Hydrate, Lift, and Brighten Your Complexion With 2023’s Best Face Serums (2024)

When considering the best face serums, industry experts have gotten used to a certain level of confusion. “A lot of times, clients don’t know if serums are worth it; they may see the price and think that it is a step that they will skip,” says LaKeisha Dale, licensed esthetician and founder of New York’sMelaSkin Studio. “It helps to take time to educate clients on what serums are and the role that they can play in their personal skin-care routines.”

Our Top Picks

• Best Vitamin C Serum:SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, $182
• Best for Enlarged Pores: Sunday Riley Good Genes AHA Lactic Acid Treatment, $85
• Best Retinol Serum:Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 Serum, $64
• Best Skincare-Makeup Hybrid: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint, $48
• Best for Dry Skin: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, $49
• Best for Glowing Skin: Tatcha The Dewy Serum, $89
• Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum:iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum, $96
• Best Serum for Mature Skin:SkinMedica TNS Advanced Serum, $295

So, what does face serum actually do for your skin?

Put simply; Dale describes serums as “medicine” for your skin. And everyone has their own way of breaking down their power: “Serums deliver more concentrated versions of active ingredients to the skin,” explains dermatologist Dr. Julius Few, a plastic surgeon and founder ofThe Few Institute in Chicago and Los Angeles. “The purpose of the active ingredient can vary, from hydrating to skin brightening to wrinkle-reducing.”

A serum’s thin, concentrated formula allows it to treat skin concerns in a more targeted way than other products in a daily routine. “Serums can make the skin look and feel better with just a small amount—a little goes a long way,” says dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara, associate clinical professor of Dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. “They’re a worthwhile addition, and I often recommend them to my patients.” Compared to moisturizers, serums are supercharged and “meant to deliver their specific skin-care benefit straight to the skin in a more potent, effective dose than a moisturizer,” according to Charlene Valledor, cosmetic chemist and president ofSOS Beauty. New formulations from forward-thinking brands can even replace other products in your routine.

Below, an expert’s guide to the best face serums for modern skin concerns—from wrinkles to dark spots to redness and inflammation.

Best Vitamin C: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic

• Why We Love It: “Vitamin C serums are the LBD of skin care; everyone should have one,” says Gohara. Few agrees. “As a pillar of any highly effective skin-care ritual, topical vitamin C calms and cools the skin while providing a layer of protection from free radicals and environmental pollutants,” he says. “Arguably the most important ingredient to maintain healthy skin long-term, antioxidants work to neutralize aging free radicals like pollution, smoke, and the main culprit, UV rays.” He suggests applying it daily underneath sunscreen to stimulate cell oxygenation to revitalize and firm texture. Of the best, SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic is afavorite of more than oneVogueeditor thanks to its supercharged blend formulated to firm, brighten, and protect skin from oxidative stress.
• Key Ingredients: 15% l-ascorbic acid, 1% alpha tocopherol, 0.5% ferulic acid
• Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, dullness
• Skin Types: Normal, dry, combination, sensitive
• Size: 30 mL

Best Retinol Serum: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 Serum

• Why We Love It: For resurfacing serums with retinol and retin-alt (alternative sun-safe retinol ingredients like bakuchiol), modern formulas make an effort to protect skin rather than strip it. “Resurfacing serums are great when used in moderation,” says Velledor. Gavin McLeod-Valentine, the Los Angeles-based facialist who treats actors like Halle Berry, Allison Janney, and Olivia Colman (he served as skin advisor for three seasons of The Crown), believes that many skin types can benefit from retinol serums, “especially skin that is over the age of 30, prone to congestion, suffers from sun damage, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles,” though he warns not to mix them with physical exfoliants, and not to scrub your skin. Medki8’s serum earns our stamp of approval for its featured retinal (a less-irritating form of retinoid) accompanied by hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to improve skin texture, tone, and elasticity overnight. Even more, the elixir is available in five retinal strengths to allow users to choose one best for their skin tolerance. (Vogue’s beauty writer Kiana Murden uses Retinal 6 as an experienced retinol user.)
• Key Ingredients: Encapsulated retinaldehyde, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, glycerin
• Best For: Various retinol tolerances, dullness, uneven tone, enlarged pores
• Skin Types: Normal, dry, combination, oily, sensitive
• Size: 30 mL

