20 Best Face Serums for Fresh-from-Vacation Glowing Skin

Thanks to a combination of hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, this serum provides instant results at an attainable price, says New York-based dermatologist Howard Sobel. “Hyaluronic acid attracts moisture and can be used for all skin types.”

Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Marnie B. Nussbaum, MD, says she loves this serum because it "contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5 to brighten the skin tone and add a hydrated, healthy skin barrier."

"For an immediate boost of hydration I like an oil-free serum," Renée Rouleau, a celebrity esthetician, says. "It's formulated with hyaluronic acid which helps increase hydration and promotes an all-day glow."

This drugstore star contains three key ingredients: ceramides, vitamin B5, and hyaluronic acid, says Philadelphia-based dermatologist Erum Ilyas. “Think of your skin as a cobblestone street. When your skin dries out it’s as though the mortar that holds the bricks (your cells) together are breaking down. This leaves it open to any insult from the environment, which will inflame and irritate your skin. Hyaluronic Acid can find its way into these cracks and draw moisture into the skin to repair and hydrate.”

Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon is a big fan of this serum. "It's loaded with water trapping, brightening and anti aging vitamins," she says. "But, the thing I love the most is the instant glow and perfectly moisturized skin that it provides under makeup.  It's perfect for your summer routine!"

Because face serums are so concentrated, they can be irritating to sensitive skin. If this sounds like it could be an issue for you, Dr. Anna Guanche, a dermatologist at the Bella Skin Institute, recommends Olay Regenerist, a product that’s readily available at drugstores.  “It’s mild, fragrance-free, and soothing,” she says. Still, it’s effective: “Fine lines are plumped out as they are hydrated.”

"If you have oily/acne prone skin, I recommended moisturizing with lighter lotion, like the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum as opposed to a cream," says Dr. Jeremy Brauer, a Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at NYU. 

This offers the most bang for your buck. A serum and primer all in one, it offers both skin brightening and moisturizing benefits that work all day long, says Zeichner. “Soy extract can lighten dark spots, while kiwi can plump and hydrate.”

When you’re browsing drugstore aisles, look for retinol. “Retinol is the best studied ingredient we have over the counter to fight the appearance of fine lines,” says Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. “By stimulating collagen, it can strengthen the skin's foundation and minimize wrinkles.”

Dr. Nussbaum is a big fan of this serum too because "it's packed with vitamin C and E to combat sun damage, fine lines, and can help to improve complexion."

Dr. Cynthia Price, Board Certified Dermatologist at Skin Science in Phoenix, AZ says this product is "close to a topical Botox serum. It packs powerful anti-aging properties. It blurs the neurotransmitters leading to muscle movement, thereby relaxing the face and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles upon contact," she says. 

Thanks to the anti-aging results of this serum, it's a favorite of Fichtel's.  "It helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles," she says. 

For something that’s easy to layer and provides an immediate boost, Dr. Mona Gohara, a Connecticut-based dermatologist relies on this antioxidant-packed product for an instant glow. “Vitamin C is my go-to antioxidant,” says Gohara. “It helps with sun damage, and prevents fine lines and wrinkling.”

This serum may have a hefty price tag, but it delivers long-lasting hydration, thanks to a high concentration of hyaluronic acid, says Sobel. It also contains botanical extracts of licorice root and purple rice to help with pigmentation, he adds.

This serum is packed with a variety of botanical ingredients to hydrate, calm, plump, and strengthen skin. “One of its hero ingredients is turmeric, a spice traditionally used in cooking,” says Zeichner. “Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, allowing the skin to function optimally and produce healthy collagen to maintain a strong skin foundation.” 

Hyaluronic acid is known to plump wrinkles since it holds its weight in water 1000 times, Dr. Price says. "This sophisticated serum increases the elasticity of the skin, prevents the breakdown of collagen, and gives the skin an overall beautiful, healthy glow," she adds.

Dr. Jill Fichtel, a board certified dermatologist and founder of Transformative Dermatology, is a fan of this product because it helps deliver a brighter skin tone, she says.

Rouleau recommends her own serum for anyone that's dealing with both wrinkles and adult breakouts. "It reduces sensitivity and balances the skin to prevent the appearance of breakouts while deeply hydrating the cells to improve hydration levels and given an instant plumpness," she says. 

If price isn’t an issue, Guanche says this luxe pick is worth the investment. “This amazing serum does so much. It provides instant smoothing and tightening. It’s filled with growth factors that visibly reduce wrinkles and lines,” she says. “I personally use it as a makeup primer.”

If you’d rather pick up a face serum during your weekly grocery haul, Trader Joe’s has a version of the beauty elixir that’s great for anyone with dry skin. “The Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum is made with one gram of hyaluronic acid, which can actually hold up to several liters of water,” says Guanche. “It’s lightweight, inexpensive, unscented, and highly moisturizing." In short, it’s a high-end serum at a reasonable price.