What Is a Body Serum and Do You Need One?

If your bodycare routine begins and ends with a moisturiser, you're not alone. But just like skincare evolved beyond a simple cleanser and cream, bodycare is getting an upgrade too. 

From hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to retinol and peptides, we're seeing more facial-grade ingredients make their way into products designed for the skin below the neck. One of the biggest trends leading the charge? The body serum. 

Lightweight, fast-absorbing and packed with targeted ingredients, body serums are becoming a beauty-bag staple. But what exactly do they do, and do you really need one?

Why We're Adding Body Serums to Our Bodycare Routines

Think of a body serum as your facial serum's bodycare counterpart. 

While traditional body moisturisers are designed to hydrate and soften the skin, body serums take a more targeted approach. They're typically packed with concentrated ingredients designed to help tackle concerns like dryness, dullness, rough texture or uneven skin tone. 

And that's exactly why we're seeing them everywhere right now. As bodycare enters its skincare era, more of us are looking beyond basic hydration and turning to products that help address specific concerns from the neck down. 

One product that's helped put body serums firmly on the map is Nécessaire The Body Serum, a lightweight formula that's become a favourite among those looking for hydration without the heaviness of a rich cream. 

Body Serum vs Body Lotion vs Body Oil: What's the Difference?

One of the most common questions we hear is: "Can't I just use body lotion?" 

The short answer? You can. But body serums, lotions and oils all have different strengths. 

A body serum is your treatment step. This is where you'll find ingredients that target specific concerns such as dullness, texture or dehydration. 

A body lotion focuses on replenishing moisture and keeping skin feeling comfortable, while a body oil helps lock everything in and leave skin looking healthy and radiant. 

Think of it like your skincare routine: 

Serum = treat 

Moisturiser = hydrate 

Oil = seal 

That's why so many beauty lovers are layering rather than replacing. 

From Dryness to Glow: What Body Serums Can Help With 

One reason body serums have become so popular is that they're designed to do more than simply moisturise. 

If your skin feels persistently dry, lacks radiance or struggles with rough texture, a targeted body serum can help support smoother, healthier-looking skin over time. 

For hydration, ingredients like hyaluronic acid help draw moisture into the skin, while niacinamide is loved for helping skin look brighter and more even. If glow is the goal, Vitamin C remains one of the most talked-about ingredients in bodycare. 

For rough-feeling skin, TikTok has moved away from aggressive scrubs and towards ingredients like lactic acid, glycolic acid and urea, which help smooth texture more gently. 

That's why we love Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum at Sephora UK. Designed to help improve rough texture, it's frequently recommended by those looking to smooth areas like the backs of the arms and thighs. 

Interesting fact: Body skin is naturally thicker than facial skin and often produces less oil. That's one of the reasons concerns like dryness, rough texture and keratosis pilaris (KP) tend to be more common on the body. 

The Ingredients Everyone Is Talking About 

Spend five minutes on BodyTok and you'll quickly notice that ingredients have become just as important as products. 

For hydration, we're seeing continued love for hyaluronic acid, ceramides and glycerin, ingredients that help support the skin barrier while leaving skin feeling softer and more comfortable. 

For glow, Vitamin C and niacinamide continue to dominate conversations thanks to their brightening benefits. 

Meanwhile, ingredients like urea, lactic acid and glycolic acid are becoming favourites for anyone looking to improve rough texture or tackle concerns such as KP. 

And if firmness is your focus? Retinol and peptides are increasingly making their way into bodycare routines. Products such as Nécessaire The Hand Retinol Repair Serum are helping bring traditionally facial-focused ingredients into the world of bodycare. 

By Sephora UK Skin Editorial Team

Writers and experts

Updated: 27 August 2026