You’ve already tailored your moisturizer and cleanser to your skin care needs, and now you want to incorporate the best face serums for men. You’ve seen them in every skincare aisle, and now you’re curious: which one is for you? What even is a serum?
What is a serum?
Serums are small jars of powerful ingredients designed to target and treat specific skin concerns. Because they are made up of smaller molecules, they deeply penetrate the skin to deliver the potent ingredients. They usually have a gel-like consistency and absorb straight into the skin after you’ve washed your face and before you’ve moisturized.
The cool part about serums is that each one offers a different benefit to the skin. There are serums for hydration, serums to treat acne and decongest pores, and serums to treat fine lines and wrinkles, plumping up skin and smoothing out discoloration.
But the best serum for face for men can tackle your specific concern while boosting other healthful skin properties.
Now, let’s take a peek at the 10 best face serums for men below.
Key Takeaways
For this assignment, I began by poring over hundreds of photos, customer reviews, and even my own bathroom cabinet (and my husband’s) until I whittled it down to the 10 finalists you see on this list.
The overall top of the best face serums for men is L’Oreal Paris Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum because it’s deeply hydrating and brightens skin tone using vitamin C. It’s excellently priced, and the lightweight formulation quickly absorbs into the skin. Dry, acne-prone skin will love the gentle exfoliation from Cocokind Postbiotic Acne Serum.
Tatcha The Dewy Serum at Amazon
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 at Amazon
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum at Amazon
The Inkey List Retinol Serum at Amazon
Neutrogena HydroBoost Hydrating Serum at Amazon
Cocokind Postbiotic Acne Serum at Amazon
Cosrx Niacinamide 15% Face Serum at Amazon
Eminence Calm Skin Arnica Booster-Serum at Amazon
Dr. Jart Cicapair Serum at Dr. Jart
Best Overall: L’Oreal Paris Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
Why it’s great: Even oily and acne-prone skin can benefit from a hydrating serum. This one packs a powerful punch with both hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to brighten and plump the skin while targeting skin discoloration like uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation.
I love this serum because it’s budget-friendly but visibly plumps the skin to reduce wrinkles like a more expensive product. The texture is a lightweight gel that quickly soaks in to hydrate and revive the skin. For all of those reasons, it tops the list of the best face serums for men. It belongs in every man’s grooming kit.
Who is this for? I think anyone can appreciate this serum if you’re looking for hydration, to smooth out some wrinkles, and to brighten your complexion overall.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some reviewers have found the texture to be sticky. Feel free to mix it in with your moisturizer or use it only at night.
Product Benefits: Targets discoloration, brightens, firms, hydrates, plumps | Size: 1 oz | Skin Type: All | Special Ingredient: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C | Scent: Unscented
Best Luxury: Tatcha The Dewy Serum
Why it’s great: This serum tackles a few skin problems at once to give you smoother, plumper, dewier skin. It does this using several different ingredients, namely alpha hydroxy, which treats acne scars and discoloration to improve skin’s radiance and texture.
But my favorite ingredient in this face serum for men has to be the proprietary fermented superfood complex AHA Hadesai 3, which resurfaces and plumps the skin. Unlike BHAs, which can dry out the skin, AHAs moisturize, boost collagen, and possess humectant qualities to lock in moisture.
Who is this for? If you’re dealing with age spots, wrinkles, acne scars, or even acne, you’ll love this product. It will keep skin healthy and moisturized while very gently exfoliating the skin’s surface to reveal radiant skin underneath.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This serum is pricey, but many reviewers find it to be worth every penny. Maybe sneak it onto your next wish list?
Product Benefits: Improves texture and radiance, hydrates | Size: 1 oz | Skin Type: All | Special Ingredient: Alpha hydroxy, hyaluronic acid, AHA, squalane | Scent: Green tea
Best Budget: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Why it’s great: The Ordinary makes great serums at a low cost, but this one with hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 is their best-seller. B5 helps the skin with the repairing process, which is great for skin with dry patches, blemishes, and breakouts.
Like a drink of water for your face, this face serum for men revives dull skin and improves skin texture for clearer, smoother skin. It doesn’t hurt that it’s been clinically proven to boost skin’s hydration in one week.
Who is this for? If your skin needs a little bit of TLC but you’re not ready to invest in a pricey serum, this is a great choice. It’s perfect for dry, dull skin or even skin struggling with breakouts.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: A couple of reviewers have noted it pills under make-up and other skin care. If that’s the case, use only at night.
