The Best Body Serums to Hydrate, Brighten, and Tone All Over

Best Body Serums

We independently select and review the products we recommend. If you make a purchase using our affiliate links below, we may earn a commission.

While we indulge in a 10-step skincare routine for the face, most of us rely on a single body moisturizer when it comes to body care. That is until we start to experience flaky skin, dryness, dark spots, or signs of aging. That’s where body serums come to the rescue. Keep reading to find out how body serums help and the best body serums to try.

What Is a Body Serum?

A body serum is a concentrated body-care product made to address specific skin issues on the body in a relatively short time. Just like a face serum, a body serum contains active ingredients like antioxidants and peptides to minimize skin concerns.

Unlike a body lotion or cream, a body serum has a thinner consistency with a lighter texture that absorbs fast without an uncomfortable residue on the skin.

In the grand scheme of things, body serums are great additions to a body care routine, complementing your other products such as body oils, body peels, and body lotions to achieve overall smoother, healthier skin.

Benefits of Body Serums

Better Hydration

Body serums are concentrated products. They’re formulated with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid but in a way that better absorbs. That way, you get more benefits than you’d get from a typical lotion. This is incredibly helpful for people with dry skin and for anyone experiencing dryness and flakiness from the neck down during colder months.

Treat Skin Issues

Just like face serums, body serums contain active ingredients like vitamin C or exfoliants. They help you treat prominent skin issues more efficiently. There are brightening body serums you can use to reduce hyperpigmentation. There are exfoliating body serums that get rid of flakiness and dullness on the skin.

Firmer Skin

Certain body serums contain active ingredients like peptides to give the appearance of tighter, firmer skin. This is especially helpful if you have signs of aging and you’re looking for anti-aging body care products.

Best Body Serums

From hydrating to brightening, below are the best body serums.

1. Necessaire The Body Serum

Necessaire The Body Serum - Best Body Serums

You must’ve indulged in a hyaluronic acid serum and seen how it gives you smooth, fresh, and plump skin immediately. This is just like that but for your body. It’s packed with amazing humectants. It has hyaluronic acid to attract and bind water to the skin.

And it has ceramides and niacinamide to increase the lipid content on the skin. That way, your skin is stronger against epidermal water loss and stays smooth and soft. The fragrance-free body serum is super replenishing for dry, aging skin. And it’s suitable for all skin types, even sensitive!

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramides
Size: 5.01 oz/150 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan, non-comedogenic

2. iS Clinical Youth Body Serum

iS Clinical Youth Body Serum - Best Anti-Aging Body Serum

Similarly, this anti-aging body serum also has hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 for ultimate hydration. On top of that, it has antioxidant-rich watermelon extract, soothing aloe, as well as anti-inflammatory licorice extract.

The formula enhances moisture with botanical extracts and promotes a smoother and softer skin texture. The mess-free mist gets rid of flakiness and revives parched skin.

Key Ingredients: Aloe, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5
Size: 6.7 oz/200 ml

3. One Love Organics Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum

One Love Organics Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum - Best Body Serums For Dry Skin

This serum oil hybrid is just as good as a body moisturizer. It’s made with excellent nourishing and restoring botanicals to bring back hydration and give your body a proper defense against oxidative stress. It has sunflower seed oil and seabuckthorn oil.

They’re both rich in omega fatty acids that moisturize the skin and repair its protective barrier against free radicals and dehydrating weather conditions. It also has pumpkin seed oil, which is a natural enzyme exfoliant that gently smooths out the skin texture.

Key Ingredients: Green tea seed oil, pumpkin seed oil
Size: 4 oz/120 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free

4. REN Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum

REN Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum - Best AHA Body Serum

This exfoliating body serum contains 10% lactic acid for its skin-smoothing benefits. Lactic acid removes dead skin cells and brightens the skin. But it also hydrates the skin. Instead of leaving your body parched, lactic acid leaves it plump. The serum also contains probiotics to support the skin barrier.

It’s a great treatment to increase radiance and microcirculation on the skin to achieve tighter skin. Because it has active ingredients, make sure you’re not overusing the product or using it too frequently. Otherwise, it might cause dryness or irritation.

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid
Size: 6.8 oz/200 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free

5. Moroccanoil Night Body Serum

Moroccanoil Night Body Serum - Best Body Serum with Vitamin C

This is a nourishing night serum to help your body recover from the effects of daily damage. The texture is a little bit heavier than a typical serum but not as heavy as a body oil. It’s formulated around argan oil, which is super rich in restorative fatty acids as well as antioxidant vitamin E.

And to boost the effects, the night serum has camellia oil, which is equally moisturizing for the body. Last but not least, it contains vitamin C to improve the skin tone of your body and help reverse free radical damage.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, vitamin C
Size: 3.4 oz/100 ml
Good To Know: Paraben-free

6. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum

Acne, whether it’s on your face, your back, or your legs, is difficult to manage. But if you’re dealing with it, you know that nothing holds a candle to salicylic acid when it comes to calming acne overnight.

So if you’re struggling with stubborn body acne, this body serum will help reduce acne-related issues without putting a dent in your wallet. The formula is more like a treatment than a luxurious serum. So in that sense, don’t expect a sensory experience.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid
Size: 8 oz/240 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free

7. Tata Harper Resurfacing + Smoothing Body Serum

Tata Harper Resurfacing + Smoothing Body Serum

On the flip side, if you do want a sensory experience from your body serum while keeping tabs on skin issues, this is a worthy splurge! Even though the formula packs several exfoliants like glycolic and lactic acid, they’re naturally derived, which means they’re less likely to irritate. Plus, it contains Kakadu plum extract.

It’s super rich in vitamin C and the ultimate remedy for discolorations and dark spots. And that’s handy if you’ve been enjoying the sun a little too much, like yours truly, and your cleavage could use the radiance! Also, the consistency of the serum is incredibly replenishing and nourishing and deserves a spot in your everything shower routine for sure!

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, vitamin C
Size: 4.1 oz/125 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

So these are the best body serums you can use in your body care routine to tackle skin issues and achieve glowing skin. Body serums are not must-haves. But they are nice to have. So if you’re dealing with a prominent issue, give them a try. To get better results from your body serums, try dry brushing your body first!

FAQ

Read Next: Best Salicylic Acid Body Washes

Scroll to Top