16 best serums
A multi-step skincare routine might not be for everyone, but next season’s dry and bitter temperatures call for back-up. With summer almost at an end – sob – our attention has now turned to protecting our skin with the right formulas.
Meet serums; the magical liquid that can make you feel like you are back in the science lab in school. For the uninitiated, finding the perfect serum for your skin type can seem intimidating, especially with an ingredients list only a dermatologist can understand. Luckily, we’re experts in the field.
Whether you have oily, combination or dry skin, are looking to even your skin tone, or perhaps you want to fight those pesky blemishes that keep popping up – there’s always something for everyone.
There are super hydrating potions, anti-ageing elixirs and lightweight formulas that are packed with potent ingredients to transform your skin. And the best part? You can layer your serums to achieve different results, so you can have a little bit of fun with it too. It’s an art, we promise.
Here's our roundup, specially curated to accommodate all skin-types and needs.
Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum: £70 for 30ml, Boots
Best for: hydration
Yet another surprisingly lightweight serum from Chanel at a higher price point for those who want to splash the cash.
The French brand claims it delivers a revolutionary infusion of hydration for 24 hours – so we put it to the test; and was pleasantly surprised.
Upon first application, it reminded us of all the Korean and Japanese essences on the market; light, watery and easily absorbed. Its camellia scent (a light white floral and white tea smell) is suitable for those with sensitive skin as it isn’t pungent.
The serum leaves your skin feeling hydrated all day long without any need for re-application. If you can afford it, we'd say, stock up.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum: £70 for 30ml, Space NK
Best for: skin brightening
A fashion industry favourite, Sunday Riley’s CEO Vitamin-C cream is a total game-changer.
Our tester spent years searching for the right vit-c serum that is suitable for my face. As a woman of colour, she is used to battling against dark spots and discoloration because of the high levels of melanin in her skin.
But since using this serum, she's started noticing how much brighter her skin looks each morning. If used day and night, you’ll see results within weeks – not only does my skin gleam, overall it is brighter, tighter and clearer.
Susanne Kaufmann Clarifying Active Agent Concentrate: £66 for 30ml, Liberty
Best for: soothing acne breakouts
Getting the ratio of hydration and sebum control right can be a right balancing act when you are oily. But Susanne Kaufmann’s Clarifying Active Agent Concentrate is dedicated to just this, and this delightfully lightweight formula sinks right into the skin.
Perfect for those wanting to calm acne breakouts, the rich formula of soothing plant extracts helps skin return to a calm balance. The salicylic acid gently unclogs pores and the lime blossom helps to repair the skin.
Decorte Liposome Serum: £85 for 40ml, Selfridges
Best for: supple skin
With Kate Moss as the face behind the brand, who better to prove that the Liposome technology promotes healthy and radiant appearance?
The multi-layered capsules that measure just 0.1 micrometers effortlessly fuse with the skin while its time-release technology ensures it enhances the absorption of the products that follow.
Evenly glide three pumps across a clean and dry face, eye area, neck and decolletage for plumper skin.
Lancome Advanced Genifique Sensitive, £59 for 20ml, Feel Unique
Best for: sensitive skin
Advanced Genifique leaves skin radiant, smooth, plumped and glowing, and is a great all-rounder for anyone who just wants their skin to be at its best.
The reviews online speak for themselves. It’s a little pricey but it’s worth the splurge. Plus we love the dropper which dispenses exactly the right amount of product.
Jurlique Daily Moisture Balancing Serum: £40 for 30ml, Feel Unique
Best for: moisturising dry skin
We are absolutely in love with this brand. For those unacquainted, Jurlique is best known for their gorgeous floral mists, perfect for a refreshing spritz on a hot day.
The brand uses fresh flowers from its organic farm in the South Australian hills, notably roses for their formulas, which is why the product smells as though you’ve walked through Kew Gardens on a summer’s day. This serum is no different.
The sparkling scent of rose is powerful but not overbearing and the silk-textured serum smoothly glides across the skin, while its mix of Rosehip Oil and Evening Primrose hydrates and keeps the skin looking radiant.
Previse Nutrify Ozone Defense Serum: £49 for 30ml, Harvey Nichols
Best for: super-sensitive skin
Vegan-friendly, this serum is perfect for those with sensitive skin who err towards a more traditional formula.
It features niacinamide – a vitamin b3 which balances sebum activity and reduces the look of blemishes – and hyaluronic to lock out pollutants to leave the skin feeling healthy and clean.
It is fragrance free, paraben-free and can be used around extra-sensitive areas around your eyes.
