Face serums have become a standard addition to most of our modern-day skincare routines. I know we like to keep it simple in as little fuss as possible and you might feel a serum is an unnecessary step too far, or you are using a serum and not really sure what it does or you might be an avid serum user, you see the benefits of layering your skincare and would never consider not including them in your daily routine.
Whichever way you sway, I wanted to give you a bit more information on serums, what they are, how they work and why your skin NEEDS a serum in your regular routine.
What is a serum?
Serums are like the power house of your skincare routine, each one will have different actives to target different skin conditions, from acne, ageing, reducing redness to boosting cell turnover, treating pigmentation and boosting hydration. You name it, a serum can target and treat it. They come in many different varieties, some feel oilier while others have a gel like texture. Fundamentally a serum is a lighter, more liquid texture than a moisturiser, a blend of a water base with or without the addition of some oil content.
What’s the difference between a serum and a moisturiser?
A serum is designed to absorb much faster than your moisturiser. because a serum has a lighter more fluid consistency you can hold key active ingredients within a serum which you can’t add into a thicker moisturiser. A serum can transport active ingredients further into the skin where as your moisturiser does more of a job directly on the surface and a slower absorption, keeping the top layers nice and plump.
Serums and moisturisers are designed to be layered and work together to compliment each other’s ingredients to get the best results.
How to apply your face serum
– A little generally goes a long way, there is only so much the skin is going to absorb in one application and sometimes if you apply too much serum to the skin you might find it begins to bobble slightly on the skins surface.
– Always cleanse and ideally hydrate the skin before applying your serum, if there is any oil on the skin its going to slow the absorption down and active ingredients within a serum will absorb quicker on a clean moist skin. Hydrated cells allow product to penetrate better than dry cells.
– OR another option if you have a slightly oilier skin, try applying your serum and spritz a veil of gentle toner over the top, this will work well in more humid climates, and for skins with larger pores and a menopausal skin.
– Always leave your serum for a few moments to absorb before applying your moisturiser or oil, this will allow time for the active ingredients to absorb fully and do their job.
– Serums can be used morning and night dependent on their key ingredients. If your contains retinol then this is just for night time and not to be applied around the eye area.
What order should I apply my skincare products ?
The morning may differ to the evening, in the day you will finish with an SPF.
Day time – Cleanse, Tone, Serum, Moisturiser, SPF. However if you have a younger or oilier skin you might omit the moisturiser and or use a moisturiser with an SPF included.
Evening – Cleanse, tone, serum, oil or moisturise. Again if you have an oiler skin you might finish at serum and not apply an oil or moisturiser on top.
