There’s one product that takes center stage in a skincare routine. With sink-into-skin textures and concentrated ingredients, serums are some of the hardest-working products in the business.
And the roles they can play are plenty: from brightening and hydrating to softening fine lines. The tricky part? Deciding which formula deserves top billing.
We’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at serums, including how they work, how to use them, and what to look for on the ingredients list.
Do face serums really make a difference?
If any skincare product can make you a believer, it’s a serum. Serums are typically powerful yet minimalist formulas, focusing on specific ingredient combinations to provide your skin with targeted care.
Let’s take a look at what these results-focused formulas can do:
- Provide a high concentration of potent ingredients: You’ve likely seen serums boasting antioxidants, peptides, hyaluronic acid, or vitamins (such as C and E). These components combat typical concerns such as dehydration, fine lines, sagging, and more.
- Customize your skincare routine: There’s a serum for every need—allowing you to focus on different objectives from morning to night and adapt your routine to changing priorities.
- Target past, present, and future concerns: Ideal for working towards current skin goals, serums are also powerful allies in helping to minimize future damage. An example? Antioxidant formulas that protect against environmental stress or photoaging.
Ingredients with star power
Hyaluronic acid
With an impressive water-retaining capacity, hyaluronic acid supplies your skin with deep hydration. Serums including this moisturizer work to make skin look and feel good—helping to blur fine lines and visibly plump.
Vitamin C
Antioxidant par excellence, vitamin C helps protect your skin against harmful free radicals while brightening. What else can it do? Minimize the appearance of sun spots and even out skin tone over time.
Retinal
Without a doubt, the star of nighttime routines everywhere. This age-defying agent boosts skin turnover to help blur fine lines and redefine texture. The result? Smooth, ageless skin.
Depending on the formula, retinal can be gentle enough for all skin types. But it’s best to start slow and consult your dermatologist.
Peptides
Peptides are regenerating compounds that help to build crucial connections between the layers of your skin. These messengers are in charge of improving elasticity and firmness.
Another plus? Peptides do their best work when combined with other ingredients, offering antioxidant and restorative benefits.
Niacinamide
This form of vitamin B3 works to support your skin barrier and balance natural oil production. It’s a true multitasker that, like peptides, gets along with most ingredients. You’re likely to find it alongside retinal in rejuvenating serums.
The search for the perfect serum starts here
Consider this a casting call for healthy, beautiful skin. Think of the results you’d love to see, and we’ll help build the ideal ensemble:
Looking to soften dark spots and discoloration?
You’ll love: A tranexamic acid serum. This lesser-known acid helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Try: Melaclear Advanced
Star ingredients: Tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and Spot Corrector Complex, which help correct, brighten, and unify skin tone.
How to use it: Morning (always with sunscreen) and night, for at least three months.
Targeting fine lines and wrinkles?
You’ll love: If you dream of rejuvenating and renewing your skin’s texture, a retinal serum is the perfect choice (take it from supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio).
Try: Retinal Advanced
Star ingredients: Retinaldehyde, melatonin, bakuchiol, and niacinamide help renew, repair, and calm your skin.
How to use it: Nighttime, always followed by sunscreen the next morning.
Skin recovery—without the retinoids?
You’ll love: A bakuchiol serum. This all-natural ingredient is gentle yet powerful. It helps to reclaim elasticity and firmness when retinoids aren’t an option. Try: Melatonik®
Star ingredients: Bakuchiol, melatonin, and vitamin C work to repair, restore, and brighten.
How to use it: At night, to sync up with your skin’s natural repair processes.
Ready to brighten and revitalize?
You’ll love: A vitamin C serum. This powerful antioxidant helps to illuminate your skin from the inside out. Vitamin C is most effective when it’s kept out of contact with air, avoiding oxidation—making serums-in-ampoules ideal.
Try: Flavo-C Ultraglican
Star ingredients: Vitamin C, UltraGlycans, and hyaluronic acid to help protect, moisturize, and illuminate.
How to use it: Morning. Its antioxidant action is most effective in the AM to prep your skin for daily aggressors, such as solar radiation.
Searching for deep hydration and plumping action?
You’ll love: A hyaluronic acid serum can deliver hydration and then some. This moisturizing agent boosts elasticity, supports collagen and elastin, and helps repair skin damage.
Try: Hyaluronic Concentrate
Star ingredient: Low- and medium-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid to hydrate both the skin’s surface and deeper layers.
How to use it: Day or night, although AM use can help minimize transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Plus, you can fill the spot in your nighttime regimen with a rejuvenating or resurfacing formula.
Aiming to combat sun damage around the clock?
You’ll love: Advanced sun care disguised as skincare. Look for a serum with Night Repairsomes®—while you rest, it works to help repair photodamage.
Try: Eryfotona Night
Star ingredients: Night Repairsomes®, vitamin E, and allantoin to repair, renew, and calm.
How to use it: At night, apply a generous amount onto the face and neck, concentrating on sun-exposed areas. During the day, protect your skin and boost repair with Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50+.
Your questions about serums answered
What are the five basic steps of skincare?
Here’s a simple breakdown of a skincare routine:
Step 1: Cleanse
Step 2: Apply eye contour cream
Step 3: Apply your serum
Step 4: Moisturize
Step 5: Protect skin with sunscreen
How should I apply a face serum?
As the third step in your skincare routine, serums should be applied to clean, dry skin so they can get straight to work.
After cleansing and smoothing on your favorite eye cream, apply a small amount of serum to the palm of your hand or directly to your face. Then, gently massage the product onto your face and neck.
What comes first, eye cream or serum?
When it comes to skincare layering, the golden rule is to apply products from lightest to richest. Eye cream is the exception. Because the skin around your eyes is especially delicate, it’s best to apply eye cream right after cleansing—before serum. This helps create a protective layer.
Next, smooth your serum onto clean, dry skin. This way, its concentrated ingredients can absorb deeply and deliver maximum results.
At what age should I start using serums?
Your skin naturally begins to produce less collagen and elastin—the proteins responsible for firmness and bounce—around your mid-20s. That’s why many dermatologists recommend introducing a serum in your late 20s or early 30s.
Serums packed with antioxidants, peptides, or hydrating ingredients can help support skin health and target early signs of aging. But the truth is: there’s no perfect age to start. Anytime you want to give your skin a boost is the right time.
The final act
When it comes to caring for your skin, serums may be the star of the show, but you’re the one taking center stage.
By nourishing, protecting, and celebrating your skin every day, you’re ensuring it gets the spotlight it deserves. After all, healthy, radiant skin never goes out of style.