12 of the best face serums under £20
Working out your skincare routine can feel overly complicated. Is a cleansing balm or a cleansing oil best? When it comes to treating spots, should it be salicylic acid or azelaic acid? There is a whole lot of nuance. The product types you reach for and ingredients you need are dependent to your skin type, your personal skin needs and, of course, your budget. However, there is one category of product that universally works and is beneficial for everyone: face serums. “Irrespective of your age, skin type or concern, serums are a great addition to your skincare routine,” says Dr Sonia Khorana, a GP specialising in dermatology. And because face serums are so universal and suit everyone, it’s a relief that you don’t have to remortgage your house to buy one that is truly effective.
Why are face serums so important in a skincare regime?
“Serums are designed to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients to the skin making them an effective, tool for targeting specific skincare concerns,” explains Dr Sonia. And there’s one for everyone; because they are so targeted, it’s worth having a couple of different types to address the different concerns and issues you may have. However, that also means it’s important to find face serums that are affordable because you may want to layer two or three together.
Ingredients to look for in a face serum
Dr Sonia shares the best ingredients to look for depending on your skin goal.
- For anti-ageing: “If you’re looking for a serum that’s going to help you tackle fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation then look for one containing retinoids, tea polyphenols, niacinamide, collagen peptides and epidermal growth factors. These are beneficial for all skin types.”
- For brightness: “Vitamin C is used for brightness and also helps protect against free radical damage. We are exposed to free radicals on a regular basis and antioxidant serums are ideal so look for that as it may also contain vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid or other forms).”
- For healing and repairing the skin: “Antioxidant serums will protect your skin from free radicals you’re exposed to on a daily basis and can also heal and repair the skin. Look for vitamin C, E, resveratrol, pycnogenol, niacinamide and melatonin.”
- For hydrating: “If you have dry skin then you will benefit from a hydrating serum, but to be honest all skin types and all ages – old and young – can use them too. The key ingredients you’re looking for are hyaluronic acid, peptides and ceramides.”
- For acne: “These may contain a BHA-like salicylic acid and are particularly suited to oily/combination, congested or acne prone skin.”
- For pigmentation: “These can contain phytic acid, vitamin C, arbutin, kojic acid, azelaic acid, AHAs – they can help brighten skin but also aid in pigment suppression. Suited to all skin types that suffer from these issues, but I would be mindful about not overusing.”
- For dry skin: “Look for peptides, niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.”
When do you apply a serum?
The rule of thumb when it comes to knowing which order to apply your skincare after cleansing is to start with the most watery or lightest consistency and work up towards the thickest and heaviest texture.
With that in mind, serums are best applied straight after cleansing your face morning and night. And while they do pack a hefty skincare punch, depending on your skin type you may need to layer other products on top. “A skin serum is not a moisturiser, like a lotion or cream – they are concentrated formulations that are designed to sink into the skin quickly and deliver a good dose of ingredients that can address common skin complaints,” says Dr Sonia. Meaning drier skins may still need a hydrating cream on top, as well as your daily SPF of course.
12 of the best budget face serums £20 and under
Best for skin brightening:
Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Serum, £18
While Bubble is a huge hit among teens and tweens (read up on best teenage skincare), this is one serum from the range they do not need and that’s for grownups only. Combining skin-glowing vitamin C and hydrating and pore-shrinking niacinamide, this is a great option for oilier skin types who are looking to reduce shine and pigmentation in one go. Team it with a great daily SPF and that’s your skincare sorted for the day.
Buy NowBest for long-lasting hydration:
Simple Booster Serum Hyaluronic Acid & B5, £9.99
If maximum hydration is what your skin needs, you can’t go far wrong with this. Designed to be applied either on its own or added to your daily moisturiser to elevate its capabilities, it contains a mix of hyaluronic acid and a trademarked ingredient called Pentavitin, a hydrator that sinks down to deeper layers of the skin to lock in moisture.
Buy NowBest for dullness:
Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Daily Vitamin Defense Serum, £18
Formulated specifically for dull skin that’s exposed to pollution and city life, this is described as giving skin a dose of fresh air. Packed with antioxidants to combat the effect that pollution and stress have on the skin as well as vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum extract, which helps skin look brighter and fresher. It leaves your face looking instantly glowy, and feeling plump and juicy.
