skin concerns, there's a serum ready to put in the work.
Our Top Picks
- Best Face Serum Overall: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum, $40
- Best Vitamin C Serum: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $182
- Best Serum for Mature Skin: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum, $295
- Best Serum for Dry Skin: Kate Somerville HydraKate Recharging Hydration Serum, $78
- Best Serum for Combination Skin: Clarins Double Serum Light, $134
- Best Serum for Oily Skin: Shani Darden Lactic Acid Exfoliating Serum, $89
- Best Retinol Serum: Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum, $85
- Best Retinol-Alternative Serum: Tatcha The Silk Serum, $98
- Best Exfoliating Serum: Dr. Dennis Gross 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum, $85
Below, we've rounded up 17 of the best face serums the web has to offer—many of them recommended by dermatologists and all tested by us—so keep scrolling to find your new skin-care hero.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the benefits of using a face serum?
- What order should my serum be in my routine?
- Can I use multiple serums at once? What can't I mix?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
The Best Face Serum Overall: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum
Why it's our #1 pick: Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based 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 serums. "Thisserumcombines concentrated pure hyaluronic acid, madecassoside, and vitamin B5 for tons of hydration without the irritation," she explains.
Dr. Robinson isn't alone in the Hyalu B5 fan club. Former Allure editor Jihan Forbes also can't get enough of this stuff. "This serum is formulated to impart serious moisture, and I am happy to report that it does what it's supposed to. This serum blesses my skin with a super-moisturized base—perfect for layering on my favorite moisturizers and oils—and a dewy and plump look," Forbes told Allure.
Editor's tip: Though the brand claims this formula is sensitive skin-friendly, it does contain fragrances. To avoid irritation, sensitive skin types should try La Roche-Posay's fragrance-free Anthelios AOX Antioxidant Serum, which doubles as a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, vitamin B5 | Who it's for: people with dry skin | Primary benefits: hydrating, plumping, barrier-protecting | Fragrance-free: no
Best Vitamin C Serum: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
Why it's worth it: Allure editors, dermatologists, and our readers agree: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum is worth every 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. It also promises to brighten your complexion, reduce discoloration and the appearance of fine lines, and improve firmness all at once. Shout out to glycerin, which gives it hydrating abilities, too. "[This serum is] my personal go-to because it contains a potent triple combination of antioxidants," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD, previously told Allure.
Editor's tip: You can use this serum night or day, but it's especially useful in the morning to prep your face for contact with free radicals.
Key ingredients: ascorbic acid, vitamin E, ferulic acid, glycerin | Who it's for: anyone game to invest in a bestseller | Primary benefits: softening fine lines, firmness, hydrating | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Serum for Mature Skin: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
Why it's worth it: Austin, Texas-based board-certified dermatologist Heidi Prather, MD, has noticed that many technology-drivenserumsare focusing on elastin and collagen to enhance skin elasticity—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. As such, TNS Advanced+ is a top-tier pick for maturing skin.
Editor's tip: While you can slather TNS Advanced+ below the chin, Skinmedica's Neck Correct Cream won a Best of Beauty Award if you're looking for a formula specifically designed for your neck and décolletage.
Key Ingredients: peptides, growth factors, linseed extract | Who It's For: people focused on prevention | Primary benefits: anti-sagging, smoothing, collagen-boosting | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Serum for Dry Skin: Kate Somerville HydraKate Recharging Hydration Serum
Why it's worth it: "This serum isn't just like a drink of water for your skin—it's more like an electrolyte-enhanced waterfall for your face—truly!" shopping director Shanna Shipin gushes. "The formula is lightweight and long-lasting—something that's so important for dehydrated skin like mine. I'm someone who has to apply (and reapply) moisturizer throughout the day, but when I use this serum, I can go for longer without feeling like my skin is tight or dry." So, what's at work here? Hyaluronic acid (two weights!) and a peptide complex boost elasticity and bounce immediately—thanks to AquaPort Technology, which delivers hydration to the more dire areas, according to the brand—and long term. Shipin adds that there is no sticky or greasy residue, and it doesn't cause any piling, even underneath sometimes-finicky mineral sunscreen.
Editor's tip: Follow up with the Best of Beauty-winning Hydrakate Recharging Water Cream for a lightweight veil of hydration—especially great for daytime use.