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum: iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum

• Why We Love It: “Hyaluronic is a glycosaminoglycan (a very large sugar) that occurs naturally in the body,” says Few. “Roughly half thehyaluronic acid in the body is present in your skin, where it binds to water to help retain moisture. As we age, the production of hyaluronic acid slows down and our complexion becomes drier and loses firmness. The right hyaluronic acid helps to increase moisture and diminish wrinkles and age lines. It also tightens, plumps, and firms the skin.” Few of these hydrators are as acclaimed as iS Clinical’s Hydra-Cool. Why? It boasts a sinks-right-in texture and not only moisturizes, but soothes and decongests thanks to centella asiatica, mushroom, and vitamin B.
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, mushroom, vitamin B
• Best For: Dryness, redness, rosacea, eczema, acne
• Skin Types: Dry, normal, combination, oily, acne-prone, sensitive
• Size: 30 mL

Best for Enlarged Pores: Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One AHA Lactic Acid Treatment

• Why We Love It: “Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outermost layer of the skin surface,” dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick previously details, adding that the process improves dullness and prevents pores from getting clogged. When we reported on the best exfoliators for face, we found that Sunday Riley’s Good Genes treatment rose to the top of our list. It delivers potent lactic acid with licorice, lemongrass, arnica, prickly pear extract, and aloe to decongest skin, veil dark spots, and improve hydration levels. It’s even earned Los Angeles-based celebrity facialist Angela Caglia’s stamp of approval.
• Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, licorice, lemongrass, arnica, prickly pear extract, aloe, squalane
• Best For: Enlarged pores, acne, blackheads
• Skin Types: Normal, combination, oily
• Size: 30 mL

Best for Glowing Skin: Tatcha The Dewy Serum

• Why We Love It: “Everyone has the ability to keep their skin youthful and mobile with supportive care in the form of high quality products that protect and repair the skin,” says Few. Tatcha’s Dewy Serum is a triple threat—crafted to smooth, plump, and hydrate skin instantly. All it takes is massaging on this cushiony cream to put the brand’s featured hadasei-3 (delivering naturally-occurring lactic acid and AHAs), hyaluronic acid, and sugarcane-derived squalane to work.
• Key Ingredients: Hadasei-3 (a blend of Japanese superfoods like Uji green tea, Akita rice, and Okinawa algae), hyaluronic acid, squalane
• Best For: Dryness, dullness, enlarged pores
• Skin Types: Dry, normal, combination
• Size: 30 mL

Best for Mature Skin: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum

• Why We Love It: Serums that address signs of aging are “some of the most popular on the market,” says McLeod-Valentine. “The primary purpose is to restore lost collagen and elastin through the aging process.” As skin ages, its levels of collagen and elasticity drop while cell turnover slows down. “This is where your firming serums come in,” says Dale. “You want ingredients that are going to speed up your cell turnover (aka trick your skin), stimulate collagen production, and hydrate your skin.” She suggests looking out for ingredients that have an impact over the long term, like retinol, peptides, AHAs, BHAs, and antioxidants.SkinMedica TNS Advanced Serum contains growth factors that have been shown in studies to improve sagging skin and increase skin density.
• Key Ingredients: Growth factors, peptides, flax seed, marine extract, green microalgae
• Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles, sagging
• Skin Types: Normal, dry, combination, oily
• Size: 30 mL

