Updated Feb. 17, 2023
Trade those heavy creams and even moisturizers for lightweight serums packed with concentrated active ingredients that target your specific complexion concerns.
Sponsored By: Plant Mother
A portion of this piece was created in partnership with Plant Mother, an online retailer that makes organic, clean, nutritious and vegan skincare.
Changing up your skin care routine for warmer weather is essential. (Dermatologists do it, too!) You might want to consider adding these serums to fight everything from acne to fine lines and more. Here’s the serum to try based on complexion concerns.
Vitamin C is one of the super star ingredients you’ll find included in some of the best serums on the market. But this organic Plant Mother Vitamin C Serum is boosted with the best. Organic ingredients are pulled from plant-based sources including the rare Kakadu plum, goji berries, prickly pear and hibiscus. Kakadu plums have about 20 times the vitamin C content of oranges, but this formula won’t leave your skin overworked or dry. It’s also formulated with Maracuja oil that contains up to 84% linoleum acid to nourish and hydrate even the most tired, overworked skin. This wonder-serum is ideal for all types of skin, but especially spot-prone, aging and dry types that need a little extra radiance. It also layers especially well thanks to a pill-free formula.
Vitamin C is one of the buzziest skin-care ingredients—and for good reason. According to board-certified dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, this potent antioxidant absorbs and mitigates the effects of free radicals and oxidative stress on the skin—notably helping reduce inflammation and repair photodamage. Each sleek bottle of Arcona Youth Serum is packed with 20% L-Ascorbic acid to brighten the skin as well as magnesium ascorbyl phosphate to guard against future damage. As if that weren’t enough, vitamin C also plays a vital role in collagen synthesis, gives skin that radiant glow and also diminishes the appearance of discoloration. This velvety-smooth formula also contains wine and added grapeseed extracts that promise firmer, more radiant skin.
The dual-phase formula of Acure Radically Rejuvenating Bakuchiol Serum makes it a major hit with even sensitive skin types. Bakuchiol is known to be the plant-based, all-natural alternative to standard retinoids that can irritate skin in an effort to produce faster cell turnover. This top-rated Amazon find is both affordable and easy to use, and less irritating than many standard retinol formulas.
Devaney, a five-star verified Amazon purchaser writes, “This is my new favorite product. I just ordered my second bottle and after finishing the first. I’ve found that my face is so much clearer and glowing! I didn’t even realize how dry my skin was until I started using this product. I apply after washing my face at bed time and I use in the morning again before putting on my makeup. It is not greasy.”
A staple in any youth-boosting skin-care routine, stem cells boost cellular regeneration and encourage skin cell growth, thus repairing and minimizing the signs of aging. “Like a skeleton key that can open any lock, stem cells can develop into any type of cell,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. It’s that skeleton key-effect that makes Perricone MD High Potency Growth Factor Serum one of the best serums on the market for cellular repair and firming. In one clinical study, 89% of users showed improvement in skin redness and the appearance of both skin radiance and brightness.
Parched skin? Slather on some hyaluronic acid (HA). Dubbed the “moisture molecule,” it can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. So what does that mean for your complexion? Its moisture-binding abilities lock in water, leaving skin plump and supple. But hyaluronic acid’s benefits go beyond hydration—it also promotes healing and restores elasticity (youthful skin is packed with HA). Adding a bottle of Baebody Hyaluronic Acid Serum to your skincare routine is a brilliant way to soften and hydrate even the most overworked skin. It is just as effective as far more expensive formulas, but at a wallet-friendly price Amazon reviewers can’t stop raving about.
“This product is a very wonderful hyuraluronic acid serum,” writes one verified five-star Amazon reviewer. “I use it twice a day after cleansing, then using a lifting pad. I let that completely dry, then add my moisturizer for day or night. It has helped with wrinkles and lightening the skin. It is my favorite and most effective serum.”
You may have seen peptides listed on the ingredient labels of some of your anti-aging skin-care products, but do you know what they are or what they do? Peptides are formed by chains of amino acids, the building blocks of protein in the skin. According to research in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, when applied topically, some peptides might stimulate collagen production (loss of collagen contributes to sagging, fines lines, and wrinkles). They’re also a great team player, binding to active ingredients and helping them penetrate further into the skin. Each bottle of PCA Skin ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum is packed is a combination of real peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to minimize fine lines, spot treat wrinkles, plump and protect against future damage.
