16 Brilliant Beauty Serums To Try Now
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16 Brilliant Beauty Serums To Try Now

Take your skin regime to the next level with these star-performing serums

Looking to improve your skincare? Here, we introduce the best tried and tested beauty serums that will revolutionise your skin routine and leave you feeling refreshed and glowing.

The Country & Town House Responsible Buyers’ Guide

Spotlight On: The Professional Serum By Calecim

Pink beauty serum bottle

Face serums have long been popular on the beauty market. Applied before other moisturisers and treatment creams, they contain varying concentrations of active ingredients that tackle specific skincare needs. One such serum we’ve seen trending on the market recently is  Calecim’s Professional Serum, which boasts thousands of active exosomes and growth factors in a few drops.

But why exosomes? Part of the regenerative beauty frontier, exosomes are quickly becoming one of our favourite skincare technologies of 2024. ‘Why is everyone talking about exosomes? Well, they’re new, and what’s exciting is how they encourage older skin cells to act like young ones,’ adds beauty expert Alice Hart-Davis, founder of The Tweakments Guide, the go-to platform for independent advice and guidance on cosmetic treatments.

The Professional Serum is considered the ‘secret sauce’ of medical aesthetic professionals and has been used in clinics for years after skin procedures such as dermabrasion, CO2 laser and micro needling. Patients reported improved aesthetic outcomes and faster recovery times due to the exosome technology that helps speed up the skin’s natural healing abilities. These patients and early adopters of the serum also found it beneficial to their overall skin health and pliability by incorporating a few drops of this Barbie-pink tincture into their everyday skincare. 

‘It’s a stem cell-derived serum,’ explains Dr Tapan Patel, UK’s leading aesthetic doctor at Phi Clinic. ‘All the cells in our body start from a stem cell which contains little packages called exosomes which have all the material required to repair and regenerate tissue. These go into PTT-6, Calecim’s active ingredient. Studies have shown that when PTT-6 is applied to aged skin cells, there’s a 56 percent increase in elastin and 94 percent increase in hyaluronic acid production. That’s phenomenal.’

Hand holding pink bottle

Dr Patel offers Calecim in-clinic as an adjunct to his latest laser resurfacing and radiofrequency microneedling treatments that target pigmentation, lines and wrinkles. He also recommends it as a daily anti-aging skincare: ‘We’re seeing obvious improvements in skin radiance after a few months of use and a drop of up to ten or 11 years in skin ageing.’ His observation was made with the use of a hi-tech Visia scanner which can measure signs of ageing and detect damage.

Calecim recommends using the Professional Serum in these three ways:

  • In clinic immediately after a skin procedure, when your skin is prepped to receive all the benefits of these active proteins.
  • At home after an at-home skin treatment such as microneedling or a chemical peel.
  • Daily, before your regular skincare. Just a few drops applied to all the facial zones right down to your neck can help get your skin cells revved up to produce more collagen and elastin, and amp up its repair mechanisms. 

From what we’ve seen, even mainstream beauty experts are sold on it. ‘I use the Professional Serum every other day, which I call Love Potion No 9 because you experience magic with that serum,’ says Desi Stark, an American influencer and YouTuber. ‘It lifts your whole face – everything goes up – and it smooths the jawline which is very important for a lot of people. You don’t have a visible double chin any more. I think it’s the best growth factor product on the market. It will make your skin glow and give you density and a more youthful appearance. I’m close to 50 but people say I look 32 – that’s the magic of skincare.’

Brilliant Beauty Serums To Try Now

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Beauty serum with facial roller

Calecim

The Professional Serum, £85

calecimprofessional.com

Best For: Age-defying results

The emerging ‘secret weapon’ on the beauty market, Calecim’s Professional Serum utilises PTT-6 (an active ingredient brimming with exosomes) to target fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation on a deeper level. Clinicians swear by it, and encourage their patients to use the serum on a daily basis to increase elastin and hyaluronic acid production.

Serum sachets in white box on white side table

Noble Panacea

The Absolute Intense Renewal Serum (30 Doses), £410

noblepanacea.com

Best For: Skin renewal

Designed to boost your skin’s natural renewal process, Noble Panacea’s award-winning serum uses OSMV™ technology to release its actives ingredients’ molecules more effectively – with ingredients like retinol and teprenone supporting healthy epigenetic cellular replication (aka, expect smoother, firmer skin and a more luminous complexion).

Heath London

Protect Serum, £16

heathlondon.co.uk

Best For: Men’s skincare

Delivering a daily dose of hydration, Heath’s Protect Serum works to rebalance the skin’s natural microbiome while sealing everything in (and keeping out external polluters) with a breathable film.

