Though avid Albert Review readers are likely already familiar with the concept of a facial serum, advocates of a minimalist cleanse-exfoliate-moisturise skincare routine may be hesitant to add another step. However, facial serums are an easy way to treat targeted skin concerns and make for a powerful addition to your grooming arsenal.
While face creams, lotions, and moisturisers work to effectively hydrate and moisturise your skin, they typically have a low (or no) concentration of active ingredients. In contrast, serums pack a powerful punch, penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin and delivering a high percentage of active ingredients like antioxidants, botanicals, nutrients, and amino acids.
The best face serum producst for men work to treat everything from acne, enlarged pores, and dull skin to wrinkles and fine lines. And in reality, despite their often dainty and somewhat fiddly appearance, facial serums take about an extra ten seconds to apply. We’re sure you can spare that.
The best ingredients to look for in a face serum for men
Hydrating and moisturising serums
The best ingredients to promote hydration are likely familiar to even skincare novices. Hyaluronic acid supports hydration by pulling water from the air and binding it to your skin; these are best used in humid areas which have ample moisture in the air. Other hydrating skincare ingredients to look for include aloe vera, glycerin, sodium PCA, polyglutamic acid, allantoin, panthenol, liquorice root, and tremella mushroom.
When it comes to chronically dry skin, sometimes hydration isn’t enough. Moisturising ingredients are necessary to lock in hydration and seal it into the skin. While hydrating serums are typically water-based, moisturising serums are oil-based (however it’s possible to find hybrid serums that combine the two. Moisturising serums work to support skin barrier health and prevent transepidermal water loss, with good moisturising ingredients including ceramides, squalane, and plant-based oils.
Exfoliating serums
Oily, dry, and acne-prone skin types alike can benefit from the addition of an exfoliating serum. Regular exfoliation works to slough off dead skin cells and unclog pores, leaving you with smoother, brighter skin. Those with dry, dull, mature, or discoloured skin can benefit from the addition of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic or lactic acids. Those with sensitive skin types can try mandelic acid, a more gentle AHA that works well for those prone to redness or rosacea.
Meanwhile, those with oily or acne-prone skin will benefit most from salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that penetrates deeper into the skin to unclog pores and prevent breakouts from reoccurring.
Brightening serums
Dull skin, hyperpigmentation, and discolouration responds well to vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that aids in protecting against free radical damage and promoting collagen production. Other good brightening ingredients include niacinamide, kojic acid, and liquorice extract. You’ll often also find hydrating and exfoliating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, lactic and glycolic acids, and ceramides in brightening serums; these work cohesively to promote smoother, brighter, and more hydrated skin.
Smoothing and firming serums
When it comes to preventing the signs of premature ageing (read: wrinkles and fine lines), retinol should be a key consideration in your grooming arsenal. While it’s not an overnight fix, retinol works deep within the skin to speed up skin cell turnover and promote collagen production; with consistent use, it softens wrinkles and fine lines while reducing dark spots and evening out skin tone.
Peptides and ceramides are also beneficial for firmer, more youthful skin. Peptides are short-chain amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins like collagen , keratin, and elastin. When applied topically to the skin in the form of a serum, peptides trigger skin cells to form collagen and elastin, ultimately contributing to firmer skin. Meanwhile, ceramides are lipids naturally found in the skin; these help moisturise the skin and promote a stronger skin barrier.
The best targeted men’s face serums in 2025
From dull skin and dark spots to fine lines and acne, these are the best men’s face serums for every skin concern.
1. Best vitamin C serum: Medik8 Super C Ferulic
An intensely brightening serum for men, the Medik8 Super C Ferulic contains a massive shelf-stable 30% vitamin C which works synergistically with ferulic acid and vitamin E to provide antioxidant protection against free radical damage, brighten the skin, and prevent signs of ageing.
Price: $143AUD
2. Best starter vitamin C serum: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum


A potent antioxidant, vitamin C works to even skin tone, stimulate collagen production, and protect your skin from harmful environmental free radicals. Men who are introducing vitamin C into their skincare routine may find Medik8 Super C Ferulic’s 30% vitamin C a little too intense. If that’s the case, start slower with Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum which contains15% vitamin C, making it a powerful tool to brighten your complexion and the perfect starter serum for guys who just want a good all-rounder.
Plus, the new ‘fresh’ formula is designed to be mixed by you prior to your first use, ensuring your vitamin C stays fresh and potent for longer.
Price: $129AUD
3. Best hydrating serum for sensitive or irritated skin: Biobod Replenishing Hydra-Soothe Serum


Designed for sensitive skin in mind, the Biobod Replenishing Hydra-Soothe Serum provides dehydrated skin with a much-needed dose of hydration courtesy of hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, and glycerin. The addition of prebiotics and postbiotics support the skin’s microbiome while green tea, aloe vera, and cica extracts reduce redness and soothe irritated skin.
Price: $65AUD
4. Best serum for anti-ageing: Dermalist Age Defying Multicomplex


Retinol typically doesn’t play nicely with other active ingredients, which is why it’s usually found alone in serums. However, the Dermalist Age Defying Multicomplex manages to safely pair it with vitamin C, niacinamide, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to create an all-in-one serum that help promote collagen and elastin production; improves skin tone, texture, and clarity; and prevents signs of ageing. The ideal nighttime addition for those who want a one-and-done serum.
Price: $179AUD
5. Best serum for strengthening and tightening the skin: The Ordinary GF 15% Solution


