Associate Web editor Jennifer Jackson experienced the expected — fine-line reduction, more even skin tone, and a glorious floral and woodsy scent — and the unexpected — a serum so hydrating she forgot to use moisturizer more than once during the driest winter of her life.

Available at yslbeautyus.com, $150-$200.

We declare La Prairie’s pricey formula (golden caviar, caffeine, and other natural extracts) a solid investment. Our tester’s delicate under-eye skin was noticeably brighter and smoother in less than a week with morning and night applications.

Available at shoplaprairie.com, $265.

Apply the dark spot-correcting and illuminating lotionlike serum before your regular moisturizer. It’s lightly scented, which made us worry about breakouts, but we awoke after the first night’s use with smoother and softer skin. Two weeks later, old acne marks had faded.

Available at lorealparisusa.com, $25.

Matte need not mean dull, as production coordinator Jillian King learned with the mineral-dense complex that smells of cucumbers. It neutralizes acidity for a smoother complexion that needs barely a puff of powder after two weeks of use.

Available at fresh.com, $35.

We were quick to doubt the sticky gel, but just a few pumps made believers out of us. The honey and royal jelly combo worked miracles on our winter-weary skin, taking it from drab and uneven to firm and toned in a matter of days.

Available at apivita.com, $85.

Despite not knowing what a serum was a month ago, assistant photo editor Niki Dankner now declares herself a fanatic. Her once-dehydrated face soaked up a drop of product twice a day and felt moisturized and soothed for what seemed like the first time.

Available at spacenk.com, $95.

Get scientific with the detoxifying super serum that eliminates skin toxins while triggering cellular regeneration.

Available at dior.com, $70.

Reinterpret the apple-a-day adage: 3Lab’s formula of stem cells from rare (and pricey) Swiss apple makes smile lines fainter and gives skin a matte finish in just a week with twice-daily application.

Available at 3lab.com, $320.

An overly dry winter and continuous (radiator) heat waves left editor Lauren Berger with one parched punim. A few dabs of the camu camu berry- and Brazil nut oil-infused gel after moisturizing turned her skin silky smooth and makeup ready.

Available at thebodyshop-usa.com, $26.

Delayed gratification has its moments (see: most serums), but this isn’t one of them. The Parisian concoction of Ouessant honey and French royal jelly delivered hydrated, glowing results we could see within the first twelve hours.

Available at nordstrom.com, $141.

Bottled sunshine is delivered via a dropper from Dr. Dennis Gross. The concentrated serum-oil emulsion provides a dose of vitamin D without damaging UV rays to heal and moisturize skin while fading fine lines and wrinkles.

Available at dgskincare.com, $65.

Promoting lymphatic drainage, the icy-to-the-touch roller ball of the natural serum wakes up tired eyes faster than a double espresso. The potent cocktail of tomato and raspberry stem cells and BioNymph peptide reduces inflammation and signs of aging and stimulates collagen production.

Available at chantecaille.com, $210.

Like a daily supplement for your face, the serum is chockful of vitamin B3 and botanical antioxidants that reduce redness and increase moisture.

Available at luxaskin.wazala.com, $42.

As an anthropology major, New York editor Jordan Blumberg likes the idea of smearing her face with sustainable sub-Saharan botanicals (kigelia fruit, rooibos, baobab, and buchu) traditionally used in tribal remedies. As a young woman about to drop the young, she likes the real-life result: slightly firmer and clearer skin.

Available at shen-beauty.com, $95.

Parched skin, thirst no more. The beauty guru’s latest elixir feels like a moisturizer (rich, hydrating) but performs like a serum (tightens, tones, smooths, and brightens). Plus, Somerville’s oil-free formula means radiant skin does not have to equal shine. We’ll drink to that.

Available at katesomerville.com, $65.

Enticed at first by the lavender, our tester found the tone corrector to be heaven sent. After just one week, dark spots from old acne blemishes faded enough that she ditched her foundation.

