10 best night serums for all skin types that boost collagen, hydrate dryness and plump fine lines

CeraVe is a proven classic loved by dermatologists and beauty editors alike. It's affordable, available at your local drugstore, and contains the best MVP skincare ingredients proven to work. Take it from dermatologist Jessie Cheung, MD, who previously spoke to Cosmo, saying that this retinol serum is *chef's kiss* for reactive skin. Thanks to encapsulated retinol, which "allows for deeper penetration and sustained release, making it a great formulation for sensitive skin," she says. "You can deliver the active ingredient where you want it to work deep in the skin, and this lessens any potential irritation at the surface." Just FYI, start slowly to avoid any potential dryness.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
• Skin type: All

Glowing Customer Review: "I am 53 and have very sensitive skin. Retinol has always dried and irritated my skin – even the £360 brands!!! I use ALL of the Cerave products and most people have mistaken me for being in my late 30s because my skin is NOT wrinkled. Excellent price, excellent results, and excellent products!!!!"

Looking to ramp up your nighttime routine with a product that's got the best ingredients proven to do the damn job? Enter: Naturium's Retinol Complex Serum, handpicked by dermatologist Karan Lal, MD. It contains two cell-communicating ingredients: your classic encapsulated retinol and a newly discovered skincare superhero, bakuchiol. The two ingredients work in shockingly similar ways – both affecting skin cells by regulating cellular turnover, resulting in smoother, diminished lines over time. Oh, and it's only $20, 'nuff said.

• Key ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, bakuchiol, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin
• Skin type: Acne-prone, mature, combination

Glowing Customer Review: "So many serums and moisturisers just seem to lie on top of my skin, ignoring the fact that my skin is so dry and thirsty. But this serum is quickly absorbed, and it makes my skin feel as smooth and silky as glass. I actually have a hard time keeping my hands off my face. The retinol (and the niacinamide) contracts the pores so it appears as though I have poreless skin."

Hands down, I have never found a hydrating skincare product quite like the PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum. It's expensive asf, I KNOW, but as a beauty editor with the ability to test out most products that hit the market (I'm spoiled!), this is one serum I would continuously buy on my own. Once you apply it to your face (morning and night!), your skin immediately takes on a new texture – it's smooth, hydrated, and feels/looks bouncy as hell. It's seriously a holy grail of mine, and I attribute my skin's fresher, plumper appearance to this magic concoction.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, lipids
• Skin type: All* (*hyper-reactive skin should patch test due to the rosemary leaf oil)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have been sucked into buying so many expensive products from my esthetician, and none have worked. This is the FIRST serum that I actually notice a difference in my skin. I’ve always had dry skin, and this keeps my face glowing all day. I’ve gotten so many compliments since I started using this twice daily, morning and night. AWESOME PRODUCT!"

With a name like 'Super Serum,' it's hard to resist being sucked into this next pick. And, folks, I hate to tell ya, but it's time to open those wallets of yours because the claims are true. The superstar ingredients (hi, niacinamide, vitamin C, collagen peptide, AHA, and vitamin E) work together – and most importantly, are scientifically proven – to smooth out your skin tone and texture, blast your skin with hydration, soften fine lines, and leave your skin plump and firm. But my favourite part? It immediately absorbs into your skin without any trace of stickiness or greasy residue, meaning that it's an excellent pick for acne-prone, oily skin

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C, collagen peptide, AHA, vitamin E
• Skin type: Oily, combination, acne-prone

Glowing Customer Review: "This product does a great job resetting the skin from the day's mild insults on the skin, such as mild sun damage. Feels great, it's lightweight on the skin and absorbs well. The fragrance is fine—it's not too overpowering or harsh. I have not noticed much of a difference when it comes to fine lines and wrinkles; however, I think it's great for general skin upkeep in hydration and hyperpigmentation."

There's something about French beauty that just makes it some of the best skincare in the world. These products are formulated with a skin-first approach and made with some of the highest quality ingredients. They're not trendy, and they stick to what works, resulting in less irritation, quicker results, and a cult-like following from beauty editors and dermatologists alike. Dr. Lal loves this plumping, firming serum from Avène. "This has niacinamide and helps fight the ageing of skin cells. It also has two forms of hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin," he says.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, adenosine (wound healing and anti-inflammatory), glycerin, sodium hyaluronate
• Skin type: All
  

Glowing Customer Review: "I used this serum every night on my face and neck. It is very easy to apply, and it is quickly absorbed. I like this brand because the concentration of the active ingredients is higher than in other brands, so this is better for my skin. I recommend using this serum every day as part of your self-care routine. I also like the presentation and the size."

Formulated with all skin types and tones in mind, the Topicals Faded Serum is an excellent choice for those dealing with dark spots and discolouration. If your skin has acne scars, sun spots, or uneven texture, ingredients like niacinamide and other skin brighteners (hi, tranexamic acid, alpha-arbutin, turmeric, dimethyl methoxy chromanyl palmitate) combo with antioxidants and emollients to deliver smoother, moisturised, more even skin

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, squalane, vitamin E
• Skin type: Dry, normal, combination, oily

Glowing Customer Review: "Absolutely love this product, my biggest concern was my dark spots from previous pimples, and this really lightened and brightened everything up."

An oldie and a goodie, this La Roche-Posay serum is one of the best hyaluronic acid-based formulas on the market, coming in at a significantly lower price point than those of similar efficiency. As soon as I apply around three to five drops of the formula on my face, neck, and chest, I'm immediately left with smoother, plumper, healthier-looking skin. It can all be attributed to OGs, hyaluronic acid, and skin-protecting moisturiser, panthenol. You truly can't go wrong with this cult-favorite pick.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, panthenol, vitamin E
• Skin type: All
  

Glowing Customer Review: "This gave my skin instant rejuvenation…face came alive and looked nourished. It smoothed out my skin and gave me a look of hydration. A little goes a long way with this product. My skin absorbed it almost instantly."

Chemical exfoliants are some of beauty's secret weapons for smooth, glowing skin. The night treatment serum from Ole Henriksen uses heavy concentrations of AHAs (hi, glycolic, and lactic acids) and the new chemical exfoliant on the block, PHA, to remove dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. For some background, polyhydroxy acids have been introduced into the skincare market and are loved for their super-gentle properties that result in very minimal irritation. This means that ultra-reactive skin types respond better and, therefore, have better results.

• Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, PHA, aloe vera
• Skin type: Normal, combo, oily

Glowing Customer Review: "Every time I use this (1-2 times a week), I know I’m going to wake up with baby-soft skin the next day. I have texture issues, and when I use this, my skin is noticeably smoother and brighter the next day, and my makeup applies better. It also helps minimise breakouts."