Tried and tested: Five great serums and one to be cautious about

Clinique Smart Custom Repair €60

When this bottle refused to pump out any more I couldn’t let go. I broke the top off. I cracked the bottle with a hammer to get at every last drop. We were in a glorious relationship of ultra moisturising goodness and better skin and I was practically at the stage of drunk texting it to come back. Now it obviously can’t target specific areas and “know” that your spotty bits need different treatment than your dry flakes, as the advertising claims, but that doesn’t matter. It works for all skin types.

By Terry Cellularose Liftessence Global Serum £125

With an unapologetically pink colour and light rose scent this serum will instantly smooth skin. The formula is heavy on silicones so this is how I recommend you use it. After cleansing put it on, wait for it to sink in and then apply moisturiser and oil (if you use it) over the top. This will give you proper protection against the elements during the day and keep moisture in your skin while you sleep. If you like the sound of this, the matching moisturiser is fantastically rich and dense.

Nuxe Nuxuriance Ultra Anti Age Global Replenishing Serum

Don’t worry about the anti-age tag, everyone will benefit from this smooth, creamy serum. It is a true pleasure to use and I love it for day time as it sits so well on the skin. It’s suitable for all skin types and works well under any moisturiser; just give it a few minutes to sink in.

La Mara Hyaluronic Gel Serum €4.99

Made in the west of Ireland, La Mara is Aldi’s fancy skincare range. The serum is really nice and an absolute find. I was delighted with the consistency and the combination of ingredients and found it hydrating and smooth on skin.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Youth Concentrate €52.50

This range is Korean inspired and the serum is the slightly confusingly named Youth Concentrate. I really wanted to like it as it does smell and look gorgeous. There’s a big but coming up however. The second biggest ingredient is alcohol. This is terrible for skin as it dries it out and and irritates it. This serum also full of fragrance; which is fine in small amounts, but there’s too much in this mix. Sadly, one to avoid if your skin is in any way dehydrated, sensitive or rosacea prone.

Aisling Loves ...  Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II €86

A true hero product and as soon as you start using it you’ll know why. I don’t know what it is about this orange gloop that makes it so good for skin, but if you are over 35 put a bottle on your wishlist. I let it sink in after cleansing and often put serum on top. This is the way Koreans use essence products. When I heard that this was a best seller in Korea, where they call it “the brown bottle essence” I wasn’t a bit surprised.