Available at kiehls.com, $50.

Bearer of sensitive, oily skin that occasionally gets dry? Fret no longer. Quickly absorbed with no shiny residue, the aloe vera-rich serum comes full force with the bold scent of ylang-ylang. Your complexion wins, herbally.

Available at aesop.com, $61.

A mom dear to us starting using the formula long after wrinkles appeared around her eyes. The result? Skin that looks dramatically (and we don’t use that word lightly) younger.

Available at lancome-usa.com, $60-$130.

Edelweiss, edelweiss — every morning it and a blend of coneflower and pennywort grant Web intern Julie Pereira smoother, firmer skin. The plant stem cell antioxidants reduce redness, leaving her with a brightened complexion.

Available at intelligentnutrients.com, $55.

A pump’s worth of calming plant extracts and biologically effective peptides found in cult facialist Christine Chin’s serum and our tester’s sensitive, rosy skin sighed with relief.

Available at christinechin.com, $79.

Kombucha, grape stem cells, and goji berry extract make up the organic serum that is so hydrating we skipped our daily moisturizer. The most sensitive skin types can expect an even skin tone without breakouts.

Available at emerginc.com, $75.

Don’t be alarmed by the test-tube packaging: The plant-based serum fulfills nearly all its promises, practically Benjamin Button-ing fine lines. Don’t expect immediate results, but, with regular use, you’ll see smaller pores and clearer skin.

Available at dnaegfrenewal.com, $145.

Deals editor Lindsay Bruno is fearful of products made for all skin types. Thankfully, Clinique’s lightweight, twice-daily serum works to lighten age and acne spots without any dermal tantrums.

Available at clinique.com, $50-$73.

Not only does the nongreasy, sweet-smelling serum absorb quickly, it also leaves skin feeling velvety soft after just one application.

Available at clarinsusa.com, $85.

Ever since her mother pointed out her forehead wrinkles (“thanks, Mom”), Deals editor Larkin Clark wanted to smooth things out. “After three days, I noticed a difference,” she says. “The price tag might be heavy, but the lightweight formula — which combines marine extracts, antioxidants, and natural protectants — proves stem cell technology is no joke.”

Available at shop.cellureskincare.com, $160.

Thanks to Icelandic biotechnology (plant-derived, cell-generating growth factors; geothermal infusions), a few drops of this stuff daily yields oil balance, tone, and glow we haven’t experienced since sophomore year of college.

Available at thebioeffect.com, $210.

Cold and flu season is over, but intern Caroline Hallemann is still tending to a red nose. “A few drops of the lightly scented serum before bed reduces inflammation and increases hydration. It’s a real-life prescription for beauty sleep,” she says.

Available at bareescentuals.com, $50.

Glowing, glowing, and gone are editor Lauren Lumsden’s dry patches. After about eight days, her skin looked noticeably healthier and evenly toned. And since there aren’t any dyes or perfumes in the formula, her sensitive skin wasn’t even slightly fazed.

Available at spacenk.com, $140.

Copy editor Lauren Neefe will cop to a sunspot or two (apparently, baby oil and fair complexions don’t mix). But the active ingredient — a melanin-fighting chemical harvested from algae cultures — in the gentle, sweet-smelling serum made her question whether they were there at all. And did we mention her best work pal called her glowing?

Available at algenist.com, $79.

Your V-neck obsession has led to one thing: an uneven (sun-splotched) decolletage. Shiseido’s brightening formula gently lifts age spots to restore luminosity on your chest and neck.

Available at shiseido.com, $76.

Research editor Stephanie Almazan and her mom applied the gel-like serum containing Alasta (the organic ingredient credited with improving skin elasticity and firmness) and immediately felt a subtle, skin-tightening sensation. It’s gentle (no breakouts or dryness), and both ladies saw improvement in just a week. Mrs. A has since claimed the entire bottle for herself.

Available at sustainableyouthproducts.com, $95.