How to Choose a Face Serum for Your Skin
A face serum is a concentrated formula built to solve one problem. That's the whole difference from a moisturiser, which hydrates and protects in a general way. Choosing one therefore comes down to a single question: what bothers you when you look in the mirror?
The matching table
| What your skin is doing | The active that answers |
|---|---|
| Tight, dull by the end of the day | Hyaluronic acid or glycerin |
| Uneven tone, post-blemish marks, visible pores | Niacinamide |
| Rough texture, dark spots, no glow | Glycolic acid |
| Loss of firmness, settled fine lines | Age-defying serum (squalane, proteins) |
| Redness, reactivity, discomfort | A minimalist soothing formula |
If your skin feels tight
This is the most common starting point, and often the only one you need. Dehydrated skin looks dull, shows fine lines that aren't really lines, and tolerates every other active badly — fix this before adding anything else.
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Seven ingredients, no fragrance, no oil. Apply to damp skin, then seal with a moisturiser.
Hydration Serum
Glycerin base with a plant-derived hydrating film, slightly more cushioned texture.
If your tone is uneven
Niacinamide works on pigment transfer, the look of pores, and the strength of the skin barrier — three things at once, without irritating. It's the most versatile serum of the set and the easiest to slot in. Details in our piece on it.
Niacinamide Brightening Serum
Morning, under moisturiser. Suits sensitive skin.
If your texture is rough
Glycolic acid exfoliates chemically: it loosens the dead cells that dull the complexion and hold pigment. This is background work, not an instant effect. Introduce it slowly, at night, twice a week to start — see also dark spots.
If you're after firmness
Age Defying Serum
Squalane, glycerin and hydrolysed soy protein. Morning or night.
If your skin reacts to everything
The right instinct is to remove, not add. A minimalist, fragrance-free formula used alone for two to four weeks gives the barrier time to rebuild.
How many can you layer
Two, three at most, and never all at once. The rule that avoids 90% of irritation:
- Morning: a hydrating serum and/or niacinamide.
- Night: the acid, or the age-defying serum — not both the same night.
- Always thinnest to thickest, with a moisturiser on top to seal.
And above all: one new product at a time, two weeks apart. Otherwise, when something reacts, you'll never know which one to blame.
Frequently asked
Does a serum replace moisturiser?
No. A serum treats, a moisturiser seals. A humectant serum with nothing over it can actually dry skin out in dry air.
How long before you see results?
Hydration: a few days. Tone and texture: eight to twelve weeks. A serum judged in a week is a serum judged too early.
Should you change serum in winter?
Rarely the serum — more often the moisturiser, for something richer. Winter's need is occlusive, not active.
The full INCI list for every formula is published on its product page.