In the midst of winter, there’s so much we miss about the warmer months (read: the weather, the beach, the longer days), but at the very top of the list is the seasonal summer glow we sport for three months of the year, which is why we require radiant skin serums throughout the other nine.
Although faking a tan is easy enough with the right products on hand (honestly, we’re never without bronzer in winter) — dewy, radiant, ‘fresh from the sea’ skin is a little harder to manufacture. However, it’s not completely impossible.
Even in winter when your complexion seems the most dull, dry and plagued by unwanted texture, there’s still a way to switch up your skin care routine to reveal your most radiant self.
Armed with a serum pumped full of ingredients that are proven to enhance radiance (think: vitamin C, retinol, antioxidants, AHAs, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and peptides) and a bit of patience, you’ll see your summer skin a little earlier this year.
Here, marie claire shares the best radiant skin serums to shop right here in Australia.
2024’s top radiant skin serums
- Lancôme Advanced Génifique Serum, $199, Adore Beauty
- Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate, $155, Amazon Australia
- Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum, $102, Cult Beauty
The best radiant skin serums 2024
Lancôme Advanced Génifique Serum
from $199 at Adore Beauty
Best for: Mature skin
Lancôme has poured 20 years of microbiome science research into each Advanced Génifique Serum bottle. Six billion pre and probiotics, hyaluronic acid and vitamin Cg aim to repair and reinforce the skin’s barrier functions to improve the overall quality of the complexion, enhance radiance, and smooth the visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Sizes: 20ml / 30ml / 50ml / 75ml / 100ml / 115ml
Key features:
- Each bottle contains six billion pre and probiotics, hyaluronic acid and vitamin Cg
- Repairs and reinforces barrier function
- Enhances radiance
- Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
- Improves quality and clarity of the complexion
Available at:
- $199 from Adore Beauty
- $199 from Sephora
- $199 from Lancôme
Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate
from $155 at Amazon Australia
Best for: Combination skin
This two-in-one serum boasts 21 active plant extracts, including the formula’s hero ingredient turmeric extract, which work in unison to firm, smooth fine lines, even the complexion’s tone, refine pore size, and boost skin’s natural glow and radiance.
Sizes: 30ml / 50ml / 75ml
Key features:
- 21 active plant extracts
- Enhances radiance
- Firms skin and smooths fine lines
- Evens skin tone
- Refines and shrinks pore size
Available at:
- $155 from Amazon Australia
- $175 from Adore Beauty
- $175 from Sephora
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum
from $102 at Cult Beauty
Best for: Blemish-prone skin
Enriched with Caudalie’s signature brightening viniferine (derived from grape vine sap) and moisture-replenishing squalane, this viral-on-TikTok serum is a radiance-enhancing superstar that unifies skin tone and minimises the appearance of dark spots too.
Sizes: 30ml
Key features:
- Contains viniferine (derived from grape vine sap) and olive-derived squalane
- Brightens and enhances radiance
- Unifies skin tone
- Minimises dark spots
- Moisturises without being heavy or greasy on skin
Available at:
- $102 from Cult Beauty
- $109 from ASOS
- $113 from Sephora
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI
from $112.98 at Amazon Australia
Best for: Dehydrated skin
Dubbed the La Mer of Korean skin care, Sulwhasoo’s hero product — First Care Activating Serum — now in its sixth generation has evolved to be more potent than ever. Sulwhasoo’s proprietary ginseng technology enhances skin function and the complexion’s natural radiance, alleviating dry, tight, uncomfortable-feeling skin, and promoting a firmer, more youthful-looking complexion.
Sizes: 15ml / 60ml / 90ml
Key features:
- Utilises Sulwhasoo’s proprietary ginseng technology
- Reinforces optimum skin function
- Enhances radiance and firmness
- Alleviates dry, tight and uncomfortable feeling skin
- Minimises the appearance of fine lines
Available at:
- $112.98 from Amazon Australia
- $119 from Sephora
- $119 from Adore Beauty
Bescher Sea Cucumber Collagen Regeneration Serum
from $119 at Bescher
Best for: Sensitive skin
Perfect for skin that requires a gentle approach, this Australian-born serum contains a strengthening and nourishing blend of sea cucumber collagen, orange stem cells, Matrixyl 3000
peptide complex, and hyaluronic acid. With frequent application it promises to support cellular repair and collagen production, plus it improves elasticity, skin tone and texture, and minimises free radical damage and inflammation for healthy, glowing skin.
Sizes: 30ml
Key features:
- Contains sea cucumber collagen, orange stem cells, Matrixyl 3000 peptide complex, and hyaluronic acid
- Supports cellular repair and collagen production
- Improves elasticity, skin tone and texture
- Minimises free radical damage and inflammation
- Promotes a healthy, glowing complexion
Saya Glow Serum
from $90 at Saya
Best for: Oily skin
This homegrown glow serum utilises antioxidant, AHA and vitamin C-rich Australian natives (Kakadu plum, caviar lime, rainforest lime and desert lime) to brighten the complexion, while lightweight humectant hyaluronic acid works to hydrate without clogging pores.
Sizes: 30ml
Key features:
- Plumps fine lines
- Brightens hyperpigmentation and dark spots
- Hydrates dry skin
- Enhances radiance
Revives and replenishes for a healthy complexion
Which type of serum is best for glowing skin?
Serums that include radiance-enhancing ingredients cover a wide breadth of skin types, so it’s a genre of skin care that really caters to everyone. Some commonly used radiance-enhancing ingredients include vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid, AHAs (glycolic or lactic acid), niacinamide, peptides, ceramides and more. Hyaluronic acid, peptides and ceramides are gentle enough to use on all skin types, including sensitive skin, while more potent actives such as vitamin C, retinol, AHAs and niacinamide should be used sparingly by more resilient skin to avoid irritation. There are also a range of botanical extracts that are naturally rich in antioxidants, which can be found in radiance-enhancing serums that help to bolster skin function and protect against the free radical damage that can cause premature ageing and dull skin.
Looking to save money on radiant skin serums? Check out our coupon codes for MECCA, Sephora and more.
Main image credit: @roses_are_rosie
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
