There’s a serum for every skin concern and budget ✨
There’s one thing every skincare junkie knows to be true: Serums are essential. Why? Because they contain concentrated, potent ingredients that can target specific issues (like redness or dryness) and deliver visible results both immediately and over time. Sounds great, right? Now that you’re convinced to add a serum to your regimen, the real question is: which one is best for your skin? Luckily, there’s a whole world of serum options out there. Whether you’re in search of an anti-ageing elixir or an ultra-hydrating potion, there’s a supercharged serum that’s perfectly tailored to whatever your skin type and concerns may be.
Keep scrolling to find the one that will help you reach your skin goals…
Best Face Serums for Dry Skin
Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring humectant that helps draw water to the skin, is the star ingredient of these ultra-hydrating serums.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid to attract and retain moisture, conditioning panthenol (a form of vitamin B5), glycerin for even more moisture, and a combination of high-performance moisturisers.
Key ingredients: special HAFi fragments that stimulate your skin’s own hyaluronic acid production, and a first-ever hyaluronidase inhibitor to prevent hyaluronic acid breakdown.
Key ingredients: a hyaluronic acid complex, vitamins C and E for a powerful antioxidant punch, and skin barrier reparative ceramides.
Key ingredients: Prodew® boosts the moisture levels of the skin, and NeoGlucosamine® plumps and firms the skin.
Best Face Serums for Acne
Featuring a mix of exfoliating and soothing ingredients, this line-up gently clears the skin of acne-causing bacteria without drying out the surface.
Key ingredients: dioic acid to reduce excess oil production, and a combination of salicylic, glycolic and citric acids to clear dead skin.
Key ingredients: a combination of HPR (a highly-advanced form of retinoid), vitamins C and E, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid works to reduce sebum production and pore size and number, and repair skin while you sleep.
Key ingredients: a combination of powerful actives including retinol, allantoin, vitamin B3, tea tree oil and zinc oxide to banish bacteria, suppress sebum, and control breakouts. Further benefits include alleviating irritated skin, anti-inflammatory properties, and the reduction of pore size.
Best Face Serums for Dark Spots/Hyperpigmentation
Formulated with glow-getting vitamin C and other protective antioxidants, these serums are the answer to the brighter, more even skin tone you’ve been dreaming of for years.
Key ingredients: L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and vitamin E for environmental protection and anti-ageing benefits, and ferulic acid which helps stabilise other antioxidants.
Key ingredients: Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (vitamins C) and vitamin E for brightening and protecting skin from the environment, panthenol and hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, niacinamide for skin barrier repair, and ferulic acid ester to protect against free radical aggressors, enhance absorption, and to reduce skin inflammation.
Key ingredients: melanin inhibitors and potent antioxidants work in synergy to brighten, soothe and protect the skin.
Key ingredients: orange stem cells to tone and tighten the skin, a stable version of brightening vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and squalene for intense hydration, and marine enzymes to improve absorption.
Best Face Serums for Enlarged Pores/Oily Skin
These picks feature, among other ingredients, salicylic acid to gently clean out pores, making them appear smaller.
Key ingredients: exfoliating salicylic acid and fruit enzymes to dissolve dead skin, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to restore and replenish, and zinc to regulate oil and minimise breakouts.
Key ingredients: powerful actives, like retinol and salicylic acid, combined with anti-inflammatory niacinamide and zinc, for clearer skin in days.
Best Face Serums for Ageing Skin
Say hello to more youthful looking skin that’s visibly firmer, plumper, and smoother.
Key ingredients: regenerative retinol, vitamins C and E for their powerful antioxidant properties, and a cocktail of minerals to repair the skin barrier.
DERMACEUTIC Activ Retinol 0.5
Original price was: R1,350.00.R1,150.00Current price is: R1,150.00.Key ingredients: urea, a gentle exfoliant that’s also a skin softener; radiance-boosting kombucha (derived from black tea ferment), and hyaluronic acid as the hydrating base.
Key ingredients: youth-boosting gardenia extract to plump skin, amino acids for a firming effect, and NeoGlucosamine™ to promote cellular turnover for healthy, glowing skin.
Best Face Serums for Sun-Damaged Skin
Press reset by adding one of these serums designed to help speed repair to your skincare regimen.
Key ingredients: a granactive retinoid (a milder version of retinol) and vitamin C combo tackle dark spots and wrinkles, while vitamin E, niacinamide and ceramides protect against environmental stressors and leave your complexion hydrated.
Key ingredients: a patented complex of zinc and copper to soothe skin and boost collagen production.
OBAGI ELASTIderm Facial Serum
Original price was: R4,345.00.R4,000.00Current price is: R4,000.00.Key ingredients: Neodermyl®, an amino acid complex to smooth wrinkles and restore firmness; Progeline®, a collagen-boosting peptide; Tens’up®, an ingredient extracted from chicory roots that ‘lifts’ the skin; and hyaluronic acid for rich hydration.
Best Face Serums for Redness
Your sensitive skin routine isn’t complete without one of these soothing serums!
Key ingredients: milk polypeptide and beta glucan reduce redness while fortifying your skin’s lipid barrier, and rice protein promotes natural repair.
REN Evercalm™ Redness Relief Serum
Original price was: R1,240.00.R1,040.00Current price is: R1,040.00.Key ingredients: a formulation of Repair 3 Complex that has been specifically designed to help reduce redness and relieve irritation in the skin. Designed to soothe sensitive skin, reduce redness, and strengthen and restore natural radiance. Also contains moisturising ingredients squalane and shea butter and vitamin C and E and hyaluronic acid to enhance skin barrier protection and repair.
Key ingredients: bio-active ingredients to improve skin’s resilience and reduce flushing, polyhydroxy acid (PHA) to restore and strengthen the skin’s barrier, and vitamin E and white tea extract to soothe irritation.
