Back to Basics: Don't Know Which Serums to Add to Your AM and PM Routine? Start Here
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
Serums - the superheroes of our skincare routines and the ones doing most of the heavy-lifting.
Helping us fade pigmentation, boost radiance, slow down the accelerated signs of ageing or hydrating our dry skin.
Let’s be real—where would we be without these powerhouse bottles? Serums aren’t just an extra step; they’re the cornerstone of any truly great skincare routine.
Speaking of serums, tomorrow marks the first day of serums week at a Adore Beauty!
So we thought it was the perfect time to re-introduce you to a few underrated serums and exactly where they fit in your AM and PM routine.
But before we dive in, let’s take a little refresher on our skincare ABCs—yes, we’re going back to school.
Skincare School, that is.
The ABCs of Skincare.
If you’re a skincare newbie or want to know how to start a basic skincare routine, or asking what serums do I need for a beginner skincare routine? The answer: your ABCs.
Most skin types will benefit with a trio of vitamins A, B, and C in their routine—each playing a key role in keeping your complexion happy, healthy, and glowing.
To make things easy, I’ve enlisted our resident dermal expert for a quick-fire breakdown of each.
Save this, screenshot it—consider it your skincare cheat sheet...
What is Vitamin A, B and C in Skincare?
Vitamin A: (Retinoids) - "Boosts collagen production, speeds up cell turnover, reduce fine lines and helps manage acne.”
Yad's top vitamin A serum pick: Any of the Medik8 Crystal Retinal range.
Vitamin B (Niacinamide) - “Strengthens the skin barrier, reduces inflammation, and balances oil production.”
Yad's top vitamin B serum pick: Aspect Extreme B 17
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) - “Is a potent antioxidant that brightens skin, evens tone, and protects against environmental damage."
Yad's top vitamin B serum pick: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum - 30ml. This is a best-selling vitamin C for good reason. Its powerful, high-potency formula contains both ascorbic acid (one of the most stable forms of vitamin C) as well as ferulic acid. Users of this iconic serum have seen incredible results (including my mum whose dull, pigmented complexion was completed transformed. Her face was more even, glowy and her pigmentation had visibly lifted). Its over 490 five-star reviews is also a testament to it being worth every penny.
For a more elaborate breakdown of your skincare ABCs read Yad's article here.
But What About Eye Care?
Turns out when we crunched the data and besides serums, you guys are also starting to be much more curious about the eye category.
Good for you! We don’t blame you.
Admittedly, I once wasn’t an eye cream product person; I used to think, "Why can’t I just spread my creams under my eyes?"
Eye products are specifically formulated for the delicate under-eye area, and we have a host wonderful eye care products that you can pair with your serums in your skincare routines too!
Some of my faves include:
- La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Eye Serum 15ml - I've done a whole BIQ article on this hydrating serum which you can read here.
- BEAUTY OF JOSEON Revive Eye Serum : Ginseng + Retinal - An affordable eye serum that has gone viral on TikTok for its brightening and smoothing properties.
- Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex 15ml - When I tried this eye treatment for this article, I found it smoothed out my creasage and felt so lovely under my eyes.
Learn more about the ABCs of cosmeceutical serums in the YouTube video below:
Best Serums to Use in an A and PM Routine (Along With an Eye Product).
Here are just a a few (from a plethora we have on our site) serums you can start using in your AM and PM skincare routines...
Best Serums to Use in the Morning.
AM skincare can include both a vitamin C and a hyaluronic acid (you can also use your HA at night if you'd like some double dose hydration).
Try:
- Skinstitut 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum - A deeply hydrating serum that contains a complex of four types of hyaluronic acid to target multiple layers of skin with moisture and hydration.
- SkinCeuticals H.A Intensifier Multi Glycan 30ml- A renovated formula of the popular HA serum "with new ingredients and now it doesn’t just hydrate, but it also helps to plump and firm the skin better than before."
- Aspect Extreme C 20 - A powerful vitamin C-based serum that tackles many of the signs of skin ageing. Contains a unique breakthrough combination of amino peptides, stable vitamin C, cellular antioxidants, corrective botanicals.
- Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Crème 15ml - A brightening eye cream that's magic under concealer.
Best Serums to Use in the Night.
Try:
- Aesthetics Rx B Serum 30ml - For those with a dehydrated skin, redness or those with oily, combination, normal or dry skin looking to plump or firm… so bascially everyone with skin who wants even BETTER skin. You can also use your vitamin B serum in the AM too if you wish!
- Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Strengthening Serum 30ml - The new kid on the Dermalogica block. Described as: A barrier-boosting, resilience-building serum that helps fortify skin’s defenses, restore hydration, and fight signs of ageing.
- Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 30ml - As we mentioned, the whole Medik8 crystal retinal range - *chef's kiss*.
- Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Ceramide Capsules 60pcs - Iconic and for good reason. These capsules are filled with pure retinol and HPR, ceramides, firming peptides and soothing botanicals to help with age management AND support your skin barrier.
- Cosmedix Opti Crystal- Liquid Crystal Eye Serum - Beauty IQ Expert Host Tegan Mac will not stop raving about this eye serum, and whatever she recommends we know is going to be excellent.
Now, go forth and have glowy, hydrated skin and smoother, hydrated under-eyes friends!
Discover more incredible new serums below:
