By Anupriya Jamuar
The one step we all love doing in our skincare routine is applying face serums. Their lightweight formulas are packed with potent actives to target an array of skin concerns. Not to forget, the smaller molecules of serums that penetrate deeper into your skin in comparison to moisturisers, delivering better results. We all have agree that face serums have been one of the best innovations of the skincare industry.
Another reason why we all love serums is the “feel-factor” because they’re so lightweight, they don’t leave your skin feeling sticky even after you layer them. From actives to antioxidants, humectants, and anti-ageing benefits, you can find a serum for every skin concern out there.
But since the options are so many, how do you choose the right one for yourself? The answer is simple, the best face serum for you is the one that targets your skin’s requirements.
Why serum is your skin’s BFF?
While it might sound like you’re just adding another step to your skincare routine, serums, are now a step you shouldn’t skip. Not only do they get absorbed easily into your skin, they also help in:
Read Next: Should you layer your serums?
You can also use them to emulsify your face while you use your favourite facial massage tools. Unlike face oils, they don’t leave your skin feeling greasy afterwards.
From vitamin C to niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides, AHA-BHAs, tea tree, glycerine, squalene, snail mucin, and kombucha, you can find a serum for all of your favourite ingredients.
But to help to narrow down your search, here are some serum recommendations based on different skin concerns that you should be targeting.
Best face serums for glowing skin
If hyperpigmentation and dullness have been plaguing your skin like a dementor then the ingredient you should be looking for is vitamin C. Vitamin C serums are the best face serums for glowing skin. They help fade away your dark spots and add that golden hour glow to your skin. Here are some of our favourite vitamin C serums for glowing skin:
1. Minimalist Pure Rosehip Oil With Vitamin C Face Serum – 30 ml
Packed full of antioxidants, this vitamin C serum has high content of unsaturated fatty acids to fade hyperpigmentation and boost glow.
2. O3+ Professional Vitamin C Serum Glow With Glycolic Acid – 30 ml
The dual powers of vitamin C and glycolic acid works into your skin and delivers glowy skin results twice as quickly.
Read Next: Find the best niacinamide serums for your oily skin
Best face serums for oily skin
If your skin feels more like a greasy doughnut rather than a glazed one, then the ingredient you should be reaching for in your face serums is niacinamide. Niacinamide contains an arsenal of skin benefits like controlling excess sebum production, smoothening skin texture and soothing irritated skin. Checkout our handpicked range of best niacinamide face serums:
1. Plum 10% Niacinamide Face Serum With Rice Water – 30 ml
This face serum contains a full house of ingredients like fermented rice water, squalane and of course, niacinamide to aid in oil control as well as to better your skin barrier.
2. Re’equil Pitstop Blue Niacinamide Serum For Acne Scar – 25 ml
This concentrated formula of niacinamide accelerates skin healing and oil control to fade your acne scars and blemishes while improving skin texture and the appearance of pores.
Best face serums for dry skin
If your skin tends to feel tight immediately after wash or even after you’ve applied moisturiser, then its time you focus on including hyaluronic acid and squalane face serums in your skincare routine. Being humectants, they attract moisture back into your skin to rehydrate it and improve your skin barrier. Here are our top picks:
1. Olay Luminous Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum With Niacinamide – 30 ml
This super serum is not only rich in HA but also niacinamide to plump your skin and leave it bouncy through the day.
2. Earth Rhythm 100% Squalane Plant Derived Hydrating Plumping – 30 ml
This powerhouse hydrator penetrates deeper into your skin to reverse any loss of moisture and locks in hydration for supple, soft skin.
Read Next: Use these ceramide serums to strengthen your skin
Best face serums for sensitive skin
Skin sensitivity and redness indicates a compromised skin barrier and to fix your skin sensitivity you need ingredients that repair the barrier, aka ceramides and cica. Lucky for you, we’ve found the best face serums with these:
1. Olay Luminous Cica Super Serum With Niacinamide
Packed with the skin calming properties of cica and niacinamide, this super serum balances your skin and soothes it.
2. Earth Rhythm 10% Niacinamide Phyto Ceramides Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Reinforce your skin barrier with the hydrating and calming properties of phyto ceramide.
The lowdown on finding the best face serums
The encyclopaedia of skincare runs vast and with multiple potent ingredients, it can seem tough to narrow down your list. So, how do you build and incorporate the right ingredients into your skincare routine? Well, the answer is not as complicated as you would think it would be.
For you to understand which face serums you need, you need to understand what your skin needs first. Is it dry, oily, acne-prone, sun damaged or sensitive. Do you need anti-ageing benefits or an ingredient to boost glow?
Once you’ve narrowed it down, you can make a list of ingredients that target your concern and then go on your hunt. But, since we love to make things easier for you, here’s a list of ingredients and the skin concerns they target:
Ingredients that aid mature skin
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Ingredients that fade hyperpigmentation and boost glow
Ingredients that pack a hydrating punch
Ingredients to soothe irritated skin
Ingredients to fight acne and oily skin
Here are some other best face serums you should explore:
Decode the science behind your skin’s needs
Let’s go and little deeper and understand how you can decode your skin and what can you expect from a serum.
Understand your skin type
Based on what skin type you have; oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, mature skin, combination or normal skin, you can narrow down your skin requirements and then the ingredients that focuses on your skin concerns.
The dos and don’ts of serums
Want to know more?
Q. When should I use serums?
You can incorporate them in both your AM and PM routine. Just make sure to use the actives in the night.
Q. What are the best face serums for glowing skin?
Use a vitamin C serum twice a day to get that golden hour glow.
Q. How many times should I be using my salicylic acid serum?
You shouldn’t use your exfoliators more than twice a week. It’s also best to check in with a dermatologist before you introduce anything new in your skincare routine.