Dr. Shereene Idriss looks at serums the way a dermatologist does. She wants to know what is in the bottle, how much of each ingredient is actually there, and whether it is worth buying. Out of more than 60 serums, she approved most, gave nearly one in four a mixed take, and skipped only a couple. That puts her at an approval rate of 74%.
What does Dr. Shereene Idriss recommend in serums?
There is a clear pattern in what she approves. She likes formulas that tackle more than one concern at a time. That might mean combining brightening ingredients with ones that support the skin barrier, or pairing something that calms redness with hydration. With Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum, she loved how alpha arbutin, kojic acid, and licorice root, ingredients that fade dark spots and even out skin tone, worked together with just the right amount of niacinamide. She also cares about how a formula behaves on skin. She was genuinely impressed that Peach Slices Redness Relief Azelaic Acid Serum did not pill at 10% azelaic acid. That matters because that concentration usually makes serums clump up and sit on top of skin instead of soaking in.
Dr. Shereene Idriss's serum picks, in her words
"The Clarins double serum belongs in this conversation. If you know me, you know that I love this formula. It is a dual face formula so you're combining a water phase with a lipid fatty phase. You're getting that hydration plus the nourishment in one. You have in this formula humectants like glycerin that is helping to pull water into your skin. Then squalane and emollient helping to give your skin back some of that softness and cushion that it has lost."
"Drunk Elephant also has a C-Firma Fresh serum. It's an oldie but a goodie and has 15 percent pure L ascorbic acid. They recently switched up their product where you click it in and mix it together."
"I like that it's a hydrating glycerin based serum without any hyaluronic acid that you can layer underneath your routine."
"This is Peach Slices azelaic acid serum with 10% azelaic acid. If you have hyperpigmentation, brown spots, discoloration, I'd prefer you go stronger and use a prescription azelaic acid at 15%, but at 10% it is very nicely formulated. It doesn't seem to peel, it doesn't have that powdery aftertaste to it, and not only does this have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, it has a slightly green tint to help reduce visible redness, so this is a win win win."
"The name tells you what it does: it helps to calm your barrier and to repair your barrier. It has vitamin B12, which helps to support your skin barrier by reducing dryness and visible redness. It also has centella asiatica and gallic acid. If you are a real nerd, you know that gallic acid helps to target redness associated with external stressors on the skin and by reducing water loss, so it's a very interesting product for your barrier."
"This is their multi-peptide and growth factor advanced lifting serum which I have spoken to you guys about in the past. This is not from humans. This is like I said biomimetic lab synthesized epidermal growth factors. In fact, they have their 3% SH oligopeptide in it that helps with your overall texture and smoothness and it does give you a little bit of a firming effect. It also has other antioxidants in it and other peptides as well which helps in the long term as well. It's pricey."
How many serums has Dr. Shereene Idriss reviewed?
Dr. Shereene Idriss has reviewed 68 serums, for an approval rate of 75%. 51 approved, 16 mixed, and 1 skipped.
What has Dr. Shereene Idriss skipped in serums?
She barely skipped anything. Out of more than 60 reviews, only a couple of serums got a true skip, among them La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Corrector Serum. On that one, she felt better brightening options exist. She did say it could work as an extra layer for someone with really stubborn melasma who had already tried everything else and knew they were fine with niacinamide.
"Glossier's Super Glow Vitamin C contains magnesium ascorbyl phosphate as well as magnesium. It's one that you can incorporate into your routine if you're dying to have a vitamin C for the hell of it, sure why not, but it's probably the most useless form of vitamin C."
What should you take from Dr. Shereene Idriss's picks?
Dr. Idriss is a really practical voice on serums. She names the ingredients, explains what each one does, and calls out when a formula gets the dose right or wrong. Her category winners include Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum, Finacea 15% Azelaic Acid Gel, and Aveeno Calm + Restore Serum. They all fit her preference for formulas that pack in multiple actives at doses that actually work. She also shared a tip for expensive serums: start by using just a little on a thin-skinned area first. That way you can tell if it is working before you run out.
Watch Dr. Shereene Idriss say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%Named a winnerWatch at 2:13
- Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 9:04
- Finacea Azelaic Acid Gel 15%Named a winnerWatch at 10:51
- Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 3:41
- Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 11:32
- Paula's Choice Clinical Discoloration Repair SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 9:14
- L'Oreal Revitalift 10% Glycolic Acid SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 7:32
- Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 16:11
- Glossier Super Pure Niacinamide + Zinc SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 17:04
- Glossier Super Glow Vitamin CSkipped itWatch at 14:44
- Clarins Double Serum Complete Age-Defying ConcentrateRated itWatch at 10:44
- Peach Slices Redness Relief Azelaic Acid SerumRated itWatch at 7:58
- The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support SerumRated itWatch at 6:09
- Allies of Skin Multipeptides & Growth Factor Advanced Lifting SerumRated itWatch at 10:51
- Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide + Ectoin Advanced Repair SerumRated itWatch at 13:48
- L'Oreal Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid SerumRated itWatch at 14:15
- Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream with Polyhydroxy AcidRated itWatch at 9:32
- Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skin Injection Amplified Wrinkle Fix Refillable SerumRated itWatch at 7:43
- Innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening SerumRated itWatch at 8:22
- Dr Sam's Flawless Nightly Pro SerumRated itWatch at 11:33
- Sophie Pavitt 8% Mandelic Acid SerumRated itWatch at 2:15
- Cocokind Hydrating Electrolyte Rescue SerumRated itWatch at 3:14
- BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner 20% L-Ascorbic AcidRated itWatch at 4:42
- Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing SerumRated itWatch at 5:56
About this expert
See everything Dr. Shereene Idriss has reviewed
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This guide reflects what Dr. Shereene Idriss said across her videos about 68 products in serums, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.