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The 16 Best Face Serums of 2024 Treat Acne, Discoloration, Wrinkles, and More

Tackle multiple skin concerns at once.

collage of the best face serums on a light gray background

Byrdie / Brian Kopinski

Any dermatologist will tell you that serums are where it’s at for optimizing your skincare routine. They’re lighter than facial moisturizers, but they contain a more potent amount of active ingredients (aka they’re under-the-radar workhorses). The best part is there’s a serum for any and every skin concern. Want to fade dark spots? There’s a serum for that. Need to smooth fine lines? Yep, plenty of formulas for that, too. Want a do-it-all option? There are multitasking serums galore that address everything from acne scarring to sun damage.

We conducted hours of research on dozens of top-rated face serums, consulted experts we trust, and took a couple of top-rated picks out for a spin to find the best ones for you. We evaluated each on its list of active ingredients, texture, how easily the formula absorbs into the skin, and the benefits they produce. After combining testing insights with dermatologist picks and third-party reviews, we compiled this list of the best face serums for every skin type, tone, and concern.

What We Like
  • Lightweight formula absorbs easily

  • Vitamins C and E and ferulic acid repair free-radical damage and fade discoloration

  • Quick results

What to Consider
  • Strong chemical scent

Benefits: Firms, smooths, evens skin tone, protects against free radicals | Skin Type: Dry, sensitive | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This is the GOAT of all serums, boasting fan-favorite status among consumers, beauty editors, and dermatologists alike. Credit is due to the specially formulated ratio of heavy-hitting antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E—to protect your skin from free radical damage. It’s preventative and protective, yes, but it can also help improve existing signs of aging including sun damage, making it a solid option for pretty much anyone and everyone. Byrdie's editor in chief Hallie Gould is obsessed with this one and has been for years—it's one of the only products that has helped even out her skin tone and protect it from sun damage and pollution.

To love C E Ferulic is to tolerate the strong scent—it’s chemically and might be off-putting for some. Also, there’s no denying that the price tag of this serum is steep, but you get what you pay for: legit results. 

What We Like
  • Affordable

  • Leaves no facial residue

  • Retinol targets fine lines and wrinkles

What to Consider
  • Possibly unsuitable for sensitive skin

  • Strong chemical scent

Benefits: Smooths lines, evens skin tone, boosts radiance | Skin Type: Dry, aging | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This well-reviewed formula is inexpensive and effective—the best you can ask for from the drugstore. The star of the show is a unique type of retinol, accelerated retinol SA, that helps address wrinkles, boost radiance, and improve skin texture—in a matter of weeks. Two humectants (ingredients that attract water to the skin), hyaluronic acid and glycerin, help keep skin plump, hydrated, and supple.

As with most retinol products, you need to be careful when using it on sensitive or easily irritated skin. Start by using it a few times a week, and graduate up to every other night. If you think your skin can finally tolerate the retinol, feel free to add it to your skincare regimen nightly. 

What We Like
  • Niacinamide targets discoloration

  • AHAs promote exfoliation

  • Fragrance-free

What to Consider
  • Improvements might be too slow for some

Benefits: Fades dark spots, smooths, boosts radiance, exfoliates | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Yep, that’s another SkinCeuticals product on the list. There are all kinds of radiance-boosting and spot-fading ingredients in this effective formula, namely 1% kojic acid, 5% niacinamide, 3% tranexamic acid, plus 5% HEPES, an ingredient that promotes exfoliation. It’s so effective that in a 12-week clinical study, participants saw a 60% reduction in brown spots and patches. Color us impressed.

That said, some might find that this formula takes a bit longer to start seeing results. Remember that consistency is key, and you typically won’t see a quick fix with any facial serum. You can use this one morning and night, but we recommend once per day if you have super sensitive skin. 

What We Like
  • Glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acid target the appearance of pores

What to Consider
  • Possibly unsuitable for sensitive skin

Benefits: Exfoliates, clears pores, fades dark spots, smooth fine lines | Skin Type: Acne-prone | Dosage: 1 to 2 pumps | Size: 0.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Fact: There’s nothing you can do (and no product you can use) to change the size of your pores. But you can do things that will help make them appear less prominent, like using this serum, from one of Byrdie’s most beloved estheticians, Renée Rouleau. At work is a potent combo of glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids that help clear clogged pores, making them appear smaller. And, per the name, this blend also exfoliates to help fade hyperpigmentation and smooth fine lines.

