Face Serums are skincare gem elixirs! It can boost 100 times a cure than any other skincare item. Itโs a very important step to add when we age. In fact in the twenties early or mid depending on other conditions you need to add a serum little by little. Serums are various types that target various problems. There are serums for every type of skin. In this article, Iโll answer most asked questions on Serum. If you have any more questions, please leave a comment.
What are Face Serums?
Serums are light-medium-weight liquids that contain an adequate amount of any active ingredient. Just not that but a Serumโs molecules are small in size comparingly to a moisturizer or even lotion. So it can go deep into the skin and take care of the specific problem.
Why/Not Everybody Need to Face Serums?
First of all, Everybody needs to use at least one specific serum all the time. Here everybody means if youโre above twenty years old then. Thatโs what I believe. I know youโre like what! On each website, influencers, suggest itโs never too early. Well, a part of thatโs true. But always remember minimum care gives you maximum benefits. In the teenage or even early twenties, your skin gets all the things it needs from the body. Itโs best to keep your skincare minimum when youโre a student, especially before university. If youโre facing any skin problem (you may, everybody does at least once in teens) see a dermatologist. No need to spend dollars on Serums. And if youโre in your twenties depending on your skin please consider a serum, itโs time to boost your skincare journey!
Types of Face Serum
There are anti-aging, skin radiance or brightening, Skin tone improvement like hyperpigmentation or dark patch, soothing Serums for acne-prone & Sensitive skin. If there are other problems there are serums for each.
What are the Benefits of Face Serums?
A single serum canโt have 100s of benefits. But a common benefit of serum is it gets absorbed as quickly as a toner or essence and most serums give skin a new level of brightening effect with any added benefit. Now this added benefit can be, dark spots, skin burnt by the sun, soothing, a lot of hydration, improvement of acne, and anti-aging benefits.
Serum for Oily, Dry, Normal, Sensitive, Acne-prone &, Combination Skin
Serums are so lightweight that anyone can use any type of serum as per their need. I mention this all the time if youโre oily or have combination skin that does not mean your skin needs any less moisture. If your 10 years of skincare does not make your skin a little normal from very oily skin that means thereโs something wrong with your skincare. If the skin is a little bit dry, oily, or both (Combination) take it as normal skin and treat it like that. It will give you better results. If you have acne on the skin (Which is a disease, not a pimple) please concern a dermatologist before using any serum.
Kate Somerville is an excellent serum for Soothing sensitive skin. Itโs a premium product I know but it works wonderfully, may see results with few uses. Innisfree Green Tea is for deep moisturizing yet Oily people can use it! When I said deep, I meant it. It has lactic acid, and hyaluronic acid with green tea extract, providing needed hydration.
Thereโs nothing better than Klairs Vitamin C serum at that price or even within luxury products. This is the product that gives you maximum benefit within that price range. Itโs mild, gives a warm feeling at first, and gets absorbed into the skin within two minutes. Any skin type can use it!
For oily and oily acne-prone skin The Body Shop Tea Tree is a good choice. Tea tree has anti-inflammatory properties, especially for those whose skin breaks out a lot. It contains Salicylic acid too, which is good for cleaning pores.
Paulaโs Choice 1% Retinol is one of the best retinol serums for matured skin. Donโt use it if youโre under 30. Above 30, if you feel like you need to add retinol to your skincare routine you may add it. Itโs a good idea to add strong antiaging products in the thirties. Retinol can dry your skin (But thatโs neither bad nor like itโs not for dry skin). If you are using retinol for the first time use it with a hydrating essence or moisturizer.
Serums for Men
My friends ask me still if they can use this or that. Skincare items are for everybody. So The serums I have mentioned are the best and can be used by any gender.
How to Use Face Serum correctly?
Firstly cleanse your face properly. Secondly never apply Serums on a dry face. Serums will better work on damp skin than any other thick products. Use a hydrating Toner or Essence to hydrate the face. Though I wanna say if youโre using a serum that targets the moisture of skin then thereโs no need to use another product before for hydrating. Always remember, that we need to use a light product toner, essence, and some serums particularly for hydrating the skin. Then we can look into other problems.
How To Use a Face serum with, Makeup?
If you want to use a serum under makeup firstly I will say donโt waste your serum by mixing it with your makeup or under it. Even if we layer our skincare product it gets mixed. If makeup is a necessity for you you can use active serums at night time before bed. Trust me it will work the best. If you really wanna use serums under makeup first hydrate your skin after cleansing then uses the serum. If you need extra moisture then use your moisturizer or not. Please wait for a minimum of 15 minutes to give the skincare items to get absorbed. That will not just make easy application of your foundation but also do good for your skin. Then apply Sunscreen (If daytime) and wait another 20 minutes minimum. If itโs Physical sunscreen then give it 15 minutes. This time is for settling down the sunscreen. Then, follow your regular makeup routine. If itโs night time use a primer and then follow it with your makeup.
