If your skincare routine feels a little “so-so,” it might be missing a secret weapon: an impressive face serum. Serums are like skincare’s concentrated problem-solvers. They’re packed with active ingredients that target your most stubborn concerns like wrinkles, dullness, redness, dryness, or uneven skin tone. In addition, they are far more effective than moisturizers alone.
But what does serum do for your face exactly? An effective face serum delivers a high dose of powerful ingredients deep into your skin. The serum’s lightweight texture penetrates more effectively than heavier skin creams. That means you see results faster and more noticeably.
Still, the real magic happens when you choose the right serum for your skin’s unique needs. One thing to consider is that not all serums are the same. What works for acne and redness won’t necessarily be the best for brightening dark spots or hydrating dry patches. That’s why Eight Saints created a lineup of targeted serums that each serve a unique purpose.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the best face serums for each skin concern, how to apply them, and where they fit in your skincare routine.
Best Retinol Serum for Wrinkles and Rough Texture
If fine lines, deep wrinkles, or rough skin texture are your biggest skin concerns, then retinol will quickly become your go-to. Often called the gold standard of anti-aging, retinol speeds up your skin’s cell turnover, which helps to smooth the surface, fade any discoloration, and even improve acne.
Eight Saints’ Smooth Sailing is hands-down the best retinol serum for a balanced approach. It’s strong enough to make a visible difference, yet gentle enough for regular use.
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Best for: Reversing deep wrinkles, softening rough skin, and controlling acne.
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Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, and green tea.
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Why it works: Retinol resurfaces, hyaluronic acid hydrates, and green tea calms.
Start using Eight Saints’ Smooth Sailing two to three nights a week. You can slowly work up to nightly use as your skin adjusts. Always follow with moisturizer and SPF in the morning.
Best Niacinamide Serum for Redness and Inflammation
Original Cin Niacinamide 10% Serum
If you deal with redness, sensitivity, or uneven skin tone, niacinamide is worth serious consideration. This multitasking B3 vitamin reduces inflammation, strengthens your skin barrier, and helps fade fine lines and dark spots.
Eight Saints’ Original Cin earns the spot as the best niacinamide serum because it pairs niacinamide with soothing aloe vera and hydrating hyaluronic acid for a one-two punch of calm and comfort that your skin will love and appreciate.
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Best for: Calming irritation, reducing redness, fading fine lines.
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Key ingredients: Niacinamide, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid.
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Why it works: Niacinamide strengthens, aloe soothes, hyaluronic acid hydrates.
Original Cin works well when used in the morning or at night. It also pairs well with most other serums, which makes it a welcome addition to your skincare routine.
Best Vitamin C Serum for Brightening and Damage Repair
When your skin looks dull, tired, or uneven, vitamin C is the go-to ingredient. It brightens, fights free radicals, and helps fade dark spots from sun damage or breakouts.
Eight Saints’ Seeking C is the best vitamin C serum if you want noticeable results without skin irritation. It combines vitamin C with vitamin E, jojoba, and dandelion to not only brighten, but also nourish and protect your skin from environmental stress.
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Best for: Brightening skin tone, repairing damaged skin, and preventing breakouts.
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Key ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, jojoba, dandelion.
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Why it works: Vitamin C brightens, vitamin E defends, jojoba nourishes.
Use in the morning for maximum antioxidant protection against pollution and UV exposure. Always pair with SPF for best results.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Deep Hydration
Dryness, dehydration, or dullness dragging you down and making your skin look subpar? Hyaluronic acid is your hydration hero. This powerhouse ingredient holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, plumping skin and smoothing fine lines instantly.
Eight Saints’ Pep Rally is the best hyaluronic acid serum for thirsty skin because it’s loaded with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E. You’ll get hydration plus antioxidant defense, which your skin will appreciate.
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Best for: Intense hydration, energizing dull skin, protecting from free radicals.
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Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C.
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Why it works: Hyaluronic acid hydrates, vitamin E defends, and vitamin C brightens.
Apply to slightly damp skin for better absorption, then seal with a moisturizer.
