Serums are the skincare gift that keeps giving. These concentrated formulas pack a one-two punch with whichever ingredients you need at the moment to satisfy your skin. For some, that may mean serums that take over where your cleanser left off and get rid of excess sebum and oils to help prevent acne. For others, pimples may not be your biggest problem — dry, parched skin could be what is making you miserable. Or maybe you want to address signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration.
Whatever your skin issue, there’s a serum that can kick your skincare routine up a notch or two. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed every time you approach the skincare aisles at Sephora, Ulta, your department store, or your local drug store (because, remember, good skincare can be found at every price point), we have info that will make your search easier. These are the five best serum ingredients for a smoother, clear, and even complexion.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has so many amazing benefits. It can calm inflammation, which is great if your skin tends to err on the side of dry and red. It can also boost hydration in the uppermost layer of your skin, reduce water loss, and help your skin tone become more even and balanced. Basically, this is an ingredient you want if you have dry skin AND if you have oily skin. It’s a true multitasker.
Retinol
When we talk about gold standard ingredients in skincare, retinol is the original and still the most sought-after. Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that is one of few ingredients proven to boost collagen levels in your skin. This is so important because collagen and elastin are the components of your skin responsible for keeping it looking youthful and taut and we lose collagen at a steady pace after age 30. Retinol can minimize the fine lines you currently have and help prevent new ones from forming.
Be careful with retinol, though — it can be very drying on some skin types. If your skin is sensitive or dry, make sure you follow up with a quality moisturizer.
Hyaluronic Acid
Want smoother, softer skin? Hyaluronic acid is one of the top ingredients for delivering much-needed moisture to your skin. This ingredient, known as “HA” for short, can hold 1000 times its weight in water, which means it keeps your skin supple. Apply an HA serum to slightly damp skin and follow up with a moisturizer to lock in hydration.
Salicylic Acid
Is your skin acne prone? A serum that contain salicylic acid is the way to go because this ingredient is a beta hydroxy acid that breaks down and dissolves excess sebum in your pores, otherwise known as that gunk that causes whiteheads, pimples, and blackheads. Similar to retinol, salicylic acid can be drying to your skin, so make sure you’re balancing this application with a moisturizer that’s rich in ceramides or hyaluronic acid (or both).
Peptides
One of the newer serum ingredients on the block (or, at least, not as well known as retinol and hyaluronic acid), peptides are amino acid chains that are the building blocks of collagen — which we already mentioned is very important in keeping the structure and integrity of skin. Peptides help skin cells turn over faster and boost collagen production, and both of these factors promote smoother, clearer skin that bounces back faster from setbacks like breakouts.
Don’t sleep on serums. They provide more potent amounts of key skincare ingredients that can make a huge difference in the texture of your skin.
