Developing a healthy and effective skincare routine is a tricky thing to do. With the umpteen number of products in the market, it is often confusing as to what to do and what not to do. Many of you beginners might have been using facial serums without exactly knowing what they do and why one must use them.
Facial serums are designed to target specific skin concerns and are derived from complex oil blends. They are usually light and are used before a moisturizer. Incorporating a serum into your skincare routine can help you achieve great results. Made with lighter molecules, they address skin concerns like brightening, pigmentation, acne, sun damage, wrinkles, balancing, etc. They are made with high-quality, potent ingredients and are slightly pricier. However, the results make it worth it.
In a Hurry?
For those of you who are still confused as to what a serum is, it is a skincare product that is applied after cleansing and before moisturization. Face serums penetrate deeper into the skin than moisturizers and address more severe concerns.
After researching the best face serum reviews, we have curated a list of what we think are the top serums for beginners.
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In a hurry? This is our Winner!
WINNER: Dragons Blood Serum by Luminositie
Our Reviews
Don’t let the name scare you. The name Dragon’s Blood is nothing but the blood-red resin taken sustainably from the Croton lechleri tree. It is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds and forms a protective ‘second skin’ barrier, helping regenerate damaged skin while preventing it from further damage. It also reduces irritation and redness, if any, and helps lock in the skin’s natural moisture.
The serum also has a group of compounds called proanthocyanidins. They are meant to protect your skin from environmental damage, which would otherwise harm your skin’s protective layer and break down collagen and cause premature aging.
To add to this, the Dragon Blood Serum provides your skin with nourishment and moisturization. This is a good serum for sensitive skin and makes it the top facial serum in our face serum reviews.
This serum successfully addresses skin concerns, including aging, acne scars, pores & redness. Enriched with Vitamins B2, B12, and E, pomegranate oil, jojoba oil, green tea, and aloe vera, one can say that it is the best face serum.
Pros:
- Suitable for all skin types
- Reduces redness, wrinkles
- Stimulates cell regeneration
- Benefits of Dragon Blood extract
- Good for sensitive or acne-prone skin
Cons:
- Good for sensitive or acne-prone skin
#2: L’Oreal Paris Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally produced moisturizer compound in our skin that preserves our skin’s elasticity and firmness. As we grow older, the natural production of this gets lesser in the body. This serum provides you with adequate Hyaluronic Acid, which helps your skin retain moisture, thereby plumping your skin, reducing wrinkles, and giving a softer, youthful appearance.
The presence of Vitamin C and E further removes signs of aging and also reduces them from arising in the future. It provides your skin with antioxidants that fight harmful UV rays. The Witch Hazel reduces acne, tightens the skin, and soothes puffy under-eyes skin while Green Tea helps counter hormonal imbalance and reduces acne. Jojoba Oil gives a healthy glow to your skin and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
This serum is one of the most potent and effective serums out there on the market. It provides you with the best anti-aging treatment. It works gently and effectively by replenishing water from the outside and holding water from the inside, overall improving the hydration of the skin.
Pros:
- Quickly absorbs and boosts skin moisture
- Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles
- Removes pigmentation
- 100% Vegan, Cruelty-free
Cons:
- Might leave a sticky residue
#3: Collagen Peptide Facial Serum
Peptides are strings of amino acids responsible for building blocks of protein in our bodies, which form our skin. The essential protein is collagen, which gives our skin elasticity and firmness. Collagen is produced naturally in our body and reduces as we age, resulting in loss of firmness of the skin, wrinkles, and other textural changes.
This serum helps by stimulating the production of collagen that repairs your skin naturally. Using this serum regularly will result in the disappearance of fine lines and youthful, radiant skin.
Aloe Vera eases inflammation and softens the skin while Jojoba Oil seeps deeper into the skin and helps heal acne scars. Witch Hazel reduces acne, tightens the skin, and soothes puffy under-eyes. Wild Geranium improves fine lines and addresses other signs of aging.
