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If you’re battling common skin care concerns on your body, a body wash and lotion may not be enough. That’s where body serums come into play. Like a serum you may use on your face, body serums are lightweight products that have an active ingredient giving it a specific function, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. David Li of Boston Derm Advocate, a digital platform dedicated to exploring evidence-based skincare. For example, retinol body serums will help with firm the skin and reduce fine lines while hyaluronic acid body serums will combat dryness.
I spoke with board-certified dermatologists to learn more about how to find the best formula for your skin type and what to remember when shopping. I also put these body serums to the test, and with the help of other NBC Select staff, to curate a list of the best options on the market right now.
SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best body serums | The best body serums in 2024 | How to shop for body serums | Why trust NBC Select?
How I picked the best body serums
To find the best body serums for you, our experts recommend keeping the following in mind:
- Function: Not all body serums are designed to benefit all skin types equally. For example, if you have mature skin and want to address fine lines on your body, you may want a formula designed to firm the skin. Our list has various serums, each with specific functions like hydrating, smoothing, firming and more.
- Ingredients: If you’re using your body serum for hydration, look for one with hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Niacinamide and retinol-based ingredients may help target redness or discoloration. If you’re looking to exfoliate, consider something that has lactic acid or other exfoliants, according to Li. We have options with all of the above on this list.
- Price: Unlike body washes and lotions, body serums tend to retail at a higher price. “I would recommend trying a sample before making an expensive purchase,” says Li. “Serums are formulated differently and with numerous compounds, so you want to use a small amount on your arm before applying all over in case it triggers allergic contact dermatitis.” This list has options as low as $20 and as high as $155. Some of the higher-priced serums also come in travel-size options as well.
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The best body serums in 2024
Best overall: Osea Hyaluronic Acid Body Serum
- Suitable for all skin types
- Pump is easy to control
- Fragrance-free
- Nothing to note at this time
This is by far my favorite body serum of all time — my skin’s never felt as moisturized as it has when I use this. It has such a creamy texture that mimics the feel of a lotion, but it’s so lightweight and absorbs easily and quickly into my skin, giving it that serum quality. I also love how hydrating it is. I can wear it without applying lotion on top as a second step, and my skin doesn’t feel or look dry. It’s also safe for my eczema-prone skin since it also has the National Eczema Association’s (NEA) Seal of Acceptance.
When I dispense the serum, it comes out as a thick green consistency; however, it quickly turns into a lightweight liquid that blends into my skin tone when I massage it in.Courtesy Bianca AlvarezBest overnight serum: Soft Services Software Update Performance Retinol Serum
- No residue or white cast
- Creamy consistency
- Not pregnancy-safe
- Not for sensitive skin
- Have to use at night
This overnight treatment uses retinol, niacinamide and glycerin to increase collagen production to improve fine lines and dull skin, and even the skin’s tone and texture. “I’ve never used a body serum before, and for some reason, I expected them all to be oily,” says NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin, who was sent a sample by the brand. “But this one isn’t at all. It has a lightweight milky texture, and when I rub it into my skin, it absorbs in seconds.”
NBC Select social media commerce editor Sadhana Daruvuri is also a fan: “It blended in quickly and didn’t leave any sort of white cast,” she says. “It also left my skin feeling a little softer immediately after applying it, and I didn’t experience any kind of irritation.” Since it has retinol in it, you’ll only want to use this at night and to avoid irritation, apply it once a week and gradually build up the frequency of how often you use it depending on your skin’s tolerance, according to the brand.
Malin says after using this serum, her skin feels noticeably softer and she prefers it over a thick cream or lotion post-shower since it has a lightweight consistency.Courtesy Zoe MalinBest smoothing: Byoma Smoothing Body Serum
- Blends easily
- Leaves skin soft
- Lower price point
- Pump is difficult to lock
- Has added fragrance
Struggling with body acne, including blemishes on her shoulders and back, NBC Select social media assistant Caitlin Cusack uses this lightweight body serum to target and improve that area after being sent a sample by the brand. “My skin always feels smoother immediately after I use this product,” she says. “I tend to get body acne breakouts, especially in the summer, but I’ve noticed that my breakouts haven’t been as severe in some areas and my skin looks brighter and less red overall.” The succinic acid in the serum works to reduce the appearance of breakouts and unclog pores, while the blue tansy in it reduces redness, according to the brand.
A little i goes a long way with this body serum, according to Cusack.Courtesy Caitlin CusackMost hydrating: Nécessaire The Body Serum
- Non-greasy
- Noncomedogenic
- Has NEA Seal of Acceptance
- Nothing to note at this time
This hypoallergenic body serum has five types of hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump all skin types, including especially dry skin types, according to the brand. “I was initially nervous by how thick it goes on (a little goes a long way), but it dried into my skin really nicely with no residue, which is what I look for as someone with darker skin,” says NBC Select contributor Mikhaila Archer. “I love a targeted body product, as I often forget to apply the same level of care as I do [to my body] with my facial routine, so this is something I feel more inclined to use each night.”
This body serum has a cooling yet pleasant feel on Archer’s skin.Courtesy Mikhaila ArcherBest splurge: Omorovizca Body Serum
- Suitable for all skin types
- Hydrating
- Evens out tone and texture
- Not fast absorbing
- Only dispenses a tiny amount
NBC Select’s senior social media editor, Rosalie Sparaco, was sent a sample to try and says this body serum feels luxurious and it’s equally as hydrating as a body lotion. After applying it, her skin looks visibly fresher and tighter, she says.
NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio (who also received this sample from the brand) tried and liked the serum, particularly because despite its fragrance, it was nonirritating on her sensitive skin. “I thought the citrus scent was great yet very subtle, and it didn’t irritate my rosacea-prone skin like some scented products do,” she says. “Plus, it leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft.” Godio recommends taking the time to fully massage the product into the skin to allow it to fully absorb and not leave behind a white residue.
Suitable for all skin types, this serum has ingredients that increase firmness in the skin while also moisturizing and protecting it, according to the brand.Courtesy Rosalie SparacoBest firming: Mutha Body Contour Serum
- Suitable for all skin types
- Improves circulation
- Subtle scent
- Tingling sensation
This firming serum helps smooth and tighten the skin with chemical exfoliants, including alpha-hydroxy acids, according to Mutha, the brand behind some of our favorite body care items. Reviewers say that they felt an initial tingle after applying it, and that it left their skin soft, smooth, and firmer-looking after weeks of consistent use.
Best brightening: Tata Harper Resurfacing Body Serum
- Fast absorbing
- Easy to use
- A little goes a long way
- Higher price point
I don’t exfoliate my sensitive skin every day, but when I do, I love using this creamy serum to help even out the texture and reduce bumps on my legs, especially after shaving. I add a few pumps and work it from my neck down to my toes right after the shower (I find it’s best when my skin is a little wet still), and my skin immediately looks brighter, less dull, and softer. Its formula has alpha hydroxy acids, vitamin C, peptides and hyaluronic acid to help hydrate, brighten and even out skin texture, according to the brand.
Although this serum has no added artificial fragrance, it always leaves my skin smelling fresh, floral and slightly fruity.
Courtesy Bianca AlvarezBest for skin barrier health: Dime Boosting Body Serum
- Strengthens the skin barrier
- Minimizes look of blemishes
- Reduces inflammation
- Nothing to note at this time
This body serum is a favorite of NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez because it’s fast-absorbing, completely colorless, fragrance-free and non-irritating on all skin types. “I really enjoyed using the Dime body serum because it wasn’t sticky or goopy, and it melted onto my skin easily, even on my arm, which has a decent amount of hair on them,” he says. (The brand sent him a courtesy sample to test.)
Godio also uses this body serum on her rosacea-prone skin and loves that it adds a nice layer of hydration under her regular lotion.Courtesy Cory Fernandez and Mili GodioBest budget: Good Molecules B5 Hydrating Body Serum
- Suitable for all skin types
- Fragrance-free
- Supports skin barrier
- Nothing to note at this time
Good Molecules makes “excellent” products all around and their hydrating body serum yields good results, says Li. Its formula has ingredients like panthenol to improve skin barrier function and moisture retention, polyglutamic acid for hydration and beta-glucan to soothe the skin, according to the brand.
Best preventative serum: iS Clinical Youth Body Serum
- Mist nozzle
- Available in travel size
- Higher price point
- Strong scent
Unlike other serums on our list with pump packaging, this one has a mist nozzle. “It’s really controlled and not a lot comes out at once, which is nice,” says NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider, who received a sample from the brand. “It gives you a lot of control, but if you’re spraying large surfaces, including your legs, you may need to spray more.” Keep in mind it has a strong root beer-esque scent, according to Schneider, so it may not be best for everyone.
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How to shop for body serums
Here’s what our experts recommend keeping in mind:
- If you have dry skin: Look for formulas that will hydrate and moisturize the skin. Some ingredients that will help with this include glycerin, a humectant ingredient that attracts water and hyaluronic acid, which is great for all skin types (especially dry, sensitive and mature skin) because it can give the skin more of a plump and hydrated appearance.
- If you have normal skin: Focus on choosing a body serum that will maintain your skin and support the skin barrier. Glycerin, hyaluronic acid and even niacinamide can help. Niacinamide is a valuable ingredient for many skin types because it has the ability to reduce inflammation, redness, discoloration, and pores and keep the skin balanced.
- If you have dull skin: Consider body serums that are brightening or have a glowing effect. To do so, look for formulas with niacinamide, which can even skin tone, as well as vitamin C, which can reduce redness and improve discoloration and hyperpigmentation, according to experts in our guide to the best vitamin C serums.
- If you have oily/acne-prone skin: Oily and acne-prone skin will want a body serum targeting oil production, combating acne and improving texture. This skin type may benefit from something like salicylic acid, which gently exfoliates the skin. This ingredient is also great at combating chest and back acne.
- If you have mature skin: You will want a body serum that improves collagen production, firms the skin or reduces the appearance of fine lines. In these formulas, you will most likely find ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. You also want to look for vitamin A-based ingredients like retinols and other derivatives since they stimulate collagen and reduce fine lines.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. David Li is a board-certified dermatologist and operator of Boston Derm Advocate, a digital platform dedicated to the exploration of evidence-based skin care.
- Dr. Nathan Newman is a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am an associate reporter covering skin care and hair care, including recent stories on the best eye creams and the best eczema lotions. For this story, I interviewed dermatologists, shared their recommendations as well as NBC Select-staff favorites that met their guidance. Our staff tested more than 15 body serums for this story; we only included the best options we had the most success with and think are worth knowing about.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
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