Editor’s Picks: 20 of the Best Face Serums to Target Every Skin Concern (Hydrating, Brightening, Anti-Aging and More)

As an editor, I’ve tested and evaluated face serums from a range of brands. These are my top picks for every preference:

While each formula will vary, face serums that are packed with beneficial actives—and are free of potentially irritating, comedogenic and unstable ingredients—are going to be the best for your skin.

Here's what I look for:

• High in key ingredients: As you're reading labels, make sure the serum contains the key ingredients that will deliver the results you're after. For example, if it's hydration, you'll want to see humectants such as aloe, glycerin and hyaluronic acid. If it's brightening, there should be actives like vitamin C and niacinamide. Use my list below as a guide for which ingredients offer which benefits—and remember that the first five typically represent about 80% of a product.
• Low in fragrance: It's the number one skin irritant, so it should be listed at the end of the ingredients list, or even better, not in the formula at all.
• Low in silicone: As an occlusive, film-forming ingredient, silicone can impede the absorption of active ingredients from your serum. It can also trap acne-causing debris, slow down cell renewal and cause pilling under other products.
• Low in oil: Rather than penetrating, oil tends to sit on top of your skin and form a barrier, which can prevent other ingredients from getting in. Plus, if it is unsaturated, it can oxidize quickly and generate free radicals that age your skin.
• Has a preservative: All water-based products need a preservative system to prevent bacterial growth.

The Nue Co. The Pill

• Details: iS Clinical Active Serum is a cult-favourite serum that's loaded with active botanicals to help with an array of skin concerns. It's got natural sources of glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids to gently exfoliate, soften wrinkles and deep-clean pores. Plus there's arbutin and mushroom for brightening and evening out tone. Although it's free of fragrance, oil and silicone, it does contain alcohol to enhance penetration, which may be drying—so be sure to follow up with your favourite hydrator(s).
• Key ingredients: Sugarcane extract, bilberry extract, willow bark extract, arbutin, mushroom extract.
• Best for: Clarifying, brightening, anti-aging.

U Beauty Resurfacing Compound

Avène RetrinAL Advanced Correcting Serum

• What it is: Shani Darden Retinol Reform tk.
• Key ingredients: 2.2% encapsulated retinol, 2% lactic acid.
• Editor’s notes: tk gives you the benefits of retinol without the usual dryness, irritation or questionable ingredients (it's fragrance-free, oil-free and silicone-free). That makes it ideal for retinoid beginners as well as anyone who is experiencing the first signs of aging. It also helps with breakouts by speeding up cell turnover, and is bolstered by lactic acid, which gently exfoliates. See my in-depth review here.
• Anti-aging, clearing and preventing acne.

• What it is: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is the gold standard vitamin C serum, made with active L-ascorbic acid. 
• Key ingredients: 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E, 0.5% ferulic acid.
• Editor’s notes: What makes it so special? It's backed by a patent as well as extensive peer-reviewed studies that attest to its stability and efficacy. As an antioxidant, not only does it protect your skin from aging free radicals, it also helps to repair sun damage, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and brighten dullness.
• Antioxidant protection, anti-aging, brightening.

• What it is: ClarityRx Daily Dose of Water Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum is tk.
• Key ingredient: Hyaluronic acid.
• Editor’s notes: tk one of the best hyaluronic acid-based serums on the market. With only four ingredients—and no fragrance, oils or silicones—it binds moisture to your skin for instant plumping and hydration. The texture is light and fluid, and it feels completely weightless on your skin.
• Best for: Hydrating, plumping.

Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1

• What it is: Consonant HydrExtreme is tk.
• Key ingredients: Cassia angustifolia seed polysaccharide, glycerin.
• Editor’s notes: tk another hydrating serum I recommend, and it's powered not by hyaluronic acid but a naturally-derived sugar. In a double-blind clinical study, it actually outperformed the leading hyaluronic acid serum both immediately and after 24 hours. It goes on light and watery, is made with just two ingredients, and is fragrance-free, oil-free and silicone-free.

Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum

• Details: Summer Fridays CC Me Serum is all about brightening your skin and evening out tone with three gentle but effective vitamins. They include two vitamin C derivatives—which are more stable and less irritating than L-ascorbic acid—plus vitamin B3 (niacinamide). With its slightly thicker texture, it's more hydrating than most serums, and is also free of silicones.
• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C (ethyl ascorbic acid and ascorbyl glucoside), squalane, peptides.
• Best for: Brightening, hydrating.

CyberDerm Retin + Erase

Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster

• Details: The Inkey List Niacinamide isn't your typical mattifying serum. Instead of just absorbing excess oil, it actually helps to reduce the amount of sebum your skin excretes, using a high dose of niacinamide. I can attest that it really does work, while simultaneously hydrating with lightweight humectants. It's also fragrance-free and silicone-free, with a silky texture.
• Key ingredients: 10% niacinamide, 1% hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane.
• Best for: Controlling oil, brightening, hydrating.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

• Details: Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum is a gel-like serum that both treats active acne as well as prevents future breakouts. It does so with salicylic acid, the most effective acne-fighting ingredient, which unclogs pores and reduces inflammation. At a 0.75% concentration, it's gentler than most acne products on the market, and is packed with moisturizing humectants (not silicones).
• Key ingredients: 0.75% salicylic acid, aloe, willow bark extract, vitamin B5 (panthenol).
• Best for: Clearing and preventing acne.