Not all serums are made the same, and the best serums of Daily Vanity Beauty Awards 2025 proves it. Some focus on hydration, others target dullness, breakouts, or fine lines.
So if you’ve ever felt confused about which one to pick, you’re not alone. The trick is finding one that suits your skin’s needs.
These winning serums stood out from hundreds of entries – tried, tested, and crowned by our panel of experts, editors, and everyday beauty lovers.
- Best Brightening Serums (Dermatological-Grade)
- Best Brightening Serums (Luxury)
- Best Anti-Ageing Serums (Premium)
- Best Anti-Ageing Serums (Luxury)
- Best Anti-Ageing Serums (Dermatological-Grade)
- Best Anti-Ageing Retinol Serums
- Best Vitamin C Serums (Premium)
- Best Hydrating Serums (Affordable)
- Best Hydrating Serums (Premium)
- Best Repairing Serums (Affordable)
- Best Repairing Serums (Premium)
- Best Dark Spot Correcting Serums
- Meet the Judges
Best Brightening Serums (Dermatological-Grade)
Obagi Professional-C® Serum Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
For a supercharged, hydrated glow, this medical-grade serum combines 20% L-ascorbic acid and sodium hyaluronate to brighten skin, even tone, and smooth fine lines.
Its fast-absorbing formula also defends against blue light damage, keeping skin youthful and radiant—perfect for normal to oily skin or seasoned vitamin C users!
It feels amazing and goes well with sunscreen, without any smarting.– Dr Ang Sue-May
Where to purchase:
Uriage Depiderm Anti-dark Spot Brightening Booster Serum Readers’ Choice!
What it does:
This fragrance-free serum with 20% stabilised vitamin C complex and niacinamide targets dark spots, smooths texture, and brightens skin.
Dermatologist-recommended and tested on Asian skin, it delivers visible results in 28 days – gentle yet effective for a more even, radiant complexion.
From the first try, it felt soothing on my sensitive skin, and the serum was lightweight. After just seven days, I noticed my dark spots starting to fade, and my skin looked brighter and smoother. It’s one of the best serums I’ve used, and I’d definitely recommend it! – @S**y, Try and Review
Where to purchase:
- Uriage’s official Shopee store (S$79.90, 30ml)
- Uriage’s official Lazada store (S$79.90, 30ml)
- Grab To Glow (S$79.90, 30ml)
Forest MD Asta Collagen Jelly Serum Editor’s Choice!
What it does:
Formulated with astaxanthin and collagen, this jelly serum brightens and rejuvenates your complexion, targeting pigmentation and uneven tone while enhancing skin elasticity.
Its jelly texture absorbs quickly, leaving skin radiant and plump. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, it renews and transforms skin for a youthful appearance.
Where to purchase:
Best Brightening Serums (Luxury)
Drunk Elephant C-Luma Hydrabright Serum Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
Formulated at a pH of 6.5, this 10% vitamin C serum brightens and hydrates your skin while improving clarity and reducing blemishes. It fades post-breakout marks for a luminous, even complexion.
Where to purchase:
SKiNEED Vitamin B3++ Serum Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
This luxury serum harnesses the power of vitamin B3 to brighten and clarify skin. Enhanced with rice ferment filtrate and lactobacillus ferment lysate, it targets hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and uneven tone, leaving skin glowing and more even-toned.
Where to purchase:
Best Anti-Ageing Serums (Premium)
Nuxe Super Serum Experts’ Choice!
What it does:
This powerful all-in-one anti-ageing concentrate delivers 10 anti-ageing actions, including smoothening out wrinkles, firming, improving dark spots, tightening pores, and more.
With so many benefits, it’s no wonder it’s clinically proven to make skin act 10 years younger. In fact, it’s so popular, one bottle is sold every minute!
Formulated with 95% natural-origin ingredients, this serum gives you a fresh glow while you enjoy its delicate botanical fragrance.
