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As we ease into longer, warmer days, the urge to bare sun-starved limbs comes with a familiar beauty dilemma: a hesitation to reveal dull, dry skin. Enter the best body serums—essential for reviving and refining skin without the weight of winter’s heavy creams. Unlike their richer counterparts, these featherlight formulas absorb in a flash while delivering a high concentration of actives to target everything from hydration to tone and texture.
“A serum is a fantastic way to get a more potent dose of your active ingredients but without weighing yourself down using heavy products,” explains New York City dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology. “Especially when it comes to hydration, using a lightweight serum-based product can allow you to apply hydration while avoiding the sticky, heavy, occlusive feel that creams and lotions often cause,” Dr. Nazarian says.
Vogue’s Favorite Body Serums
- Best Botanical: Tata Harper Resurfacing Body Serum, $155
- Best for Deep Hydration: Osea Hyaluronic Acid Body Serum, $48
- Best for Fighting Bumps: Topicals Slather Body Serum, $30
- Best for Mature Skin: Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Body Serum, $225
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Nécessaire The Body Serum, $48
In This Story
- What is a body serum?
- Does a body serum replace a body moisturizer?
- How to apply a body serum
- Meet the experts
Ingredients-wise, hyaluronic acid remains a perennial favorite for plumping thirsty skin. “It absorbs multiple times its own weight in water and can draw hydration into the skin easily,” says Dr. Nazarian. But serums don’t stop at moisture—look for formulas enriched with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to gently exfoliate, or niacinamide to brighten and firm, depending on your skin’s unique needs.
Moreover, board-certified nurse practitioner and aesthetics expert Vanessa Coppola reminds us the importance of approaching body care with the same intentionality as our facial skin care. “Your skin is your largest organ, and it deserves the same level of care, precision, and customization we give to the face. Body serums are no longer just a luxury item, they’re a smart, proactive investment in lifelong skin health and confidence. Your face isn’t the only place that deserves results-driven care. Body serums transform skin care into full-body skin health,” Coppola tells Vogue.
Scroll on to shop nine of our favorite body serums to smooth, hydrate, and treat every skin concern—no matter the season.
Best Botanical: Tata Harper Resurfacing Body Serum
- Why We Love It: Tata Harper’s milky serum addresses common aging concerns for the skin on the body—like dullness and loss of elasticity—with brightening vitamin C, revitalizing vitamin A, pore-refining white willow bark, and retexturizing AHA superfruits. But that’s not all; Dr. Spearman adds that it’s also a great fit for body acne. “This serum’s formula contains AHA/BHA, which can be very helpful for acne-prone skin (think: bacne). Plus, it’s lightweight and absorbs easily. Though a word of caution to those with sensitive skin: “This might be irritating due to the various exfoliants,” she explains.
- Key Ingredients: AHA super fruit blend (bilberry, sugarcane, orange, lemon, sugar maple), Kakadu plum, cacay oil, squalane, red maple bark, vitamin C, vitamin A, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid.
- Best For: Thanks to its exfoliating properties, this serum is ideal for targeting uneven skin tone, rough texture, body acne, and signs of aging.
- Size: 4.1 oz.
- Fragrance: Yes, naturally derived
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Nécessaire The Body Serum
- Why We Love It: Coppola describes this serum as “minimalist yet effective.” A fast-absorbing, fragrance-free gel, Nécessaire’s formula, loaded with peptides and hyaluronic acid, amps up nourishment with skin-barrier-supporting niacinamide and ceramide NP, which supports renewal of the skin’s natural protective layer and creates a barrier against moisture loss.
“Think of this texture as a bit heavier than a liquidy serum, but still much lighter than most creams. It absorbs quickly without any greasy feeling,” says Dr. Spearman. Since the formula doesn’t feature any exfoliating properties, Dr. Spearman suggests this serum for those looking for extra hydration but no significant skin texture changes. - Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramide NP, glycerin
- Best For: Skin in need of deep hydration, smoothing, and barrier support—particularly dry, dull, or sensitive types
- Size: 5.1 oz.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Deep Hydration: Osea Hyaluronic Acid Body Serum
- Why We Love It: A refreshing burst of hydration that glides on like water but performs like a heavy-hitting moisturizer—minus the heavy feeling. Perfect for post-shower skin or layering under body creams. “The blend of Vitamin E, algae extracts, and aloe vera has a soothing effect on the skin and is great for deep hydration—plus it’s the perfect option for those with sensitive skin, as it contains no retinols, AHAs, or BHAs.”
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, seaweed, glycerin, aloe vera, peptides
- Best For: Dehydrated, sun-exposed, or mature skin craving bounce, firmness, and all-day glow
- Size: 5 oz.
- Fragrance: Light, naturally derived scent
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
- Vegan: Yes
Best for Fighting Bumps: Topicals Slather Body Serum
- Why We Love It: If you experience dryness and bumpiness by way of keratosis pilaris, trust that Topicals’s new milky-textured body serum has got you. With its mix of potent hydrators and exfoliators like retinol, urea, and lactic and glycolic acids, it gently unclogs pores and exfoliates for silkier skin. “Consider this a true exfoliating serum. It helps with conditions like keratosis pilaris, blemishes, and uneven skin textures,” thanks to a blend of AHAs and salicylic acid for exfoliation and opening up plugged follicles. Meanwhile, niacinamide and glycerin help maintain hydration to avoid dry skin, says Dr. Spearman
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, lactic acid, urea, squalane, glycerin, green tea extract, vitamin E, ubiquinone
- Best For: Individuals with rough, bumpy skin, keratosis pilaris, or those looking to improve overall skin texture and tone.
- Size: 5 oz.