Our skin naturally contains several types of growth factors (a type of peptide), which work to signal its natural repair mechanisms like collagen and elastin formation. These decrease as we age, contributing to wrinkles and a loss of firmness. The Ordinary GF 15% Solution contains a trio of plant-based growth factors that aid in promoting collagen and elastin production, thereby aiding in firming sagging or loose skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and supporting overall skin health. Historically, most growth factor serums have been priced at well over $100AUD, however The Ordinary has managed to pack these handy peptides into a product that clocks in at less than $30AUD.
Price: $26.90AUD
6. Best unique anti-ageing serum: BioEffect EGF Serum


Formerly a one-of-a-kind serum (before the release of The Ordinary’s GF 15% Solution), the BioEffect EGF Serum stalls the ageing process by supporting and restoring your body’s own supply of epidermal growth factor (EGF); a protein naturally found in the skin, EGF is responsible for maintaining collagen and elastin function, and hydration levels. Made with a plant-based EGF produced in barley, this serum reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid boost hydration and plump the skin.
Price: $175AUD
7. Best retinol serum: Paula’s Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment


Retinol often comes with some downtime, causing redness, peeling, dryness, and irritation for the uninitiated. However, the Paula’s Choice 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment combines an easily-tolerated amount of retinol with skin-soothing bakuchiol, which boasts similar anti-ageing effects to retinol, minus the irritation. Combined with peptides, this serum reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, evens skin tone, and firms skin and prevents sagging.
Price: $89AUD
8. Best affordable retinol serum: CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum


Combining retinol with a trio of ceramides and hyaluronic acid, the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum works to promote skin cell turnover while strengthening the skin barrier and providing hydration. It’s a relatively gentle serum, however if you’re new to retinol it’s best to start by using it 2-3 times a week (at night) and following with a moisturiser.
Price: $39.99AUD
9. Best brightening serum for acne-prone skin: SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF


While vitamin C is touted for its brightening effects, it can often cause irritation or breakouts in acne-prone skin. Formulated with acne-prone skin in mind, the SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF harnesses the radiance-inducing and free radical-fighting benefits of vitamin C and combines them with phloretin, an antioxidant that works to fade discolouration.
Price: $242AUD
10. Best antioxidant serum: The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5%


A powerful serum on a budget, The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% is a potent two-ingredient antioxidant serum that works to improve radiance and prevent and reduce dullness in the short term, and improve collagen and elastin production with consistent use. It also aids the skin’s ability to retain water, resulting in more hydrated skin.
Price: $19.10AUD
11. Best all-rounder serum: Dermalist AllSerum Skin Perfector


Another Dermalist product, but the brand quite simply nails multi-active formulas. The Dermalist AllSerum Skin Perfector combines vitamin C, niacinamide, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and squalane with seven types of peptides, making for a serum that works to brighten, firm, and gently exfoliate the skin. Perfect for targeting pretty much every skin concern, including dullness, dehydration, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and acne.
Price: $159AUD
12. Best exfoliating serum for dull skin: Sunday Riley Good Genes


Skincare is often a long game, with consistent and continued use key to good results. However, Sunday Riley Good Genes is one of the rare few products that actually boasts overnight results. Lactic acid clarifies and refines the skin overnight, reducing the appearance of pores and making the skin appear fresher, brighter, and more radiant. The addition of prickly pear extract and aloe vera hydrate the skin while liquorice root extract treats hyperpigmentation and discolouration over time.
Price: $141AUD
13. Best exfoliating serum for mature skin: Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum


Lactic acid works to exfoliate dead skin cells to brighten the complexion and reduce the appearance of fine lines while the addition of peptides and amino acids firm and strengthen the skin barrier over time. Snow mushroom extract boosts hydration while squalane and marula oil provide a dose of moisture. The ideal do-it-all overnight serum for guys with mature skin.
Price: $136AUD
14. Best serum for dark spots and hyperpigmentation: Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum


Whether you’re dealing with the marks of acne past or sun spots, the Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum uses a combination of mandelic, lactic, and salyicilic acids teamed with niacinamide, peptides, and antioxidants to brighten the skin overnight and fade dark marks with consistent use.
Price: $174AUD
15. Best daytime serum: Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+


If you only use one serum, let it be this one. This daytime serum combines SPF50+ (necessary for even the most steadfast skincare minimalists!) with niacinamide, the latter of which works to fade dark spots, regulate sebum production and reduce breakouts, soothe inflammation, and minimise redness and irritation.
Price: $50AUD
16. Best idk serum: Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Facial Serum


Don’t know exactly what you want? If you already have ‘pretty good’ skin and don’t know whether you’re after something brightening, anti-ageing, or hydrating, a an antioxidant serum is a good place to start. Packed with potent hydrating and nourishing antioxidant-rich actives, this lightweight serum is the ideal all-rounder, working to hydrate and soften the skin while providing protection from environmental aggressors.
With an easily absorbed texture, Aesop’s serum is soothing and calming, forming an invisible film over the skin to protect against pollution in urban environments while providing your skin with gentle nourishment and effective hydration.
Price: $120AUD
Words by John Deckard