This luxe serum is a good gateway product for those who love facial oils. With natural ingredients like blue seakale, green tea, and watermelon, it then fuses restorative technology like fig plant stem cells to fight lines and wrinkles. Love Springs Eternal Serum (One Love; $75 online)
2The science geek serum.
You want a hard-hitting anti-aging serum? This one combines the power of mushrooms and green tea as well as protects against pollution and free radicals. But the biggest selling point? It hydrates with a matte finish. Future Response Age Defense Serum (AmorePacific ;$160 at Neiman Marcus)
3The science geek serum.
You want a hard-hitting anti-aging serum? This one combines the power of mushrooms and green tea as well as protects against pollution and free radicals. But the biggest selling point? It hydrates with a matte finish. Future Response Age Defense Serum (AmorePacific ;$160 at Neiman Marcus)
4Vegan, organic, and totally affordable.
This Portland, Oregon brand delivers a smooth and weightless serum that won’t break the bank. It primes the skin for whatever you want to do with it (makeup or no) and includes ingredients honeysuckle, iris, rose, and jasmine. Rose Gold Brightening Primer Serum (Pacifica; $15.99 at Target)
5Vegan, organic, and totally affordable.
This Portland, Oregon brand delivers a smooth and weightless serum that won’t break the bank. It primes the skin for whatever you want to do with it (makeup or no) and includes ingredients honeysuckle, iris, rose, and jasmine. Rose Gold Brightening Primer Serum (Pacifica; $15.99 at Target)
Kari Gran, a Seattle native, has an incredible line of naturals worth investigating. Her serum is a powerhouse of nourishing, super hydrating actives and you can even mix this serum with mineral powder foundation to create a tinted moisturizer. Essential Serum (Kari Gran; $60 online)
9Moisture, right now.
Got dry skin? This serum promises to not just improve your skin tone and make you look like a million bucks, it is formulated to replenish lost moisture with Sodium Hyaluronate and apple extract. It also lasts all day. Hyaluronic Booster Plus Serum (Elemental Herbology; $130 online)
10The multitasker.
Kari Gran, a Seattle native, has an incredible line of naturals worth investigating. Her serum is a powerhouse of nourishing, super hydrating actives and you can even mix this serum with mineral powder foundation to create a tinted moisturizer. Essential Serum (Kari Gran; $60 online)
11Serum and chill.
Seattle-based Paula’s Choice CALM Redness Relief Repairing Serum immediately soothes irritation and redness, but also has great benefits of anti-aging, antioxidants, anti-everything you need and want in a serum. Perfect for sensitive skin. CALM Redness Relief Repairing Serum (Paula’s Choice; $32 at Nordstrom)
12Moisture, right now.
Got dry skin? This serum promises to not just improve your skin tone and make you look like a million bucks, it is formulated to replenish lost moisture with Sodium Hyaluronate and apple extract. It also lasts all day. Hyaluronic Booster Plus Serum (Elemental Herbology; $130 online)
13Hometown hero.
For use on both face and hair, this serum is also close to the facial oil family. Made right here in Seattle, this little bottle will help reduce redness, hydrate the skin and treats hair, all while smelling amazing. Nectar Skin Serum (Essential Apothecary; $21 at E.Smith Mercantile)
14Hometown hero.
For use on both face and hair, this serum is also close to the facial oil family. Made right here in Seattle, this little bottle will help reduce redness, hydrate the skin and treats hair, all while smelling amazing. Nectar Skin Serum (Essential Apothecary; $21 at E.Smith Mercantile)
15Feels like an oil, works like a serum.
This luxe serum is a good gateway product for those who love facial oils. With natural ingredients like blue seakale, green tea, and watermelon, it then fuses restorative technology like fig plant stem cells to fight lines and wrinkles. Love Springs Eternal Serum (One Love; $75 online)
16Serum and chill.
Seattle-based Paula’s Choice CALM Redness Relief Repairing Serum immediately soothes irritation and redness, but also has great benefits of anti-aging, antioxidants, anti-everything you need and want in a serum. Perfect for sensitive skin. CALM Redness Relief Repairing Serum (Paula’s Choice; $32 at Nordstrom)
A few weeks ago, I found myself scouring Bartell Drugs for a facial serum–any serum–since I’d run out of NUDE Advanced Renewal Serum ($63) after only a month. I’d purchased it at a Sephora in Dallas, and even then, finding a suitable serum proved difficult (and what I’d ended up purchasing wasn’t exactly my favorite).
So what happened? Serums were all the rage in the ’90s and into the aughts: the AM regimen included cleanser, serum then moisturizer. Alana Rivera from Etta + Billie explains, “I think serum popularity has faded quite a bit with the recent attention of facial oils. It’s all about the facial oils these days! I think it has a lot to do with their ability to act as a moisturizer and a treatment product much like a serum. A minimalist approach to skincare routines.”
But if you’re just not that into oils for whatever reason (too heavy, too slick), you still want all the benefits to protect and replenish your skin. Well, get to clicking, because we’ve got the crème de la sérum. Let’s bring ‘em back!
