Give skin its glow back with these hardworking face serums
Is your skin showing signs of everyday stress? Everything from lack of sleep to pressing work schedules can make it look duller, drier and more dehydrated. However, a well-formulated night serum can make a world of difference to the way that it looks and feels.
What is a night serum?
A night serum is a face serum that has been specifically formulated to deliver a concentrated version of active ingredients for a particular skin condition. This could be pigmentation, wrinkles or dehydration (if those are things that bother you, of course). Its texture can range from an oil to a gel, but generally, night serums tend to be water-based.
Do face serums really work?
In a nutshell, yes. A night serum can be a valuable helping hand in supporting the skin’s natural circadian rhythms and assisting its switch from ‘protect mode’ during the day to ‘repair mode’ when we rest.
The skin does some of its most pressing work during the night, like cell regeneration and counteracting free radical damage caused by UV rays and pollution. When sleep is sparse, a night serum can help bolster these mechanisms and brighten dull skin.
Due to its myriad of benefits and more active-heavy formula, it can be a worthwhile addition to your night-time routine from your late 20s and early 30s onwards.
Should you use a serum every night?
Consistency is key and so you're more likely to reap the rewards of a night serum if you regularly use it. That doesn’t mean that you need to be tied to the same serum every night though. Many people tend to have a mixture of skin conditions that they want to address (like pigmentation and dehydration) so there’s the option of using more than one during the week. This can help to build a routine that suits your needs.
This also allows time for your skin to adjust to more potent ingredients such as retinoids and other vitamin A derivatives such as retinol. If you’re new to a retinol serum, you may want to start using it once or twice a week, slowly building it up to more regular use over six weeks.
How do you apply a serum?
This largely depends on the actives that you’re using, so have a good read of your night serum’s label carefully. As a general rule of thumb though, look to apply your skincare products from thinnest to thickest texture. With this in mind, most serums sit nicely after cleansing and an essence of toner (if you use them).
If you’re using a retinoid serum though, it could be worth applying it after your eye cream. The skin around the eye area is up to four times thinner than the skin on the rest of your body and so could be more prone to irritation from the use of vitamin A.
Applying an eye cream underneath them can help to counteract this. To help avoid irritation further, you may want to avoid the areas around the nose and mouth as well.
As for how much to use, one pump per application should be plenty (or a pea-sized amount if you’re using a retinoid). Less is more due to the higher concentration of actives in a night serum.
From cleansers and toners to serums and moisturisers, it can be tricky to navigate the world of skincare. Here, we show you the best tricks on layering skincare as part of your daily routine – and the added benefits of each simple step.
Want to learn how to incorporate serum into your skincare routine? Step this way for tips, tricks and our top picks!
How do you choose a face serum?
Ingredients that exfoliate, increase cell turnover, help with uneven skin tone and hydrate can all help skin to look brighter and more glowing.
Best night serums for your 30s
In your 30s, try incorporating hydrating and restorative serums into your routine.
You can try to include serums with ingredients like:
- Hyaluronic acid, a humectant that the body naturally produces which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water
- Brightening niacinamide to help protect the skin barrier (skin’s first line of defence against environmental aggressors)
- Firming peptides and vitamin A (for example, retinoids such as retinol to help support the increase of cell turnover and help build collagen
Best night serums for your 40s, 50s, 60s & beyond
Cell turnover slows as we age and skin can become less firm and dull-looking. It could be worth considering a night serum formulated with:
- Hyaluronic acid, (its production reduces as we age)
- Retinol
- Peptides
For more specific skin concerns...
The best night serums for pigmentation:
Look for ingredients that assist with the increase of cell turnover and exfoliate. Examples include retinoids such as retinol and glycolic and lactic acids. Tranexamic acid, azelaic acid, kojic acid and liquorice root help fade dark spots while niacinamide supports the look of an even skin tone.
The best night serums for sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin, you can incorporate hydration boosters like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
Niacinamide and ceramides are great for helping to protect the skin barrier, which tends to be compromised in sensitive skin types. You can try fragrance-free formulas to help keep the risk of irritation to a minimum.
The best night serums for dehydration
Tired skin is more prone to dehydration, so look for formulas with humectants such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol to encourage moisture into the skin. Niacinamide can help strengthen the skin barrier to prevent water loss.
