They say good skin care is pretty simple. All you need for a clear complexion are 3 important steps. Cleanse, Moisturise & sunscreen. But if you want to go the extra mile with your skin then serums are a good addition to your skincare routine, they give your skin some extra TLC.

So what is a Serum?
A serum is a gel that can be applied to your face or neck. Serums can help with skin issues such as wrinkles, dryness. There are serums for almost every skin type, helping to give the extra level of treatment required for your skin needs.

Is serum a moisturizer?
Yes and no. Serums can be full of moisturizing ingredients (hyaluronic acid, ceramides) to help skin retain moisture. But, that doesn’t make them moisturizers in the traditional sense. Face lotions and creams are richer and create a barrier on top of the skin to keep all that good stuff in.

What does a serum consist of?
Serums are rich in nutrients that are good for the skin. Most are water-based, so your skin absorbs them quickly. They usually don’t have heavy ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, or other oils.

Typically serums are lighter and more fluid in texture than a moisturizer, they have become an indispensable addition to anti-aging rituals thanks to their high-performing actives. For this reason, serums are an excellent way to strengthen and supplement your overall skincare routine so it’s more comprehensive and tailored to your unique needs.

How to choose a suitable serum?
Because they’re usually designed to treat specific conditions, serums contain a higher ratio of actives, high-performance ingredients that typically serve to improve a condition like fine lines, wrinkles, dehydration, sagging or hyperpigmentation.

Choosing the right serum for your targeted areas is important:

Wrinkles or other signs of aging – then you must look for serums that contain growth factors or peptides, these are ideal and gentle on your skin too especially if you have sensitive skin. If your skin is less sensitive then you could try for serums with ingredients such as retinol, antioxidants,, vitamin c and Kojic acid.

Acne-prone: Look for vitamin C (increases collagen production, enhances skin’s repair process, and reduces inflammation), retinol (also an antioxidant, reduces inflammation), zinc (soothes irritation, regulates oil production), and salicylic acid (unclogs pores).

Feeling dull: Look for antioxidants like green tea extract, resveratrol, ferulic acid (this help combat free radicals, increase the effectiveness of sunscreen by day, and promote cellular repair and healing by night).

Dry: Look for vitamin E (an antioxidant, protects cells from oxidative damage), niacinamide (improves skin elasticity, increases ceramide levels in the skin), and hyaluronic acid (retains moisture).

However do keep in mind its best to avoid combining some serums together as they don’t go well combined, this can cause irritation or damage to the skin.

Ingredients to watch out for

• Retinol and alpha hydroxy acids
• Certain forms of Vitamin C, such as L-ascorbic acid, have been shown to cause irritation when mixed with retinol or alpha hydroxy acids, or become less effective
• Retinol and benzoyl peroxide

Note that these combinations aren’t are bad mix 100% of the time so it’s important you do your research and reach out to the brand for more information.

If you have a chronic skin condition such as eczema or rosacea, serums may cause aggravation.

Cost & Benefits of Serums

Because active ingredients are more expensive than thickeners, serums are also the costliest product in many skin care lines. But when applied properly, a 1-ounce container of serum should last months.

Many brands come in pump bottles or have medicine-dropper applicators to dispense just the tiny amount you need. Those few concentrated drops are super-efficient. Serums are made of very small molecules, so the skin absorbs them quickly and deeply.

The thicker the ingredients in a cream form a barrier on your skin, this is great for locking moisture but it can also block out active ingredients which a serum can provide by penetrating into your skin faster and most effectively.

Serums are great for people with oily skin or those who prefer a weightless feel to their skin care products. Serums have a non-greasy finish and they don’t leave behind a sticky residue.

How often should I use a serum?
Well, this all depends on the serum. Read the label, but once a day should be more than enough. If you need more clarification you can always contact the brand directly.

In summary, start using serums appropriate for your skin type both morning and night. These high-performance serums should deliver major positive improvements for your skin with some much needed TLC!

 

Disclosure – This post is sponsored by Formulyst.