The Best Face Serums for Your Skin Type

Take it from us, the right serum can do plenty for a complexion. Serums can be used to magnify the effects of moisturizer (aka, amp up hydration), mattify the appearance of the skin, boost radiance, clarify and more. Nearly every skin type can benefit from using a face serum in their routine, but if you’re unsure where to start, let our picks below be your guide. Whether you have sensitive, dull, dry or acne-prone skin, there’s a serum out there for you. (Not sure what your skin type is? Take our skin type quiz here.)

Dry Skin

Kiehl’s Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum

Dry, dehydrated skin needs a formula that will hydrate, nourish and boost the skin’s radiance. This skin-strengthening formula works to fortify the top layer and protect it from aging stressors with hyaluronic acid, allowing you to kiss flaking, cracked skin goodbye.

Oily Skin

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Pore-Refining Serum

If there’s anything that an oily-skin type can benefit from, it’s a serum that will help minimize the appearance of pores. This mattifying serum does the trick with exfoliating glycolic and lipo-hydroxy acids that help visibly tighten and smooth the skin. 

Sensitive Skin

Garnier Canna-B Pore Perfecting Serum Cream

Sensitive skin types can benefit from a multitasking serum like this formula, which serves as a moisturizer, serum and sunscreen. It has calming cannabis sativa seed oil and niacinamide to soothe moody skin. It’s non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.

Acne-Prone Skin

Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum

Acne-prone skin is no joke, and neither is this clarifying concoction. It has a blend of willow bark, niacinamide and zinc that addresses inflammation and helps decongest and detoxify clogged pores.

Dull Skin

Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester CCC+ Ferulic Brightening Complex 20%

Feeling like your skin needs a boost of radiance? Let this potent vitamin C serum help. It has a milky consistency and works to strengthen the appearance of the skin and make it look more glowing, radiant and youthful.

Mature Skin

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Night Serum 0.3% Pure Retinol 

Mature skin types might want to opt for a potent, line-reducing formula like this pure retinol serum, which will visibly smooth uneven texture and deep lines. It also contains glycerin to help counteract irritation and dryness.

Photo: Juan Miranda

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