The best night serums for wrinkles
Retinoids such as retinol can help to increase cell turnover to help slow down signs of ageing, while peptides encourage collagen production for firmer skin.
The best night serums for acne or breakouts
Lightweight serums with calming niacinamide, soothing azelaic acid or exfoliating salicylic acid may be helpful.
Ingredients such as retinol are also worth considering, while hyaluronic acid and glycerin can help soothe irritation and increase hydration levels.
Looking for a cleanser? Check out our guide to the best face washes for acne-prone skin.
As vital as skincare is, though, it is only part of the puzzle. Firstly, it’s worth identifying why you’re getting spots in the first place. There can be a number of reasons why some people get acne including: genetics, hormones, allergies and bacterial imbalances in the skin and a variety of different factors can trigger a breakout.
For mild cases, the NHS recommends speaking to a pharmacist for advice. You can pop into a store for a chat with your Boots Pharmacy Team.
What is the best night serum?
Whether you have a dry, oily or sensitive skin type, here are ten night serums to try for a range of different concerns.
Best night serum for skin damage
Try: No7 Future Renew™ Damage Reversal Night Serum
• Size: 25ml
• Fragrance-free
• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Dermatologist-approved
Looking for one of the best night serums for damaged skin? This science-backed serum from No7 is powered by Pepticology™, a world-first peptide technology developed with over 15 years of research.
It’s designed to support the skin’s natural renewal process overnight, targeting visible signs of everyday damage like fine lines, uneven tone and texture. The fast-absorbing formula is fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin, making it a great all-rounder to help skin feel smoother, firmer and more resilient over time.
Best night serum for oily skin
Try: Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum
• Size: 150ml
• Oil-free
• Alcohol-free
• Non-comedogenic
• Vegan*
This toner-serum hybrid fights shine, rebalances and brightens in one fell swoop. Its non-comedogenic and oil-free formula helps to make sure that it doesn’t clog pores, while the absence of alcohol from its ingredients list prevents it from feeling drying.
Best night serum for wrinkles
Try: No7 Pure Retinol 1% Retinol Night Concentrate
• Size: 30ml
While you sleep, the No7 Night Concentrate targets seven key signs of ageing, working to reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark spots more. The blend of 1% retinol and collagen peptide technology also help restore radiance and make skin feel firmer and more lifted.
Best night serum for pigmentation
Try: The INKEY List™ Tranexamic Acid Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Strength: 2% tranexamic acid
This hard-working serum contains a range of complementary ingredients to target hyperpigmentation in a variety of ways. The 2% tranexamic acid helps to fade dark spots, while the acai berry extract and vitamin C derivative help to brighten and even skin tone.
Best night serum for breakouts & blemishes
Try: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
• Size: 30ml
• Oil-free
• Alcohol-free
• Vegan*
Containing niacinamide and zinc to help regulate sebum production, clear congestion, even skin tone and prevent future breakouts, this oil-free serum boasts a high-performance formula at an affordable price tag.
Best exfoliating serum
Try: Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Essential oil-free
• Fragrance-free
• Vegan*
For those looking for a leave-on treatment to help revive dull and tired skin, this souped-up serum is for you. Containing 10% lactic acid to slough off dead skin cells, an ultra-concentrated blend of 11 skin-firming peptides and hydration boosters and non-fragrant plant oils to seal moisture in, it’s the ultimate multi-tasker.
Best night serum for dry skin & wrinkles
Try: L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
• Size: 30ml
Containing a hefty 1.5% dose of macro and micro hyaluronic acid for multi-layer penetration, this super-hydrating serum packs a punch when it comes to working at plumping out wrinkles and drawing in moisture. Non-greasy and fast-absorbing, it can be used day or night.
Best tanning night serum
Try: Isle of Paradise Hyglo Hyaluronic Self-Tan Face Serum
• Size: 30ml
• Vegan*
How does a beach-kissed glow from the comfort of your own bed sound? This gradual tan in a serum provides just that thanks to the perfect amount of DHA, hyaluronic acid and Isle of Paradise’s signature complex of avocado, coconut and chia seed oils.
Shop more of our night serums for glowing skin here.
