7 of the best serums to fix your face this winter
Superfoods for your face
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CONTRARY to a certain genre of clown online, you don’t have to smash your cheekbones with a hammer to look better. You simply need to pay a little more attention to your skin. Especially in winter.
Somewhere between the rise of looksmaxxing and a TikTok algorithm that has decided every man needs to know his undertone, skincare has become a legitimate topic of conversation for the average Australian guy. Which is fine. Most of us could stand to do better than a bar of soap and whatever moisturiser is left on the bathroom shelf.
The short version: the best serums for winter are the ones that help keep your skin hydrated, supported and less visibly wrecked by cold air, indoor heating and general neglect. For most men, that means looking for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, vitamin C or retinol, depending on what your face is trying to tell you.
Why winter is rough on your skin
Why is winter considered the problem season? Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, and our love of cranking up the heat indoors pull what little hydration remains straight out of your skin. The result, for a lot of men, is a face that looks dull, feels tight, and starts to show every line a little more clearly than it did in February.
This is where a serum earns its place.
For the uninitiated, serums are usually lightweight formulas designed to deliver active ingredients in a more targeted way than a standard moisturiser. A moisturiser then helps seal everything in and support the skin barrier. The two work better together than either does alone, particularly in winter when your skin is under more pressure than usual.
The good news is that introducing a serum into your routine does not require a complete overhaul of your bathroom cabinet, or any particular interest in skincare beyond wanting to look like a functional human being. Serum goes on after cleansing, before moisturiser. A few drops, pressed in gently.
How to use a serum in winter
The order is simple:
Cleanser → serum → moisturiser → sunscreen in the morning
At night, it is even easier:
Cleanser → serum → moisturiser
Apply your serum before moisturiser so the active ingredients can get to work, then use moisturiser to help seal everything in. In winter, this matters more than usual because your skin is dealing with colder air outside, drier air inside and less moisture generally.
The best serum ingredients for winter skin
The other thing worth knowing is that serums aren’t one-size-fits-all. A quick primer below.
Vitamin C
Best used in the morning, where it works alongside sunscreen to defend against UV damage and environmental pollution. The added bonus: it can prevent brown spots and stimulate new collagen growth over time.
Best for: dull skin, uneven tone, early signs of ageing
Use it: in the morning, under sunscreen
Good winter pick if: your skin looks tired, flat or generally hungover even when you were not drinking
Hyaluronic Acid
Morning or night, this one pulls moisture directly into the skin rather than just sealing the surface. Most effective when applied to slightly damp skin before moisturiser — a useful detail in winter, when dehydration is the main issue.
Best for: dry, tight or dehydrated skin
Use it: morning or night
Good winter pick if: your face feels like it has been left near a heater for six hours
Retinol
Night only. Retinol accelerates cell turnover and improves skin texture and fine lines over time, but it makes skin more sensitive to sunlight, so reserve it strictly for your evening routine. There’s an adjustment period — start with two or three nights a week before building up.
Best for: fine lines, texture, ageing concerns
Use it: at night only
Good winter pick if: you want long-term results and can commit to sunscreen during the day
Niacinamide
The all-rounder. Targets uneven tone, enlarged pores and general dullness, plays well with most other ingredients, and can be used morning or night. A good starting point if you’re new to serums.
Best for: dullness, pores, uneven tone, barrier support
Use it: morning or night
Good winter pick if: you have no idea where to start
Peptides
The gentler option for reactive or sensitive skin. Supports firmness and helps with the appearance of fine lines without the adjustment period that comes with retinol. Worth considering if your skin doesn’t tolerate stronger actives well.
Best for: firmness, fine lines, sensitive skin
Use it: morning or night
Good winter pick if: retinol makes your face angry
Best winter serums for men at a glance
| Serum | Best For | Key Ingredients | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bon Elliot Hydrating Performance Serum | Best all-rounder | Hydrating and performance-focused actives | $220 |
| Allies of Skin Advanced Repair Serum | Best for barrier repair | Copper Lysinate, Copper Tripeptide | $327 |
| Augustinus Bader Vitamin C Serum | Best vitamin C serum | Vitamin C | $605 |
| The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum | Best affordable peptide serum | Peptides, hyaluronic acid, amino acids | $29.90 |
| CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum | Best affordable retinol | Retinol, ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | $22.49 |
| Biologique Recherche Progeskin | Best luxury serum | Progerin and Klotho-focused technology | $400 |
| Youth to the People Triple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Serum | Best daily hydrating serum | Peptides, cactus extract, hydrating ingredients | $98 |
Why all the fuss? Just as you eat well for better health, you should equally feed your face the nutrients it needs to thrive. The men who tend to look notably better at 65 were putting the work in now.
Your face will thank you. Probably without saying anything, because it’s your face. But other people will notice.
Keep scrolling to see 7 of the best serums to use this winter
1. Bon Elliot Hydrating Performance Serum
Best for: The guy who wants one very good serum and does not want to think too hard about it.
Developed by Sydney-based dermatologist Dr Bonnie Fergie, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better all-rounder workhorse of a serum. Its ingredient list is thorough, to say the least, and if you’re new to the game, this is a good first step to start with.
This is the kind of serum that makes sense in winter because it is not asking you to become a 12-step-routine person. It gives your skin support, hydration and a bit of polish without requiring you to learn an entirely new language.