Pixi Rose Caviar Essence: £26 for 45ml, Marks & Spencer
Best for: dry skin
For those who love rose – and for those who love rose but can also be sensitive to it – this essence is perfect.
Not too overbearingly strong, the serum is lightweight and adds moisture to your face in one swipe.
It's inspired by essence from the Far East where the formula is a lighter version of serum, in that it is more water-based than oil.
We loved the simplicity of this product, the smell and how it left our skin feeling soft, plump and dewy.
Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum: £36 for 30ml, Amazon
Best for: hydration
This hyaluronic acid serum is quite exceptional. While the packaging is relatively minimal and there’s not much to look at, the formula is one of the best we’ve come across on the market – and that’s a big statement.
The translucent serum glides easily onto the skin leaving no oily or gooey residue behind and instantly makes the skin feel soft to touch.
We would recommend this product to anyone with sensitive skin as it is free from parabens, alcohol silicones and is fragrance-free.
EVE LOM Time Retreat Radiance Boost Treatment: £75 for 30ml, Liberty
Best for: an overnight glow
Eve Lom’s packaging is made for a #shelfie addict, as too are the formulas. This potent serum is packed full of antioxidants, lactic acid and is infused with Liposome Encapsulated Retinol – the most concentrated form Vitamin A – which is why it may make your face tingle at first.
It leaves a slight oily residue leaving the skin feeling plump, so we would recommend using this as part of your night time routine for bright skin by dawn.
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum: £44 for 29ml, Liberty
Best for: uneven skin tone
Romanian-born chemist Mario Badescu has attracted a cult-like following among celebrities and skincare enthusiasts alike since his launch in 1967 and we understand why.
The serum protects the skin from free radicals and is designed to encourage a more radiant and youthful-looking complexion, thanks to the combination of hyaluronic acid and vitamin-C – which brightens uneven skin tones while revealing a smoother, firmer complexion.
Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum: £23.20 for 30ml, John Lewis
Best for: moisturising dry skin
Caudalie is an absolutely favourite and can always be found in a beauty editor’s bathroom cabinet. This serum does what it says on the tin; it is thirst quenching, with your skin soaking it up quickly and leaving the top layer supple and plump.
Thanks to its fruity formula made from grape water, which is is rich in moisturising polysaccharides, trace elements and vitamins – it is perfect for those with dry skin who need an extra splash of moisture in the colder months.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate: £38 for 30ml, Space NK
Best for: an overnight glow
This rich and luxurious facial oil is designed to be worn during the dark hours.
The serum aims to enhance your skin’s natural nightly recovery process, helping to restore tone and radiance by morning thanks to a blend of essential oils and botanicals; including lavender oil, evening primrose oil and olive-derived squalane.
This cult hero is a keeper.
Aesop Lightweight Facial Hydrating Serum: £43 for 100ml, Cult Beauty
For blemish-prone skin, this serum is perfect. Aesop’s lightweight facial serum is also great for oilier or combination complexions and will leave your skin smooth.
At first, we thought the formula was quite thick but upon application, its oilier texture becomes almost like water and gently glides across the skin leaving it silky smooth.
It’s perfect for those who like to layer their serums – we suggested starting with this one first and finish with heavier serums and creams.
Lumene Arctic Dew Serum: £24.90 for 30ml, Feel Unique
Best for: dewy skin
If you are looking for a cool, hydrating serum that feels like you’ve splashed mountain spring water on your face during a walk up in the alps, this formula is for you.
Hailing from Finland, where the air is crip and the water is pure, Lumene’s arctic dew serum uses natural ingredients, including birch sap, pine bark and Spruce Knot extract – which are known for their incredibly soothing and regenerative powers on the skin.
Use twice daily under a heavy cream for smooth, dewy skin.
Nubo Cell Dynamic Eye Focus Serum: £220 for 15ml, Harrods
Best for: eye puffiness
This is the priciest serum we’ve tested but after a month of testing, we can attest that it is worth every penny.
This paraben-free serum is packed full of natural peptides, enzymes and a high concentration of hyaluronic acid – delivering soft, plump and hydrated skin.
Perfect for the delicate skin under the eye and any dark circles after a big night out.
The Verdict: Best serums
For hydration, our favourite was Chanel’s Hydra Beauty Serum purely for its moisturising elements and lightweight formula.
If that’s not quite in your price range, Lumene’s Arctic Dew Serum is a great alternative. We are also obsessed with Nubo’s Cell Dynamic Eye Focus Serum purely because it works magic to those under eye bags we long to get rid of.
