Best Peptide: Youth To The People Triple Peptide + Cactus Hydrating + Firming Oasis Serum
What We Love: The clean, fragrance-free formula comes in an eco-friendly glass bottle.
What We Don’t Love: The serum feels a bit tacky when you first apply it.
This peptide face serum is top shelf quality, providing deep and long-lasting hydration, which is a must for anyone with dry skin . It’s also fragrance-free, which makes it a great candidate for sensitive skin types, too. However, it can leave behind a sticky residue so we recommend using this in your nighttime regimen and letting it really sink in before adding the next layer in your routine.
Benefits: Deep hydration, plumping, firming, improves elasticity, reduces fine lines and wrinkles | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily, sensitive | Size: 1 ounce
Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum
This cult favorite from Drunk Elephant is not only firming, smoothing and brightening, but also exfoliating and radiance boosting. In other words, what cant it do?
| $$$$
Benefits: reduces fine lines, boosts firmness, brightens and smooths | Skin Type: all | Key Ingredients: lactic acid, peptides | Scent: none | Cruelty-Free: Drunk Elephant is a Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free brand, however they are owned by Shiseido, a company that is not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product, however Drunk Elephant is not a 100% vegan brand | Free of: sulfates sls, drying alcohols, silicones, fragrance, essential oils, animal derived ingredients | Packaging: plastic
Best Premium Serum: Shane Cooper Hyaluronic Boosting Serum
- Shane Cooper hyaluronic boosting serum, £110 from Shane Cooper – buy here
Get ready to face the day with this powerful product created by facialist to the stars, Shane Cooper – the man the A-listers including Rita Ora, Jessie J and Niall Horan swear by. We bet that youll be pledging allegiance too after using this hyaluronic boosting serum, which turns dry skin on its head.
You actually feel this serum working the moment you put it on your face. Its as though your skin has drunk a huge glass of water, and this is because the products active ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which is able to hold up to 1,000 times its molecular weight in water.
This penetrates the skin cells, infusing all layers of the skin with valuable, rejuvenating moisture to get that ultimate, hydrated plumpness. The results are mind-blowing, and were not exaggerating.
As the serum goes to work on the skin, providing it with much needed moisture, it tightens the overall complexion and leaves skin so soft that you instantly feel more youthful.
You May Like: Powder Foundation For Mature Skin
Best For Dewy Skin: Tatcha The Dewy Serum
Tatcha
-
Hadasei-3 Complex includes fermented blend of antioxidants
-
Creates dewy complexion when worn under makeup
This top-rated serum has a milky texture and leaves dry skin feeling spongey with just one application. Tatcha’s Hadasei-3 complex includes a fermented blend of antioxidants, lactic acid, algae and green tea extract to effectively exfoliate without irritation. The formula is ultra-hydrating and excellent under makeup, especially if you’re trying to create a dewy, glass skin look.
Do I Need Both A Serum And Moisturizer
Serums and moisturizers may contain similar active ingredients, but they have different purposes. Their consistencies are also different, so theyre applied at different points in your skin care routine.
Serums are liquid tinctures that contain potent amounts of active ingredients. The purpose of a serum is to target skin issues, like acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and dullness. A serum is applied before a moisturizer.
Moisturizers have thicker consistencies they tend to be creamier and richer which is why theyre applied toward the end of a skin care routine. Creams and lotions are examples of moisturizers. Both creams and lotions moisturize skin and provide a barrier around to lock in moisture.
Both serums and moisturizers are important, but a moisturizer is more essential if youre trying to simplify your skin care routine. A basic skin care routine should consist of a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Incorporating a serum is optional for those who want to target specific skin care concerns.
Read Also: Best Acne Spot Treatment For Sensitive Skin
Best For A Brightening Face Serum: Peach & Lily Purifying White Waterful Serum
- Skin type: dry, normal, and oily
- Pro: Customers state that this product can reduce redness and absorbs quickly.
- Con: Some customers experienced acne after using this product.
Peach & Lily claims that this serum can brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots.
It contains various ingredients from botanical sources, including green tea extracts, mushrooms, and arbutin. It also contains niacinamide.