"Even though it’s pretty potent, it’s one of the only serums I’ve tried in which I notice an actual difference in the brightness, clarity, and tone of my skin,” explains Erin Jahns, beauty director at Who What Wear. “I use it for three nights straight and then swap in another one for three nights, but this one always keeps my skin glowy while keeping my small (easily clogged pores) in check." 

What We Like
  • All-natural blend of 22 active botanicals

  • Richly moisturizing formula

  • Clean brand

What to Consider
  • Not for acne-prone skin

Benefits: Hydrates, nourishes | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 5 to 6 drops | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This fan-favorite formula is all about harnessing the power of plants. More specifically, it touts 22 active, organic, and wild-crafted botanicals chock-full of everything from antioxidants to vitamins to essential fatty acids. In short, it moisturizes, nourishes, and protects—a universally good pick for anyone looking to improve their skin's overall health and quality. It’s so good and effective that the brand only makes two other products.

This formula is absolutely loaded with oils so if you have acne-prone skin or know that your skin doesn’t tolerate oils well, you might want to skip over this pick and opt for something else. We like this formula for folks with normal to dry skin types and it’s safe to use during pregnancy.  

What We Like
  • Amino acid complex helps regenerate cells

  • Lightweight

What to Consider
  • Pump functionality needs work

Benefits: Smooths, firms, boosts radiance, soothes irritation | Skin Type: Aging | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Yes, the price tag on this is pretty shocking, but so are its astounding anti-aging results. Another long-time staple of beauty editors and derms alike, it relies on growth factors and a protein and amino acid complex to regenerate skin cells, reduce inflammation, strengthen the skin, and more. (FYI, those growth factors are human-derived, which may be off-putting to some.) Use it regularly, and you’ll absolutely see a difference.

What’s especially cool about this product is the packaging—there are two chambers within the cylindrical pump bottle. One chamber houses the TNS-MR, the next-generation growth factor blend, and the peptide complex, while the other chamber holds the Renessence (RSC) Advanced, French flax seed, marine extract, and green microalgae. By separating the two, it keeps the ingredients fresher for longer.  

What We Like
  • Contains a potent blend of retinol, ferulic acid, and bakuchiol to resurface skin

  • Works fast

  • Helps reduce pore-clogging oil

What to Consider
  • Strong chemical scent

Benefits: Targets pores, uneven texture, blemishes | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone, aging | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

True story: Our mega-sensitive skin could never tolerate a retinol product until we tried this serum. We’re not entirely sure how the magic formula works so well, without a trace of irritation, but you better believe it does. The first of its two namesake ingredients supports collagen production and minimizes sebum production (the stuff that clogs pores), and the latter offers powerful antioxidant protection. It also contains bakuchiol, a plant-based ingredient that provides similar effects to retinol. The product works super fast; we noticed an improvement in our skin’s texture, tone, and overall smoothness after a week or so.

We love that this formula targets multiple skin concerns, from fine lines and wrinkles to uneven skin texture to fading dark spots, boosting collagen, diminishing acne, and more. The formula doesn’t smell great, but we’re down to tolerate the smell for glowy, gorgeous skin. 

What We Like
  • Proprietary blend of hyaluronic acid

  • Primer-like texture

  • Pairs well with other products

What to Consider
  • Small amount for the price

Benefits: Hydrates | Skin Type: Dry, aging | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When moisturizer alone just won’t cut it, layer this super hydrating serum underneath. The name refers to a proprietary mix of five types of hyaluronic acid; the combo delivers instant and long-lasting hydration, up to eight hours worth. Your skin will instantly be more hydrated (as well as smoother, plumper, and more supple), and will stay that way all day long. The primer-like texture layers beautifully under makeup, too.

We love this formula for anyone with super dry or sensitive skin. It’s great for the colder winter months when your face needs extra TLC. It’s on the pricier side at $184 per bottle, but we think the stellar ingredient list justifies the cost. 

What We Like
  • Backed by 30 years of research

  • Absorbs quickly

  • Multitasking ingredients

What to Consider
  • Small amount for the price

Benefits: Hydrates, boosts radiance, smooths fine lines | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This cult-favorite serum uses the brand’s TFC8 patented technology, a combo of over 40 ingredients, and the result of over 30 years of research. In short, it works by basically helping your skin act younger, which is why this formula is ideal for tackling everything from dryness to hyperpigmentation to wrinkles to redness. 

Not only does the formula support skin cell renewal, but it also features vitamin C to boost collagen production and a polysaccharide moisture complex to prevent water loss and leave skin feeling soft and supple. Obviously, the price of this pick is no joke, but for younger skin, we'd shell out the shekles.  

