Best Face Serums for Seriously Glowing Skin

Picture yourself on a deserted island, hundreds of miles away from any humans or civilization of any kind. You are stuck there with no guarantee of being rescued whatsoever. But you do get to select five items to take with you on this clandestine vacation of sorts.

Soooooo, what are you bringing?

For yours truly, after gently placing my favorite hoodie, Stanley water bottle (I may be on a deserted island, but I still need to stay hydrated), my iPhone completely loaded with music (Bad Bunny, Posty, Drake, Jack Harlow - all my loves will be represented), and Pedro Pascal (I mean, I need companionship too), I would be making space in my luggage for my face serums. Yes, face serums are that important.

Serums are an incredibly important part in any individual’s skincare regimen. Think of them as the Thighmaster of skincare (yet again, I risk dating myself with that classic Suzanne Somer’s reference) - they can spot treat issues including tackling specific concerns like dryness, dullness, and pigmentation issues, to name a few.

In a serum, concentrated key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinol, ceramides, and peptides are delivered to skin via small, concentrated molecules, creating an ideal situation for optimal absorption into the skin.

Dermatologist Recommended

As most aestheticians and dermatologists will tell you, serums, when layered correctly, can provide intense nourishment to skin that is only enhanced exponentially when followed by an emollient moisturizer. Echoing the information provided by highly celebrated, board certified Dr. Arisa Ortiz, as reported in a previous article for Beautytap, serums utilize key ingredients at smaller molecular levels, so heavy hitters like hyaluronic acid are absorbed into the skin more easily, allowing for maximum absorption and performance.

It is also integral that serums are applied to a cleansed, toned face, prior to any moisturizers or oils (follow the unspoken rule of “lightest to heaviest” in terms of products for maximum performance). In addition, to truly optimize key ingredients in your serum like hyaluronic acid, lightly dampen face with water prior to application of serums; since hyaluronic acid is a super hydrating element, it will suck up that H₂O like a sponge, delivering immediate hydration to skin, giving skin a youthful plump.

How to Apply

Finally, the serum debate that is as old as time - press in, massage in, or pat on? Everyone has their own take on how to apply, and each process has its benefits. Whether you pat, press or massage, make sure you are doing so in an upwards and outwards motion. Pro tip? Use serums sparingly; a little goes a loooooong way.

Top Face Serum Picks

So now that we have covered Serums 101, let’s dig into several beauty expert favorites I would pack for my tropical escape.

COSRX The Retinol .5 Oil

Ok, let’s be honest; like the food I use to nourish my body, I want my skincare to have as few ingredients as possible. In addition, it would help if I could pronounce said ingredients names - in skincare, simpler is better, and in this writer’s opinion, more effective. Add in the affordability factor and you’ve got my attention… hook, line and sinker.

So, when I tried COSRX’s The Retinol .5 Oil, I knew I had found my long-lost dermal darling. This core serum keeps it real with 3 key ingredients: vitamin A, squalane and vitamin E. This trifecta not only protects skin from further damage, but it also helps to reverse existing issues of fine lines, giving collagen production a much-needed boost. All this with a $27 price point? Done and done.

COSMEDIX Serum 24 Rapid Renewal Complex

When customers refer to a serum as “youth in a bottle,” best believe I’m trying it. Spoiler alert? Said clients are NOT WRONG. COSMEDIX’s Serum 24 comes correct with LG-Retinex, a custom blended formula that utilizes retinol and retinal (microencapsulated to ensure maximum efficacy as well as prevent the loss of potency of the delicate elements) to bring sweet cellular turnover, revealing a more youthful, glowing skin. Moisture-starved skins can rejoice; Serum 24 employs both sodium hyaluronate (a smaller molecular version of hyaluronic acid for better absorption) and squalane to get your dermis drenched.

YSE Last Call Retinol Serum

It rings true that some of our most formative moments come from places of pain and difficulty. That can be said for the gorgeous and talented Molly Sims; her struggles with skin issues such as acne and hyperpigmentation led to the development of her YSE brand of skincare. Simple and effective (with a bonus that it is housed in gorgeous packaging that looks beautiful on your vanity), YSE skincare elements target specific skincare concerns beautifully; the rave reviews from professionals in the industry and customers can attest to this.

Which takes us to YSE’s Last Call Retinol Serum. Hyaluronic acid? Check. Niacinamides and beta-glucan to target fine lines and pigmentation issues? You bet. But the shining star in this super serum is retinol; delivering game changing results to the texture of skin but microencapsulated to avoid the typical redness and irritation. What a great way to end your day!

Solawave Solabiome Peptide Plumping Serum

Ok, full disclosure…I am in a deep-seeded love affair with hyaluronic acid. It’s SERIOUS. I can’t remember what my skin’s life was like before HA, and honestly, I don’t want to. But then Solawave Solabiome Peptide Plumping Serum came around and changed EVERYTHING. This serum has not one, not two, but THREE molecular forms of HA to successfully penetrate skin, delivering maximum hydration, which equates to maximum plumping of skin. Why not MORE hydration, you ask? I got you. Avocado peptides take skin hydration to that gorgeous next level. Add Solabiome to the mix, a proprietary, pre- and probiotic cocktail that’s said to feed the skin and restores its own natural flora, and you have the makings for a beautiful relationship… with your skin, that is.

Kat Burki 5 Step Kit

Finally, is your current skin care routine lackluster? Feeling ready to change things up and discover a newfound radiance? This 5 Step Kit from Kat Burki will provide the glow up your skin needs, from cleanser to finishing oil, and everything in between. The package comes complete with Super Nutrient Elixir, a gorgeous little spray that preps the skin (big props to you, glycolic acid) while delivering hydration via seed oils and hyaluronic acid.

Enter the heavy hitter, Burki’s PH+ Enzyme Essence. Chock-a-block with pumpkin seed and papaya enzymes, as well as licorice root and wild cherry bark, this serum helps restore the skin’s natural biome, defending against the stressors of our everyday environment, while simultaneously boosting cell turnover-the one two punch your skin is screaming for.

So, there you have it! These expert picks will address your skin concerns and leave your face hydrated, plumped and dewy. Which leaves more time to address the issue of getting off that island; but if Pedro Pascal is marooned with you, is there really any hurry?

Besos, babies!