The product label indicates that it is:
- free of harsh chemicals, dyes, or alcohol
It is suitable for all skin types.
Best With Retinol: Dr Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Texture Serum
-
Contains a potent blend of retinol, ferulic acid, and bakuchiol to resurface skin
True story: Our mega sensitive skin could never tolerate a retinol product until we tried this serum. Were not quite sure how the magic formula works so well, with not even a trace of irritation, but you better believe it does. The first of its two namesake ingredients supports collagen production and minimizes the production of sebum, and the latter offers powerful antioxidant protection. It also contains bakuchiol, a plant-based ingredient that provides similar effects to retinol. The product also works super fast we noticed an improvement in our skins texture, tone, and overall smoothness after a week or so.
Benefits: Targets pores, uneven texture, blemishes | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone, aging | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | No
Recommended Reading: What Does Carcinoma Cancer Look Like
The Concentration Of Ingredients In The Best Wrinkle Serum
Heres the thing: Just because an anti-aging serum is formulated with the ingredients mentioned above doesnt necessarily mean its going to fight Father Time. Its not only whats in the serum that matters its how much of it, too.
For example, a brand may claim its product is formulated with vitamin C but maybe its only at a rate of 1%. If thats the case, its not going to affect your skin. However, if it was at a rate of 15%, youve got yourself an effective anti-aging serum.
While some brands make it easy for you to determine the concentration of ingredients, many others make you work for it but you dont need to be a chemist. Follow these basic guidelines to help take the guesswork out of the process.
How Many Different Serums Do I Need
It really comes down to personal taste. Some people like to use separate day and nighttime formulas. Typically, day formulas contain sunscreen, whereas night formulas have a thicker consistency. Although its recommended to use a serum with sunscreen during daytime hours, aside from that, theres no real advantage in using different serums at different times of the day.
Recommended Reading: How To Avoid Loose Skin When Losing Weight
Blu Atlas Vitamin C Serum
If youre looking for a new face serum to add to your skincare routine, a good vitamin C serum is the best place to start. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and skin brightener thats beloved for its ability to protect skin from damaging free radicals, boost the efficacy of sunscreen, promote collagen production, and even skin tone.
In Blu Atlas coveted Vitamin C Serum, vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid works alongside 97.5% naturally-sourced ingredients, including citrus extracts like tangerine and orange to improve the appearance of dark spots and even skin tone. This serum also contains skin-friendly plant extracts like mulberry root extract to brighten and protect skin with its antioxidants, apple extract to smooth and reduce signs of aging, and aloe vera leaf to soothe and hydrate skin.
Truskin Vitamin C Serum
Truskins C serum is a cult favorite for all skin types, and with good reason. Besides brightening skin tone and improving skin immunity with active vitamin C, it contains other important skin supporting agents vitamin e, and hyaluronic acid to name a few for the ultimate skincare blend.
| $$
Benefits: firms, brightens and evens skin tone, neutralize free radical damage which can lead to premature aging skin | Skin Type: all | Scent: none | Key Ingredients: vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, vitamin e | Cruelty-Free: yes, TruSkin is a Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes | Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates, fragrance | animal-derived ingredients | Packaging: glass + plastic
You May Like: Are Brown Spots Skin Cancer
Best For Black Skin: Bea Advanced Rejuvenating Serum
- Bea advanced rejuvenating serum, £48 from Bea Skincare – buy here
With its 2% copper peptide and 0.5% retinol blend, this serum claims to strengthen weakened elastin bonds and increase cell turnover.
Without getting too scientific, this means that the copper peptides in the serum have the ability to work below the outer layer of skin and in doing so are able to help generate elastin in collagen deep within skin tissues.
This serum was created by aesthetician Bianca Estelle, who developed Bea after struggling to find products that catered to black women. We love the fact this serum is specifically geared towards darker tones, where concerns like hyper-pigmentation are common.
This brightening serum contains a high concentration of AHAs to gently exfoliate the skin and treat stubborn areas of discolouration. The fact it feels like satin on the skin is an added bonus!
