When it comes to updating skin care routines, we can almost predict the all-encompassing groans (and maybe eye rolls) that come with suggesting an additional step. But hear us out. Just like a ginseng shot can boost your immune system and mood, face serums supercharge your skin.
Often created with more concentrated ingredients than your average moisturizer, these quickly penetrating powerhouses can calm a multitude of skin queries, from excessive oil to worrisome wrinkles. Whether your skin is oily, dry, aging, irritated or acne-prone, here are the best face serums to fit every skin type — and budget.
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10 Serums for Every Skin Type
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Normal Skin
Even “average skin” (not a bad thing!) needs a bit of a boost. Just a few pumps hydrate skin’s deepest surface layers to reverse the signs of age-related dehydration. How’s that for hardworking?
Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate, $58 at Kiehl's
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Normal Skin
Lauded as a 100 percent active face oil, this pick is a top beauty editor fave for good reason — it’s formulated with 22 whole plant ingredients instead of extracts. Plus, the founder also knows a thing or two about vino since she owns a winery.
Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum, $185 at Vintner's Daughter
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Combination Skin
Eco-savvy beauties will fall in love with this serum that’s 95 percent certified organic or wild-harvested. Key plant-based ingredients — think hibiscus, rosehip extract, kakadu plum — are not only rich in antioxidants, but help reduce inflammation, aka random breakouts.
LINNÉ RENEW Face Serum, $92 at LINNÉ
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Combination Skin
Luxurious yet lightweight, this dual-phase formula offers your complexion a major one-two punch. First, plantain leaf extract enhances natural fullness before calcium helps fortify and enhance skin’s moisture barrier to allow other ingredients (evening primrose, rosehip seed and baobab oils) to replenish moisture levels.
BareMinerals Eternalixir Skin-Volumizing Oil Serum, $55 at BareMinerals
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Acne-Prone or Oily Skin
Perfect for summer, this lightweight, water-based serum is what slick skin craves. Your visage will not only stay moisturized, but the signature formula also helps balance overzealous sebum production levels.
Kate Somerville Quench Oil Free Hydrating Face Serum, $75 at Kate Somerville
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Acne-Prone or Oily Skin
Slick skin is no reason not to supercharge your routine. Leveraging the power of Matrixyl 3000 Plus, this serum relies on peptides and antioxidants to help protect from future signs of aging, meaning you'll look younger longer.
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum, $39.99 at Target
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Aging Skin
Unfortunately, older skin often lacks the hydration it needs to combat fine lines or wrinkles. This skin-comforting concentrate combo of theobroma seed butter and natural lipids results in softened texture, even tone and, of course, an enviable glow.
Origins Three Part Harmony Serum, $69 at Origins
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Aging Skin
Created to mimic a “surging Southern Spring Tide,” this serum includes a mix of bioactive ingredients (think amino acids, peptides, omega-3s and more) to drastically up the ante on collagen production. Look forward to a plumper and more luminous complexion after a few nights of use.
Sapelo Skin Care Spring Tide Serum, $195 at Sapelo Skin Care
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Irritated or Dry Skin
Centered around key ingredient rosehip, this oil-based serum helps provide deep cellular nourishment to even the driest complexions. It also doesn’t hurt that the rose aroma smells divine upon application.
Apoterra Skincare Rose Nourishing Serum With Rosehip + CoQ10, $35 at Apoterra Skincare
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Irritated or Dry Skin
If your skin feels tight, thirsty or simply low on glow, consider this serum your new best friend. Not only does it instantly rehydrate, it protects your skin from unavoidable annoyances ranging from environmental pollutants to sudden temperature changes.
Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Bi-Phase Serum, $59 at Clarins
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Sensitive Skin
Based off the theory that your skin care routine should change with the season (p.s. it actually should!), this lightweight serum is tailored for high climates and humidity. A blend of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and amino acids paired with Moroccan argan oil keep skin looking dewy all season long.
Au. Articles Summer Serum, $55 at Au. Articles
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Sensitive Skin
Suitable for an array of skin types, this vitamin C-packed day serum aims to firm, brighten and diminish the signs of photoaging. Plus, with a pH level of 3.3 to 3.5, you won’t have to worry about throwing your skin out of whack.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum, $80 at Sephora