Best for Everyday: True Botanicals Chebula Active Serum

• Why We Love It: True Botanicals includes chebula in its serum, a powerful ayurvedic antioxidant, to address multiple concerns like fine lines, skin tone, roughness, firming, and brightening. It’s also Made Safe certified, aka free of toxic chemicals and endocrine disruptors. Even Brooke Shields is a fan—massing in the serum after a face rolling session in her Beauty Secrets episode. With its gentle formulation, silky texture, and hydrating properties, it’s an excellent addition to any regimen. What’s more, it sits weightlessly under makeup.
• Key Ingredients: Chebula, hyaluronic acid, elderberry, ginger, echinacea
• Best For: Dryness, dullness, fine lines
• Skin Types: Dry, normal, combination, oily
• Size: 30 mL

Best Skincare-Makeup Hybrid: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint

• Why We Love It: Even years later, we find ourselves gravitating towards Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint—it’s one of the best tinted moisturizers, a thoughtful addition to any minimalist makeup regimen, and has a lengthy list of fans. It earns its accolades through its formulation, which blends non-nano zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and niacinamide into a light coverage serum that quickly rejuvenates, evens skin tone, and protects against UV rays.
• Key Ingredients: Non-nano zinc oxide (SPF 40), hyaluronic acid, squalane, and niacinamide
• Best For: Sun protection, sheer-to-light coverage, dryness, pigmentation
• Skin Types: Dry, normal, combination, sensitive
• Size: 30 mL

Best for Dry Skin: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum

• Why We Love It: “Hydration is the key to healthy skin, no matter what skin type or conditions you have,” says Dale. “Our body needs water, but because our skin is the last organ to reap the benefits of the water we drink, we have to apply it topically.” Gohara points out that once we reach our 40s, we start to lose hydration, making this a simple step that can make a significant difference in skin. “Due to serums’ ability to penetrate the skin and hydrate at a deeper level, they are often more effectively hydrating than some of the richest creams when used layered together,” she says. That being said, layer a hydrating serum with a face cream for quell dry patches for good. Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum is a top pick to smooth skin on contact. Described by the brand as “a cool drink of water” this quenches thirsty skin through sodium hyaluronate (a smaller molecular weight of hyaluronic acid), pineapple ceramide, vitamin B5, an antioxidant complex, and barberry extract.
• Key Ingredients:
• Best For: Dryness, dullness
• Skin Types: Dry, normal, combination
• Size: 50 mL

Best Calming: EltaMD Skin Recovery Serum

• Why We Love It: It’s important to remember that treating skin concerns isn’t always about exfoliating or lifting—keeping skin in tip-top shape warrants a regimen chock full of soothing, conditioning, and barrier-replenishing ingredients, like this option by EltaMD. Here, the dermatologist-approved brand delivers an antioxidant-rich watery-serum designed to heal skin from within.
• Key Ingredients: AA Complex (EltaMD’s trio of amino acids), centella asiatic leaf extract, tocopherol, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol
• Best For: Redness, irritation, dryness, barrier repair
• Skin Types: Dry, normal, oily, sensitive
• Size: 29 mL

Best for Dark Spots: Topicals Faded

• Why We Love It: One of the most-requested categories of serums, brightening options are designed to break up pigmentation in the deeper layers of the skin to eventually brighten the surface. The process takes time. “Whenever you are using any kind of product to brighten the skin and address pigmentation issues, it’s critical to use sun protection—as the skin cells turnover, they are more vulnerable to UVB and UVA corruption,” warns Mcleod-Valentine, who points out that there are many ingredients, clinical and natural, that can brighten, including glycolic acid, lactic acid, azelaic acid, and licorice root. Topicals’s Faded, for example, blends centella asiatic leaf extract, kojic acid, melatonin, azelaic acid, and niacinamide to diminish (and prevent) dark spots over time.
• Key Ingredients: Centella asiatic leaf extract, kojic acid, melatonin, azelaic acid, tranexamic acid, niacinamide, glutathione
• Best For: Pigmentation, dark spots, dullness
• Skin Types: Normal, combination, oily
• Size: 50 mL

