7 Serums Our Beauty Editor Rates

I’ve been switching between a handful of serums over the summer to bring you a tried-and-tested edit of the ones I’m going to be carrying through into autumn. Making the cut are those formulated specifically for daytime, which act as a morning shot of brightness – sometimes a few drops is all I need to look awake and healthy if I want to go make-up free. On the flipside, the others that make the list are the intense over-night powerhouses that I use under my night oil to deliver targeted results on pigmentation and skin texture, my two current bugbears.

Gatineau

Radiance Enhancing Vitamin C Serum, £49


I have used this all summer and have been really impressed by the visible glow it has given my skin. With plant-powered ingredients including Gingko Biloba, Sea Fennel and Squalane I’ve noticed a real lit-from-within luminosity, even when bare-faced.

Sarah Chapman

Skinesis Overnight Facial, £62


A silky serum-oil hybrid which feels like a spa-visit to close each day. Applied after my evening cleanse, the golden elixir is a blend of jasmine, frangipani, rose and tuberose which I inhale deeply while the clever formula boosts collagen production, smoothing and brightening as I sleep. One of those products you really notice when it runs out before you’ve got round to replacing.

L’Occitane

Immortelle Reset Overnight Oil-In-Serum, £59


I love the luxurious feel of this oil-in-serum which really softens skin as the oil droplets melt in – perfect if your skin is feeling tight or dry, which mine does after a summer of sun, sea and chlorine. Another ‘overnight success’ that never fails to help my skin wake up looking smoothing and brighter.

Estée Lauder

Advanced Night Repair Eye. £56


I’ve always been an eye cream naysayer, simply swiping my moisturiser around my eye socket and thinking ‘job done’. However, since hitting 40 I have been proven wrong on this one, realising that the thinner, more sensitive skin around the eye does indeed need some targeted TLC. This soothing, gel formula from Estée Lauder really sinks into skin without irritation and, on reflection, I do think my laughter lines are slightly softer. I will persist.

Bioveve

Anti-Aging Sun Serum SPF50, £10.99


I’ve been super impressed by Barcelona-based beauty brand, Bioveve’s little yellow bottle of sun serum. With hyaluronic acid to hydrate and an impressive SPF50 protection for such a light-weight formula, it smells deliciously of coconut and plays nicely under make-up. A definite firm fixture in my make-up bag – and not just for summer.

Garnier

Vitamin C Brightening Serum, £12.99


I wasn’t expecting such brilliant results from this high-street serum, but as it contains my three-favourite skincare ingredients - Vitamin C to brighten, Niacinamide for skin tone and Salicylic Acid to keep my skin clear of any hormonal blemishes – I gave it a go. Post summer I have a few stubborn areas of pigmentation I would like to lighten and just in the last month with daily use I’ve seen some success and an overall clarity and health in my skin. Brilliant for the price.

La Roche Posay

MelaB3 Serum Intense Anti-Dark Spot Serum, £48


Another great option that I always seem to recommend at this time of year to friends looking to reverse any summer pigmentation flare-ups is La Roche Posay’s intense anti-dark spot serum. Great for acne scarring too, it hydrates as it brightens and evens skin tone with a high concentration of niacinamide. A great winter treatment to get your skin back on track.