Beauty experts all have different opinions on what's best for your skin, but there's one product many recommend adding to your daily routine and that's serums.
The small bottles promise to correct all manner of beauty flaws, from ageing and redness to spots and flakiness, so it's worth taking some time to find the right product for your skin type.
Like other beauty products, the price tags can vary enormously, with plenty of budget buys on the shelves of stores like Boots and Superdrug, along with high end designer goodies if you're willing to the splash the cash.
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With that in mind, we decided to put several beauty serums to the test, rating them out of five, to see which scored top marks. Here's the results:
The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Since the moment lockdown started back in March 2020 I've been all about getting my skincare routine right. Everyone's skin is different and while taking advice is a good idea, a lot of the time you'll need to try products yourself.
That's why I took the opportunity during lockdown to spend as much time as possible focusing on getting my skin as clear as possible - and not having to wear makeup everyday definitely helped.
I've suffered with dry skin my whole life, having eczema as a child and, as an adult, often finding that no matter what I tried my skin stayed dry. Having spotted The Inkey List's Hyaluronic Acid Serum online I thought I'd give it a go - it doe promise to target dry skin after all.
According to the product description, the serum works across multiple layers of skin to target dry skin, helping it to "appear plumped and reduce the appearance of fine lines".
The serum is said to be "capable of holding 1000x its weight in water". It is to be used morning and night on cleansed skin.
I found the serum to be quite heavy and sticky, and not as easily spreadable as I'd expected. I didn't want to use more than the recommended amount but found that the 'pea sized amount' encouraged wasn't achievable.
The serum was to be used alongside other serums and before moisturiser. The stickiness of the serum dissipated after adding moisturiser but did find that my makeup didn't sit as well as normal after using it.
I didn't notice much of a difference in my skin after using The Inkey List serum and found that it actually caused a breakout.
Price: £5.99
Where to buy: You can get The Inkey List's Hyaluronic Acid Serum from Boots.
Rating: 2/5
Balance Active Formula Vitamin C Serum
I'm quite laid back with my skin care routine, being lucky enough to not be prone to breakouts or issues.
I do however have a lot of freckles and am quite pale, which tends to make my natural complexion look uneven and my skin dull, which I've always covered with make-up.
Over the last year I've began to focus on my skin more, especially since lockdown left no reason to put on my usual, everyday make-up. One thing I introduced into my routine was a serum, after all there is one for absolutely everything.
I ordered Balance Active Formula Vitamin C Serum because it promised to brighten and even out my complexion. It quickly became a staple to my routine, and it does exactly what it promises.
The serum is lightweight, and is perfect when wanting to wear no make-up, or to go under my make-up. It doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy, and a little goes a long way, which is always a bonus.
I can't say it would do anything miraculous, but for a starter serum to brighten up your complexion, I would definitely recommend.
Price: £4.99
Where to buy: You can get Balance Active Forumla Vitamin C Serum from Justmylook.
Rating: 4/5
Hello Sunday The One That's a Serum
Every skincare expert and connoisseur sings the praises of SPF, urging everyone, no matter what their skin type, to factor SPF into their daily routine.
In a bid to use less products that promise to tick multiple boxes, I gave some "day drops" by year-round sun protection brand Hello Sunday a go.
I opted for its popular The One That's A Serum, which promises to "shield your skin from broad-spectrum UVA/UVB rays, infrared radiation, blue light and pollution".
It can be mixed in with your daily moisturiser or used solo, which I like as it allows me to mix up my routine as and when needed.
The beautiful packaging includes a dropper which is aesthetic but a tad annoying as the serum is quite thick, so it can sometimes get clogged up.
The vegan and cruelty-free formula makes my skin feel soft and glowy, though it does take a long time to soak into the skin so I can only use it on days where I'm going makeup free (A.K.A never) or have plenty of time to wait for it to fully absorb.
That aside, I do love the clean, fresh and subtle scent and that it gives my skin an extra layer of protection from the sun. I feel like my skin looks healthy and fresh when using this serum.
I'll definitely repurchase.
Price: £20
Where to buy: You can buy Hello Sunday The One That's a Serum Face Drops (SPF45) from Cult Beauty here. It's also available from Beauty Bay and Hello Sunday SPF's website.
Rating: 4/5
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