Best for a Compromised Skin Barrier

BYOMA Hydrating Serum

BYOMA Hydrating Serum
PHOTO:

BYOMA

What We Like
  • Ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids strengthen skin barrier

  • Fragrance-free

  • Affordable

What to Consider
  • Nothing

Benefits: Hydrates, barrier repair | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

At the risk of greatly oversimplifying matters, the key to healthy (and beautiful) skin is a strong and healthy skin barrier. Essentially, the outermost layer of the skin is responsible for keeping moisture in and irritants out. And three primary components ensure this: ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. They are the stars of this new brand’s tri-ceramide complex. 

All of the Byoma skincare products contain the tri-ceramide complex, and we love that this serum boosts your skin barrier to the next level. Alongside that, there are hydrating squalane and glycerin in the mix which leave your skin feeling softer, smoother, and generally healthier.

What We Like
  • Lactic acid resurfaces and brightens

  • Quick results

What to Consider
  • Expensive

Benefits: Improves texture, evens skin tone, hydrates | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid, is one of the more gentle acids out there for exfoliation. This makes it a prime pick for either sensitive skin types or those looking for a product they can use every day sans irritation. It’s the key player in this serum, which helps to dissolve dead skin cells to improve the look of lines and wrinkles, and generally leave skin looking smooth and glowing. Fun fact: Lactic acid is also innately hydrating, so you get a little bit of that benefit, too.

Sunday Riley’s Good Genes is a best-seller because it does an effective job of gently exfoliating skin, without drying the heck out of your face. Along with lactic acid, this serum contains licorice and lemongrass to brighten a dull complexion as well as prickly pear extract to help soothe the skin and reduce redness. 

What We Like
  • Salicylic acid unclogs pores

  • Lightweight formula absorbs quickly

  • Anti-aging effects

What to Consider
  • Strong chemical scent

Benefits: Clears breakouts, boosts radiance, fades dark spots, reduces redness | Skin Type: Oily, combination, acne-prone | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Clear your complexion with this blemish bluster. It relies on salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that’s oil-soluble, it can penetrate pores to break up excess oil and unclog them. That’d be good enough for us, but the benefits don’t stop there. It combines salicylic acid with niacinamide, which is both anti-inflammatory (good for minimizing the redness and discomfort of current pimples) and boosting radiance, helping to ward off any discoloration that can occur after a breakout.

And because the serum boosts skin cell turnover, you can expect to see fine lines and wrinkles diminished, along with any age spots or dark spots lessened, too. 

What We Like
  • Preserves melanated skin’s natural tone as it treats dark spots

  • Niacinamide, encapsulated vitamin C, and amber algae fade dark spots

  • Fragrance-free

What to Consider
  • Some reviewers say it's hard to get product out

Benefits: Fades dark spots including hyperpigmentation, brightens dull skin, resurfaces acne blemishes | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, and oily | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This fragrance-free formula is specifically calibrated for skin of color to reduce dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and post-acne marks with niacinamide, encapsulated vitamin C, and amber algae. The texture of the Eadem Dark Spot Serum is silky and absorbs easily into the skin, with reviewers noting it works rapidly to diminish the appearance of blemishes from cystic acne.

We don’t love that the bottle dropper makes it difficult to get the formula out. You might have to pour it into your hand if the dropper doesn’t work. 

What We Like
  • E-CANN Proprietary Blend of fruit stem cells and peptides repair skin

  • Hyaluronic acid and organic aloe deliver moisture

  • Lightweight formula absorbs quickly and easily

What to Consider
  • Small amount of product

Benefits: Calms inflammation, reduces redness, clears acne | Skin Type: Normal, dry, sensitive, combination, and oily | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This ultra-lightweight serum melts into the skin without leaving a sticky residue and reduces redness and inflammation quickly. The proprietary botanical formula is made from fruit stem cell technology and also features broad-spectrum vitamins and antioxidants. Hyaluronic acid and organic aloe make the serum ideal for people with sensitive skin who enjoy botanical products. According to associate editorial director Jill Di Donato, it sinks into the skin within seconds and imparts a velvety feel.

Because this product doesn’t contain any form of acids, it might not be as effective as some of the other face serums on this list. However, it’s a great option for folks with sensitive skin who don’t tolerate acids very well. 