Pros:
- Boosts collagen production
- Restores youthful glow
- Fades pigmentation
- Calms irritated skin
Cons:
- Might leave a sticky residue
#4: Murad Outsmart Acne Clarifying Treatment
This serum is a powerful treatment made up of five useful, clinically proven acne-clearing acids to clear existing acne and prevent future breakouts. Salicylic acid helps in treating and preventing acne. Hydroxydecanoic Acid and Sebacic Acid help in oil control. Lysophosphatidic acid reduces the appearance of pores. Glycolic acid helps in exfoliation. Boswellia, Honey, and Rice extract soothe and calm the skin while fighting dryness and redness.
This lightweight gel formula gives you an acne solution, and targets blackheads, oiliness & blemish-causing bacteria while minimizing dryness & irritation.
Pros:
- Does not contain paraben & sulphate
- Clears acne and breakouts
- Minimizes and clears pores
Cons:
- Does not completely clear blackheads as it claims
#5: Dior Capture Youth Matte Maximizer
This serum contains naturally derived lactic acid from sugar cane. It is combined with pink clay and gluconate. These are put together to absorb excess sebum produced by the skin. It also reduces large pores and gives your skin a smoother and more refined appearance.
The Iris extract is an antioxidant and leaves the skin feeling velvety soft. This serum is a daily solution for those with combination skin as it corrects imperfections and gives the skin a soft matte finish. This age-defying serum is made up of 88% naturally derived ingredients.
Pros:
- Does not contain paraben & sulphate
- Super-light formula offers a smooth matte finish
Cons:
- May not suit sensitive or dry skin due to high levels of alcohol
Our Buyers Guide – Best Facial Serums for Beginners
How to apply face serum
You have learned what a serum is and how important it is to incorporate it into your skincare regime. Let us have a look at how to use the best facial serum as a beginner:
- This step comes after cleansing but before moisturizing. It is more potent and seeps deeper into the skin, hence it is applied before a moisturizer.
- Apply a dropper full for one pump worth into your face using your fingertips. Gently massage it in a circular motion to absorb it well.
- Top up a serum with a moisturizer.
How to choose a face serum for your skin type
The basic rule or guideline for choosing a face serum is identifying your skin type. The second most important thing is to identify your skin concern.
- For oily or problem skin: For those with oily skin or recurring skin problems, look for serums that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids such as Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid. These gently exfoliate the skin and remove dead cells, and other build-ups, which could be the root cause of your skin problems.
- For oily or combination skin: If you have an oily T-zone, that is, forehead, nose, and chin, look out for a serum that helps control the oil level in that region. Face serum with oil-fighting and cleansing ingredients like Witch Hazel, Lemongrass, Seaweed Extract, and Salicylic Acid would work for you.
- For sensitive skin: Delicate skin is often stressed and can get irritated or red with strong products. Serums that contain Aloe Vera, Jojoba, and Chamomile, reduce dryness, and redness.
- For dark spots and uneven skin tone: The only solution is to use a serum that contains natural ingredients for brightening. Licorice Root Extract, Vitamin C, helps reduce uneven skin tone and brighten your skin.
- For aging skin with wrinkles and fine lines: The appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of elasticity of skin are natural and inevitable signs of aging. Ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides, Vitamin B3, and Seaweed extract, restore moisture in the skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
All about serum
Designed to reduce signs of fatigue, refine pores, smoothen the surface of your skin, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, serums also give you the added joy of applying them. Being lightweight, they absorb quickly into the skin and are a blessing for those with oily skin.
Serums are made to be fast-absorbing and lighter and are often used as an alternative to creams or lotions. They are usually water-based and eliminate excess oil. They are made up of active ingredients, and a few drops work wonders. They penetrate deeper into the skin and lock the moisture in longer.
Right from plumping up the skin, to brightening it, to reducing wrinkles, to hydrating it, serums address specific concerns of your skin and are formulated accordingly. Use our guide to pick the perfect serum for your face and begin using it immediately. Your skin deserves to be cared for and pampered.
