14 Hero Serums That Can Fix Any Skin Issue

ALL EFFECTIVE skincare routines, even the most basic ones, have four major tenets: cleanse, treat, moisturize, and protect. Three of those are self explanatory, but lots of guys get tricked up on the “treat” step. Basically, that means that after you wash your face, but before applying moisturizer is the perfect time to tackle any specific skin issues you’d like to improve like acne, redness, wrinkles or anything else. And the best way to do that? Use a serum.

Think of serums as a power boost to your skincare routine—like the fire flower in Super Mario Bros or the espresso shot in your morning drip. In skincare terms, serums are highly concentrated with active ingredients that are designed to target and treat specific issues. Adding one into your skincare routine could mean you're on your way to seriously next level skin. No matter what you’re hoping to improve, there is a serum on this list for you.

Ingredients To Look For In A Serum

Often, serums will be named for what they do (anti-aging or hydration, for example), which makes decoding ingredients easy. But you’ll also usually see ingredients listed on the outer packaging to tell you what is doing all the work. Depending on what you’re treating, you’ll likely see some of these common players:

Hyaluronic Acid: Our bodies naturally produce hyaluronic acid which can absorb and hold 1,000 times its weight in water, making it a powerful ingredient to help maintain healthy moisture levels in your skin. Hyaluronic acid is important for everyone, but especially if you struggle with dry skin issues.

Vitamin C: Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals from sunlight and even counteract the skin impacts of pollution, which can cause dullness, uneven skin tone, and even skin cancer. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants out there and is typically the most common antioxidant you’ll see in skincare.

Niacinamide: Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, but it’s also an antioxidant. It can lighten dark spots, smooth skin texture, even out skin tone, and generally strengthen the skin from the inside out.

Retinol: Derived from vitamin A, retinol is one of the most well-studied and powerful ingredients in skincare. It helps speed up cell turnover, which in turn not only helps prevent wrinkles and signs of aging but can also help treat and prevent acne breakouts. It can sensitize the skin, especially when you first start using it, so apply it only at night and always wear sunscreen during the day.

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How To Use A Serum

Adding a serum to your routine is pretty simple: Apply serum on clean skin after washing your face. Use a patting motion with your hands to help press it into your skin instead of rubbing it on like a moisturizer. Some hydrating serums can be used in place of moisturizer, but you generally want to follow a serum with some sort of moisturizer to help lock it in your skin. Retinol should only be applied at night, but most other serums can be used in the morning, too. When in doubt, read the usage instructions on the label.

Choosing from the hundreds—possibly thousands—of serum options out there can be daunting. Start with this list of top-rated selections and you’re on your way to the skin of your dreams.

The Best Serums for Men

• Best Vitamin C Serum: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum
• Best Anti-Aging Serum: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Anti-Wrinkle Face Serum
• Best Brightening Serum: Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Serum
• Best Retinol Serum: Differin Gel
• Best for Blackheads: The INKEY List BHA Blemish + Blackhead Serum
• Best for Dark Spots: Topicals Faded Serum for Dark Spots & Discoloration
• Best Night Serum: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
• Best for Oily Skin: SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF
• Best Protecting Serum: Dr. Loretta Intense Replenishing Serum
• Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
• Best Resurfacing Serum: Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Texture Renewal Serum
• Best Multipurpose Serum: Dermalogica Smart Response Serum
• Best for Redness: La Roche-Posay AR Intense Redness Reducing Serum