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Consistency is key to an effective skin-care routine, and the best serum sticks make it a whole lot easier. These mess-free alternatives to the bottled face serums lining your sink are perfect for tossing in your tote, traveling, or anytime-application on days you almost forgot you had a face (because, yes, sometimes your morning regimen happens at 2 pm). Serum sticks deliver all the glow-boosting, smoothing, and hydrating benefits of their liquid counterparts in a format you’ll actually look forward to using. In fact, they often feature dermatologist-loved ingredients we’ve come to depend on, like hyaluronic acid, retinol, squalane, and niacinamide, to tackle specific concerns like hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and dryness. We chatted with editors and board-certified derms to find out what makes these serum sticks stand out and the picks they can’t live without.
Our Top Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Tatcha The Serum Stick
Why it’s worth it: Tatcha’s The Serum Stick is jam-packed with 80% purified squalane, as well as sunflower seed wax and Japanese rice bran to smooth, soften, and alleviate dryness wherever and whenever your face needs a pick-me-up. Of course, you’ll also get to bask in the brand’s signature Hadasei-3—the antioxidant-rich blend of Uji green tea, Okinawa mozuku algae, and Akita rice that powers all of Tatcha’s products. While we love swiping the stick on bare skin or on top of makeup (to cut down on midday cakiness), Boston-based, board-certified dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, MD, likes to use the formula as a base makeup primer to improve blendability. However you use it, the Serum Stick is a welcome hydration boost and a permanent fixture in our purses.
Tester feedback: “I typically don’t focus much on product packaging, but when it comes to skincare, practicality is key for daily use and on-the-go application,” says social media manager Bianca Richards. “The Tatcha Serum Stick has become a favorite addition to my skincare routine. I especially enjoy using it as an under-eye balm to add extra moisture and smoothness in that area, prepping it perfectly for makeup application.”
Key ingredients: Hadasei-3, squalane, sunflower seed wax | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it’s for: people who want a multifunctional option
Most Hydrating: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Ice Soothing Serum Stick
Why it’s worth it: The texture of Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water Jelly Ice Soothing Serum Stick is a delight in and of itself, but it’s the effective formula that keeps us uncapping, day after day. This satisfyingly bouncy, jelly-like serum is great for all skin types (even acne-prone) dealing with puffiness, dryness, or redness. Just glide the cooling, calming face stick across your skin to reap the rewards of niacinamide, aloe, caffeine, and seawater. “The cooling is from the release of water upon pressing,” explains cosmetic chemist Ginger King. “Also, the inclusion of aloe vera combined with humectants like glycerin, sorbitol, polysaccharides, and polymers enhances that refreshing effect.” This is the clear version, but if you’re craving a flush along with your revitalizing, reach for the Cooling Jelly in one of six rosy hues.
Tester feedback: “Traveling can be pretty brutal on my dry skin with rosacea. After my most recent flight, my skin was red and itchy, and at one point, I described my skin to my husband as feeling like it was crawling,” says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor. “This bouncy stick did wonders to soothe it. It’s cooling as it glides across skin and keeps it feeling hydrated. That cooling effect makes me want to reach for it before itching and picking at my skin too. “
Key ingredients: niacinamide, aloe, amino acids | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it’s for: everyone
Best Glowy: Glossier Futuredew Solid Oil-Serum Illuminator
Why it’s worth it: Kind of makeup, kind of skin care, and kind of perfect, Glossier’s Futuredew Solid Oil-Serum Illuminator brings everything we love about the liquid original to a solid stick format, making the whole application ordeal even more appealing. This glow-giving balm is ideal for days when you crave juicy dewiness without the usual glitter in a standard highlighter, thanks to moisture-locking botanical oils and vitamin E acetate, which helps neutralize free radicals. You can use it as the last step of your skin-care regimen or as a part of your makeup routine after applying your base.
Tester feedback: “The portability factor of a highlighter is hugely important to me, so this Glossier stick earned points right off the bat,” says Blackman. “I really like how buildable this formula is, adding warmth to my complexion as I layer. At first I was worried it was a little too oily, but after a few minutes of letting it sit, that feeling subsides. I’m excited to carry this thing with me into summer.”