Why we picked it: It is a strong all-rounder for men who want better winter skin without building their entire personality around skincare.
2. Allies of Skin Advanced Repair Serum
Best for: Redness, irritation and a weakened winter skin barrier
Does what it says on the box: repair. You might notice that your skin gets redder in winter. That’s often the result of a weakened skin barrier. This serum helps prevent that by shielding cells from environmental and chemical stress.
The Copper Lysinate improves density and firmness while Copper Tripeptide counteracts premature ageing. In normal language: it helps your skin look less irritated, less tired and less like you have spent the last three months walking into the wind.
Why we picked it: Winter skin is often barrier-compromised skin, and this is one for men whose faces get red, reactive or generally annoyed when the temperature drops.
3. Augustinus Bader Vitamin C Serum
Best for: Dull skin, environmental damage and morning use
Vitamin C – good to combat colds, even better at combating environmental wear and tear and signs of ageing. And the best on the market right now is this new one from German skincare brand Augustinus Bader.
It’s super lightweight and absorbs quickly. You can slap on sunscreen after and go about your day. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but the benefits are plentiful.
Why we picked it: A good vitamin C serum is one of the smartest morning additions to a winter skincare routine, especially if your skin looks dull, uneven or like it has not seen the sun in weeks.
4. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
Best for: Affordable anti-ageing support
Peptides? This one has five of ’em to help tackle early signs of ageing, smoothing fine lines, firming skin and targeting the crow’s feet that tend to show up first.
Each one has a specific job, from relaxing expression lines to rebuilding density. Hyaluronic acid and amino acids keep skin hydrated throughout. The result is skin that looks and feels firmer, plumper and more even.
Why we picked it: It is affordable, easy to use and does a lot of things winter skin tends to need: hydration, firmness and a bit of help around fine lines.
5. CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
Best for: Retinol beginners and value for money
Two reasons we picked this one. Firstly, value for money for what’s in it. On top of the retinol, there’s ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
Secondly, because it’s over the counter, the retinol isn’t so strong you’ll do damage to your skin. Consistency is the most important thing, and you can get more out of regular use from this than a product with higher levels that your face cannot tolerate.
Use it at night, start slowly and wear sunscreen during the day. Retinol rewards patience. Annoying, but true.
Why we picked it: It is one of the easiest ways to start using retinol without terrifying your skin or your bank account.
6. Biologique Recherche Progeskin
Best for: The luxury skincare maximalist
If skincare were cars, this would be the Rolls-Royce of serums. Your credit card may sting a bit from the price tag, but believe me when I say a little goes a very long way.
The premise is this: it hones in on two proteins that help actively reverse the senescence process, otherwise known as ageing: Progerin and Klotho proteins.
A little at night, every night, is all you need. Follow with a great moisturiser and always wear sunscreen during the day.
Why we picked it: Expensive, yes. But for men who are serious about long-term skin quality and want the luxury option, this is the one.
7. Youth to the People Triple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Serum
Best for: Daily hydration and recovery
There is not a single ingredient in this product that isn’t good for your skin, and it is gentle enough to use daily under your moisturiser.
This also comes with a personal recommendation — I’ve been using this for several years now and can honestly say, whenever I need help recovering from the fun of a night before, this has minimised the damage. And costs less than the bar tab that caused it.
Why we picked it: It is hydrating, easy to use and a good daily serum for men who want their skin to look less punished by life.
Which serum should you choose?
If you’re new to serums, start with Bon Elliot Hydrating Performance Serum or The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum.
If your skin gets red or reactive in winter, go for Allies of Skin Advanced Repair Serum.
If your main issue is dullness, try Augustinus Bader Vitamin C Serum.
If you want to start using retinol without going too hard too soon, pick CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.
If money is not the issue and you want the luxury option, Biologique Recherche Progeskin is the Rolls-Royce.
If you want something gentle, hydrating and good for daily use, Youth to the People Triple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Serum is the one I personally keep coming back to.
Winter serum FAQs
Do men need serum in winter?
Need is a strong word. You also do not technically need a decent haircut, clean shoes or sheets that were washed this month, but all of these things help. A serum is useful in winter because it gives your skin targeted ingredients before moisturiser seals everything in.
What is the best serum for dry winter skin?
For dry or dehydrated winter skin, look for hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides. Hyaluronic acid helps draw moisture into the skin, while moisturiser helps keep it there.
Should serum go before or after moisturiser?
Before. Serum goes on after cleansing and before moisturiser. Think of serum as the targeted treatment and moisturiser as the thing that helps lock it all in.
Can you use vitamin C serum in winter?
Yes. Vitamin C is best used in the morning under sunscreen. It is especially useful if your skin looks dull, uneven or generally tired during winter.
Can you use retinol in winter?
Yes, but go slowly. Retinol should be used at night, starting two or three nights a week before building up. It can make skin more sensitive, so sunscreen during the day is not optional.
What is the easiest serum for beginners?
Niacinamide or hyaluronic acid are usually the easiest starting points. They are useful, low-drama and do not require the adjustment period that comes with stronger actives like retinol.
Is serum better than moisturiser?
No. They do different jobs. A serum delivers targeted ingredients, while moisturiser helps support the skin barrier and seal hydration in. In winter, they work better together than either does alone.
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