How to Use a Face Serum With a Moisturizer?
Itโs not how but more when. When youโre adding any active serum for the first time in your skincare journey itโs advisable to mix it with your moisturizer. Add two drops of serum with your regular moisturizer and then apply it. It will boost your beauty routine while keeping it simple and safe. Use like this two times a week, thereโs no need to add a serum with your moisturizer every day. This is the safest method if you have sensitive skin. For normal dry-oily skin, you can add serum directly. Then start with one day for a week. Continue that for 2-3 months and then increase the days in every or every other month.
Serum for Winter
Innisfree Green Tea serum moisturizes the skin deeply. It has green tea extract from Jeju island and is one of the best choices to use in winter. But to be true I have used it the whole year. Itโs so light and quick-absorbing can be used for any type of skin. Itโs better to lock your hydration with a good moisturizer than to change your serums. It will increase your expenses and serums not lock the moisture. So you have to follow it with a moisturizer anyway.
Face Serums for Night
For night thereโs Klairs Vitamin C serum you may use. Vitamin C will work better if it doesnโt get any sunlight. And probably the best serum. Paulaโs Choice 1% Retinol is also ideal for use at night times. Otherwise, any ingredient which is not light sensitive or reacts you can use at day times. Retinol, face oils, AHA, BHA, like Glycolic, Lactic, Salicylic acid, Vitamin C, should be avoided in the day times. Though you can use vitamin C in the daytime, it boosts the protection against UV rays. When using Vitamin C in the daytime make sure to cover it with a thick, adequate amount of Sunscreen. Vitamin C oxidizes quickly, and itโll do more harm than good.
Face Serum for Acne?
For acne-prone skin, The Body Shop Tea Tree is a good choice. Tea tree has anti-inflammatory properties, especially for those whose skin breaks out a lot. It contains Salicylic acid too, which is good for cleaning pores. First, cleanse your skin and Exfoliate with Paulaโs 2% BHA Exfoliant. Then follow up with the tea tree serum. One of my favorite combinations for acne. Though, if you have severe acne then please consult with a doctor.
Good Ingredients to Look for in a Serum
Hyaluronic Acid + Glycerine โ hydrating. Niacinamideโ Control oils, build lipid barrier, minimize skin irritation, control aging of the skin. Retinol โ Anti-aging (Slower the aging). Vitamin C โ Brightens the skin, and works on dark patches. Tea Tree Extract โ Fight Acne. Green Tea โ Hydrate, moisturizes, antioxidant source. These are popular best ingredients to look for in face Serums, but there are more.
Different Between Serums and Essences
Essences may (very little) or not contain any active ingredients at all. Serums contain active ingredients. Essences are less pricy than Serums because it has rich ingredients and requires less for the skin. Essences are most for overall benefits whereas Serums target particular problems.
Different Between Serums and Ampoules
If serums are gems for skin ampoules are the luxury ones. Every ampoule is a luxury item itself. The main difference is the concentration. Just like toner and essence itโs the same just essences are a little bit more concentrated, Ampoules are more concentrated than serums. Ampoules work like magic or suppose to. Itโs enriched with active, best ingredients, especially for mature skin. If youโre under 35,40 thereโs no need to spend a lot on ampoules. You may not use an ampoule in your whole life even. They are strong, for every skin type and do works quickly, and safely. Even if someone is using an ampoule itโs never more than a time in a day. You can say Ampules โSupercharged Serumsโ.
What do I Need to Use Next After Serum?
Ampoules are the next in skincare steps. But most of the time we end our skincare with a moisturizer. Hereโs the whole list.
- Oil Cleansing. First Step of Double Cleansing.
- Cleanser (Water-based) or Facewash. Instead of using both some may use Cleansing cream, balm, or milk with an emulsifier which will help to remove all kinds of oily, watery dirt from the skin
- Exfoliate
- Detoxifying
- Mist spray. You may use Softener in this step.
- Toning and Moisturizing deep with Rich Korean Toners.
- Essence
- Serum
- Ampoule
- Sheet Mask (Conditions are applied on which step you need to use it based on the texture of your sheet mask, READ THE POST)
- Lotions
- Moisturizer
- Eye Cream
- Sunscreen
- Lip Balm
Confused about why I kept some products in this way? Hereโs my explanation that why you need to use products in this way!
