True: A face serum can do wonders for your skin. False: It needs to cost eight billion dollars to be effective. Serums are super concentrated, so they pack in the active ingredients, no prescription required. And thankfully, a few drugstore versions get the job done without blowing your entire paycheck. Presenting our seven favorites.
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The 7 Best Drugstore Serums Under $30
1. Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Daily Skin Booster
Boost your skin’s hydration (and strength) with this serum that’s packed with hyaluronic acid and 15 mineral-rich thermal water. The water-gel texture immediately soaks into skin without leaving behind a sticky feel. Plus, it’s fragrance, oil, paraben and alcohol-free so it’s ideal for any skip type, especially sensitive.
2. Olay Wrinkle Correction Vitamin B3 + Peptides
This brand has a serious passion for restoring skin’s elasticity at reasonable prices. And its Wrinkle Correction Serum is arguably leading the charge. Dual peptides and vitamin B3 (niacinamide) help fight wrinkles as the fragrance-free formula penetrates deep into skin’s surface. One single drop can renew one million surface skin cells. Say hello to smoother-looking and firmer-feeling skin after just two weeks of daily use.
3. Burt's Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum
This beloved brand has offered natural health and beauty care products for 30 years, but its renewal collection is the bee’s knees (see what we did there?). This serum is clinically shown to visibly improve the appearance of dark circles and under-eye puffiness in four weeks, as well as visibly firm skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in eight weeks.
4. Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum
Tired of heavy, thick creams that weigh your skin down? Try this serum that’s light in texture and absorbs into your skin faster than you can say, “goodbye wrinkles.”
5. Honest Beauty Sleep Resurfacing Serum
Seven sleeps to more glowy skin? Count us in. Not one, but two types of hyaluronic acid deeply hydrate skin while five AHAs help to gently resurface. This vegan and cruelty-free serum works overnight to reveal glowing skin come morning.
6. Pixi Hydrating Milky Serum
This hydrating milky serum will brighten and revitalize your skin thanks to rose flower extract, jojoba oil, aloe vera and glycerin. It will also nourish and alleviate dehydrated skin. Massage a couple of drops of the lightweight formula onto your skin and let it work its magic.
Buy It ($19)
7. Aveeno Positively Radiant Maxglow Infusion Drops
Designed to attract and lock in skin’s moisture, these unique drops are formulated with moisture-rich soy and kiwi complex that provide 48 hours of hydration and a natural glow while also evening out skin tone and texture. What’s more, they are hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic so your skin won’t feel bogged down.
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.