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Avène Cleanance Concentrate Blemish Control Serum

• Why We Love It: “Acne is not something that comes from dirt, so do not scrub your skin!” Gohara insists. “Acne comes from increased oil production and hormonal triggers, which create the accumulation of bacteria and inflammation. Scrubbing and irritating, over-drying ingredients just stoke the fire.” She likesAvène’s Cleanance Concentrate Blemish Control Serum for its hydrating glycerin and thermal spring water that “helps to quell inflammation, so the skin barrier has a chance to heal.”
• Key Ingredients: Comedoclastin (a stabilized extract derived from milk thistle), silica, Avène’s thermal spring water
• Best For: Acne, excess oil
• Skin Types: Oily, acne-prone
• Size: 30 mL

Best Niacinamide Serum: Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum

• Why We Love It: Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B, has become TikTok-famous for its inflammation-calming powers. Victoria Beckham’s version teams up with Augustinus Bader’s secret sauce: “I always recommend theVictoria Beckham X Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum,” McLeod says. “Its smart TFC8 complex gently and efficiently speeds up cell turnover without irritation.” The result? More supple, radiant skin over time.
• Key Ingredients: TFC8, yeast extract, organic black crowberry fruit, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, olive fruit extract, vitamin E, yeast ferment complex, pavlova lutheri extract
• Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles, redness, pigmentation
• Skin Types: Mature, normal, dry, combination, oily
• Size: 30 mL

Best for Oily Skin: Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum 5.0% Niacinamide

• Why We Love It: A blend including the TikTok-famous buzz ingredient niacinamide can work for oily skin types, too. In the short term, it visibly reduces the look of oil. In the long term, it can help regulate skin’s moisture barrier to prevent overproduction of oil. One such salve is this option by Kiehl’s, powered by 5% niacinamide.
• Key Ingredients: 5% niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
• Best For: Excess oils, acne
• Skin Types: Oily, combination
• Size: 30 mL

Best Pregnancy-Safe: Mutha No.1 Serum

• Why We Love It: Even with new innovations in pregnancy-safe serums, experts agree that you should still check with your doctor before starting any new product. “That being said, vitamin C and other antioxidants and peptides are what you should be looking for when shopping for pregnancy serums,” says Gohara, who suggests avoiding retinoids and beta hydroxy acids as a rule. McLeod-Valentine also suggests checking ingredient lists in your current routine as well. “If you use products with hydroquinone to treat pigmentation, this will have to stop, as your body absorbs a large percentage of the ingredient,” he says. “The Mutha No.1 serum is the perfect combination of hydrators, actives, antioxidants, and skin nourishers to leave skin conditioned, balanced, restored, and protected!”
• Key Ingredients: Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (otherwise known as THD, a stabilized form of vitamin C), ferulic acid, Hyaluronic acid, rice peptide complex, rice kefiran, aloe, camellia japonica seed oil, licorice root extract
• Best For: Dullness, pigmentation, dryness, laxity
• Skin Types: Pregnancy, dry, normal, combination
• Size: 30 mL

Best for Wrinkles: 111Skin Repair Serum NAC Y²

• Why We Love It: Fine lines and wrinkles are no match for 111Skin's repair serum. Formulated by plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, the formula expertly plumps, smooths, and reenergizes skin; along with firming benefits, trust this improves skin from within. For example, the brand’s proprietary complex, NAC Y², is featured to support the skin’s production of gluthatione and collagen, fortify the skin barrier, and diminish inflammation.
• Key Ingredients: NAC Y² (a proprietary belnd of vitamin C, escrin, and NAC), pink rock rose extract, centella asiatica, niacinamide
• Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles
• Skin Types: Mature, dry, normal, combination, oily
• Size: 30 mL

