First, some facts about what serums are and what they are not — because every skincare product or procedure has its pros and limitations.
“Serums are light skincare products that can be applied after cleansing and before moisturizing to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients,” Dr. King says. “Both serums and moisturizers contain hydrators (humectants) but moisturizers combine them with higher concentrations of emollients and occlusives to be moisturizing, while serums combine them with higher concentrations of active ingredients like antioxidants and anti-aging peptides. They are generally light and quickly absorbed, not oil-based— which differentiates them from facial oils. Serums should be applied to clean skin to maximize absorption of the active ingredients.”
Serums can make a big difference in your skin, but it’s important to manage your expectations so that you aren’t breaking your budget and expecting unattainable results.
“There will always be limitations to what topical products can accomplish,” Dr. King says. “To date, there aren't any topical products that can relax the muscles of facial expression as well as an injectable neuromodulator, for example, nor are there topicals that can add volume the way that injectable dermal fillers can.”
With that said, here are three serums that Dr. King recommends for smoother-looking skin.
Schaf Skincare Revitalizing Serum
“Formulated to be an all-in-one multi-action serum, it brightens, hydrates, plumps and diminishes fine lines,” Dr. King says. “Vitamin C boosts brightness through its antioxidant properties, hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin, and peptides help stimulate collagen production to diminish fine lines. And it's vegan and cruelty-free. Apply once or twice daily after cleansing the skin before a moisturizer.”
Alpha-H's Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum
“Combines granactive retinoid and glycolic acid to help resurface the skin overnight,” Dr. King says. “[It] improves dullness, fine lines, and pigmentation. AHAs like glycolic acid is used for chemical exfoliation of the skin. They dissolve the bonds that hold dull, dead skin cells on the surface of the skin so the skin will gently shed, revealing smoother, brighter skin underneath. AHAs are water-soluble and work on the surface of the skin, so AHAs (eg glycolic acid, lactic acid) are generally preferred for normal to dry, sun-damaged skin because they have been proven to be effective in reducing the appearance of sun damage.”
Maya Chia's Straight A Serum Advanced Gentle Retinol Treatment
“Contains retinol as well as bakuchiol as well as vitamin C and vitamin E, in a base of chia seed and buriti oils to support the skin barrier and lock in moisture,” Dr. King says. “Bakuchiol is an extract of the Babchi plant long used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is one of the few retinol alternatives for which studies back up the pseudo-retinol effect of anti-aging and skin brightening. One study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that it could reduce signs of sun damage equally as well as retinol, while another paper in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science reported improvements in lines and wrinkles, skin elasticity, and pigmentation. Bakuchiol seems to be activating the genes that regulate collagen and elastin production-- the same ones retinol activates. And it doesn't seem to irritate and redden skin the way retinol often does, so it appears to be a gentler option.”