Best Exfoliating Face Serums of 2025

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Exfoliating face serums are a popular skincare product that helps to slough off dead skin cells, revealing a smoother and brighter complexion. These serums often contain gentle chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) that work to unclog pores and improve skin texture. They are designed to be used after cleansing and before moisturizing, and can help to improve the effectiveness of other skincare products. With regular use, exfoliating face serums can leave the skin looking more radiant and youthful.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Exfoliating Face Serums
Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment
The Good Molecules Exfoliating Treatment is designed to enhance your skin's appearance while you sleep. With its powerful ingredients, it helps brighten and resurface your skin, giving you a radiant glow by morning. You can expect improved texture and reduced breakouts, as the formula effectively targets clogged and enlarged pores. This treatment combines glycolic and lactic acids to stimulate renewal, while salicylic acid addresses blemishes and irritations. It's simple to use—just apply a few drops to clean skin at night, and you’ll wake up to a refreshed complexion.
CeraVe Nightly Exfoliating Treatment | Anti-Aging Serum for Face
The CeraVe Nightly Exfoliating Treatment is a hydrating facial serum that helps improve visible signs of aging, including dullness and discoloration. The serum contains Lactic and Glycolic Acids to minimize the appearance of fine lines, dark spots, and pores. It also has Licorice Root Extract to visibly brighten skin and Hyaluronic Acid to retain skin's natural moisture. The serum is formulated with three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) to help restore and maintain the skin's natural barrier. Developed with dermatologists, this noncomedogenic, paraben-free, and fragrance-free serum is suitable for various skin types.
Bliss Renew & Smooth Night Serum
Bliss Night Serum is an effective overnight treatment designed to help you wake up with smoother and brighter skin. This powerful serum features Glycolic Acid, which gently exfoliates your skin while you sleep, promoting a refined texture and a glowing complexion. It also accelerates cell turnover, helping to minimize the appearance of pores and dullness. With a unique blend of six acids, it works to improve skin tone and reduce fine lines and dark spots, making it suitable for all skin types without causing irritation.
Advanced Clinicals Glycolic Acid Peel Serum
Advanced Clinicals Glycolic Acid Peel Serum is a gentle formula that targets fine lines, large pores, age spots, and more. It increases skin hydration, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin tone, acne scars, and dark spots. Its 3X AHA/ BHA Formula exfoliates dull looking skin and boosts turnover, and it features 4 different exfoliating acids. This facial serum is gentle enough for daily use and dry or sensitive skin.
#OOTD Exfoliating P+ Face Serum P.M
#OOTD Exfoliating Face Serum is an advanced facial cream made in Korea that offers a range of benefits for healthier skin. The serum is part of the #OOTD brand, which is known for its commitment to sustainable beauty. It is EVE Vegan Certified, meaning it uses only natural and sustainable ingredients without animal testing. The serum contains a powerful blend of AHA, BHA, and PHA compounds that help clear pores and exfoliate dead skin, resulting in a brighter and healthier complexion. Additionally, the serum includes hyaluronic acid, which helps reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles by retaining moisture in the skin. The presence of papain, an enzyme naturally produced by papayas, promotes the regrowth and renewal of skin cells by controlling skin oil and sebum. By incorporating the #OOTD Exfoliating Face Serum into your skincare routine, you can achieve noticeable improvements in your skin health.
Minimalist Exfoliating Serum
Experience the Minimalist Serum, a gentle exfoliating solution that effectively removes dead skin cells without drying your skin. This serum utilizes a balanced blend of AHAs and BHA to stimulate cell renewal, resulting in an even complexion and smooth texture. Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe, it hydrates and soothes the skin, reducing irritation commonly associated with exfoliation. Additionally, it is a clean and transparent beauty product, free from fragrances, silicones, sulfates, parabens, essential oils, and dyes. Suitable for all skin types and tones, this serum is a great option for beginners in the world of acids, providing gentle yet effective exfoliation.
Eva Naturals Vitamin C Serum for Face
Eva Naturals Vitamin C Serum for Face Plus Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, Niacinamide & Salicylic Acid is an anti-aging serum that helps reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. It is formulated with natural ingredients to tackle any skin issue while providing hydration and brightening skin. Customers have reported seeing a difference in their skin in as little as three days.
Kiehl's Ultra Pure Glycolic Acid Serum
Kiehl's Glycolic Acid Serum is designed to enhance your skin's natural glow while minimizing the appearance of pores. With just a few drops applied in the evening, you can enjoy smoother skin texture and improved skin renewal within three days. This gentle formula is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, making it a versatile choice for your skincare routine. Free from fragrances and colorants, this serum focuses on delivering effective results without irritation, ensuring your skin feels refreshed and revitalized.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + Ha 2% 30ml
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + Ha 2% 30ml is a mild alpha hydroxyl acid facial peel that gently exfoliates the skin. Its 5% formulation is perfect for dry skin types and is supported with a purified Tasmanian pepperberry to reduce inflammation and sensitivity. This treatment helps resurface the skin to promote an even tone and a smooth, soft texture. It can be used once per day, ideally in the PM, and it is recommended to avoid contact with eyes.
Hanna Müller PHA Serum
Hanna Müller Exfoliant is a vegan facial serum that gently exfoliates your skin with two PHAs and one AHA. It helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, brighten and hydrate your skin. The formula includes 8.5% lactic acid, 6.5% gluconolactone, and 5% lactobionic acid, which work together to smooth, brighten, and reduce pigmentation. Moreover, it delivers the three elements needed to strengthen the skin barrier: restorative ceramides, moisture-retaining hyaluronic acid and glycerin, and soothing tiger grass and chamomile. The Nano-Stable delivery system boosts the bioavailability of active ingredients, allowing more molecules to penetrate the stratum corneum for optimal results. Hanna Müller Exfoliant is proudly SLS, gluten, and paraben-free, and each ingredient in the vegan formula has a clinically proven function.
During our exfoliating face serum research, we found 48 exfoliating face serum products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 425,833 customer reviews through our big data system to write the exfoliating face serums list. We found that most customers choose exfoliating face serums with an average price of $17.82.
The exfoliating face serums are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of exfoliating face serums, including Good Molecules, CeraVe, Bliss, Advanced Clinicals, #OOTD. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 2,852 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Lisa Bechard is a skin therapist with 12 years of working experience in the beauty industry and also an experienced beauty writer who has expertise in skincare, medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery, and wellness. Her writing skills are excellent and all her content is very persuasive and insightful.