Key ingredients: glycerin, rosemary peptide complex, algae extract, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate | Who it's for: dry, normal skin | Primary benefits: hydrating, plumping, firming | Fragrance-free: no
Best Serum for Combination Skin: Clarins Double Serum Light
Why it's worth it: We love the OG Clarins Double Serum, but the "Light" rendition is another favorite (a Best of Beauty-winning favorite, at that). This formula 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 a far lighter oil phase—so it doesn't feel as tacky on the skin. Give the bottle a gentle shake to mix the oil and water in the bottle (hydric and lipidic phases), apply, and let the formula work its magic.
Editor's tip: This is a good pick for a summer serum because of its oil-fighting abilities.
Key ingredients: glycerin, squalane, milk thistle seed oil, oat extract, turmeric, avocado oil, mango oil, vitamin C | Who it's for: people prone to oil | Primary benefits: hydrating, smoothing, firming | Fragrance-free: no
Best Serum for Oily Skin: Shani Darden Lactic Acid Exfoliating Serum
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. The formula contains an exfoliating mix of lactic and polyhydroxy acids to target discoloration and texture. These two acids are considered gentler than an intensive AHA like glycolic acid or a BHA like salicylic acid because 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's tip: Since this formula contains actives, you should reserve it for your evening routine during retinol-free nights.
Key ingredients: lactic acid (9%), gluconolactone (PHA), glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe, green tea | Who it's for: people with large pores | Primary benefits: hydrating, texture-evening| Fragrance-free: yes
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, of course), and it's all thanks to its cocktail of ingredients that treat a range of skin concerns in one heavy-hitting formula. There's 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, worry-free, and easy to use on acne-prone skin.
Editor's tip: This serum is formulated to help you achieve the coveted "glass skin" of K-beauty fame.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, madecassoside, niacinamide | Who it's for: people looking for radiance | Primary benefits: softening, hydrating, brightening | Fragrance-free: yes
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 people who want a potent 6.5% blend. Still, associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen said, in her serum review, that this concentrated formulation is suitable for her sensitive skin when applied using the "sandwich technique" (a.k.a. applying a layer of moisturizer before and after retinol to help your skin better tolerate the ingredient).
Editor's tip: The combination of retinol and its derivatives makes this a good option for those still dealing with breakouts.
Key ingredients: retinoid ester (5%), liposomal-encapsulated retinol (1%), blue-green algae (0.5%), CoQ10, bisabolol | Who it's for: people who want to target fine lines | Primary benefits: line-smoothing, scar-fading | Fragrance-free: yes
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-generation (and plant-derived) alternatives that smooth the look of wrinkles without irritating. It's also infused with silk proteins, which bind to moisture to improve the look of fine lines and dryness and reduce redness.
Editor's 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 | Primary benefits: smoothing, redness-reducing, hydrating | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Exfoliating Serum: Dr. Dennis Gross 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum
Dr. Dennis Gross
Vitamin C Lactic 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 pairs 15% L-ascorbic acid—a.k.a. pure vitamin C—with lactic acid, a gentle exfoliant that clears dead skin cells and allows vitamin C to penetrate better. Together, these ingredients can address uneven skin tone and texture, making for a powerful one-two punch. Since it contains an exfoliating acid, don't skip SPF after applying.
Editor's tip: Your face might feel tingly after applying, but that's nothing to be concerned about. This will fade over time as your skin adjusts to the formula.
Key ingredients: vitamin C, lactic acid, licorice, vitamin E, ferulic acid | Who it's for: people looking to target multiple signs of sun damage | Primary benefits: texture-evening, brightening, firming | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Serum for Discoloration: Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%
Why it's worth it: Dr. Prather says Revision Skincare's C+ Correcting Complex 30% lightweight formula is great for combination skin because its potent tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (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's tip: This formula is infused with prebiotic sodium carboxymethyl beta-glucan and diglucosyl gallic acid, a duo that helps support the skin barrier starting at its microbiome.
Key ingredients: vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-glucan | Who it's for: people with dull skin or discoloration | Primary benefits: brightening, defending against free radicals | Fragrance-free: yes
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 an excellent remedy to help get your skin back to its best. 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's 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 consistently get in-office procedures | Primary benefits: strengthening, smoothing, calming | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Serum for Dullness: Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum
Why it's worth it: Tata Harper's Rejuvenating Serum comprehensive serum is designed to address signs of aging on all fronts. It's brimming with botanical ingredients like Spanish lavender, willow bark, and sea fern that work together to target wrinkles, lax skin, pigmentation, and dryness, leaving skin feeling soft and supple. Plus, the light floral scent is a nice touch.
