30 best face serums for every skin type, according to dermatologists, facialists and other experts

Moisturizers, serums, essences, oils, mists — the list of “must-have” beauty products goes on. It can be hard to parse out what you actually need from what’s just a marketing ploy, but even if you don’t want to spend a lot of time or money on an exhaustive skin care routine, dermatologists say adding a serum might be your ticket to clear, bright, even-toned skin.

“A serum is a skin care product that can deliver a high concentration of specific active ingredients directly to the skin,” says cosmetic chemist and founder of Acaderma, Dr. Shuting Hu. They’re specifically designed to target various skin care concerns like fine lines, loss of hydration and hyperpigmentation, among others,” she says. And unlike moisturizers or creams, “serums are low viscosity, so the active molecules can penetrate the skin on a deeper level compared to a cream or moisturizer,” Hu adds. “The thin, liquid texture of a serum makes it easy for it to penetrate the skin, and the high amount of concentrated actives make a serum more powerful and effective than most moisturizers or other skin care products.” In layperson’s terms, they’re like a booster for your skin.

When to use a face serum

Most serums are designed to be applied after cleansing but before moisturizer. “I consider serums part of my skin prep routine,” says makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci. “I mist the skin, which will helps make serums and creams absorb more efficiently. A few drops of your serum will deliver anti-aging, reparative and texture benefits, depending on which you choose.” In case you needed more convincing, celebrity makeup artist Grace Pae seconds the skin-priming benefits of a serum. “For normal to drier skin types, I always use a serum because it really helps to prepare the skin for moisturizer and helps it look more plump and supple,” she says. “I usually use one to two pumps and press it into the skin gently.”

How to find the right face serum for your skin

As with any beauty product, finding the right serum means you need to figure out what you’re targeting first. “Identifying a few key issues like dark spots, dryness or fine lines will help you decide which serum is right for you,” Hu says. “It’s also important to consider what type of skin you have, whether it’s dry, oily or combination. With these two elements in mind, you can then look for a serum that works well with your skin type and also targets those key issues.”

You may even consider using multiple serums to target different skin concerns, but in this case, you’ll want to proceed with caution. Sofie Pavitt, a New York City-based esthetician and founder of Sofie Pavitt Face, says she always tells her clients “to separate their active ingredients — so if they are using a serum in their [morning] routine, their other active should be in the evening. That reduces the risk?of irritation.”

A skin cycling routine — in which you use active ingredients on specific days — is another way to avoid overwhelming your skin.

Celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, who’s worked with celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian, has another key reminder: “Remember, you should always patch test when using a new product.” This goes for anything you put on your skin or hair, he says.

Ahead, find the best serums for every skin care concern, according to the pros.

Best anti-aging face serum

“If there’s a single ingredient that’s best known to target the signs of aging, it’s retinol. A derivative of vitamin A, retinol stimulates collagen production and encourages rapid cell turnover,” Hu says. “Retinol serums work in a few different ways. First, by stimulating collagen production, it will help to prevent wrinkles from forming while filling out any existing fine lines or wrinkles,” she says. “A retinol serum will exfoliate dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, smoother skin underneath. It also helps to fade dark spots, sun spots and hyperpigmentation.”

The bad news? Retinol can be super irritating, especially for those with sensitive skin. Lancer recommends starting with an over-the-counter retinol serum with a relatively low percentage of the active ingredient. Start by using a retinol serum at night once per week, and gradually build up over six to eight weeks to daily use.

If retinol isn’t for you, there are alternatives to retinol that can also target fine lines, wrinkles and generally dull skin: “Niacinamide can also work to increase the production of ceramides, which maintains the skin’s protective barrier, so it’s great for anti-aging,” Hu says. Its properties are similar to that of retinol, just without the potential for irritation to occur as with retinol. Lactic or glycolic acids also help to encourage cell turnover by gently exfoliating the skin.

