Trust us, we have been there too feeling all boggled looking at the juggernaut of emerging skincare products and trends constantly flooding our feeds. But we’ve all been caught looking out for this one beauty trend – face serums, that’s been making it to the “must try, must buy” list of possibly every derm and beauty influencer. So let us take all the information available on what is a face serum, simplify and crunch it into this little piece and tell you why you really need it.
As always, to save you time and energy, we’ve done the necessary research for you. Read on to know about this magic potion in a bottle and the type your skin will love.
First things first! What is a Face Serum?
In simple terms, serum is a concentrated skincare solution. Infused with active ingredients, a lightweight divinely smooth formula that penetrates deep into your skin and gives it what it’s lacking. They are often developed with active ingredients such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, retinols, AHAs, vitamin E and the list goes on. Each of these key ingredients targets a specific skin concern.
Let’s look at some of the questions you may have.
When I have a Face Moisturiser/face oil /face cream, why should I use a serum?
We heard you. Think of face serum as a booster. While the former three have a thicker consistency and tend to work as a barrier on the surface of the skin, serum being thin & lightweight, addresses the skin concerns by delivering potent ingredients deeper into the skin surface.
In a nutshell, here’s how it functions:
- Provides concentrated nutrients to the skin
- Targets key skin concerns
- Mostly water-based, penetrates deeper into the skin surface
- Soothes skin and improves texture
- Works as a light moisturiser
- Reduces inflammation caused due to skin damage
For any skin booster (referring to: face serum) to work efficiently, we need a layer of supporting cream/moisturiser/oil that can seal in the benefits and protects skin from further damage (think: pollution and sun damage). Therefore, you must add a face serum into your existing beauty routine for both have a valuable place.
Well then, what are the different types of serums?
Once you know what is a face serum, the next question that comes to mind is how to choose the right one for your skin. This can only be done when you know which ingredient corrects which skin problem.
For dry skin:
Opt for face serums rich in hyaluronic acid to boost moisture and vitamin E to protect skin from oxidative damage. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) helps to maintain the skin barrier to lock in hydration.
For acne-prone skin:
A serum with zinc controls oil production and calms irritation while salicylic acid clears out pores and reduces the appearance of acne.
For signs of ageing:
Serums with anti-ageing properties like retinol work to speed up the cell turnover process and help fight fine lines and wrinkles.
For normal skin:
Go for a moisturising and brightening serum with vitamin C that boosts collagen production and illuminates skin.
If that’s so, how to introduce a serum into my skincare regime?
Always apply a few drops of face serum on a cleansed and toned face, day and night, and top it with a layer of your regular moisturiser or oil or face cream. You may want to check out how to use face serum the right way, where we’ve talked about it in detail.
Summing up
If you want to level up your skincare routine, face serum is the hero product to be added to your bathroom shelf. A lot less complicated while immensely powerful than you may think, serums undoubtedly deserve your love (and, of course money) for the prized attributes they come with.