Buy NowBest for vitamin C:
Garnier Vitamin C Brightening Serum, £13.99
With a potent percentage of 3.5 per cent vitamin C, this is not a serum for vitamin C newbies but for those who know they can tolerate the ingredient. Here, it has been combined with niacinamide and salicylic acid for extra hydration and sebum-reducing qualities. Unlike many vitamin C serums, it’s not oily but feels silky smooth, and it sits really well underneath makeup.
Buy NowBest for plumping:
Q+A Peptide Facial Serum, £9.50
Think of collagen as scaffolding for your skin; keeping everything where it should be. Sadly our levels of collagen drop as we age, and that’s where peptides come in as they help synthesise the production of collagen in the skin. No surprise then this serum is packed with peptides to give you as much, well, pep as possible. It also contains magnesium, which works to make your skin look more alive and zingy. Apply a few drops day and night after cleansing and before your regular moisturiser.
Buy NowBest for de-stressing skin:
Byoma Brightening Serum, £12.99
If you are guilty of having overloaded your skin with too many aggressive ingredients or it’s simply having a bit of a freak-out moment, you need this serum. It contains a unique ceramide complex that strengthens the skin barrier – aka the top layer of your skin. The stronger your skin barrier, the less irritation, sensitivity and redness you get. However, it also contains niacinamide that reduces existing inflammation and gives skin its glow back, as well as moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid. The gel-like consistency sinks in quickly with zero stickiness and can be used day, night or whenever your skin feels like it needs some extra TLC.
Buy NowBest for blitzing dark spots:
The Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Serum, £16
When it comes to products that target a specific concern and don’t require you to take a second mortgage to afford it, The Inkey List is leading the way. And this intensive tranexamic acid overnight treatment is one of their best. Once you’ve got to grips with how to pronounce it (tran-x-am-ik) then all you need to know is this powerhouse ingredient helps reduce the appearance of existing pigmentation. The more you use it, the clearer and more even your skin will look. It has a very pleasing gel-cream texture and is unscented. No-frills, affordable and effective – boom!
Buy NowBest for everyday:
Revolution Skincare London x Sali Hughes Must-C Anytime Vitamin C Serum, £15
This vitamin C serum, created by beauty expert Sali Hughes with Revolution skincare, has been designed to brighten (that’s what vitamin C does best), protect the skin with lots of antioxidants and deliver hydration with hyaluronic acid. She describes the whole range as the perfect white T-shirt of skincare – simple, reliable and effective. We concur.
Buy NowBest for sun protection:
Hello Sunday The One That’s A Serum SPF50, £16.50
This silky SPF serum makes wearing sun protection on a daily basis so much easier – no aggressive rubbing is required, as it sinks in instantly. It has brilliant broad-spectrum sun protection as well as hydrating ingredients so skin feels quenched. And when we say it creates the most brilliant glow, we mean it.
Buy NowBest for eyes:
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, £8.40
Of course, you can apply your regular serum under and around your eye area. However, if you want a dedicated product or want to tackle dark circles and puffiness, this is what you need. It contains caffeine, which behaves with the same vigour on your skin as your morning coffee does on your energy levels and is a must for reducing puffiness and darkness. It has been tag-teamed with EGCG (full name is Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside), a rich antioxidant that reduces inflammation and protects the delicate eye area from future damage.
Buy NowBest for sensitive skin:
Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum, £13.99
Knowing what to put on reactive skin can feel like a minefield, but Aveeno is a stalwart at knowing how to soothe sensitivity. This serum, like most of their products, contains colloidal oats to take the sting out of sore skin but also helps strengthen the skin barrier to reduce future sensitivity. As you would expect, it is fragrance-free, doesn’t block pores and is everything that delicate skin needs.
Buy NowBest for oily skin:
Dose by VH Niacinamide 5% Serum, £15
Niacinamide and oily skin are a match made in skincare heaven thanks to its ability to regulate sebum production, keep shine at bay and reduce the appearance of pores. And this gorgeous serum is packed full of it. It’s a gentle enough ingredient to be used day and night, and in conjunction with any other skincare you’re already using.
Buy Now
