The Skin Saviours

The market for targeted serums to tackle specific skin concerns is exploding. Sarah Simpson decodes the most common categories

Finding the right serum for your skin can be like trying to find the perfect little black dress – it needs to feel right, glide on effortlessly and settle on the skin seamlessly, not to mention deliver on its promises. Designed to be like a supercharged shot of goodness, these pint-size potions are a godsend for myriad skincare woes. We’ve scoured the beauty aisles to find the best of the best for all your complexion conundrums.

Redness

If redness is your main gripe and it feels as if your skin might be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, arm yourself with a serum that will calm the skin’s reactive responses, reducing the rush of flush. They work to strengthen the capillary walls in the dermis beneath the skin’s surface so redness is less prominent, as well as balance normal processes like hydration and cell turnover. Seek out serums designed to reduce inflammation, such as Rejuvaphyl Redness Recovery, $126.50 (1), which contains chlorophyll, a molecule derived from plants that improves skin tone and overall appearance.

Ageing

When it comes to ironing out those fine lines and unwanted wrinkles, there’s one heavy-hitter that remains the most lauded – retinol. The derivative of vitamin A, which is one of our body’s key nutrients for healthy skin cell function, works with a two-prong approach. It increases collagen and elastin production, as well as exfoliating the top layer of your skin. This encourages your cell turnover to speed up, in turn revealing a smoother texture and youthful, plumped-up volume.