Is It Necessary To Apply Moisturizer After Serum At Night
“Its not absolutely necessary, but moisturizer certainly helps,” shared Parcells. “Adding a moisturizer over a serum will allow it to seal it in and make it more efficacious. Once your serum has been applied to your face, neck, and hands, wait 30-60 seconds for the serum to settle before applying a moisturizer.”
For more stories like this, check out:
Recommended Reading: How Do Doctors Treat Basal Cell Carcinoma
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
All skin types need hydration and The Ordinary knows how to deliver. Their hyaluronic acid serum contains an impressive 2% concentration boosted with vitamin B5 for a skin calming combo that supports barrier repair and moisture retention.
Benefits: hydrates skin | Skin Type: all | Key Ingredients: hyaluronic acid, vitamin b5 | Scent: none | Cruelty-Free: yes, The Ordinary is a cruelty-free brand, however the brand is owned by Estée Lauder, a company that is not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, The Ordinary is a vegan brand | Free of: paraben, sulfates, mineral oil, alcohol, silicones, fragrance, animal derived ingredients | Packaging: glass + plastic
Best For A Compromised Skin Barrier: Byoma Hydrating Serum
Target
-
Ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids strengthen skin barrier
-
Only hydrates and provides barrier repair
At the risk of greatly oversimplifying matters, the key to healthy skin is a strong and healthy skin barrier. Essentially, the very outermost layer of the skin is responsible for keeping moisture in and irritants out. And there are three primary components that ensure this: ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. They are the stars of this new brands tri-ceramide complex. All of their products contain it and docs on barrier repair, but this serum really boosts your barrier. Alongside that complex, there are also hydrating squalane and glycerin in the mix, all of which leave your skin feeling softer, smoother, and generally healthier.
Benefits: Hydrates, barrier repair | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Yes
Recommended Reading: What Happens If You Get Skin Cancer
Best For Discoloration: Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense
Dermstore
-
Improvements might be too slow for some
Yep, thats another SkinCeuticals product on the list. There are all kinds of radiance-boosting and spot-fading ingredients in this effective formula, namely 1% percent kojic acid, 5% niacinamide, 3% tranexamic acid, plus 5% HEPES, an ingredient that promotes exfoliation. Its so effective that in a 12-week clinical study, participants show an average improvement of 60% in brown spots and patches. Color us impressed.
Benefits: Fades dark spots, smooths, boosts radiance, exfoliates | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Yes
Best With Spf: Supergoop Daily Dose Hydra
What We Love: It combines a deeply hydrating formula with sun protection for a one and done skincare step.
What We Don’t Love: This serum is best for dry skin types or it feels too greasy.
A face serum that doubles as sunscreen? Yes, please. This Supergoop! Serum is all about hydrating the complexion and protecting against future damage with the addition of SPF 40. The formula features ceramides, which promotes long-lasting hydration, squalene for firming, and hyaluronic acid for an additional boost of moisture. Because it is packed with hydration, this is a formula best suited for dry skin as other skin types might find it feels a little too greasy upon application.
Benefits: Nourishing and hydrating, protects against sun damage | Skin Type: Dry | Size: 1 ounce
Also available at Nordstrom
You May Like: How Dangerous Is Basal Cell Carcinoma
Acure Radically Rejuvenating Dual Phase Bakuchiol Serum
If youre looking for a natural retinol alternative, bakuchiol is your plant-based option, and Acure does it best. Their unique serum is actually a dual-phase ampoule, infused with other antioxidant-rich botanicals such as turmeric and eggplant.
| $$
Benefits: reduces fine lines and wrinkles, increases firmness, boosts collagen production | Skin Type: all including sensitive | Key Ingredients: backuchiol, jojoba oil, eggplant, turmeric | Scent: natural | Cruelty-Free: yes, Acure is Leaping Bunny and PETA-certified cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, Acure is a vegan brand | Free of: paraben, sulfates, mineral oil, animal-derived ingredients | Packaging: recyclable plastic
Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Hydration Booster
A smooth, soft and supple complexion is the goal of Dr. Dennis Gross hyaluronic skin quencher. The secret is an ultra-hydrating formula containing hyaluronic acid, watermelon extract, evening primrose, centella asiatica and marine algae.
