The Best Anti Aging Face Serums for 2019

Peek inside your medicine cabinet and you probably have an arsenal of beauty supplies. While many of us strive to be minimalist when it comes to our closets (thanks, Marie Kondo) it is harder to streamline your beauty products. But quality is better than quantity when it comes to what you put on your face, and that’s where a serum comes in. We’re going to break down what exactly is a serum, what can a serum do, and take a look at some of the best face serums available today.

What Is a Serum?

One of the most important steps in any skincare routine is applying the right serum. A serum is a highly concentrated liquid containing a big dose of nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. It should be applied after cleansing but before moisturizing in order to penetrate the skin effectively. Depending on your skincare needs, you may need a daytime serum in addition to a night serum. Most serums are water based and have a thin consistency similar to a lightweight gel, although some are oil based.

Serums offer a specific, targeted benefit, depending on your skin type and what you’re looking to achieve. They help round out and intensify your beauty routine by focusing on a particular skin concern, whether it’s anti-aging, dull skin or acne. Serums can also help brighten skin and fade dark spots, and also improve the smoothness and suppleness of the skin. Just about every type of skincare need can be addressed by a serum – such as an anti-aging serum or one designed to boost skin’s radiance.

The advantage of a serum is that they are powerful, but also lightweight and absorb quickly, which makes them perfect for layering. Serums are ideal for anyone who likes their products to feel weightless, and they don’t leave sticky residue behind. Although they can help with hydration, a serum is not a replacement for a moisturizer- think of it rather as an enhancement to your daily face cream.

What’s The Difference Between A Serum and a Moisturizer?

Serums work differently to a cream. Lotions and creams have a thick, rich consistency that creates a barrier on top of the skin in order to lock in moisture. Creams are full of fillers, thickeners and lubricating agents, so they’re heavier and have less room less room for active ingredients. A serum is made of smaller molecules that can penetrate the skin on a deeper cellular level. It’s literally working on a different level than your moisturizer. Another way to think of it is this- serums are the workhorses of any skincare routine. The best face serums work faster and more effectively than arguably any other product in your bathroom vanity.

Are Serums the Same as Face Oils?

Not quite. Serums and face oils tend to be formulated very differently. Most serums are water based, although some serums are created in a base of oil. The vast majority of face oils are designed to nourish the face and add another layer of hydration. Most people wear a thin layer of a face oil at night, or add a few drops of it to their moisturizer to amp up the hydration level and give their skin an extra glow. In general, a serum should not be blended with anything else, and serums and face oils should be applied at different stages of your skincare routine. Water-based serums should be applied before any creams or moisturizers, while oil based products should go on top of moisturizer.

Is an Essence a Serum?

The short answer is: sort of. An essence is a key step in Korean and Japanese beauty routines. An essence is a thin, watery fluid that is often applied to the skin after cleansing and before moisturizing. The concept behind applying an essence is that it preps the skin to absorb the next layer of products, such as a serum and moisturizer. While both are designed to treat the skin, the two products have very different textures. A serum is thicker and gooier while an essence has a watery texture. Both should be applied in a patting motion rather than a rubbing one. If you are following a K-beauty routine, after cleansing you should apply an essence, followed by a serum, and then apply your moisturizer which works by sealing in all the hydration supplied by the essence. If a 10-step routine is not for you, you could skip the essence and just use a serum.

What is the Benefit of a Serum?

When it comes to tackling fine lines, an anti-aging serum is a critical part of any skincare routine. Serums are packed with good-for-you ingredients such as antioxidants, vitamins, peptides, and hyaluronic acid which work together to brighten, exfoliate and hydrate the skin. They can also help boost smoothness and brightness, and work to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin C helps even out skin tone and fade dark spots, while dry skin can also benefit from a serum. The most hydrating serums contains nourishing vitamin E, niacinamide to help improve skin elasticity, as well as hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture. Anti-aging serums are packed with skin lightening ingredients to tackle dark spots, while wrinkle serums contain the powerful line smoother retinol.

Which Serum Is Right For Me?

It’s important to choose the right serum for your skin type and skincare needs. Dry skin needs extra, long lasting hydration, so look for a serum with hyaluronic acid as well as the antioxidant vitamin E and niacinamide, which helps to improves skin elasticity. If your skin is prone to acne and flare ups, reach for a serum packed with vitamin C (to reduce inflammation), soothing zinc, salicylic acid to gently exfoliate skin and retinol, which also tackles spots. If your complexion is feeling lackluster and you need a boost of radiance, some of the key ingredients to get your glow back on include green tea extract, ferulic acid and vitamin C. If your skin is normal but you just want to give it a boost (or keep it looking that way), you can still benefit from a serum. Try one with glycolic acid or AHAs to gently dissolve dead skin cells and keep the cell renewal process running smoothly. You may also want to look for soothing ingredients such as aloe vera or licorice to help keep skin calm and protected.

How Should I Apply Serum?

How—and when– you apply a serum also makes a difference, as there is an optimal way to apply a serum. Most should be applied in the morning – preferably after a shower when the skin is still damp. A little bit goes a long way so a few drops is usually enough. Pat, don’t rub, the serum into your skin.

Serums are available at every budget level and are found in drugstores, department stores and direct to consumer but not all are created equally and their potency can vary. Some lower priced serums have fewer active ingredients so are not as potent, and won’t deliver the same results. Active ingredients such as vitamin C and botanical extracts can drive up the price of a serum, but keep in mind that only a few drops are needed, and a bottle should last a long time.