6 Summer Serums to Solve Your Skin Problems
Updated: Jun. 26, 2020
Trade those heavy creams and moisturizers for lightweight serums packed with concentrated active ingredients that target your specific complexion concerns.
Best serum for smoothing out your complexion
Vitamin C is one of the buzziest skin-care ingredients—and for good reason. According to board-certified dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, this potent antioxidant absorbs and mitigates the effects of free radicals and oxidative stress on the skin, notably helping reduce inflammation and repair photodamage. As if that weren’t enough, it also plays a vital role in collagen synthesis, gives skin that radiant glow, and also diminishes the appearance of discoloration.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum,$162, sephora.com
Best serum for cellular repair
A staple in any youth-boosting skin-care routine, stem cells boost cellular regeneration and encourage skin cell growth, thus repairing and minimizing the signs of aging. “Like a skeleton key that can open any lock, stem cells can develop into any type of cell,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD.
Naturopathic Plant Stem Cell Booster Serum, $88 USD, naturopathic.com
Best serum for boosting hydration
Parched skin? Slather on some hyaluronic acid (HA). Dubbed the “moisture molecule,” it can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. So what does that mean for your complexion? Its moisture-binding abilities lock in water, leaving skin plump and supple. But hyaluronic acid’s benefits go beyond hydration—it also promotes healing and restores elasticity (youthful skin is packed with HA).
Pestle & Motar Pure Hyaluronic Serum, $59 USD, pestleandmortar.com
Best serum for double duty (aging and acne)
Acne isn’t just for teens. It’s estimated that 20 to 30 percent of women in Canada between the ages of 20 to 40 struggle with breakouts. But treating blemishes doesn’t have to mean giving up on your anti-aging routine. Niacinamide, a derivative of vitamin B3, is a multi-tasking miracle worker—delivering anti-inflammatory benefits, soothing redness, and helping fade discoloration (so you can say bye to brown spots and acne scars).
Renée Rouleau Skin Correcting Serum, $46.50 USD, reneerouleau.com
(Read this if you’re thinking about using essential oils to fight acne.)
Best defense against DNA damage
Resveratrol—a powerful antioxidant found in red grapes—bolstering skin’s defenses against UVB radiation, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which cause DNA damage and skin aging, according to research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E, $185, skinceuticals.ca
Best serum for exfoliation
As we age, our skin’s natural shedding process slows down, which can lead to dullness. Perhaps, the most popular alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), glycolic acid penetrates deeper to promote and speed up the exfoliation process, revealing new skin. The result is smoother, more radiant, even skin.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, $118, sephora.com
Next, check out these beauty essentials for healthy summer skin and hair.
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