Serums are skin care formulations that are thinner in consistency and higher in concentration than other skin care products, like creams, lotions, or moisturizers. Typically a serum is applied before richer products so as to absorb fully into skin. This allows the serum to fully infuse skin with nutrients.

The best serums are those that are high in plant and fruit extracts and peptides. This ensures they have antioxidants and can help support collagen in your skin.

Antioxidants are extremely important for skin health. Skin is the largest and most exposed organ of the body. This means skin gets damaged very easy by the elements, including UV rays (sun damage), air pollution, hard water, low-quality makeups and body care products, and toxic chemicals that come into contact with skin during the day.

All this damage can cause aging, discoloration, wrinkles, dryness, and irritation. Serums containing a high load of antioxidants can help. The best antioxidants come from natural sources. Many serums contain extracts of fruits, flowers, and plants such as aloe. These are generally very good sources of antioxidants that can help protect skin from daily damage.

If you find serums with high concentrations of fruit, citrus, tree, or plant extracts, it’s a good bet they contain lots of antioxidants, especially if the original plant in question is dark in color. Dark-colored fruits and leaves provide a huge amount of antioxidants. This is also true of citrus, which contains huge amounts of Vitamin C, one of the most important antioxidants for skin health and a youthful glow. Using a serum with extracts of such fruits would give you a far more powerful result then a DIY mask or moisturizer containing the fruit, because the serum is far more concentrated, and thus contains more antioxidants per drop than the plant itself.

Many serums are targeted to a specific skincare concern. For example, if you are concerned with dark spots, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin tone, look for a serum designed to target this issue. If you are concerned with wrinkles, look for serums that target “lines,” “wrinkles,” “creases,” or “crow’s feet.” If you have noticed drooping skin has increased over time, it may be time to add a serum into your routine designed to lift, tighten, strengthen, or firm the look and feel of your complexion. Because of the concentrated ingredients, a serum may target these skin issues more quickly and effectively than a typical moisturizer or cream.

Serums are often more expensive than simple moisturizers, lotions, or creams. However, the strong concentration of ingredients generally means you can use less product to achieve the results. You may notice that the container of a serum contains a dropper or small pump, which will help control your dosage. This way you will use less serum than you would with a moisturizer that comes in a jar or tub.

However, this is not to say a serum is better than a moisturizer. Most serums are not hydrating enough by themselves to replace a good moisturizer. Rather, they can help boost the results of your skincare routine by infusing a high concentration of beneficial ingredients into your skin at once. The best thing to do is apply a serum right after washing your face and/or toning, then apply a moisturizer on top of the serum, once your serum of choice has dried.

Ultimately, the best serum for your skin will be one you enjoy using. Choose one with a scent, feel, and texture you enjoy. This will help you keep your routine consistent, which is paramount to seeing a positive effect. This is why enjoying your skincare routine is so essential to getting good results.

Be sure to give your serum a chance to work. Depending on the skin issue you are targeting, it may take between 4 and 12 weeks to evaluate whether or not it is fully working. Some skin issues, such as dark spots and discoloration, are rooted much deeper in the skin and take more time to fully turn over. Others, like enhancing radiance, may happen much more quickly. Always check the return policy on the serum you choose, in case it does not work out for you. We recommend only trying serums that accept returns for 60 days or longer, as this gives you a good solid chance to see if results are beginning to show, before “time runs out” on getting a refund.

Whatever serum you choose, be sure to apply it on top of clean, dry skin. Applying serum on top of dirt, oil, or makeup will make it less absorbent into skin, and may create an unpleasant or greasy feeling. However a serum applied on top of clean skin should provide a silky, clean feel that is pleasant and enjoyable.

Have you ever used a serum? What results did you see? Be sure to comment below to share your thoughts with our other readers!