These 10 Affordable Serums Will Do Wonders For Your Skin

Best for: Dry/Mature/Sun-damaged skin/Texture

Sun damage on the skin can appear as uneven (dark) spots or areas, especially in the center of the face or on the cheeks and temples. It's most easily recognized by looking like a freckle rather than a full-blown dark, pigmented spot.

If you’re experiencing some sun damage on your skin, you should consider introducing vitamin C into your skincare routine as this antioxidant is the best ingredient that efficiently targets this particular concern.

And while vitamin C is notoriously difficult to formulate (mainly because the raw ingredient smells like wet socks and is as unstable as hell), a few brands have managed to create a stable product that gives great results (and smells pleasant enough).

TruSkin is a brand that offers the most affordable vitamin C serum on the market. Their Vitamin C Serum contains hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and vitamin E in the formula, which are super hydrating and soothing to the skin. It also contains jojoba oil, which will soften the skin and make any existing texture less prominent.

Best for: Oily/Acne-prone skin

The Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion by The Ordinary is one of the most affordable serums for oily and problematic skin types prone to breakouts, stubborn hyperpigmentation, and other forms of scarring.

The serum is formulated using Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR), an advanced form of a non-prescription all-trans retinoic acid. This ester makes the formula gentler than prescription retinoids but almost equally efficient, giving great results from the get-go with minimal to zero initial irritation.

However, as it always is with retinoids, there will definitely be some mild shedding, peeling, and sensitivity in the beginning. Therefore, make sure to introduce the Granactive Retinoid Emulsion into your routine slowly and always follow it up with sunscreen in the morning.

Best for: Dry/Dehydrated/Acne-prone skin

The Retinol Serum by CeraVe is an excellent beginner-friendly retinol that you can consider introducing into your routine if your skin is on the drier side, but you’re also dealing with occasional breakouts and scarring.

The formula uses an encapsulated retinol, which means the active ingredient will be slowly released into the skin over time to avoid the irritation often associated with retinoids.

But besides that, the serum also contains ceramides, which are lipids found in our natural skin oil that help lubricate, nourish, and protect the skin from over-drying.

Lastly, the formula also uses licorice root extract and niacinamide, which are both brightening agents that help strengthen the skin barrier and calm the skin.

Best for: Combination/Oily skin

Naturium Niacinamide 12% + Zinc 2% is a concentrated serum that helps brighten and even out uneven skin tone, minimize the look of enlarged pores, smooth skin texture, and improve the appearance of fine lines.

It’s a great choice for combination or oily skin types that deal with breakouts since zinc is an excellent ingredient for calming and soothing inflammation. Additional key ingredients include a form of hyaluronic acid and moisturizing vitamin E. 

Although the serum is recommended to be used both morning and evening, I would personally suggest you use it once a day or every couple of days due to the high concentration of niacinamide that can sometimes be too much for your skin.

Best for: Dry/Dehydrated/Mature skin

CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum is another banger for dry, dehydrated, mature, sensitive, and irritated skin due to its ability to hydrate, soothe, calm, and support a strong and healthy skin barrier.

Its main ingredient – hyaluronic acid – along with glycerin are great humectants that attract and retain moisture in the skin to make it look plump and healthy.

Besides that, the serum contains CeraVe's signature three essential ceramides, which work to strengthen the skin's protective barrier. And lastly, the formula also contains Panthenol, which is a B5 vitamin that has incredibly soothing and healing properties to help irritated or compromised skin repair and heal.

Best for: Dry/Dehydrated/Combination/Oily/Mature skin

La Roche Posay's Hyalu B5 Serum is very similar to the CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum mentioned above, with a slight difference in texture and a couple of ingredients.

Hyalu B5 is a better option for combination or oily skin types due to its lightweight consistency that quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy residue.

The formula also uses plumping and hydrating hyaluronic acid, healing vitamin B5, and triglycerides, which are important lubricating components naturally found in our skin.

Best for: Dry/Mature skin with fine lines and texture

The Beauty Sleep Resurfacing Serum is THE product that will cause you to wake up with a fresh new layer of smooth, refreshed, and glowing skin. This serum is made with vegan ingredients, is paraben and phthalate free, and promises to give you smooth, glowing skin without any irritation.

The product contains a potent blend of glycolic, lactic, citric, malic, and tartaric acids to gently exfoliate the skin while hyaluronic acid provides the hydration and nourishment your skin needs to look plump, healthy, and glowy. All these are alpha-hydroxy acids that work on the surface layer of the skin and can target various concerns like uneven skin tone, texture, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, dryness, and rough skin.

However, as with any exfoliating product, bear in mind that you shouldn't use it more often than 2-3 times a week to avoid over-exfoliation and irritation. Also, you should always follow it up with a moisturizer in the evening and high SPF in the morning.

Best for: Dry/Dehydrated/Mature skin

Olay is the OG affordable brand for all-things anti-aging, including retinols, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and SPF.

This is why it's not a surprise that their Regenerist Serum is another anti-aging powerhouse that uses a skin-plumping Amino-Peptide Complex to regenerate the skin and plump up visible fine lines and wrinkles.

Besides that, the formula also contains brightening niacinamide, as well as soothing green tea extract and allantoin to soften the skin and prevent dryness.

This serum definitely has its target demographic: dry, dehydrated, and mature skin, and it works amazingly well for these skin types and concerns.

Best for: Dry/Damaged/Dehydrated/Sensitive skin

Good Light's Probiotic Serum is the product you should look into if you don't want to spend $79 on JLO's Multitasking Serum or $54 on Herbivore's Bakuchiol Serum.

The consistency of this product is very rich, and the formula contains a blend of probiotics to help balance out the skin's microbiome, as well as carrot, moringa, and olive oil for an instant softening effect on the surface of the skin.

Lastly, the serum also contains Bakuchiol, which is considered to be the natural, pregnancy-safe alternative to retinol due to the ability to increase cellular turnover and help you achieve a more youthful and nourished look without any risk.

This is definitely a serum that will work wonders for dry, damaged, dehydrated, and even sensitive skin; however, due to the high oil content, combo, oily, and acne-prone folks should stay away from it.

Best for: Dark spots/Melasma/Sun damage/Texture

La Roche-Posay's Glycolic B5 Serum is the strongest option on this list reserved for anyone who deals with stubborn hyperpigmentation such as dark spots left from acne, melasma, and uneven texture from excess oil trapped under the superficial layer of the skin.

This exfoliating serum contains a blend of 10% glycolic acid, which is an alpha-hydroxy acid with the smallest molecular weight that works to dissolve the bonds holding dead skin cells clumped up together on the surface of the skin. Once the protein bonds are dissolved, the dead skin cells will then shed rapidly, uncovering a layer of smoother, brighter, glowier, and more uniform skin underneath.

Besides that, the Glycolic B5 Serum also contains LHA, which is a mild exfoliant that works to clear the pores from the inside out, as well as kojic and tranexamic acid — both highly effective pigment-inhibitors that will help brighten dark spots and uneven areas.

Since the Glycolic B5 Serum contains quite a blend of potent ingredients, it's best to use it no more than 2-3 times a week and follow it up with a nourishing moisturizer in the evening and sunscreen in the morning.