Nipun Kapur has reviewed more than 110 serums, and her approval rate is 78%. She approved most of them, and the rest split fairly evenly between mixed takes and skips. A couple of products made her category winners list.
What does Nipun Kapur recommend in serums?
The serums Nipun approves tend to have something real behind them: a formula that holds up, a claim she can verify, or results she has seen on clients. She approves across a wide range of price points, naming Minimalist Niacinamide 10% a category winner alongside Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic also earned her stamp of approval, for a pure L-ascorbic acid formula that stays stable and does not oxidize.
In her words
"The one vitamin C that I love that has worked for me even though I have acne prone skin is the Sunday Riley 15% and I think it's because it's THD Corbit which is a slightly different formula than ethyl ascorbic acid, which kind of works better for me."
"I do absolutely love it I highly highly recommend the barrier support serum now"
"Neutrogena is not a dupe, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost by itself is a fabulous cream"
"The first one is what I really, really enjoyed, and this is the one that I've almost finished as well: the VT Reedle Shot 100 Collagen. In addition to niacinamide, you obviously have hyaluronic acid and you have collagen, which is generally a very moisturizing and a very nourishing ingredient. This is a serum infused version, same technology as the needle. But I will put stuff on, best use to use it with my retinol, because this has collagen, this has niacinamide, retinol and peptides."
"The glow serum which is niacinamide and propolis is for anyone who has normal to combination skin. It's gentle and if you're not looking for anything that's 5% or 10%, you know, use this one. The Deep Glow is a product that I have recommended since I've put it up in my recommendations here because this is rice and arbutin. You get all the benefits, you get rice. This is a brightening serum, a single ingredient serum. [...] If you have any kind of pigmentation, then this product is for you."
"You can get a similar impact with the ordinary 10% lactic acid."
How many serums has Nipun Kapur reviewed?
Nipun Kapur has reviewed 116 serums, for an approval rate of 78%. 90 approved, 11 mixed, and 15 skipped.
What has Nipun Kapur skipped in serums?
Nipun's sharpest skip is Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid, where she said she wanted her money back. She also skipped Clarins Double Serum. Store advisors pitch it as anti-aging, but she found it only hydrates the skin, and at $134 she did not think it was worth the price. With Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum, it was more personal: it oxidized on her skin specifically, making her look duller and darker within seconds of applying. She noted the formula is otherwise strong.
"I want my money back that is the first thing I can say about Rhode skincare"
"This is a good hydrating serum, but remember this is all that it will do, it will hydrate your skin. If you go to Sephora the BA will tell you that it's anti-aging and it will do all these things, but it will just hydrate your skin. It's pricey, pricey, pricey at $134. It's [...] a pass for me because I've used it in the past."
"The only problem with the Timeless serum on my face was within seconds I would start looking darker and very dull"
"A serum that you guys made me buy and I really tried using it for about two three weeks and I gave up and that is again by the brand Goodal the same brand it is the vita dark spot serum, I don't think it's worth it"
What should you take from Nipun Kapur's picks?
Nipun's serum record is broad and, on balance, positive. She approved most of the more than 110 she reviewed and named a couple of outright category winners. When she does skip something, she usually says exactly why. It might be a formula that oxidizes on her skin, a claim that does not hold up, or a price she does not think is justified. That makes her a useful person to consult when you are deciding between a budget pick and a premium one.
Watch Nipun Kapur say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 6:57
- Minimalist Niacinamide 10% SerumNamed a winnerWatch at 3:23
- Rhode Peptide Glazing FluidSkipped itWatch at 0:00
- Clarins Double Serum Complete Age-Defying ConcentrateSkipped itWatch at 16:42
- Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid SerumSkipped itWatch at 10:31
- Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin C Dark Spot Care SerumSkipped itWatch at 8:03
- The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%Skipped itWatch at 5:49
- Frankly PDRN Bounce Ball SerumSkipped itWatch at 5:33
- Dior Prestige Advanced SerumSkipped itWatch at 1:34
- Dr. Dennis Gross DermInfusions Fill + Repair SerumSkipped itWatch at 7:35
- Medicube TXA 15% Plus Niacinamide SerumSkipped itWatch at 5:02
- Medicube Exosome Booster ShotSkipped itWatch at 13:21
- Hyphen Advanced Depigmentation SerumSkipped itWatch at 13:06
- Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C5Skipped itWatch at 13:51
- Hyphen Power Peptide Cocktail SerumSkipped itWatch at 5:02
- Amino Copper Peptide SerumSkipped itWatch at 6:16
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Skipped itWatch at 13:27
- The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support SerumRated itWatch at 6:31
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic AcidRated itWatch at 14:20
- VT Reedle Shot 100 CollagenRated itWatch at 4:11
- Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum: Propolis + NiacinamideRated itWatch at 10:09
- The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + Hyaluronic AcidRated itWatch at 13:56
- The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic AcidRated itWatch at 2:05
- COSRX 6 Peptide Skin Booster SerumRated itWatch at 9:21
About this expert
See everything Nipun Kapur has reviewed
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This guide reflects what Nipun Kapur said across her videos about 116 products in serums, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.