What We Like
  • Creates dewy complexion when worn under makeup

  • Fermented blend of antioxidants

  • Lactic acid exfoliates gently

What to Consider
  • Contains perfumy fragrance

Benefits: Gently exfoliate, soften | Skin Type: Normal, dry, sensitive, combination, and oily | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This top-rated serum has a milky texture that revitalizes dry skin with just one application. Tatcha's Hadasei-3 complex includes a fermented blend of antioxidants, lactic acid, algae, and green tea extract to effectively exfoliate without irritation. The formula is ultra-hydrating and excellent under makeup, especially if you're after a dewy, glass-skin look.

We love that the formula is moisturizing and lightly exfoliating, but we don’t love that it contains fragrance. Watch out if you are sensitive to fragrances or perfumes in products. 

What We Like
  • Contains vitamin C to target sun damage

  • It’s very potent

  • Evens out skin texture

What to Consider
  • May be too potent for sensitive skin

Benefits: Moisturizes, Brightens age and sun spots | Skin Type: Normal, dry, sensitive, combination, and oily | Size: 0.94 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Scroll through TikTok (or any other form of social media, for that matter), and you'll spot at least a handful of people using this Drunk Elephant vitamin C serum in their routines. It's for good reason: The formula contains an awesome antioxidant blend of vitamin C and ferulic acid that works to even out skin tone and texture while also fending off damaging environmental factors, like pollution. Commerce Writer Caitlyn Martyn swears that, over time, her sun and acne spots have disappeared almost entirely, leaving her face glowy and more even-toned.

There is a liquid and powder that must be mixed before your first use. We love this concept because it keeps the vitamin C as potent and fresh as possible. It’s an ingredient that tends to degrade easily, unfortunately. Like most vitamin C serums, this pick doesn’t smell great—but works wonderfully. 

What to Look for in a Face Serum

  • Key Ingredients: The ingredients in the face serum you choose will really depend on your skin concerns. You can also use one formulation in the morning and something different before bed. Nourishing, hydrating, protective ingredients are great during the day (think hyaluronic acid and antioxidants like vitamin C) whereas resurfacing or super nourishing options work best at night (vitamin A, AHAs, BHAs, and peptides are all great for this). To help you get started, Dr. Barbara Sturm, a German aesthetics doctor and the founder of the fan-favorite Dr. Barbara Sturm skincare, recommends hyaluronic acid as a great ingredient for almost all skin types, especially those prone to dehydration.
  • Price: Serums that contain higher concentrations of active ingredients are generally more expensive. That’s not to say you have to fork over an arm and a leg for a quality product, but they tend to sit higher than a cleanser or sunscreen.
  • Size: It's also important to consider size. The larger the bottle or tube, the more use you'll get out of your product. Since serums perform their best when used consistently, you'll want to buy a formula that lasts.
FAQ
  • How do you apply face serum?

    According to Dr. Sturm, you should apply serums onto “cleansed skin immediately after drying to avoid trans-epidermal water loss, and before a day or night cream.” Sturm explains that serums precede but do not replace a moisturizer. (A moisturizer or face cream should be applied over the top to seal everything in.)

  • How often should you use face serum?

    “As often as your skin requires it,” explains Sturm, who layers her Hyaluronic Serum twice daily, plus the Super Anti-Aging Serum and Night Serum additionally before bed. A good rule of thumb is to use a serum both morning and night as part of your skincare routine.

  • Which face serum is best for aging skin?

    If wrinkles are your biggest concern, try serums formulated with retinol or niacinamide. Both of these ingredients work to reduce the appearance of fine lines and age spots. 

  • Should I use a serum at night or morning?

    Either is fine, but it ultimately depends on the serum. If the serum contains highly active ingredients like retinol and alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids, save it for the evening. Serums like vitamin C work well in the morning, but be sure to follow up with an SPF of at least 30. Some are formulated specifically as night serums, which makes it easier to determine what's right.

Why Trust Byrdie

Daley Quinn is a Byrdie contributor who covers all things beauty and wellness. She has bylines at The Cut and WWD, and is a former editor for Family Circle. You can find more of her work on her website or check out her blog, The Daley Dose. For this story, she used her own experience with testing many face serums over the years, along with considerations from dermatologists’ recommendations, too. 

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She considered dozens of top-rated dermatologist-recommended serums for this roundup, evaluating each on its formula of active ingredients, targeted skin concerns, and value.

The Byrdie team used one expert for this story:

  • Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German aesthetics doctor and the founder of the fan-favorite Dr. Barbara Sturm skincare range. She began her career in orthopedics before bringing her clinical research and knowledge into the skincare world.
Updated by Jill DiDonato
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
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