Product Benefits: Hydrates, improves skin texture | Size: 1 oz | Skin Type: All | Special Ingredient: Hyaluronic acid, b5 | Scent: Aloe vera
Best Vitamin C: CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
Why it’s great: Vitamin C is a powerful ingredient for visibly brightening and evening out your skin tone. This serum may be from a budget brand, but it contains l-ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C, plus ceramides and antioxidants, which are essential for skin barrier health.
The texture is smooth and gel-like and soaks in like a charm during your morning routine.
Who is this for? If you’re dealing with skin dullness or post-acne marks, it’s a good idea to have a vitamin C serum in your arsenal.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although this face serum formen is gentle on most skin types, some reviewers claim that it aggravates their rosacea.
Product Benefits: Brightening, Evens skin tone, Restores barrier | Size: 1 oz | Skin Type: All | Special Ingredient: 10% l-ascorbic acid vitamin C, ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Scent: Unscented
Best Retinol: The Inkey List Retinol Serum
Why it’s great: If you’d like to stave off wrinkles as long as you can, a retinol serum can help with that. This one reduces wrinkles without irritation thanks to a combination of retinol and squalane, a soothing, plant-based moisturizing oil. This is a great way to smooth out fine lines, even skin tone, refine pores, making them appear smaller.
Who is this for? For those looking to fight signs of aging, this retinol entry in our list of the best face serums for men is perfect. It will smooth the skin while also hydrating and nourishing. If other retinol products have been too harsh, you might find this one to be gentler.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Unfortunately, retinol takes a few weeks to work and can be irritating to some. Start out using 2–3 times per week and increase usage as your skin adjusts.
Product Benefits: Reduces wrinkles, hydrates, refines pores | Size: 1 oz | Skin Type: All | Special Ingredient: Retinol, squalane | Scent: Aloe
Best Hydrating: Neutrogena HydroBoost Hydrating Serum
Why it’s great: I considered some other pricier serums, but none really held up like this one does. When it comes to the best face serums for men, you need one that is lightweight, fast-absorbing, and visibly quenches the skin.
This one uses hyaluronic acid and glycerin to penetrate the skin’s surface deeply and pack in the hydration. The result is smooth, supple skin with a healthy glow.
Who is this for? Whether your skin is dry from your beard, sensitized from too many actives, or even blemish-prone, locking in extra hydration is easy with this serum.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: As much as I love the hydro-boost line, this serum does contain fragrance, which can be irritating to some.
Product Benefits: Hydrating, smoothing | Size: 1 oz | Skin Type: All, dry |Special Ingredient: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin | Scent: Not listed
Best for Acne: Cocokind Postbiotic Acne Serum
Why it’s great: It’s hard to find an acne serum that gently hydrates as it treats. This clean formulation is perfect for all of the troubles that come with oily, acne-prone skin. Salicylic acid and glycolic acid gently exfoliate the skin to decongest pores and reduce sebum, and beta-glucan, which is more hydrating than hyaluronic acid, mitigates any irritation.
This face serum for men is gentle enough for daily use and instantly calms red, inflamed skin. It absorbs beautifully with no feeling left behind on the skin.
Who is this for? If derm-prescribed salicylic acid is too strong for your skin, then this product could be for you. It is gentle enough for sensitive, inflamed skin but strong enough to treat acne, clogged pores, and excess sebum.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: As with many acne treatments that slough off skin cells, it might take a full skin cycle to see results. Be patient, and start slow.
Product Benefits: Decongests pores, treats acne, brightens, hydrates | Size: 7 oz | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Special Ingredient: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, antioxidants, alpha hydroxy | Scent: Aloe
Best for Oily Skin: Cosrx Niacinamide 15% Face Serum
Why it’s great: Korean skincare is all about gently treating conditions like acne and oily skin with soothing ingredients. This combo of niacinamide and zinc pca from the popular brand Cosrx is perfect for oily skin because it minimizes pores and sebum.
It’s gentle enough to treat acne by providing redness relief and correcting any discoloration left behind.
Who is this for? If you’re struggling with oily skin, enlarged pores, and even acne breakouts, this serum will (slowly) treat the skin. Many reviewers notice a nice glow, which is great if your skin looks dull.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: As much as I love niacinamide, a beneficial skin barrier ingredient that also happens to treat acne, this face serum for men contains a rather high percentage. If you’re new to niacinamide, introduce this product slowly, 2–3 times per week, to see how your skin reacts.
Product Benefits: Rejuvenating, oil-control | Size: 0.67 oz | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone, combination | Special Ingredient: Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Acetyl Glucosamine | Scent: Unscented
Most Soothing: Eminence Calm Skin Arnica Booster-Serum
Why it’s great: Eminence is an organic Hungarian brand that offers a nourishing serum to bring relief to sensitive and rosacea-prone skin. It uses arnica, chamomile, and lavender to calm and balance the skin while also smoothing out texture and reducing fine lines.