Editor's 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: people with dull or dry skin | Primary benefits: hydration, tightening, tone-evening | Fragrance-free: no
Best Korean Serum: Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum
Why it's worth it: We love a Beauty of Joseon moment, and the Glow Deep Serum is no exception. This hardworking, affordable K-beloved formula is made with 68% rice bran water and 2% alpha arbutin, which, together, fade dark spots and brighten skin. Rice bran has a deep-rooted history in Korean skin care for its ability to dole out a hearty dose of moisturizing amino acids and minerals. Use it morning and night to get the most out of the formula.
Editor's tip: Alpha arbutin may be too harsh on sensitive skin, so patch test first, pretty please.
Key ingredients: rice bran, alpha arbutin, niacinamide | Who it's for: people looking to tackle dark spots | Primary benefits: brightening, discoloration-fading | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Serum for Dark Spots: Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum
Why it's worth it: Caudalie's Vinoperfect Serum is the kind of multipurpose dark spot-fader we can get behind. This formula is a vitamin C alternative that goes easy on sensitive skin using moisturizing, never-greasy olive squalane, and viniferine, a vine sap. A biomimetic emulsifier kicks in to rev the effects of the sap's brightening power, leaving you with more even skin, no matter the cause of the dark spots.
Editor's tip: There's more where that came from—try the Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer for an extra hydrating boost.
Key ingredients: olive squalene, viniferine | Who it's for: everyone | Primary benefits: brightening, discoloration-fading | Fragrance-free: no
Best Value: RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum
Why it's worth it: The RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum won a Best of Beauty Award in 2022 for its under-$50 price tag that doesn't compromise efficacy. The formula contains retinol and hyaluronic acid for a powerful, multi-talented duo. You can apply it in a targeted fashion onto those fine lines or wrinkles you hope to tighten. It's best to use this product at night, but if you choose to use it in the morning, ensure you follow with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Editor's tip: When it's time to re-up, save some money by grabbing a refill rather than a brand-new bottle.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, retinol, swertiamarin | Who it's for: people concerned with signs of aging (or want to stave off said signs) | Primary benefits: softening fine lines, plumping | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Niacinamide Serum: Olay Super Serum
Why it's worth it: Packed with peptides, niacinamide, and antioxidants, Olay's 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. This formula actively hydrates skin so that oily types might get away with solely this product (and no moisturizer) in the summer.
Editor's tip: If you prefer to apply your serum before bed, try the Olay Super Serum Night Repair, whose formula supports the high-activity repair mode your skin endures overnight.
Key's ingredients: vitamin C, collagen peptide, niacinamide | Who it's for: people looking for a multitasking formula | Primary benefits: texture-evening, hydrating, smoothing | Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using a face serum?
Face serums have become a mainstay in every Allure editor's 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."
What order should my serum be in my routine?
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? What can't be mixed?
Dr. Kim says you can tag-team multiple serums to tackle numerous skin-care concerns, but 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."
As for bad combinations? "I don't recommend layering strong, active ingredients because it can lead to irritation, such as combining a retinol with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs)," Nina Desai, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in California, previously told Allure. "I find the combination can be too drying and irritating to the skin." Dr. Desai also warned against using benzoyl peroxide with actives you might find in your serum.
Meet the experts
- Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
- Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Heidi Prather, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Austin, Texas
- Shari Marchbein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Kenneth Howe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Ellen Marmur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Nina Desai, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in California
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 board-certified 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.
Serums deserve friends. Add these to your skin-care routine ASAP:
- 14 Best Face Washes That Melt Away Makeup, Sweat, and Oil
- 18 Best Face Exfoliators for Glowing Skin
- 14 Night Creams to Soothe Seriously Dry, Irritated Skin
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Deanna Pai is a freelance writer, editor, and copywriter who's been writing about beauty,health, and wellness for more than a decade — as well as a longtime contributor to Allure. Prior to freelancing, she was the senior associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan. When she's not experimenting with skin-care products, you... Read more
Annie Blackman is a contributing commerce writer atAllure.Previously, Annie was a content update editor atThe Spruce and People Magazine.She studied English Literature at Kenyon College in Ohio and then moved to Brooklyn, where she's also a singer-songwriter, profiled in Rolling Stone.Annie feels most at home when buying jeans at... Read more
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