Best Vitamin E Serum for Environmental Protection
High Society Botanical Face Oil (Vitamin E-rich serum)
Environmental stress, such as pollution, blue light, and harsh weather, can make skin age faster. That’s where vitamin E comes in. This antioxidant helps neutralize free radicals, repair skin, and lock in moisture.
Eight Saints’ High Society is more than just a face oil. It’s also the best vitamin E serum for restoring skin resilience. It blends vitamin E with marula, jojoba, and neroli oils for deep nourishment and long-lasting hydration.
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Best for: Reversing environmental damage, intense moisturizing.
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Key ingredients: Vitamin E, marula, jojoba, neroli.
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Why it works: Vitamin E protects, marula hydrates, neroli soothes.
Best used at night or in dry climates. Can be layered over water-based serums for maximum moisture retention.
How to Apply Serum on Face for Best Results
Applying serum isn’t complicated, but doing it right makes a big difference in how well it works. Here’s the step-by-step guide for applying serum on the face:
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Cleanse: Start with clean skin so the serum can penetrate properly.
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Tone (optional): If you use toner, apply it before serum.
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Apply serum: Use two to four drops, gently pressing or patting it into your skin. Don’t rub aggressively.
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Moisturize: Follow with moisturizer to seal in the active ingredients.
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SPF: In the daytime, always finish with sunscreen.
Apply serums after cleansing and before moisturizing. If using more than one, apply the thinnest texture first.
How to Choose the Right Serum for Your Skin Concern
When picking a serum, focus on your primary concern first. You can always layer or rotate serums once your skin adjusts to your choice.
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Wrinkles & Texture: Go for retinol like Smooth Sailing.
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Redness & Sensitivity: Choose niacinamide like Original Cin.
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Dullness & Dark Spots: Vitamin C in Seeking C will help.
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Dryness & Dehydration: Hyaluronic acid in Pep Rally is ideal.
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Environmental Damage: Vitamin E in High Society protects and repairs.
And if you want to explore them all, check out the full Eight Saints serum collection.
Can You Use More Than One Serum?
Yes, serums can be layered, but keep the entire process simple. Pair hydrating serums (like Pep Rally) with treatment serums (like Seeking C or Smooth Sailing). Avoid layering multiple strong active ingredients like retinol and vitamin C in the same routine unless your skin is already well-acclimated to them.
The “Why” Behind Serums
Okay, so here’s the thing about face serums that you need to consider: they’re not just another step in your routine to make things feel fancy. Your skincare routine doesn’t require a serum. It’s true, you could survive without them, but once you’ve started using one, you’ll wonder how you ever went without. Serums are that impressive.
Think about it: moisturizers are great, but they mostly work on the surface, keeping everything soft and cushioned. However, serums are formulated differently. They reach deep beneath your skin’s layers with highly concentrated ingredients that actually go to work on the issues bugging you, such as stubborn forehead lines, the annoying redness that shows up out of nowhere, or that dull “I stayed up too late” skin that you dread after a night on the town.
Also, because they’re lightweight, serums don’t just sit there on the skin’s surface. They soak right in, which means your skin gets the good stuff - and fast. It’s like skipping the small talk and going straight to the heart of the conversation.
Serums are where the results happen. Everything else in your daily skincare routine is there to support them, seal them in, or protect your skin after they’ve done their job. Once you find “your” unique and wonderful serum, it’s basically a long-term relationship that your skin will love.
Picking The Best Face Serum
Face serums are targeted treatments that can transform your skin when chosen wisely. It doesn’t matter if you’re after brighter skin, fewer wrinkles, or more hydration; there’s an Eight Saints formula made for you:
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Smooth Sailing: The best retinol serum for anti-aging and texture.
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Original Cin: The best niacinamide serum for calming and evening tone.
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Seeking C: The best vitamin C serum for brightening and repair.
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Pep Rally: The best hyaluronic acid serum for deep hydration.
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High Society: The best vitamin E serum for protection and moisture.
Incorporate the right one into your skincare routine, and you’ll see why these facial serums are game-changers for every skin type.