Reviewers love that it’s super lightweight with an almost water gel-like consistency that feels calming and hydrating on the skin.
Who is this for? This face serum for men is great for highly irritated skin that might be sensitized from weather, another product, or a skin condition like rosacea or inflamed acne.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: As much as I love this serum, it’s not exactly cheap. This would certainly be a treat.
Product Benefits: Revitalizing, Radiating | Size: 1 oz | Skin Type: All | Feature: | Special Ingredient: Snail Secretion Filtrate 96% | Scent: Lavender
Best for Sensitive Skin: Dr. Jart Cicapair Serum
Why it’s great: A gentle serum that enhances skin health is ideal for sensitive skin. This serum is chock full of barrier-loving ingredients in a lightweight, syrupy formulation that your skin will drink up.
Star ingredient Centella Asiatica (cica) is a wound-healing ingredient popular in Korean skincare that soothes compromised skin. Niacinamide and panthenol also increase the skin’s defenses, and antioxidants increase collagen for plump, taut, bouncy skin we all crave.
Who is this for? Compromised, dry, red, irritated skin that is also prone to breakouts will find many benefits in this serum.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some reviewers find it to be slightly greasy. If that’s the case, then you can always apply it during your night routine.
Product Benefits: Soothing, strengthening, moisturizing | Size: 1.69 oz | Skin Type: Sensitive, sensitized, irritated skin | Special Ingredient: Centella Asiatica | Scent: Unscented
Buying Considerations for The Best Face Serums For Men
Concern
The best face serums for men are tailored to your skin’s specific needs. And the best of them target more than one concern at a time. If your skin feels chronically dry or your barrier is compromised, look out for hydrating and soothing serums.
Sensitive, acne-prone, and oily skin do well with acne, sensitive skin, or oily serums. You can even find serums with retinol or exfoliating properties to smooth out wrinkles.
Ingredients
It’s important to pay attention to the ingredients listed in the best face serums for men. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane are very hydrating. Ceramides, cica, and niacinamide help heal the skin barrier. They also help to calm red, inflamed skin.
Understanding what benefit each ingredient offers the skin will help you target and treat your specific skin issue.
Price
Although the range of skin concerns can vary per serum, so can the price. Some serums like The Ordinary or Neutrogena are super cheap, while others like The Dewy Serum from Tatcha are considered pricey.
Although you can absolutely see results from affordable serums, sometimes a pricier formulation happens to be what your skin loves. I recommend starting out with an affordable face serum for men and getting your hands on samples of expensive options whenever possible.
How We Chose
Selecting the best face serums for men involved a meticulous process to ensure that I recommend products that genuinely meet the specific needs of men’s skin. During my research, I considered important factors like company reputation, customer reviews, and last but certainly not least, price.
Company reputation: Do they consistently deliver great items over the years? And how is their customer service? I am always cognizant of how people view a company when considering their products.
Customer reviews: What people say about the best face serums for men is of the utmost importance to me. Does the product work as it says it should? How does it feel on the skin? Will people be buying it again?
Price: Although there were certainly more expensive serums I could have chosen for this list, I made sure to highlight the best products at the most affordable prices. If there is a cheaper option that works just as well, I chose it. There is no point in breaking the bank unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Why Trust Us?
Rachel’s extensive experience in the fashion and grooming industry is evident through her detailed and informative articles on FashionBeans. Her coverage spans a wide range of men’s grooming and fashion topics, showcasing her deep knowledge and a keen eye for quality.
In her review of the best hybrid shorts for men, Rachel demonstrates her expertise by highlighting key features, material quality, and styling tips, emphasizing comfort and versatility. Similarly, in her exploration of the best pine colognes for men, she offers nuanced insights into scent profiles, longevity, and seasonal appropriateness, further establishing her credibility in the grooming space.
Rachel’s methodical approach to product selection and her commitment to providing readers with comprehensive, practical advice make her a trustworthy source for recommendations on the best face serums for men.
Final Verdict
The best face serums for men should be hydrating, affordable, and feel lightweight on the skin. My top pick is L’Oreal Paris Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum because it’s intensely hydrating, revives the skin, and brightens discoloration, thanks to vitamin C.
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- Is serum good for face men?
Yes. Because they deliver potent ingredients directly to the skin to treat a specific concern, serums can be very beneficial to the skin.
- What serums do men need?
The best serums for men depend on their skin needs. Common serums include hydration, retinol, and vitamin C.
- Do men need vitamin C serum?
Vitamin C serums are beneficial for brightening dull skin and lightening post-acne marks and skin discoloration.
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