How to Choose the Right Face Serum

Adding an extra step into your skincare routine is, well, an extra step. And sometimes there’s confusion...what does a serum actually do? Face serums can come in different types of formulas and provide an assortment of benefits for your skin—addressing everything from dullness, dryness, loss of firmness, and the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Here, we breakdown why your daily routine needs to include a skin-loving face serum.

What does face serums do? What are the benefits of using a face serum?

Formulated with high concentrations of active ingredients and made for fast absorption, face serums are essential to any routine for healthy-looking skin. Face serums handle a range of skin concerns, and can help to reduce blemishes, boost hydration, and maintain youthful-looking skin. These liquid skincare formulas are safe for all skin types including oily skin, combination skin, dry skin, and sensitive skin.

Do I need both a face serum and a moisturizer?

Whether you should add a face serum (or even face oils) into your skincare routine depends on you. If your skin has trouble maintaining hydration, the use of both a serum and a moisturizer is crucial to prevent water loss from the skin's barrier. If your skin retains moisture easily, you could choose between either a serum or a moisturizer, should using both feel like too much.

Can I use face serum alone? What goes first...moisturizer or serum?

The best place to add a face serum into your skincare routine is after you have used a cleanser and a treatment essence, but before your favorite moisturizer. Face serums have liquid formulas that absorb best into clean skin that has been treated with an essence, and they should be followed with the best moisturizer for your skin type. The recommended routine with a serum included is a face wash, face toner, essence, face serum, face moisturizer, and eye cream.

Read on to explore our curated guide of the best nourishing, brightening, firming, and wrinkle-correcting serums for your everyday routine

Rose Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum

This hydrating serum is perfect for dehydrated or dry skin. The unique bi-phase formula has both oil and water: oil to nourish and soften, and water to soothe and hydrate. Shaking the bottle transforms these two potent phases into a silky face serum that gives thirsty skin what it is craving. The balance of nourishment and hydration comes from a potent formulation that combines squalane to prevent water loss, rosewater to calm and soothe, nourishing oils to soften, and damask rose extract to retain moisture while strengthening the skin’s barrier. Unveil dewy, plump skin and hydrate for up to 24 hours. To use this face serum, apply after your face toner. Shake the bottle well to mix the water and oil phases, and then lightly pat the formula onto your face with your palms. This nourishing formula can be used alone or before your favorite moisturizer.

When to use it: on dry, cold, or windy days; when you've been drinking coffee instead of water; when you've spotted dry, flaky skin; on dehydrated skin post-workout.

Vitamin Nectar Antioxidant Face Serum

Set your skin up for success with our vitamin C serum. Formulated with vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B5, this brightening serum is clinically proven to brighten skin, smooth skin texture, reduce signs of tiredness, and instantly hydrate. Give your skin its daily dose of nutrition with a bonus boost of antioxidant protection for a glowing, healthy look. To use this vitamin C serum, apply to clean skin daily, morning and night.

When to use it: when you've had less exposure to sunlight, especially during the winter months; to wake up dull, tired-looking skin.

Black Tea Firming Peptides Serum

Tighten skin and boost luminosity with our firming face serum. This peptide-powered serum firms the face and neck for a complexion that looks lifted and sculpted. Enriched with black tea, firming peptides, and honeysuckle extract, this fast-penetrating serum is scientifically proven to provide antioxidant protection, improve skin's elasticity, and support skin's density. To use this unique face serum, turn the bottle over and gently squeeze both sides of the dropper to dispense a few drops of the formula into your palm. Apply to clean skin (both face and neck for best results) daily, morning and night. Follow with your favorite moisturizer for firmer, luminous skin.

When to use it: when you want to give skin a lifted look and extra definition; to tackle tech neck.

Crème Ancienne Supreme Face Serum

Visibly smooth lines and restore your youthful look with our most indulgent face serum. Powered by ginseng root extract, echinacea extract, galanga leaf extract, and commiphora extract, this luxurious serum's handcrafted formula addresses signs of aging by minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, improving elasticity, and boosting luminosity. To use, apply the face serum on your face and neck after cleansing every morning and night. Follow with your favorite moisturizer for restored skin.

When to use it: to fight signs of aging; when you want to look younger; on stressed skin.

Target your skin concerns with our concentrated face serums. Still can't decide? Find your serum soulmate with our Serum Finder.