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portrait of young woman applying serum on her face on blue background

What are face serums? 5 of the best facial serums

16 Sep 2021 • 7 min read

Although they often contain moisturising ingredients, serums aren’t interchangeable with moisturiser. Instead, serums are a highly concentrated product full of active ingredients, which you should use after cleansing your face, but before applying moisturiser. 

Serums are usually somewhere between gel and water in terms of texture, as they don’t rely on heavy creams and oils as fillers the way moisturisers do. Also, the molecules of a serum are very small, which helps your skin absorb them deeply. Think of it as an extra step in your usual routine, but one that can deliver potent skin-loving ingredients directly into your skin.

9 benefits of face serum

Backed by professionals

 

Can delay signs of skin ageing

 

Can brighten dull complexions

 

A little serum goes a long way

 

An alternative to physical exfoliation

 

Absorbs quickly into the skin

 

Ideal for sensitive skin

 

High in antioxidants

 

Feels light on your face

 

5 of the best serum ingredients 

It's important to know what ingredients are in your serum... it is going on your skin after all!

Vitamin C 

Your skin is constantly exposed to free radicals from the environment (such as environmental pollution). These free radicals cause skin oxidative stress, which leads to sensitivity, ageing and dullness.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, capable of staving off free radicals and reducing the oxidative stress in your skin, which leads to a more even, brighter skin tone.

Handpicked content: Get glowing skin with vitamin C

Vitamin E

Vitamin E has powerful moisturising and skin-protecting properties. A vitamin E serum will infuse your skin with a huge boost of moisture and will be more effective at hydrating dry skin than a moisturiser alone.

Moisturisers tend to work by trapping moisture in the skin, but a vitamin E serum will actually restore moisture to the epidermal layers of your skin. Try a vitamin E serum if you have acne scars, as it might help reduce the appearance of acne scarring.


Snail gel

This one might sound a little strange, but snail gel is actually very effective in skincare and is increasingly being included in many products.

Snail gel contains the active ingredient helix aspersa muller, which research is showing can be healing, soothing and anti-ageing. It’s thought to ease sensitivity and redness and leave skin smoother.

Rose oil

Rose essential oil has been used for centuries in beauty and contains plenty of ingredients to calm stressed skin and add moisture.

It’s very hydrating thanks to its high composition of fatty acids and due to its antioxidant properties, rose oil offers your skin high protection against sensitivity and oxidative stress.

Not only this, rose oil has a beautiful scent and inhaling it is proven to help soothe feelings of stress,3 which can adversely affect your skin. 


Argan oil 

This beauty multi-tasker is a fragrant oil that comes from the nut of the argan tree. Organic argan oil is full of essential fatty acids, linoleic acids and antioxidants, as well as lots of vitamin E which explains its hydrating qualities. If you have oily skin, don’t be afraid of argan oil as it can actually help balance an oily complexion.

When skin is sensitive or damaged, such as from over-cleansing, it can produce too much oil. Argan oil can help fix this problem, as it may help to repair the skin’s natural protective barrier and help your skin to regain control of its oil production.

What serum should I use?

Everyone’s skin is unique and has different needs, e.g., dry skin will have different requirements to oily skin, but don’t worry – there’s a serum for everyone out there!

We have listed our best serums below, categorised by various skin characteristics and goals, e.g., anti-ageing.

Best serums for face

Here is a roundup of our best face serums we sell here at H&B.

The best anti-ageing serum

Dr Organic Healthy Ageing Snail Gel Facial Serum


Key benefits

  • Contains nourishing Helix Aspersa Muller – a substance snails naturally produce to repair their own shell when it gets damaged
  • This serum can help our own facial skin feel smoother and energised
  • Helix Aspersa Muller is full of nutrients like hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, proteoglycans, glycoprotein, which can hydrate skin and help slow down signs of ageing
  • Suitable for vegetarians

What our customers think

Nicola – Great product – 5/5 stars

“I love this, I use it as a nighttime moisturiser as I can’t use creams at night as they are too much for my skin, nice and light I feel like my skin can breathe great results too.”

