These drugstore serums prove you don’t need to drop over $25 to see big-time results

Whenever people used to ask me the one skin-care product worth splurging on, I would immediately tell them, “serum.” I’d always been down with $8 cleansers and toners and moisturizers, but was a big (and misinformed) believer that “effective” and “expensive” were two adjectives that went hand-in-hand when it came to a serum.

Well, I was wrong, and would like to take this opportunity to formally apologize to any of my friends who I led astray into dropping major dollars on serums (my bad, guys!). Because as the drugstore aisle’s skin-care offerings become better in general, so too has their selection of serums. While serums as a category tend to be pricier than the other elements in your regimen because they’re made with more highly concentrated ingredients, you no longer need to break out the Benjamins in order to find one that truly works.

On Monday, a new line of under-$20 products called VERSED joined the clean beauty ranks at Target. As of today, you’ll find its brightening, clarifying, and firming serums among other skin-care superheroes from new brands like Sweet Chef (the affordable off-shoot of K-Beauty favorite Glow Recipe) and ApotheCARE Essentials, and ones we’ve loved forever like L’Oreal and Neutrogena.

The key to shopping for serums—drugstore or otherwise—is to have a keen eye for both buzzwords and ingredients. So if something is bragging about being “brightening,” be sure to check for vitamin C; if it’s meant to be hydrating, look out for moisture-locking winners like hyaluronic acid; and if you’re looking for something calming, peep the label for niacinamide.

To avoid having to spend hours in the drugstore aisle, we combed through—and tested—the selection for you. Peep our favorite drugstore serums for every skin concern, none of which will run you more than 25 bucks.

Shop brightening serums

Versed Stroke of Brilliance Brightening Serum $20

Pixi skintreats Overnight Glow Serum Concentrated Exfoliating Gel $24

Sweet Chef Ginger Vitamin C Serum Shot $20

Shop hydrating serums

L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum $20

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Vitamin E & Hyaluronic Acid Serum $15

ApotheCARE Essentials PhytoQuench Replenishing Serum $16

Shop calming serums

Sweet Chef Kale Vitamin B Serum Shot $20

e.l.f. Soothing Serum $12

Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum $22

Shop anti-aging serums

RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Facial Serum $18

Versed On the Rise Firming Serum $20

Honest Pure Retinol Serum $25

Shop serums for discoloration

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil Serum for Dark Spots $25

L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum $14

Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Treatment $20

While you’re at the drugstore, be sure to peak at the baby aisle for an assortment of affordable clean beauty products, and stock up on this skin care that dermatologists don’t go a day without recommending.