Best exfoliating face serum

“Proper exfoliation should be a combination of both physical and chemical exfoliants,” says Lancer, who recommends The Method: Polish from his own line for its ability to accelerate cell turnover manually. “A chemical exfoliant should be used as well, which can be in the form of AHAs, BHAs or enzymes. Start off by exfoliating a couple of times a week, then build tolerance so exfoliation can take place daily.”

Before choosing a serum, there are a few interactions to consider: “Benzoyl peroxide [which is an AHA] should not be mixed with retinols or vitamin C, as it degrades the active ingredients and can cause irritation. Products that contain BHAs should not be used with AHAs, as they are not meant for layering and can cause dryness and irritation.” That means anything with lactic, glycolic or citric acid shouldn’t be mixed with salicylic acid or retinol.

Best face serum for dark spots

Derms universally agree that vitamin C, a naturally occurring, gentle antioxidant, is one of the most effective ingredients for evening skin tone. “Vitamin C specifically helps to protect the skin from the long-lasting effects of UV rays, reducing the appearance of sun spots, refining skin texture and lessening the appearance of existing wrinkles,” Lancer says. Look for words like “brightening” and “even toned” on the packaging, and L-asorbic acid on the label.

“Due to its high level of acidic properties, vitamin C will help promote collagen and elastin production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Lancer says. “Vitamin C is also very popular in hyperpigmentation serums, as it inhibits the skin’s melanin production, which causes dark spots. It’s brightening and hydrating so it’s overall a very versatile product.”

Again, they both warn not to mix any vitamin C serum with retinol, so it’s best used in the morning. Because vitamin C breaks down when exposed to sunlight, it’s important to keep your serum in a dark, dry place — and to layer SPF on top.

Best face serum for dry skin

Celebrity and editorial makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes is best known for creating looks with dewy, healthy-looking skin. Her secret? “Look for the words glow or dewy, radiant or hydrating on the bottle!” Oftentimes, that means it’s packed with niacinamide or hyaluronic acid.

You may have heard that hyaluronic acid is one of those sneaky-good molecules that holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, which means it’s great for dry skin, and Hu can confirm: “It’s one of the key molecules involved in retaining skin moisture,” she says. “As your skin loses moisture and the natural hyaluronic acid levels decrease, using a hyaluronic serum will restore this loss of moisture and also act as a magnet to attract and absorb moisture from your external environment to keep the skin plump and hydrated. After using a hyaluronic serum, follow it up with your moisturizer to seal it all in.” Lancer also notes that hyaluronic acid mixes well with most other ingredients, so it’s great to use with retinol.

Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, is also great for dry skin, Lancer says. “It helps build protein in the skin to lock in moisture, prevent environmental damage, minimize redness and blotchiness, treat hyperpigmentation and even treat acne.” And because fine lines and wrinkles are more likely to form when the skin is dry, hydrated skin will always look more supple and plump.

Best acne-fighting face serum

While spot treatments are a great way to topically target acne, the right serum can help maintain clear skin too. Look for calming and antibacterial ingredients, along with gentle acids. AHAs like lactic or glycolic acid can increase cell turnover and reduce pesky breakouts. Meanwhile, be careful with oil-based serums and watch out for comedogenic ingredients that can clog the pores, such as coconut oil.

Best face serum for sensitive skin

“The best serums for sensitive skin provide active [ingredients] that soothe and calm inflammation, alleviate dryness and redness and create a barrier against external irritations,” Lancer says. “Active ingredients that work great for sensitive skin include hyaluronic acid, bakuchiol, as well as green tea extract.”

Hu adds that those with sensitive skin should “avoid serums that contain any alcohol, fragrance or essential oils because these ingredients typically cause irritation for those with sensitive skin,” she says, adding that retinol might not be suitable for sensitive skin because it can be too aggressive. “Plant-based ingredients such as bakuchiol [are great] if you want to mimic the effects of retinol.”