Serums were met with suspicion and confusion when they first entered the beauty market. Not only was it hard to infer its function from its name (unlike cleansers, for instance), it also came with a hefty price tag and smaller-than-average flacons. But even the sceptics couldn’t doubt the serum‘s effectiveness at addressing a variety of skincare needs, thanks to the high concentration of active ingredients that target everything from wrinkles to dryness. Today, they are considered an essential in beauty routines — resulting in more innovative formulations. Below, the latest of the lot that knocked our socks off.