Designed to deliver targeted results using higher concentrations and to boost the efficacy of other layered products, serums often slip through the cracks of simple skincare know-how despite being somewhat of a secret weapon. We’ve surveyed the heavyweights to uncover the solution that’ll best fit your face.
Turning Back The Clock
Lancôme’s Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Serum has around 170 different awards to its name, so it may come as no surprise that 25 million bottles of this magical elixir have been snapped up worldwide. Underpinning the youth-restoring formula are seven pre- and probiotics that target 10 different signs of ageing, helping to smooth out lines and restore firmness.
The Glow Up
Image from @clarinsofficial
A bestseller since its launch in 1985, Clarins’ Double Serum is billed as an anti-ageing hero, but the reason many users love it is its ability to impart brightness and radiance. Though the original incarnation is decades old, the most recent is infused with myriad superfood ingredients, including anti-inflammatory turmeric which works to reduce the melanin that causes hyperpigmentation, as well as energising goji and quinoa to strengthen the skin’s barrier.
Quenching Thirst
Don’t be fooled by her iconic “vampire facial”, Dr. Barbara Sturm’s skincare is rooted in a no-frills approach and honest ingredients that go the distance. Hyaluronic acid has become part of the industry’s bread and butter, but Sturm’s own version combines long and short chain molecules to penetrate the skin’s layers for deeper, longer-lasting hydration. The fast-absorbing formula is a saviour for dehydrated and sensitive complexions.
Building Immunity
Image from @shiseido
While we often look for skincare based on specific concerns, improving its overall strength can actually help with issues across the board, from irritation to scarring. To give your face the tools it needs to ward off damage and kickstart healing organically, look to powerhouse products like Shiseido’s Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, one bottle of which is sold every seven seconds. With antioxidant-rich reishi mushroom and iris root extracts, it delivers enough protection to make skin 28% stronger after just one week of use.
Damage Control
Insiders know it as ANR – to the uninitiated, that’s Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, the jewel in the brand’s crown. Besides combatting damage from sun exposure, pollution, free radicals and blue light, it protects, hydrates and brightens, making it very much a one-size-fits-all solution. Designed to work while you sleep, it’s so effective at enhancing radiance that some even use it as a dewy highlighter, applying it on cheekbones to add glow for the day.
