A really good serum can get expensive, but these ones are great and under $30.
Ask any dermatologist and they’ll tell you that a serum is a really good thing to add to your skin-care routine.
Lighter than moisturizers, they’re packed with high concentrations of active ingredients, play nicely with your moisturizer and eye cream, and can treat every skin-care grievance imaginable (dryness, dark spots, wrinkles, etc.).
“Serums are the workhorse products that target specific skin concerns, such as redness, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, breakouts, and more,” New York City dermatologist Dendy Engelman tells Allure.
“The difference in serums is all about the active ingredients, which address the issue you want to target.” Such powers mean that serums usually come with a hefty price tag, but there are exceptions.
Fortunately, potent formulas featuring ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and retinol are readily available at your drugstore and beyond.
Below, we present 15 of our current favorite face serums that all clock in at $30 or less, so there’s no buyer’s remorse to be had.
Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum SPF 60+
Neutrogena’s Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum is a 2022 Best of Beauty winner for good reason. It’s a lightweight formula that appears invisible on all skin tones while boasting SPF 60. It’s also loaded with hydrating glycerin which leaves skin looking lit from within.
Bubble Day Dream
Bubble Day Dream is the least intimidating way to add quality ingredients to your routine (without breaking the bank.) This formula features brightening vitamin C and niacinamide to diminish any dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Basically — it’s a one-way ticket to smooth, clear skin.
Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum
Have you seen Alica Keys’ skin? If so, you should trust that when her brand Keys Soulcare launched the Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum, it was going to do exactly what it claimed.
This product promises to plump and brighten skin with rosewater and niacinamide — so much so, that you will probably want to skip base makeup altogether.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
In a bottle of CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum, you’ll find ceramides that help reduce the appearance of large pores and retinol, which will smooth and refine the surface of the skin. After using this under-$20 steal twice a week for a month, you’ll start noticing smoother, softer skin.
Cocokind Barrier Ceramide Serum
Cocokind’s Barrier Ceramide Serum is made with five types of ceramides and lipids like fatty acids and squalane that seal in moisture and hydrate the skin. Plus, there’s also lactic acid in there, which will sweep away dead skin cells and maintain a smooth surface.
The Inkey List Collagen Booster Firming Peptide Serum
The Inkey List has managed to launch affordable serums with every covetable key ingredient, including this peptide-packed formula.
Collagen Booster Firming Peptide Serum includes the peptides Syn-Tacks and Matrixyl 3000, the latter of which, dermatologist Jeannette Graf, MD has told Allure, is among the peptides that have the most scientific support behind their purported ability to help stimulate collagen production and thus help firm and smooth skin.
Urban Skin Rx Even Tone Super Glow Serum
Made to improve the appearance of dark spots caused by sun damage, Urban Skin Rx Even Tone Super Glow Serum relies on 2 percent kojic acid and an impressive 10 percent L-ascorbic acid — a favored form of vitamin C — to brighten skin.
“Pure ascorbic acid has consistently been proven to be the most effective at penetrating the skin barrier,” dermatologist Patricia Wexler, MD has told Allure.
Differin Dark Spot Correcting Serum
Another effective way to conquer discoloration without breaking the bank: Differin’s Dark Spot Correcting Serum. Whether the dark spots you’re dealing with are from acne, sun damage, or anything that can cause uneven tone, the active ingredient, 2 percent hydroquinone, is famous among dermatologists for its effectiveness.
“Hydroquinone is the gold standard for hyperpigmentation, as it works on the cells that make melanin to block further production,” dermatologist Roberta Del Campo, MD has told Allure. (It’s worth noting, however, that hydroquinone has been banned in Europe over its skin-bleaching properties.)
E.L.F. Glow Up Primer Serum
This E.L.F. serum may be meant as a makeup primer, but you may very well be thrilled enough with how your skin looks and feels after applying it to just go barefaced. That’s because Glow Up Primer Serum is a fantastic source of hyaluronic acid, to help skin look instantly and noticeably more hydrated.
“Hyaluronic acid penetrates easily, which is why it works so well when applied topically,” cosmetic chemist Sandra Bontempo has told Allure.
Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum
We thought there was nothing we could love more than the Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm — that is, until we came across the Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum.
Ingredients, such as white hibiscus, apple, and watermelon, are the key players for firming and hydrating skin, but it’s worth using for the delicious, subtly fruity scent alone.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
If you’ve got acne-prone skin, then look for a clarifying serum that will gently ward off or treat breakouts without over-drying your complexion. The Ordinary’s niacinamide- and zinc-laced serum disappears into skin, and over time, helps keep your face clear — and with minimal wallet damage.
RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum
Retinol, a vitamin-A derivative found in RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum, is a skin-care superhero thanks to its proven efficacy at speeding cell turnover and stimulating collagen. (Translation: smoother, brighter skin.)
“Decades of clinical data and research support the efficacy of retinol as a powerhouse ingredient,” Dr. Engelman says. “It helps regulate healthy skin turnover, boosts collagen production, and has great anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it’s as effective at treating acne as it is at treating wrinkles and other signs of aging.”
L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Vitamin C Concentrate
“Vitamin C is the most potent antioxidant we have available to both protect the skin from free-radical damage and brighten dark spots,” Dr. Zeichner tells Allure. L’Oréal’s Revitalift Derm Intensives Vitamin C Concentrate is packed with the stuff to get your complexion looking brighter and smoother in a matter of weeks.
Pixi Skintreats Overnight Glow Serum
Ramp up your nighttime skin-care routine with this Target find by Pixi, purveyors of the drugstore-famous Glow Tonic. The Pixi Skintreats Overnight Glow Serum’s exfoliating formula contains a 10 percent concentration of glycolic acid to slough off dead skin cells, while aloe vera, cucumber and vitamins A, C & E nourish and minimize irritation.
Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum
The luxe, silky texture of the Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum is completely unexpected of its under-$30 price tag, but hey — we’re definitely not complaining. Infused with Olay’s proprietary Amino-Peptide Complex II, it’s best-selling serum penetrates deep within the skin’s layers to offer long-lasting moisture, not to mention glow for days.
No7 Early Defence Glow Activating Serum
Another derm favorite? British brand No7’s Early Defence Glow Activating Serum, another popular (and affordable!) pick. “A combination of antioxidants and peptides [in the serum] protect the skin from environmental damage and stimulate collagen to strengthen the skin,” explains Dr. Zeichner.