The best value facial serum

H&B Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Serum


Key benefits

  • Contains vitamin C, which has incredible antioxidant properties for this skin and helps it to produce collagen.
  • Collagen is responsible for keeping our skin firm, elastic and more youthful-looking
  • Hyaluronic acid helps to brighten the skin, moisturise it and reduce redness

What our customers think

Lassie – Great product – 5/5 stars

“Very pleased with product, can't believe how little you need to use, couple of drops is more than enough for whole face. After a week of use skin looks healthier, plumper & clearer.”

Beth – Great serum – 5/5 stars

“Best serum I've ever used. Gives radiant clear skin and helps imperfections and wrinkles.”

The best antioxidants serum

Antipodes Worship Antioxidant Serum


Key benefits

  • Formulated with antioxidant-rich ingredients like boysenberry, blackcurrant, kiwifruit, grape, coffee berry, acai extract and more
  • Your skin’s daily shot of youth, suited to most skin conditions and helps to slow signs of ageing

What our customers think

Holll – Smells divine – 4/5 stars

“I can't see any difference in the appearance of my skin so far but it smells fruity and wonderful and feels nice on the skin.”

The best serums for dry skin

Oleus Argon Oil


Key benefits

  • Contains pure cold-pressed lightweight argan oil that’s naturally high in vitamin E, which is known for its moisturising properties
  • Ideal for use all over the body, face, and hair, and can even be used with sensitive skin
  • Provides daily support for rough, dry hair and skin

What our customers think

Manola – Great product! – 5/5 stars

“This is very good quality argan oil, I have problematic skin, breakouts, dryness and in my 50’s, you can cleanse and moisturise with this one simple oil, does not clog pores, it’s amazing.”

The best under eye serum

Q+A Caffeine Eye Serum


Key benefits

  • A combination of caffeine, probiotics, green tea and pomegranate to rejuvenate the skin under your eyes
  • De-puffs brightens dark circles and boosts circulations under the eyes
  • Reduces water retention and helps protect this highly delicate skin
  • Fragrance-free

What our customers think

SOPHIA1010 – Deserves cult status – 5/5 stars

“This is this only beauty product I have found to date that really helps with puffy eyes. I'm glad I found this as is has been a real game changer. Deserves cult status!”

Is facial serum suitable for everyone?

Most of use could benefit from some sort of facial serum in our lives, for that extra bit of nourishment before applying moisturiser.

However, everyone’s skin is different, so you need to test each new facial serum before using it every day to see if it’s compatible with your skin.

One serum may work fantastically for one person’s skin while wreaking havoc on somebody else’s complexion.

2 potential side effects of face serum

  1. Slight irritation: the skin may feel itchy and tingly when you apply serum, especially those containing acid, but this should subside. Keep an eye on it and stop using and wash it off if it continues to irritate your skin.
  2. Redness: some face serums can cause temporary redness. Again, if it doesn’t subside, wash it off immediately and stop using it. 
Face serums contain moisturising and nourishing ingredients to support healthy skin. They are often thinner in consistency than moisturisers and should be used before you apply your regular moisturiser. Serums are often more potent than other skin care products, so you only have to use a small amount. 

Potential benefits include exfoliation, skin brightening, reduced skin ageing, soothing sensitive skin, and more. Popular facial serum ingredients include vitamin C, vitamin E, snail gel, rose oil, argan oil and hyaluronic acid. There’s a different serum for every skin type including dry, oily and everything inbetween.
manisha-taggar

Manisha Taggar

Author

Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate

Joined Holland & Barrett: May 2019

BSc Hons in Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Science

Manisha started her career at a Cosmetics distributor as a Regulatory Technologist followed by a Regulatory Affairs Officer, ensuring the regulatory compliance of cosmetic products from colour cosmetics to skincare.

After 3 and half years in this role, Manisha joined Holland & Barrett as a Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate in 2019.

Manisha specialises in Cosmetic products, both own-label and branded lines, ensuring that these products and all relating marketing material comply to the EU Cosmetics Regulation.

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