The 15 Best Face Serums for Your Every Skin Concern

A really, really good face serum is, hands down, the most important step in your skincare routine (after SPF, of course). And I’m guessing you don’t even use one, do you? It’s fine, no judgment—this is why we’re doing this. “Serums often contain a high percentage of active ingredients that are designed to address specific skin issues or concerns,” says NYC dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD. They’re basically like a tequila shot for your face—potent, effective, and fast acting (without the hangover).

And because they have a thin consistency, they’re able to easily penetrate the skin, giving you noticeable results pretty quickly. And there are literally a zillion of them on the market, so you can cater them to your face’s exact type and needs. Convinced yet? Good. Because I found the 15 best face serums for acne, dark spots, wrinkles, dryness, and more, so you can start layering (use serums as the first step of your routine) the goodness, fast.

Love Cosmo? Want the mag?