My skin is noticeably more plump, with less visible fine lines and pores. Skin glow and radiance like my daughter’s skin! -Patlin, Instagram
Where to purchase:
Elemis Pro-Collagen Future Restore Serum Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
This age-defying serum harnesses the power of marine and plant-derived ingredients to boost collagen and restore skin’s youthful appearance.
It helps smooth fine lines, improve elasticity, and deeply hydrate, leaving your skin firmer, plumper, and visibly rejuvenated.
Where to purchase:
CNP Laboratory Propolis Energy Active Ampule Editor’s Choice!
What it does:
Launched in Korea in 2005, this best-selling ampoule has been providing fast moisturising care and radiance for many. Packed with propolis extract, it nourishes tired, dull skin, strengthens the skin barrier, and soothes irritation.
Where to purchase:
Best Anti-Ageing Serums (Luxury)
Lancôme Génifique Ultimate Serum Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
Harnessing the power of probiotics, this serum enhances skin’s radiance and vitality. It smooths texture, reduces fine lines, and improves elasticity, leaving your skin looking plumper, more youthful, and luminous.
Where to purchase:
N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Serum Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
Concentrated with red camellia extract, it boosts cellular vitality and combats external aggressors in urban environments. Absorbing quickly, it leaves skin feeling 30% healthier and 32% better protected after application.
Where to purchase:
Best Anti-Ageing Serums (Dermatological-Grade)
Medicube Zero Exosome Shot 2000 Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
After using this, the tingling sensation you feel is a sign that the Zero Exosome Shot is working. This micro-sized booster, enhanced with 15M patented Exosome shots, targets skin issues like pore size, texture, and barrier strength.
Where to purchase:
DEPOLOGY Peptide Complex 10% Wrinkle Defense Serum Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
This calming serum hydrates and replenishes the skin while reducing sensitivity. Formulated with Argireline peptide, it improves the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, supporting hydration for a smoother, more rejuvenated complexion, leaving the skin feeling soothed and refreshed.
Where to purchase:
Best Anti-Ageing Retinol Serums
SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum Essence Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
Working overnight to target fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven texture, this retinol serum boosts skin elasticity and reduces signs of ageing.
Infused with retinol, retinal, and bakuchiol, it uses patented Elastic-Liposome technology to deliver active ingredients deep into the skin.
Where to purchase:
Neogence Retinol Skin Renewing Serum 1.8 Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
Packed with 1.8% retinol, this serum promotes skin renewal and fights the signs of ageing. It enhances collagen production, reduces fine lines, and improves skin texture, leaving your complexion smoother and more youthful.
Where to purchase:
Best Vitamin C Serums (Premium)
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin-C Brightening Serum Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
This premium serum delivers 15% Vitamin C to brighten skin and combat free radical damage. It reduces fine lines, dark spots, and dullness while boosting radiance. With THD Ascorbate, it improves firmness, wrinkles, and overall skin tone.
Where to purchase:
Mediphyt Potent-C15 Pure Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
With 15% pure vitamin C, this serum provides intense brightening and anti-ageing benefits. It works to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots while promoting a smoother, more radiant complexion.
Where to purchase:
Best Hydrating Serums (Affordable)
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
Packed with soothing centella asiatica extract from Madagascar, this lightweight ampoule has great qualities to calm redness, irritation and strengthen your skin barrier, while delivering a boost of hydration. It’s perfect for sensitive, normal, or acne-prone skin.
Where to purchase:
Best Hydrating Serums (Premium)
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
This glow-boosting serum doubles as a highlighter and skincare in one. Infused with niacinamide and watermelon extract, it brightens, hydrates, and leaves your skin looking naturally dewy—no glitter, just glow.
Where to purchase:
DECORTÉ Liposome Advanced Repair Serum Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
Powered by time-released multilayered liposomes, this serum provides deep hydration while strengthening the skin’s barrier. It smooths fine lines, helps reduce the appearance of lines caused by dryness, and leaves skin plump and refreshed.