Redness and irritation from treating breakouts isn’t just for teenagers. It’s estimated that 30 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 60 struggle with breakouts. But treating blemishes doesn’t have to mean giving up on your anti-aging routine or being riddled with red patches. ColoreScience All Calm Multi Correction Serum is made to soothe inflammation at every stage. It delivers anti-inflammatory benefits, soothes redness, and keeps blotchy skin at bay. Those with persistently rosy hues and irritated acne scars report loving this easy-to-layer formula. A bio-available form of vitamin E provides antioxidant support while helping to reduce the appearance of redness both before and after UV exposure.
Plastic surgeon-developed RescueMD DNA Repair Complex can be used regularly or as a scar treatment. Either way, reviewers note game-changing results. The formula is free of all dyes and fragrances, and can be used on all skin types and tones without worry. It won’t cause breakouts, irritation or sun sensitivity and uses an exclusive Lapachol ingredient that triggers collagen production. Lapachol is derived from a special tree bark that is clinically proven to have strong anti-inflammatory effects that encourage skin cells to repair and regenerate.
“I’ve tried just about every skin-lightening product out there for sun damage spots and adult acne scars, as well as just general dullness that comes with age (I’m 74!),” writes one five-star reviewer, Barbara. “Most complexion improvement products require at least two weeks to work and many even longer. But with RescueMD, I saw results with one application! It immediately lightened acne scars and overall brightened my skin. It’s light to apply, dries quickly and is non-drying.”
A staple in any youth-boosting skin-care routine, stem cells boost cellular regeneration and encourage skin cell growth, thus repairing and minimizing the signs of aging. This popular Naturopathic Plant Stem Cell Booster Serum plumps fine lines and wrinkles while adding rich hydration. The soft, velvety texture makes an ideal base layer for other steps in a full skincare routine and won’t pill below primers or makeup.
To keep blemishes at bay this summer, try a serum spiked with salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), derived from willow bark. This magical acne-fighter works to slough off dead skin, increase cellular turnover, and unclog pores. Try Paula’s Choice RESIST Advanced Pore Refining Treatment 4 BHA. While gentler than its cousin alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), BHA is shown to increase skin sensitivity, so be sure to slather on SPF. Have acne-prone skin? These are the sunscreen ingredients to avoid.
As we age, our skin’s natural shedding process slows down, which can lead to dullness. Perhaps, the most popular alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), glycolic acid penetrates deeper to promote and speed up the exfoliation process, revealing new skin. The result is smoother, more radiant, even skin. Try Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum. Slather on a good sunscreen after using it because it can cause photosensitivity, like any exfoliant.
You already know that UVA/UVB rays contribute to photo-damage and skin cancer. “Sunscreen and safe sun habits are the best thing you can do to prevent skin anti-aging,” says Dr. Tanzi. For those who want to streamline their routine, a serum infused with SPF 30 or higher is a great choice, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.Trye La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum SPF 50 on its own or layered below makeup for full protection you can rely on. A few drops is enough to cover an entire face with strong UV-fighting powers for several hours at a time.
Step up plumping game up with this Filorga Hydra-Hyla Intensive Hydrating & Plumping Face Serum that uses the power of hyaluronic acid and clarifiers to give you your best skin yet. Instead of simply adding hydration with a pure HA formula, this rich and creamy serum also brightens and tones. It boils down several important skincare steps into one pea-sized dose each day.
“This product is highly effective, and it works quickly,” shares Laura, a verified Amazon purchaser. “I have a visible line on my brow line, and it disappears with a very small drop of this product. My forehead looks smooth and my laugh lines are less noticeable.”
The hydrating, regenerating properties of Asterwood Naturals Triple Repair Matrix 3000 make it one of the best serums for firming. It cocktails powerful peptides, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and Matrixyl 3000 as a hero ingredient that reviewers call “the best nighttime routine.” We love that a little goes a long way—all you need is a few drops of this silky-smooth serum to spread on your entire face and neck. It firms, brightens, tones and plumps for a well-rounded effect. It’s also safe for most sensitive skin types thanks to a fragrance-free formula.
“I love this product,” shares Cathy-Ann. “I had been using a similar product that costs five times as much and found this to be more effective. It gives me a slight lift in my face to help correct my sagging jowls and reduces pore size. The difference is noticeable to me. My friends comment on how good I look but it’s so subtle they don’t know why. I am now purchasing it for the third time and have my mother trying it too!”
A bottle of paragon and GMO-free Uncle Bud’s 15mg CBD Eye Serum contains real hempseed oil and 15mg of pure CBD oil. It is ideal for most skin types and works to calm skin, tame dark circles and puffiness and increase elasticity. It’s a rich, hydrating serum formula that contains no THC, so you don’t have to worry about any extra eye-opening effects. We love the formula’s lightweight feel that offers nearly-magical rich hydration and extremely affordable price point.
Medically reviewed by Originally Published: June 20, 2017
