With their concentrated formulas and skin-improving actives, face serums are really the power players in any skin care routine. Whether you’re looking to keep oiliness and acne in check or are looking for some extra help diminishing dark spots and fine lines, there’s a serum out there to help you meet your skin care goals. With the help of board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, we’re here to help guide you on your search for the best skin serum for your needs. Read on to learn more about our recommendations for:

• The best serum for glowing skin

• The best serum for aging skin

• The best serum for oily skin

• The best serum for dark spots

• The best serum for sensitive skin

• The best serum for dry skin

The best serum for glowing skin

LovelySkin LUXE Gels & Acne Care

Looking to add a serum to your routine that will help give you a fresh, glowing look? This face serum from Dr. Schlessinger’s own LovelySkin LUXE line helps reduce dullness, rough texture, breakouts and discoloration with afaLUXE, a gentle yet effective exfoliating ingredient. “This formula works by helping boost your skin’s cellular turnover as well as collagen production, which can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

The best serum for aging skin

Augustinus Bader The Serum

British skin care brand Augustinus Bader created this skin serum to target signs of aging while also calming irritation and redness. It contains a trio of antioxidant-packed ingredients—resveratrol, arginine and squalane—along with TFC8 Complex, a proprietary blend of amino acids, vitamins and molecules. Together, this formula helps increase skin firmness, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and boost hydration for a smoother finish. It comes with a sapphire-blue ceramic base that can be refilled with a new serum cartridge every time you’re ready for more.

The best serum for oily skin and acne

SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense Salicylic Acid Serum

If you struggle with oiliness and breakouts, this serum can help complement the acne cleanser and spot treatment you use in your existing routine. Specifically formulated for aging skin that’s prone to breakouts, it combines dioic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, citric acid and LHA to provide a one-two punch against acne and signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps control excess oil production and reduce the appearance of post-acne scarring for a more even skin tone overall.

The best serum for dark spots

SkinMedica Even & Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment Serum

If hyperpigmentation is a concern for you—whether that’s dark spots, melasma or acne scarring—using a skin serum with ingredients that specifically target the root of discoloration is key. The starring ingredient is SkinMedica’s proprietary LTN Complex, which contains niacinamide, tranexamic acid and highly concentrated extract of lotus sprout, a plant that’s rich in discoloration-targeting phytochemicals. This face serum is one part of SkinMedica’s three-pronged Even & Correct Collection, which also includes brightening treatment pads and a spot treatment for stubborn brown spots.

The best serum for sensitive skin

Senté Bio Complete Serum

If you have sensitive skin, you might have shied away from anti-aging ingredients such as retinol out of concern for irritating your skin. Thanks to its gentle formula, this nighttime face serum from Senté is one of the best serums for sensitive skin and first-time retinol users. It contains sustained-release retinoids and Senté’s patented Heparan Sulfate Analog technology combined with moisturizing agents to help improve skin texture and laxity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with minimal irritation.

The best serum for dry skin

LovelySkin LUXE HA Peptide Serum

If your skin is craving a boost of moisture, this is one of the best serums for dry skin to try. It contains hydrating glycerin as well as sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid that helps boost the moisture content in your skin and helps prevent moisture loss. It also features active ingredients that help target signs of aging, including peptides, Swiss apple stem cells and Persian silk tree extract to fight signs of skin fatigue, plump skin and minimize fine lines.

Have you ever wondered whether you should use face serums together and how? We can help with that! Learn more about layering and mixing face serums on the LovelySkin Blog.