TOP 10 BEST FACE SERUMS
Looking for the best face serums to level up your skin care routine? You’re in exactly the right place. Taking your complexion from ‘meh’ to ‘marvellous’, the best face serums work hard to diminish dullness, boost moisture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and pretty much everything in between.
So, whether you’re after a glow getter or toning treasure, here at Cult Beauty we’ve rounded up the top 10 best face serums that ensure radiant results with every drop.
OUR TOP 10 BEST FACE SERUMS
- Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
- Biossance Squalane Firm and Lift Dual Serum
- Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
- Medik8 C-Tetra Serum
- Augustinus Bader The Elixir
- KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief Serum
- Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & Growth Factors Advanced Lifting Serum
- OLE HENRIKSEN Double Rewind 0.3% Pro-Grade Retinol Serum
- La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift
- Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
BEST FACE SERUMS
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
1364
£32.00
Continuing to hold the reigns for the best face serum is none other than Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops. Marrying skin care and make up, this hybrid hero is infused with (you guessed it) niacinamide, watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid and moringa seed oil to not only brighten but even out skin tone over time. Celebrated for its power to provide an instant glow, this fan favourite is ideal for those no make up days or as a luminous primer under your beauty look.
Biossance Squalane Firm and Lift Dual Serum
13
RRP: £54.00Current price: £43.20
Supercharged with the brand’s Hydralift Complex, Biossance’s Squalane Firm and Lift Dual Serum fuses actives such as graviola giant (an alkaloid from summer snowflake), protective ectoin and soothing bisabolol to reduce the look of fine lines. What’s more, with the addition of sugarcane-derived squalane and hyaluronic acid, this multitasker enhances the absorption of moisture for a firmer, plumper sign off.
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
380
£45.00
Quenching thirsty skin while supporting long-term barrier health, Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum enhances moisture retention without leaving any greasy residue. Blending sodium hyaluronate pro-vitamin B5 and pineapple ceramides with watermelon rind, lentil and apple, this super smoothie refines textures while imparting radiant results after just one use. Plus, created at a skin-friendly pH of 5.7, it’s suitable for all skin types – even the most sensitive.
Medik8 C-Tetra Serum
487
£42.00
Formulated with a stable and potent form of vitamin C, known as tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Medik8’s C-Tetra Serum works with your skin to brighten complexions, reduce premature signs of aging and shield you from environmental damage caused by free radicals (we’re looking at you pollution!). Ideal for daily use within your AM routine, it not only delivers deep hydration but supports collagen production to improve your texture and firmness. In short, there’s not much this cult-favourite can’t do.
Augustinus Bader The Elixir
£435.00
Looking for one of the best face serums that offer a touch of luxury? Let us introduce you to Augustinus Bader’s The Elixir. Immersed with the brand's patented TFC8 technology (a proprietary blend of amino acids, vitamins and peptides), it works to support skin cell health, boost collagen and enhance elasticity for firmer skin. Designed with mature or dry complexions in mind, it ensures instant hydration while helping you achieve luminosity that lasts.
KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief Serum
166
£28.00
Keeping irritation at bay, KraveBeauty's Great Barrier Relief Serum delivers immediate comfort without feeling greasy, making it suitable for both day and night routines. Bursting with nourishing oils — such as tamanu, safflower seed and rosehip — alongside ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin and squalane, this skin care staple effectively hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier while synergistically working to calm redness, reduce irritation and restore skin resilience. Oh, and did we mention the serum's versatility extends to its ability to function as a spot treatment for areas requiring additional care too? Impressive, we know.
Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & Growth Factors Advanced Lifting Serum
7
£176.00
Get ready to meet your new skin saviour: Allies of Skin’s Multi Peptides & Growth Factors Advanced Lifting Serum is a seriously potent powerhouse packed with a cocktail of peptides and growth factors. A lightweight serum that works overtime to boost collagen, tighten skin and smooth out fine lines – think of it as a firming facelift in a bottle – it sinks in fast, delivering next-level results, making it ideal for layering under your moisturiser or make up.
OLE HENRIKSEN Double Rewind 0.3% Pro-Grade Retinol Serum
22
£59.00
A nighttime must-have, OLE HENRIKSEN’s Double Rewind 0.3% Pro-Grade Retinol Serum features encapsulated retinol for a gentler, controlled release, combined with provitamin A from beta-carotene, a slower-acting retinoid that works its magic as you sleep. Celebrated for delivering long-lasting results, this serum also blends hydrating aloe vera, antioxidant-rich birch sap and nourishing rowanberry extract to boost moisture levels and reinforce the skin’s barrier. Perfect for anyone seeking an effective yet mild retinol treatment, it’s an ideal weekly boost for your skin-renewal ritual.
La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift
4
£645.00
La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Liquid Lift is a luxurious, high-performance serum that combines advanced caviar extracts with cutting-edge Swiss biotechnology to deliver both immediate lifting effects and long-term skin rejuvenation. Featuring a unique dual-chamber formula that blends golden caviar beads with a lightweight emulsion, it absorbs quickly to boost firmness, elasticity and hydration. What’s more, enhanced with peptides and hyaluronic acid, it supports collagen production while strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
392
£70.00
Last, but by no means least in our round up of the best face serums is Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum. Delivering your daily dose of dew, this famed formula consists of a potent, oil-soluble blend designed to brighten, hydrate and shield skin. Renowned for its use of 15% THD ascorbate (a stable and effective form of vitamin C that combats dullness and uneven tone), it’s complete with glycolic acid and saccharide isomerate extract to reduce the appearance of pores while reinforcing your moisture barrier.
BEST FACE SERUMS FAQS
Do face serums really work?
Yes, the best face serums really do work, but how effective they are depending on several factors like the ingredients, your skin type, and how consistent you are with using them. Serums are typically lightweight, fast-absorbing liquids packed with a high concentration of active ingredients designed to target specific skin concerns such as hydration, brightening, premature aging or breakouts. Because they have smaller molecules than moisturisers, face serums can penetrate the skin, delivering potent results more effectively.
What is the best serum for older skin?
For older skin, the best face serums usually focus on hydration, boosting collagen, improving elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some powerhouse ingredients and serum types to look for include those that include retinol, peptides or vitamin C. Along with the serums mentioned in this article formulas such as Elemis Pro-Collagen Future Restore Serum and La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Serum With Hyaluronic Acid are considered gold-standard for mature skin types.
What are the disadvantages of face serums?
Just like many skin care staples, face serums offer an array of benefits but there are some potential downsides to keep in mind. Firstly, do not overuse face serums as they are highly concentrated with active ingredients that can cause redness, dryness, or irritation. Also, the best face serums need to be combined with cleansing, moisturising and sun protection to see real results as they’re just one step of a bigger routine.
So, whether you’re chasing glow, hydration or that next-level skin lift, our best face serums have got you covered.
Cult Beauty’s Senior SEO Copywriter, Trifonia started out in the industry when bold brows were just becoming a ‘thing’, and shares a passion for all things fashion and beauty. Currently embracing her curly girl journey (after endless years of straightening her strands), she is finally reverting to her natural ways! When Triffy isn’t busy testing out the latest curl-saving solutions, you’ll find her binging the latest reality TV show or on a long walk listening to her ever-evolving country music playlist.
