Think of a serum as the powerhouse of your skincare regimen. It’s formulated to help get visible results. Serums typically have a lightweight consistency, which allows them to penetrate into skin and get to work.

If you’re wondering what serums do for your skin, it depends on the formula. At Clinique, serums are formulated to target specific skin concerns. They are made with potent ingredients to focus on their mission, whether it's to reduce the look of dark spots, boost your glow, or help visibly smooth fine lines.

What type of serum you should use depends on the results you want. Even Better Clinical™ Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter, Clinique’s gold-standard serum for reducing the look of dark spots, and visibly corrects discoloration, including acne marks. Clinique Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Serum outsmarts wrinkles by repairing, resurfacing, and re-plumping the look of skin. Clinique Fresh Pressed™ Daily Booster has Vitamin C to help brighten skin. At night, Clinique Smart Night™ Clinical MD Treatment Retinol jumpstarts the anti-aging process with potent retinol. Our acne-fighting serum Acne Solutions™ Acne + Line Correcting Serum with salicylic acid is a grown-up solution for acne—it targets the look of lines as it treats breakouts. Need help finding the best serum for your skin? Try our Skin Diagnostic or Chat Now.

Apply a small amount on cleansed, exfoliated skin. Most face serums direct you to use just 1-2 pumps. Follow with moisturizer. The rule of thumb when it comes to layering skincare: go from thinnest to thickest. Serum first, moisturizer second. You can use the same serum morning and night, but use a day cream with SPF and a night cream with skin-moisturizing ingredients.

The benefits of using serum on your face are worth the extra step in your skincare routine. Serums are powerful: concentrated ingredients in a thin base penetrate and get to work. Add one to your twice-daily skincare routine and with consistent use, you’ll see a visible difference in your skin. Clinique’s powerhouse serums can help brighten skin for a more radiant complexion, visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and minimize the look of dark spots. Face serums are perfect to use in regimens that include makeup removers, cleansers, exfoliators, and moisturizers.