The Best Face Serums for Glowing Skin

We’re all after dewy, glowing skin.

But due to the normal aging process, our skin starts to go through biological changes that can make it appear dull and uneven. Dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles and thinner, less firm skin all over the body become more apparent with age.

Luckily, face serums are one way to support radiant skin at any age, and knowing which ingredients to look for in face serums can help guide you toward the most effective skin care products for your specific skin concerns. Read on to learn more about our favorite face serums for glowing skin!

What are the benefits of serums?

Serums are a simple yet effective addition to your skin care routine. To get the most radiant-looking skin possible, it’s important to get your active ingredients as deep inside the pores as possible. 

Serum formulations are often considered the best way to accomplish this (as opposed to a cream, which is more useful as an overall moisturizer) due to their thinner consistency. This allows them to dive deep inside the skin and make real, noticeable changes. The different ingredients found in serums offer different benefits — let's go over some of the most common ones. 

What ingredients are used in serums?

The key to finding the best face serums for glowing skin is on the product’s active ingredients list. Don’t be tricked by how much a product costs or the brand name on the label — it really comes down to choosing high-quality, dermatologist-recommended ingredients. Here are a few of our favorite heavy hitters.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid offers a variety of benefits and is especially effective at hydrating the skin. Regardless of your skin type, the skin all over your body needs moisture to stay resilient (especially as it ages). 

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant (much like glycerin), which means that it attracts and binds to water in the skin. In fact, hyaluronic acid can bind up to 1,000 times its own weight in water.

Without enough moisture, your skin barrier can break down and leave you even more susceptible to the harmful effects of various outside factors, especially sun damage. In addition, the body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, so most people tolerate this type of serum well. 

A hyaluronic acid serum can help combat dry skin, even in those without a naturally dry skin type. If you have oily skin, hyaluronic acid serums make for great oil-free moisturizers.

Other hydrating serum ingredients that can be effective include squalane and ceramides, lipids that are also naturally produced by the body.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C (also known as l-ascorbic acid) is a potent ingredient known for its ability to brighten the skin, even out skin texture and minimize the appearance of discoloration. The benefits of vitamin C serum are related to its antioxidant properties, which can help address the visible effects of free radical damage.

Vitamin C can also help support the skin’s natural collagen production, which encourages skin elasticity. Although frequently used as a brightening serum, vitamin C can also support sunscreen (as long as you choose an appropriate option, like our Sheer Defense SPF).

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of niacin, also known as vitamin B3. When used in a lightweight serum form, niacinamide can help support your skin barrier, encourage hydration to combat dryness, minimize the visibility of your pores and work with other ingredients to fade the appearance of dark spots.

Exfoliants

There aren’t many active ingredients that get as much instant recognition as exfoliants. These chemicals can help to remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface and encourage a brighter, smoother complexion.

Exfoliants like retinol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and lactic acid can help with anything from frequent breakouts and blemishes to encouraging firmer, more youthful-looking skin.

The one downside to exfoliants, especially retinoids, is that they may be too harsh for sensitive skin. To help manage these side effects, it’s generally recommended to start off by using the product twice a week and increase use as your skin allows.

It can also be helpful to follow your retinol serums with soothing ingredients like green tea and aloe.

Ferulic acid

One other active ingredient we’d like to feature is ferulic acid. Like vitamin C, ferulic acid is a potent antioxidant. The ingredient is used to help the skin look younger, fight off the damaging effects of free radicals, brighten dull skin and even out your skin tone.

Skin Pharm products for glowing skin

With the previous active ingredients in mind, let’s look at some of our favorite face serums for glowing skin.

Our Glowing Duo, Youth Serum and Glow Factor, contains several key ingredients including hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C, alongside peptides and vitamin E. The two serums work together to nourish the skin and help it look younger and more radiant. This powerhouse pair can also minimize the appearance of age-related skin concerns and boost collagen production.

Another of our favorite face serums for glowing skin is our Night Watch serum, which is packed with a type of retinol known as HPR (Hydroxypinacolone retinoate). HPR can help refine the skin’s surface without causing irritation, leaving your skin looking younger and feeling smoother. 

Use this gentle retinol during your nighttime routine — works while you sleep, and you'll wake up with refined, refreshed skin. 

The bottom line...

The best face serums for glowing skin make use of active ingredients that have scientifically proven results. Take the guesswork out of your skin care (especially when it comes to combating the signs of aging) and know what ingredients to look for. 

SOURCES:

Vitamin C in dermatology | PMC

Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging | PMC

Antioxidant Properties of Ferulic Acid and Its Possible Application | PubMed

Skincare Bootcamp: The Evolving Role of Skincare | PMC