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Nightly Skincare: Moroccanoil Night Body Serum
- Why We Love It: This luxurious overnight serum envelops skin in a nourishing blend of argan and tsubaki oils, delivering deep hydration and promoting a firmer, smoother appearance. Infused with holy basil extract and vitamin C ester, it helps protect against environmental stressors and enhances the skin’s radiance, making it a perfect addition to your nightly skin-care routine.
- Key Ingredients: Argan kernel oil, camellia japonica seed oil, basil leaf extract, vitamin C ester
- Best For: Skin texture, firmness, and hydration—particularly those with dry or mature skin
- Size: 3.4 oz.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Mature Skin: Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Body Serum
- Why We Love It: This luxurious serum offers a comprehensive approach to body care, combining potent antioxidants, peptides, and hydrating agents to combat signs of aging. Dr. Spearman agrees, stating that its a solid option for those looking to combat sagging skin, loss of elasticity, and fine lines. “The formula contains a proprietary blend of antioxidants, peptides, and retinol to effectively address anti-aging concerns. Not only is it great for those with mature skin who have targeted concerns, but this serum is also often used as a post-procedure treatment,” she explains.
- Key Ingredients: Purslane extract, hyaluronic acid, brown algae extract, glutathione, peptides, lima bean extract, glycerin
- Best For: Anyone after improved skin elasticity, reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and over skin radiance.
- Size: 3.4 oz.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Long-Lasting Hydration: Uni 24-Hour Body Serum
- Why We Love It: With an intoxicating natural scent (cedar leaf, juniper, and smoked sandalwood), sustainable body care brand Uni’s serum boasts unique Australian ingredients, such as exfoliating caviar lime extract and antioxidant-rich Kakadu plum—as well as tried-and-true hydrators like aloe vera and seaweed for for long-lasting hydration. This lightweight gel-lotion hybrid absorbs instantly, delivering up to 24 hours of nourishment without any greasy residue.
- Key Ingredients: Australian caviar lime extract, Kakadu plum extract, bladderwrack seaweed extract, glycerin, aloe vera
- Best For: Lightweight long-lasting hydration with antioxidant and exfoliating benefits.
- Size: 12.5 oz.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Intensive: Soft Services Software Update Retinol Body Serum
- Why We Love It: This lightweight serum is a cult favorite for its ability to visibly firm and smooth slackened skin. Infused with pre-retinol and natural plant extracts, it enhances the skin’s radiance and texture, making it a go-to for those seeking a more youthful glow. It’s the perfect gentle daily maintenance for intensive results.
- Key Ingredients: Pre-retinol (retinol precursor), sunflower oil, wintergreen extract, hibiscus flower extract, christophine extract, water lily extract
- Best For: Perfect for seasoned retinol users or skin-care minimalists seeking to gently target visible texture, crepiness, or uneven tone.
- Size: 6.8 oz.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best With Shea Butter: Kopari Ultra Restore Firming Body Serum
- Why We Love It: This ultra-hydrating serum combines the power of coconut oil with a potent blend of firming and smoothing ingredients to deliver visible results. The creamy, fast-absorbing texture leaves skin feeling plump and deeply nourished, while its luxe formula firms and restores a youthful glow—perfect of slathering on after a long day in the sun.
- Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, plant peptides, jojoba oil, vitamin E
- Best For: Anyone looking to restore skin suppleness and softness after sun exposure or seasonal changes.
- Size: 5.1 oz.
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Everything You Need to Know
What is a body serum?
“A body serum is a skin treatment used to deliver active ingredients deep to the skin, usually to target specific concerns such as pigment changes, dryness, dehydration, and more. The texture of a body serum is usually more lightweight than a cream and absorbs faster than a body oil,” says Dr. Dara Spearman.
Does a body serum replace a body moisturizer?
Instead of swapping out your body cream altogether, Dr. Spearman suggests layering the two—just as you would a facial serum and moisturizer. “Especially during colder months or in dry climates, a rich moisturizer is essential for reinforcing the skin barrier,” she notes. Think of the serum as your active treatment and the cream as your protective seal.
Coppola agrees, adding that while a body serum delivers the actives your skin needs, such as hydrators, exfoliants, peptides, or antioxidants, it doesn’t always provide the occlusive barrier that locks moisture into the skin. “The two steps paired together are especially for my patients in colder climates or those struggling with compromised skin barriers, those in perimenopause, or those recovering after procedures, lasers, or microneedling,” she says.
How to choose a body serum
Coppola advises choosing a body serum based on your skin’s immediate needs. “Body serums today are as sophisticated as facial serums, and often include powerhouse ingredients you’d expect from top-tier skin-care lines,” she explains. Below, Coppola breaks down the various body serum categories, and ingredients to spot them:
- Hydrating Serums: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or marine extracts to restore moisture and plumpness
- Exfoliating Serums: AHAs, BHAs, or gentle enzymes to promote cellular turnover and smooth rough texture
- Firming and Anti-Aging Serums: Peptides, growth factors, and antioxidants targeting skin laxity and tone
- Brightening serums: Ingredients such as niacinamide or vitamin C even out hyperpigmentation and boost overall skin radiance.
How to apply a body serum
“Start with clean, mostly dry skin—damp skin helps enhance absorption,” says Dr. Spearman. “Dispense a small amount of serum into your hands and rub them together for smoother application. Apply evenly across the body, paying extra attention to any problem areas. I typically recommend massaging it in using upward, circular motions. Let the serum absorb fully before moving on, then follow with a moisturizer or cream to lock it in and amplify the benefits.”
Meet The Experts
- Rachel Nazarian, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York City at Schweiger Dermatology
- Dara Spearman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, specializing in melanoma and skin cancer care.
- Vanessa Coppola, APN-C, FNP-BC, is a board-certified nurse practitioner, aesthetic expert, and founder of Bare Aesthetics Medspa Wellness in New Jersey.
