Super serums

Compiled by PHYL CLARKE

TWICE AS GOOD: Clarins Double Serum, €46 The scent of 20 plant extracts make this balancing serum a fresh sensory experience. It's suitable for all skin types, and from age 25.

GIVE IT A WEEK: Gatineau Renew 7 Detox Serum, £49 Intensive seven-day purifying treatment for dull or devitalised skin. At feelunique.com

SLEEP ON IT: Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate, €42.50 Wake up glowing with this overnight elixir rich in essential oils.

BEST SELLER: Vichy Lift Activ Serum 10, €34 One of Europe's most popular serums; improves elasticity and suppleness with a velvety finish to the skin.

TO YOUR DOOR:Avon Clinical Pro Line Corrector treatment with A-F33, €39 The buzz surrounding this new serum prompted waiting lists of those eager to try its wrinkle filling ingredient. Expect smooth results and a glowing complexion. See avon.ieor call 1800-932160.

KEEP YOUR COOL: Darphin Intral Redness Relief Soothing Serum, €59. Delightfully scented soothing serum helps reduce the appearance of redness and comforts sensitive skin.

SUPERMARKET SWEEP: Aldi's Lacura Face Serum, €6.99 Contains ginger which helps relax the facial muscles, for a smoother complexion, and silk proteins to plump and protect.

Eye time

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair eye serum infusion, €56 Intensely hydrating and refreshing, this is a welcome addition to the multi award-winning antioxidant face serum.

No 7 Youthful Eye Serum, €25.25 Packed with vitamins, this intense formula targets dark circles and wrinkles

You cleanse, moisturise and think you’re pushing the boat out if you exfoliate twice a week, but unless you include a serum in your skincare routine, you’re missing out on a key addition to your beauty arsenal. The most potent element of a skincare line, a serum contains concentrated active ingredients that work like a boosting multivitamin for your skin, and because the molecules are smaller than those in a regular moisturiser, they penetrate more deeply.

Like moisturiser, serums can address specific skin concerns, but most target environmental damage, the main cause of skin aging.

Serums are applied to cleansed skin before your usual moisturiser – you just need a few drops massaged gently into face and neck for optimal results; the formula is rich and the price tag can be high, so thankfully a little goes a long way.

The Prevage line from Elizabeth Arden shot to fame some years ago when its main ingredient, Idebenone, was highlighted by BBC’s Horizon documentary on anti-aging skincare.

New to the range is Anti-ageing + Intensive repair daily serum, which comes with a hefty price tag of €210. Appealing to those looking for the latest in cutting-edge technology, it’s packed with antioxidant ingredients that work over time to protect and improve the skin’s texture. It also gives an immediate lifting effect on application so you’ll see results right from the outset.

The business

Lancôme Teint Visionnaire, €45

Talk about hi-tech – this feather-light foundation evens out skin with perfect coverage which is impressive enough, but it also contains the key molecule from the original Visionaire serum which targets fine lines and uneven skin tone. The icing on the cake is the brightening concealer housed in the lid, and the wide range of shades for a perfect match.