The 10 Best Serums to Fight Dry Winter Skin

If you walk to the office, going between cold outdoor air and heated indoor spaces, you’re aware of how the change in temperature can wreak havoc upon your skin. You need a serum that will keep your skin barrier comfortable and hydrated. Biologique Recherche’s Sérum T.E.W.L caters to all skin types, featuring a high concentration of lipid-replenishing oils that repair and strengthen your skin’s barrier. Plus, it’s versatile enough to be used before and after your cream layer for all-day moisture protection.

When you have acne-prone skin, every new product must go through a rigorous vetting process. Lindstrom’s The Youth Dew will surely make the cut—this is a powerful, non-irritating oil-serum that captures the best of what Mother Nature has to offer, while giving your skin nourishment and glow. The serum’s certified organic blend features all four omega fatty acids (three, six, seven, and nine) and anti-inflammatory tamanu oil to help regulate breakouts without ever feeling heavy (usually a feat for acne-sensitive skincare products). Botanical seabuckthorn oil adds additional glow-boosting qualities, simultaneously giving beta-carotene and barrier support. Coenzyme Q10 delivers antioxidant benefits, reducing oxidative stress and promoting a luminous complexion.

This product is priced so well, you won’t hesitate to buy a backup supply. La Roche-Posay’s Hydraphase Intense is winter’s unsung serum hero, featuring a lightweight formulation that serves as a robust fortress of hydration. Infused with vegetable-derived glycerin (a powerful humectant), and natural selenium derivatives that provide antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits, La Roche-Posay’s serum also protects your skin against UV rays and wintertime sunburns.

Time is so precious. Why carve out hours for a Botox appointment when you can achieve comparable (and downright stunning) results with this extraordinary serum? “The notion of a miracle serum can often be misleading,” Cayli Reck, founder of skincare consultancy Knockout Beauty, tells W. “However, the closest thing you’ll find is Liquid Surgery.” MBR’s product is a ceramide-rich elixir infused with neuromuscular-blocking compounds that diminish microcontractions, leaving the face looking serene, relaxed, and well-rested. The luxe formulation here is enhanced by oxygen and colloidal gold, which facilitate deeper and more effective absorption. There’s also a potent blend of healing shea butter and skin-softening shambrilla oil. And yes, while it may come with a premium price tag, this serum is undeniably worth it for those seeking the most enviable resting bitch face in America.

Christmas has arrived early. The acclaimed Parisian brand Filorga has created this fabulous new antiaging serum that gives jaw-dropping results. NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) has long been recognized for its multitude of antiaging benefits—and now, it’s finally gaining mainstream attention. The brand’s latest serum offers an unmatched, radiant glow, along with velvety smoothness, in mere weeks, thanks to a blend of 10 active vitamins and enzymes that deeply penetrate the skin, delivering youthful suppleness. Plus, at $109, it delivers high-grade actives with a doable price tag (but we highly recommend using the brand’s moisturizer in tandem for best results).

Light but ever so mighty, you’ll feel a surge of hydration and diminished redness within the first use of Epictuis’s Lipid Serum. This product contains the brand’s proprietary TSC formula, a dynamic anti-inflammatory that minimizes irritation and redness often triggered by extreme, cold temperatures. The fermented lipid compounds here lock in moisture, keeping your skin hydrated throughout the day.

Long flights can deplete your skin of moisture and vitality. Beyond staying hydrated, we recommend using non-greasy, lightweight topicals—after all, the recycled air on planes can make lotions feel sticky. Dior’s Prestige Plumping Serum is an excellent choice; it can be applied alone or layered under your moisturizer to work its wonders. Infused with rose micro-huiles and rich in fatty acid omegas, this serum combines the benefits of both an oil and a serum while helping to maintain your skin’s suppleness. (An added bonus: this serum’s bottle size is TSA-approved).

Worth its weight in gold, this hydrating water-based serum is both brightening and reparative. The vitamin-infused formulation contains pomegranate extract, white tea, and an oil-based vitamin C (which we love because it’s gentler on the skin, stable, and has better absorption). Additional hydrating properties come from the Padina Pavonica extract—a brown algae revered for its antioxidant and moisturizing properties.

Nothing good comes easy—and realistically, four weeks is a brief period to achieve gorgeous skin. After using RéVive’s Peau Magnifique serum, you will see changes in the first month, especially if your skin reacts well to retinol. This product features fast-acting biomimetic peptides that smooth the skin, reduce signs of dehydration, and promote firmness and density. Its superior retinol active is combined with enzymes to gently exfoliate dead skin overnight, while an infusion of superfruit blueberry extract combats the oxidative stress our skin endures every day.

We highly recommend this balm as the ultimate companion for all your ski trips—and frankly, even for nights at home. Formulated by veteran aesthetician Athena Calderone, this high-grade botanical balm delivers superb overnight rejuvenation, stimulating cellular regeneration, repairing UV damage, and minimizing signs of aging by morning. Rose leaf, hazelnut oil, rosehip seed oil, rare rose extract, jasmine sambac, and Indian tuberose provide a potent blend of essential fatty acids and nourishing vitamins. Perfect for sensitive or blemish-prone skin, Monastery’s product also offers the anti fungal benefits of hazelnut and Tuberose oils.