Serums: the essentials

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Face Serum

Best for: most skin types wanting an all-round hydrating, smoothing serum for “tired” skin and early lines.
Why it’s luxe: a cult, silky serum that sinks in instantly and makes skin look more rested and bouncy with consistent use.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Face Serum is a lightweight, fast-absorbing serum made to hydrate, smooth, and refresh tired-looking skin. It’s designed for night-time use, but it also works well in the morning because it sits comfortably under moisturiser, SPF, and makeup. With regular use, skin often looks more plump and glowy, and fine lines can appear softer. It’s a good “all-rounder” serum if you want a single step that supports hydration and overall skin bounce.

Pros
• Light texture that absorbs quickly
• Gives strong hydration and helps skin look plumper
• Supports a healthier-looking glow and smoother texture
• Easy to layer with the rest of your routine

Cons
• Expensive
• Not a targeted treatment for stubborn pigmentation or acne
• May not suit very clog-prone skin, so patch test first

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

Best for: dullness, uneven texture and congestion; normal/combination/oily skin that tolerates acids.
Why it’s luxe: a high-performance overnight exfoliant that delivers a “freshly polished” look without feeling overly heavy.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum is an overnight exfoliating serum that helps smooth rough texture and bring back glow. It uses a blend of 10% AHAs + 1% BHA to gently lift away built-up dead skin, which can make pores look smaller and skin look clearer by morning. It’s best used at night, a few times a week at first, then more often if your skin handles it well.

Pros
• Helps skin look smoother and more radiant
• Can improve the look of pores and congestion
• Good option if you get dullness or uneven texture
• A little goes a long way, so one bottle can last

Cons
• Can sting or cause dryness, especially when you’re new to acids
• Not ideal if your skin is very sensitive or your barrier is irritated

Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid

Best for: all skin types needing everyday hydration; great when skin feels tight, a bit dry or dull.
Why it’s luxe-adjacent: a simple, “always works” hydration step that layers perfectly with the rest of your routine.

Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Face Serum (75ml) is a simple, lightweight “daily hydration” serum. It’s made to help your skin feel more bouncy and comfortable, and to support the skin barrier when you’re feeling dry, tight, or a bit dull. The texture is watery-gel, so it sinks in fast and layers easily under moisturiser and SPF.

Pros
• Very light and non-greasy, great under makeup
• Gives a quick hydration boost and helps skin feel smoother
• Easy “goes with everything” serum if you use actives like acids or retinoids and want extra comfort
• Good size (75ml) if you use it daily

Cons
• Mostly hydration and comfort, so it won’t replace targeted serums for dark spots or acne
• If you prefer richer, oilier serums, this can feel a bit too light

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Clearing Serum With Vitamin C

Best for: dark spots, uneven tone and dullness; most skin types (introduce slowly if you’re sensitive).
Why it’s luxe-adjacent: a polished, easy-to-layer serum that targets brightness and clarity without feeling heavy.

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Clearing Serum is a brightening face serum made to help fade the look of dark spots and even out skin tone over time. It combines vitamin C with niacinamide and a little salicylic acid, so it’s a good choice if you want more glow and a clearer, more even-looking complexion. It’s light, easy to layer, and can be used morning and night (if your skin tolerates it), with SPF in the daytime.

Pros
• Helps improve the look of dark spots and uneven tone
• Good for dullness and “tired” skin, adds brightness over time
• Nice all-rounder for tone + texture because it includes both brightening and gentle exfoliating ingredients
• Layers well with moisturiser and makeup because it’s a serum texture

Cons
• Dark spots take time, so results aren’t instant
• The salicylic acid can feel a bit drying or tingly if your skin is sensitive, so start slowly