How To Choose The Best Serum For Your Skin

Is your bathroom cabinet jam-packed full of different kinds of serums? You’re not alone.

Most of us know that serums work wonders for the skin. But with so much variety out there, it’s hard to know which type is best for your skin.

Likewise, it seems like serums are full of contradictions. They’re deeply moisturizing, but they shouldn’t replace your moisturizer. They can be oily, but they aren’t facial oils.

Which so much confusion surrounding serums, how are we supposed to know which formula is right for our skin?

That’s where we come in to help. Here’s how to choose the best serum for your skin type.

What Is a Serum?

Sure, most of us have used a serum at least once in our life. But how many of us actually know what a serum is?

Serums are like a shot for the skin. Serums are teaming with skin-loving ingredients like retinol and vitamin C, and are blended with non-oil based agents that make formulas hydrating.

Facial serums use synthetic ingredients like silicone and glycerine to achieve a thin and slippery texture without using heavy-duty ingredients that clog up the pores and lead to breakouts.

Which Serum Is Right for Me?

Want super-supple skin? Or maybe you want to combat facial wrinkles and lines?

There are many serums out there designed for different uses depending on your skincare goals. We’ll go through a few of the most popular types of serums.

Whatever serum you go for, we recommend choosing brands that have high-quality reputations, clinically test their formulas, and share their ingredient list. If they have high ingredient concentrations, even better.

Serums For Hydrated Skin

Do you have parched and dry skin? Then hyaluronic acid is your secret weapon. This trending ingredient helps your skin retain moisture by binding water molecules to it. The best part about using a serum featuring hyaluronic acid is that it doesn’t feel like a heavy moisturizer, but it works like one. We’re a fan of PCA Skin’s Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum. The advanced formula delivers deep and long-lasting hydration to the skin in three ways. First is on the surface, second is deeper into the skin, and the third is by boosting the skin’s production of hyaluronic acid.

If you have particularly dry skin, don’t rule out facial oils. While oils aren’t technically serums, they’re fantastic hydrators that won’t clog up pores either. Look for oils such as rosehip, chia seed, sea buckthorn, and camellia, and your skin will thank you for it.

Serums For a Brighter Complexion

Many factors contribute to a dull, uneven, or hyper-pigmented complexion. These include sun exposure, sleep, smoking, pollution, and, unfortunately, genetics too.

But don’t worry, you do have some control in brightening your skin. Vitamin C serums, otherwise known as L-ascorbic acid), work wonders for brightening up the face. That’s because they feature strong antioxidants that combat and reverse damage from free radicals that wreak havoc on your skin. For a firmer, plumper, and more radiant complexion, reach for Tuel’s Power Antioxidant Vitamin C Serum. This multi-tasker does it all, from brightening skin to protecting it from aging. The key to its powers lies in its complex blend of antioxidant vitamin C, lactic and malic acids, l-tyrosine, and vitamin B5. These powerful ingredients work together to brighten the look of dark spots and uneven skin tone while reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Serums for Wrinkle-Free Skin

Even if you’re young, it’s wise to get ahead of the anti-aging game. There’s nothing wrong with being prepared, after all. Plus, anti-aging products aren’t necessarily designed to turn back time, but rather slow the effects of aging.

Wearing sunscreen daily is one primary way to combat premature aging. But other than that, a nightly anti-aging serum can work its magic while you snooze.

Nighttime serums are often packed full of potent ingredients that can work your skin without the interference from the sun’s powerful UV rays. Nighttime serums usually focus on skin cell repair and renewal, helping your skin restore as you sleep. They’re also often hydrating and vitamin-depositing, adding extra goodness into your skin during the night.

You may find nighttime anti-aging serums a bit gloopier and moist than anything you’d use in the day, so don’t worry if your face looks extra shiny and luminous when you hop into bed. We love Bioelements’ Probiotic Anti-Aging Serum. The advanced solution is jam-packed with active probiotics absorbed in soy and rice milk proteins to combat the visible effects of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.

The serum’s powerful anti-aging probiotics target the effects of external stressors while helping the skin fight redness and lines.

Want more advice on how to banish premature aging? Here’s how to prevent stress wrinkles.