Skin
Best Serums For Radiant Skin

The Best Serums for Radiant Skin

By Gabriella Buckner - 9 months ago

Fresh-looking, glowing skin will (hopefully) always be trending, now that we’ve finally gotten over the heavily powdered complexions of the 2010s. After all, who wouldn’t want their face to look naturally healthy and radiant, with and without makeup?

However, unless you’ve hit the genetic jackpot, glowing skin is something you’ve got to work for. Most of us have blemishes (old or new), hyperpigmentation, dryness, oiliness or a general dullness to combat in order to reach this dream complexion.

That’s why we’re delving into the causes of dullness, plus our favourite ingredients for combatting it. Keep reading to see our list of the best serums for radiant skin and snag some great deals.

What causes dull skin and how do you fix it?

There are several reasons your skin might be looking lacklustre of late.

Your skin might look dull due to:

Age (as we age, we don’t produce the lipids necessary to keep skin hydrated and fresh-looking)
Sun exposure
Lifestyle or diet
Lack of sleep
Acne, acne scars or hyperpigmentation
Build-up of dead skin

Or some combination of the above! Take note of how much water and healthy foods you consume, how much sleep you're getting and whether you're going out without your sun cream. If you've addressed all these things and still feel like your skin isn't looking its best, keep on reading.

Best skincare ingredients for glowing skin

Thanks to hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin (which give skin an instantly dewy finish) and skin-brightening ingredients like vitamin C, adding a brightening serum to your skincare routine is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to pep up your complexion.

We also love retinol or its alternatives for their ability to fight blemishes and signs of ageing that are contributing to dull skin, as well as exfoliating AHAs that remove dead skin to reveal a fresh glow.

You can always add these ingredients to your routine through cleansers, moisturisers and masks, but the concentrated formula and delightful silky texture of a serum makes them an ideal method for incorporating skin-brightening products into a daily regimen.

So, without further ado, here are the ten best face serums for radiant skin.

BEST SERUMS FOR GLOWING SKIN

Alpha-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum

£11.40 £75.18 (85% off)

If your dull complexion comes with the fine lines and dryness of ageing, then you'll love the Alpha-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum, which is packed with granactive retinoid, exfoliating glycolic acid and collagen-boosting bioactive tripeptide-5. There's also coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant that evens out skin tone and texture, as well as ferulic acid to protect you from free radicals that only age and dull your skin further. Get ready to look luminous!

Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides Serum

£55.00

If you have sensitive skin, you might like to try this Bakuchiol Peptides Serum instead, which uses the retinol-alternative, plant-based bakuchiol to combat fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture. There's also peptides, centella asiatica and ink omega oil to help with brightening your dull complexion.

Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum

£50.00 £88.00 (44% off)

If hyperpigmentation, dryness and/or sun exposure are the cause of your dull skin, then you'll love the Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum from Murad. This lovely little serum delivers a burst of antioxidant vitamin C to brighten sun spots after the glycolic acid in the formula exfoliates away dead skin. It also firms maturing skin, ensuring your skin looks youthful and plump - the perfect base for your new glow!

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity 3d Serum

£33.29 £45.00 (27% off)

All skin types will benefit from this Eucerin serum, but especially dry and mature skin. This anti-ageing serum targets age spots, wrinkles and sagging skin and delivers deep hydration with hyaluronic acid. There's also arctiin to encourage collagen renewal and firm skin, leaving you with a hydrated, youthful glow.

Paula's Choice Clinical Discoloration Repair Serum

£49.51

Another serum we love for brightening discoloured skin is the Clinical Discoloration Repair Serum from Paula's Choice, which combines tranexamic acid, niacinamide and bakuchiol to fade dark spots. You'll also see an improvement in fine lines and overall dullness.

Paula's Choice Resist Anti-Ageing Omega+ Complex Serum

£39.78

Another great option from Paula's Choice is this omega fatty acid-rich serum, which instantly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and strengthens your moisture barrier. There's also hydrating, wrinkle-softening ceramides and hyaluronic acid for additional moisture, leaving you with radiant, supple skin.

REN Glow & Protect Serum

£24.99 £52.17 (53% off)

Or you might like to try the skin-perfecting serum from REN, which has been clinically proven to brighten and improve photo-ageing in just two weeks. Within the supercharged formula, you'll find superfruits to even out the skin and strengthen your moisture barrier, as well as vitamin C for additional brightening and environmental protection. There's also hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate the skin, finishing off your newly brightened skin with a kiss of dewiness.

Q+A Vitamin C Brightening Serum

£9.50 £10.13 (7% off)

If you're on a budget, you might like to try this Q+A serum instead. This antioxidant-rich serum contains vitamin C encapsulated in volcanic soil and hyaluronic acid to revive your skin from environmental damage, dehydrated and signs of ageing.

For even more wallet-friendly serums, check out our blog here.

Dermalogica AGE Bright Clearing Serum

£61.95 £75.00 (18% off)

Spots causing dullness? Keep your complexion clear with the AGE Bright Clearing Serum from Dermalogica, which encourages an even complexion free of age spots and breakouts and even helps with fine lines and wrinkles. This serum combines niacinamide with white shiitake mushroom for the ultimate glow, plus salicylic acid to bust blemishes and clogged pores.

Murad Correct & Protect Serum SPF 45

£55.00 £69.00 (21% off)

You'll absolutely love (and rely on) this pick from Murad if you're terrible for forgetting your sun cream and your skin's suffering because of it. With 100% mineral SPF 45 that doesn't leave a white cast, this serum/sun cream hybrid protects the skin from discolouration and fine lines due to sun exposure. It also hydrates the skin with beet root extract for a dewy glow.

And that's a wrap! With one (or two) of these top brightening serums, glowing skin is just around the corner.

To add a sun-kissed tone to your new glow, check out one of these Top Tanning Oils, or add one of these Best Ceramide Moisturisers For Radiant Skin to your routine.

Written by Gabriella Buckner

Gabriella is a junior content writer with a background in creative writing, content marketing and journalism. She’s passionate about all things makeup and skincare, but especially vegan and cruelty-free beauty that is effective and inexpensive.