Best Clean: Tata Harper Superkind Bio-Barrier Serum

• Why We Love It: The best clean beauty products prove that a natural-based regimen can still deliver the results you desire. If targeting various signs of aging is on the agenda, we’d recommend Tata Harper’s Superkind Bio-Barrier Serum. Inside its botanical-powered ingredient list, you’ll discover supercharged salves like agae, volcanic postbiotics, ceramides, plant-based oils and extracts. These come together to balance skin’s microbiome, restore hydration, firm skin, and brighten your complexion.
• Key Ingredients: Calendula flower bud, sunflower seed oil, glycerin, squalane, ceramide NP, centella asiatica, algae extract, licorice root, volcanic postbiotic complex
• Best For: Dryness, dullness, skin barrier repair, irritation
• Skin Types: Sensitive, dry, normal, combination, reactive
• Size: 30 mL

Best Viral: Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid

• Why We Love It: There are many reasons to consider the Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid. If you’re a skincare fanatic, you’ve likely heard of the importance of peptides—an ingredient that helps stimulate collagen and elastin in the body. When applied consistently to the skin, this encourages plumper, smoother skin. If you’re a Hailey Bieber fan, you should pick up the formula to recreate one of her trending beauty looks—mixing the gel elixir with a few pumps of foundation for light-to-medium coverage, or using the Glazing Fluid as a face primer.
• Key Ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, marula oil
• Best For: Dryness, skin barrier repair, laxity
• Skin Types: Dry, normal, combination, oily
• Size: 50 mL

Best for Skin Barrier: Coco*kind Ceramide Barrier Serum

• Why We Love It: There’s never a poor time to incorporate Coco*kind’s Ceramide Barrier Serum. As the name suggests, it’s formulated to strengthen the skin barrier, prevent transepidermal water loss, encourage ceramide production, and keep skin feeling comfortable. How does it work, you ask? Five ceramides, three lipids, and beta glucan come together to restore skin with ease.
• Key Ingredients: Ceramides (NP, NS, AP, EOS, EOP), lipids (fatty acids, cholesterol, squalane), beta glucan, aloe leaf juice
• Best For: Skin barrier repair, dryness
• Skin Types: Dry, normal, combination, oily, sensitive, reactive
• Size: 30 mL

Best Night Serum: Olehenriksen Dewtopia 20% PHA/AHA Retexturizing Night Serum

• Why We Love It: “There’s no morning routine without my [Olehenriksen] Dewtopia,” she spills in her Beauty Secrets episode. “I have not had a pimple in a year and a half since using this—even period pimples.” Aside from its acne-clearing benefits, the elixir also promises to smooth texture, soften fine lines, and diminish the look of dark spots thanks to its powerful acid composition. Despite high concentrations of AHAs and PHAs, it’s non-irritating, making it a seamless experience to get smoother, glowing skin overnight.
• Key Ingredients: 10% alpha hydroxy acids, 10% polyhydroxy acids, aloe juice, nordic birch sap, cotton water, licorice extract
• Best For: Enlarged pores, acne, fine lines, dullness
• Skin Types: Normal, combination, oily
• Size: 50 mL

Best for Redness: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Serum

• Why We Love It: It can feel impossible to quell redness, especially quickly, without further stressing skin. However, this Dr. Jart+ serum proves that it’s possible to diminish redness and calm irritation in an instant. Centella asiatica, otherwise known as tiger grass, is the hero here—a medicinal herb popular in Eastern beauty regimens for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Users rave about its ability to alleviate redness, dry patches, flare-ups, and sensitivities—making it great to have on hand ahead of harsh winter temperatures.
• Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica (tiger grass), glycerin, niacinamide,
• Best For: Redness, irritation, dryness
• Skin Types: Sensitive, reactive
• Size: 30 mL

In that case, what serum should I use?

The range of options now encompasses solutions for a range of skin concerns. “Serum offerings were a bit limited in the past; we didn’t have acne serums or serums for skin during pregnancy. Today, serums are more nuanced, appreciating one size doesn’t fit all here,” says Gohara.