| $$$
Benefits: hydrates, plumps and smooths skin | Skin Type: all | Key Ingredients: hyaluronic acid, watermelon extract | Scent: light and fresh fragrance | Cruelty-Free: yes | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product | Free of: paraben, sulfates, mineral oil, alcohol, animal derived ingredients | Packaging: plastic
Don’t Miss: How Lethal Is Skin Cancer
How To Choose An Anti
Not all serums are formulated for signs of aging. To choose an anti-aging serum, consider the concerns that are important to you, and choose a serum that contains the appropriate ingredients for targeting those concerns.
Serums formulated with vitamin C and other antioxidants help to fight free radical damage, improve skin texture, and even out skin tone, Liu explains.
Retinol helps with wrinkles and fine lines by increasing the production of collagen. Some serums contain a cocktail of ingredients like AHAs, niacinamide, peptides, etc. that all work together to improve the signs of aging, Liu adds.
Also consider your current skin care routine. Certain ingredients do not mix well, such as retinol and glycolic acid. A retinol serum and exfoliating treatment should not be used in the same skin care routine, so use these products on alternating days.
Similarly, retinol might not pair well with vitamin C, so use your antioxidant serum in your morning routine and retinol serum in your evening routine.
You can also account for your skin type. Sensitive skin might not react well to certain active ingredients, like retinol, exfoliants, and niacinamide, so opt for a serum with gentle and soothing ingredients.
People with oily skin may prefer oil-free serums that are lightweight, while people with dry skin may benefit from heavier serums.
Are The Best Anti
While its true that serums for anti-aging tend to be one of the more expensive products in your skincare routine due to their supposed high concentration of ingredients, its a misconception that a more expensive serum always works better. It all comes down to quality ingredients, effective concentration, and the science behind it one of our areas of expertise here at the Derm Review.
Recommended Reading: Best Facial For Aging Skin
Writers Review Of La Roche
Even in my 20s, I have already noticed that my skin has lost some of its elasticity, resulting in fine lines in the areas under my eyes. So, when I was asked to try the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum, I was more than happy to do so to find out what it would do for my skin.
Upon receiving the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum, I pumped a generous amount onto my palm and spread the product all over my face. The serum has a gel-like consistency and applied smoothly over the skin, leaving my skin feeling immediately more hydrated.
I changed up my routine a few days later by patting the product into my skin until it was absorbed, as well as following up with a moisturiser. I discovered that the effects I noticed the next morning were much more pronounced, and my skin felt plumper and fresher.
It seemed like my skin also had a healthier glow, though I didnt manage to observe a huge difference in the fine lines around my eyes. To cover all bases, I also passed the serum to my mother to try, and it worked more noticeably for her: she felt that her skin was firmer and fine lines reduced.
Overall, the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum works to keep my skin supple, and Ill definitely be keeping it in my skincare routine.
Your Skin Can Reveal So Much About Your Overall Health
First off, it’s important to know that your skin gives away a lot about your overall health. Bruce Brod, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at the University of Pennsylvania says in an American Academy Dermatology Association article, “One of the first things a dermatologist can tell by looking at someone is how much outdoor exposure they’ve had by the appearance of sun damage for their age. Things like wrinkles, spots, uneven pigmentation, and loss of elasticity.”
Steven Daveluy, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Dearborn, Michigan adds, “Droopy, saggy, dark circles under the eyes can be a clue to fatigue.” Daveluy continues to explain, “One of the signs of dehydration is sunken-looking skin around the eyes.”
So what’s one to do? Well, according to Harvard Health, skin serums are something many women are using for their skin to help with problems like wrinkles, dullness, and brown spotsthings that have happened over time. According to Dr. Abigail Waldman, Harvard Medical School, serums are formulas of a high concentration that absorb into your skin real fast. A serum can address and improve many skin issues. Waldman says, “I definitely recommend serums for anyone who is concerned about aging. It’s a really good way to get extra anti-aging effects, more than your typical moisturizer and sunscreen.”
Don’t Miss: What If Squamous Cell Carcinoma Spreads