Where to purchase:
Best Repairing Serums (Affordable)
Cetaphil Soothing & Comforting Cica Restoring Serum Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
Formulated with centella asiatica and niacinamide, this repairing serum soothes and restores stressed skin. It helps strengthen the skin barrier while calming irritation, leaving your face feeling comforted and smooth.
Where to purchase:
CNP Active Boost PDRN Ampule Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
Great for accelerating skin regeneration, this ampoule is packed with PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide) to reduce visible signs of ageing. It boosts hydration and elasticity while calming inflammation, leaving your skin plump and revitalised.
Where to purchase:
KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief Editor’s Choice!
What it does:
This skin barrier-friendly serum repairs and restores moisture balance with calming ingredients like tamanu oil and Centella Asiatica. It helps rebuild and protect the skin’s natural barrier while reducing redness and irritation.
Where to purchase:
Best Repairing Serums (Premium)
Dr.Jart+ Cicapair™ Intensive Soothing Repair Serum Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
Delivering a powerful soothing effect, this serum, infused with centella asiatica, repairs and calms irritated skin. It hydrates deeply, reduces redness, and strengthens the skin barrier for lasting comfort.
With allantoin and cica complex, it moisturises and promotes healthier-looking skin.
Where to purchase:
TRUU Pro Perfection Repair Essence Expert’s Choice!
What it does:
This powerful repair essence combines peptides and botanical extracts to deeply nourish and repair your skin. It targets fine lines, enhances elasticity, and restores radiance.
Lightweight and fast-absorbing, it helps your skin feel revitalised, smooth, and rejuvenated.
Where to purchase:
Best Dark Spot Correcting Serums
Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter Reader’s Choice!
What it does:
This dark spot serum, powered by CL302 Brightening Complex™, offers dramatic brightening results while being gentle.
It combines a proprietary brightening molecule and vitamin C to even out skin tone, reduce acne pigmentation, and improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
Where to purchase:
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum Editor’s Choice!
What it does:
Sold every 30 seconds worldwide, this top dark spot correcting serum targets all types of dark spots (sun, acne, pregnancy, age) and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It effectively corrects and prevents dark spots too.
Where to purchase:
Meet the Judges
- Ginger Lynette is a seasoned makeup artist with over a decade of experience, continuously refining her skills to stay at the top of her craft. She believes in enhancing natural beauty rather than transforming it and has had the privilege of working with top cosmetic brands, celebrities, and international assignments.
- Dr Xu Rongrong is a highly experienced aesthetic doctor at The Urban Clinic who combines years of expertise with a holistic approach to create personalised treatment plans for her patients. She emphasises the importance of daily skincare routines alongside laser and injectable treatments to achieve long-lasting aesthetic results.
- Dr Ang Sue-May is a British-trained Consultant Dermatologist with accreditation in both Singapore and the UK, and is the principal consultant at Shine Dermatology. She offers a comprehensive range of skincare services, prioritising long-term results for skin and scalp conditions over temporary solutions.
- Dr Byron Tee is an experienced aesthetic doctor at The Urban Clinic specialising in advanced hair and skincare treatments. With a focus on enhancing natural beauty, he is committed to offering personalised and effective solutions that help patients achieve radiant, youthful skin and vibrant, healthy hair.
- Kelly Chew is a hair expert with over 12 years of experience and is well-versed in Korean perms, AirTouch balayage, and effortless, low-maintenance textures. Working at Chez Vous: HideAway, she combines the latest trends with a tailored approached for crafting beautiful, long-lasting hairstyles.
- Melvin Tseng is a trailblazing makeup artist, producer, and beauty creator known for pushing the limits of artistry and self-expression. With a background in film and broadcasting, his work seamlessly blends bold creativity with professional expertise, ranging from high-fashion editorials to avant-garde transformations.