Blue and red serum bottle

Neal’s Yard Remedies

Organic Rosehip Oil, £20

nealsyardremedies.com

Best For: Hyperpigmentation

As part of its new line of skin boosters, Neal’s Yard Remedies has created a gentle facial oil that moisturises while improving the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Organic and rich in vitamin E (a natural antioxidant), this is a go-to if you’re after a skin reset.

Orange serum bottle

Antipodes

Glow Ritual Vitamin C Serum With Plant Hyaluronic Acid, £35

johnbellcroyden.co.uk

Best For: Firming

Rich in Vitamin C, this serum from Antipodes protects against oxidative stress and helps boost collagen for youthful-looking skin. Get ready for smoother and firmer skin in no time.

Black serum bottle

BeautyLab

Black Diamond Energizing Serum, £95

johnbellcroyden.co.uk

Best For: Anti-aging

This anti-aging serum is packed with potent peptides that help improve the elasticity and suppleness of skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

Dr Sebagh Serum

Dr Sebagh

Rose de Vie Serum, £132

drsebagh.com

Best For: Dry skin

This award-winning serum uses organic rose oil, which – unlike many other oils used in beauty products – doesn’t clog pores. Skincare benefits include intense moisturising qualities, an anti-ageing effect and reduced redness.

Elemis turqouise bottle

Elemis

Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum, £73

elemis.com 

Best For: Collagen production

Red micro-algae and stevia extracts deliver retinol-like results without sensitivity. The formula also minimises discolouration, sun damage and pores for visibly improved skin

White bottled serum

Dr Levy

Switzerland Booster Serum, £279.99

facethefuture.co.uk

Best For: Vegan skincare

Supercharged with Argan CDV complex, the first plant-derived stem cell extract proven to stimulate your dermal stem cells.

 

Marroon serum bottle

Kelsey Farms

Full Bloom Plumping Concentrate, £65

kelseyraspberryfarms.com

Best For: Toning

Concentrate Cultivated conscious beauty from the award-winning Kelsey Raspberry Farm. Activated raspberry oil combined with high-tech actives make this a super-star serum.

Vichy blue bottle

Vichy

Minéral 89 Probiotic Serum, £31

boots.com

Best For: Stressed skin

A regenerating serum, formulated with probiotics, calming niacinamide and mineral-rich volcanic water.

Cream serum bottle

Romilly Wilde

Advanced Supercell Serum, £75

romillywilde.com

Best For: Plumping

Hydrating molecules and bio-tech compounds deliver cellular protection and visible firming results.

Brown Temple serum and box

Temple Spa

Trufflelixir Anti-Ageing Retinol Serum, £80

templespa.com

Best For: Luminous skin

A high-performance anti-aging retinol serum that provides immediate, short, and long-term results using powerful botanicals and highly refined ingredients.

Zo silver tub

ZO Ossential

Growth Factor Serum, $155

zoskinhealth.com

Best For: All skin types

Plant and enzymatically derived growth factors work their wonders on skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Black serum bottle

Oio Lab

Aquasphere Multi-Dimensional Hydrating Facial Serum, €50

oiolab.co

Best For: A hydration boost

Five forms of hyaluronic acid compounds and active plant substances restore optimal hydration and reduce wrinkles.

pink medik8 bottle

Medik8

Liquid Peptides, £49

medik8.com

Best For: Fine lines & wrinkles

This 30 per cent multi-peptide complex serum targets the appearance of expression lines and deeper set wrinkles by delivering the formula into deeper layers of the skin.

Beauty Serum FAQs

What Are Face Serums?

Face serums are a type of lightweight skincare product that contain a high concentration of active ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid and vitamin C. They’re typically water-based and of a lower molecular weight, with a specific active ingredient selection for a particular skin benefit. They also offer quick and easy skin penetration, making them very effective for use at home.

Are They Good For Your Skin?

Facial serums can be very good for your skin, especially if you choose the right serum for your skin type and concerns. The high concentration of active ingredients can help to improve the appearance of your skin and address specific skin concerns – from hydration, smoothing and plumping to firming, exfoliation and brightening. If you’re unsure which serum is right for you, you can consult a dermatologist or skin specialist who can recommend which ingredients to seek out and avoid.

How Often Should You Use Face Serums?

Most face serums are designed to be used daily, either in the day or at night. As for when to use them within your skincare routine, it’s advised you apply them after cleansing and before moisturiser as serums are lightweight and can penetrate the skin more easily than moisturiser.

Tips For Choosing The Right Serum

Consider your skin type and concerns. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, for example, look for a serum that contains ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide; if you have dry skin, look for a serum that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides; and if you have sensitive skin, look for a serum that is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free.

Featured image: Calecim