The Best Face Serums for Men

One of the smartest skincare innovations we've tried in a while, Fjör's silky serum is the first in the world to utilise a promising hydrolytic enzyme formulated by a Swedish biotech lab.

Most skin concerns – from acne to redness and eczema – arise from an out-of-whack microbiome. Fjör's enzyme essentially works to balance this out, blocking harmful microbes from disrupting the skin and boosting the good bacteria it needs to thrive.

It's moisturising enough to negate the need for moisturiser (although if you'd like extra hydration, the brand makes a gel-cream too) and gentle enough to keep even the most delicate complexions happy. If you're after something to bring down rosacea or serious sensitivity, head here.

The single best thing you can do to counteract the aesthetic gripes of the ageing process is to get yourself a retinol. A true skincare powerhouse, this (highly) active ingredient works to increase the rate at which your skin produces fresh new baby cells, plumping fine lines in the process.

Retinol can be complicated, but Medik8’s serums make it simple: start with Crystal Retinal 1 (applying two nights per week) then up your strength with the incrementally stronger 3, 6, and 10.

Yes, this is a £165 bottle of liquid that smells like fairground hot dogs, but reversing the sins of the late 00’s is no pamper party.

Skinceuticals’ C E Ferulic has the power to fade that mottled pigmentation you’ve gained from years of sunscreen abstinence. The combination of vitamin C and ferulic acid (both power antioxidants) will gradually make your skin tone more even, and keep it protected in the future too. Now, for goodness sake, get yourself a moisturiser with SPF in it.

Sometimes, a dose of simple, surface-level hydration is all skin needs to look instantly better – and L'oreal's latest serum is designed to deliver just that. This well-priced formula is loaded with two different weights of moisture-grabbing hyaluronic acid, which means it holds water on multiple levels of the skin.

Wellness-tech brand The Nue Co might be famed for its astonishingly effective sleep supplements, but the brand's forensically formulated skincare is equally worth investing in. The Pill is the brand's signature do-it-all face serum, containing a cocktail of synergistic actives to exfoliate, hydrate, brighten and fortify all in one.

When it comes to getting rid of breakouts salicylic acid is a strong ally: this clarifying active is oil-soluble, so can sink into pores and help clear them from the inside out. This long-trusted serum is bolstered by glycolic acid (for exfoliating the very top layers of skin) and oil-regulating niacinamide: a triple threat for acne-prone complexions. Apply it every other evening before your moisturise, and be patient – you'll see improvements within a fortnight.

The skin around your eyes is around three times thinner than that on the rest of your face, so it really needs treating with special care. The Ordinary's water-weight serum contains caffeine, which is said to help shift the puffiness you see in the mornings, alongside polyphenols for antioxidant protection. Dab it on each morning, after cleansing and before moisturiser.

The skin around your eyes is around three times thinner than that on the rest of your face, meaning it often requires special treatment.

If dark circles and feathery crow's feet are making you look more tired than you really are (or simply giving away the fact that you are, actually, quite tired), call on this antioxidant-packed serum. The copywriter that named it was clearly having a bad day, but all you need to know is this: it's loaded with vitamin C and peptides to plump and brighten in equal measure.

All skin needs oil – but an excessive amount can make the surface look greasy. To bring things back into balance, you want a niacinamide serum: this form of vitamin B3 has been shown to regulate sebum production, meaning you get less shine and fewer breakouts too. Sunday Riley's newest launch is just the thing: it'll restore order and prevent breakouts from occurring, too.

Reformulating your most celebrated product is a risky move – but for Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, the results have clearly paid off.

Repair Serum has been the star of his 111 Skin line for 11 years – and now, there's a souped-up version that contains four times the headline ingredient: NAC. This skin-restoring active is a precursor to glutathione, the body's key antioxidant, and works to decrease inflammation in the skin while building up the barrier. This has a host of knock-on benefits, from accelerating healing (good for the acne-prone) to deflecting damaging free radicals.

It’s wise to treat sensitive skin gently, or it’ll only retaliate tenfold. To keep redness, flaking and inflammation at bay, call on Ren's soothing serum. It's fuelled by a calming white mushroom extract, and the brand claims it's able to visibly reduce redness in 30 minutes: a hefty claim, but one we have seen for ourselves. The effects are both instant and cumulative: a worthy investment.

This 90 per cent natural face serum hails from Seoul: the home of forward-thinking skincare. True to innovative form, it's a bi-phase formula (so be sure to shake it before each application) combining s a nutrient-rich water base that sinks into dry skin, and a nourishing oil counterpart that serves to seal in all the goodness. Loaded with powerful herb and plant extracts, it's proven to work on a long list of issues, from dehydration lines to uneven tone.

A cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Sam Bunting knows exactly how to formulate a no-nonsense serum that delivers results. This one contains azelaic acid – the gold-standard ingredient for treating inflammation, be it redness or spots – and niacinamide to re-balance a tantrum-prone skin barrier. Use half a pump every other night to keep redness, rosacea and acne under control.

Dry skin is not the same as dehydrated skin – the former lacks oils, hence the rough feel, while the latter lacks water, which leads to lines looking more prominent. To counteract dehydration, you need humectants that act as a sponge, holding water within the skin’s layers. Vichy’s acclaimed Mineral 89 serum is loaded with humectant hyaluronic acid, and will plump out dehydrated skin in seconds.

When you've got a breakout brewing, the last thing you want to be doing is placing your face in the hands of an exotic essential oil or deep-sea miracle extract. Instead, stick to the no-nonsense ingredients we know really work: salicylic acid and niacinamide. Horace's frill-free serum contains both, and comes in at under £20.

Not just known for delivering the very best facials in London, Fatma Shaheen also creates several cult-status products – and this is the one most people start with.

A vitamin C that truly suits all skin types, it'll shield skin from the outside world and – with consistent, daily use – brighten mottled sun spots and pigmentation.

The show-off inclusion is Melanostatine™, an innovative peptide that prevents the production of melanin, keeping skin bright and uniform in tone.

Don't sleep on Aesop's skincare line – the brand makes some seriously hefty complexion enhancers. This, their hero face serum, is designed to hydrate without making skin feel sticky or clogged – a perfect choice for combination and oily skin types.

There are plenty of actives involved too: a stable form of vitamin C brightens uneven skin tone, while niacinamide strengthens the skin's outer layer and rose petal calms inflammation.