Now a days when you hear the chatter of right skin care routine, face serum is one product that comes up often. There’s lot of talk about the benefits of using serum. Today, most skin care experts and dermatologists recommend using face serum as a part of your face moisturization process. For many it has become a key part of daily skin care especially if one is trying to tackle certain skin issues.
While, it is not a moisturizer, neither it is a toner. It is a skin hydrator with higher doses of active ingredients in a lighter gel like medium. There are many that are still confused about what a face serum is and how to add the face serum into their skin care routine. So, here’s a low down on what is a face serum and how you can use it.
Everything you need to know about Face Serum
Face serum is a skin care product to boost your skin’s hydration levels and delivers benefits of natural actives. Serum is a lightweight moisturiser that is loaded with higher concentration of skin-replenishing active ingredients. A serum is effective in taking care of major skin issues because it has smaller molecules that can penetrate the epidermis or the upper layer of the skin very easily. It delivers the goodness of the key ingredients to the skin more effectively. Serum works better in dealing with skin problems because the actives in the face serum get absorbed easily into the deeper layers of the skin. It is perfect for delivering treatment products to your skin.
The texture of the face serum is lighter and thinner than a moisturizer. It gives your skin a soft, supple, velvety texture. Since it is lightweight, the product can be layered upon without making the skin feel weighed down. Serums can come is different formulas and consistency depending on the actives in the product – so it can be a gel, water-based or lightly creamy.
Benefits of using a face serum
When you want to deliver potent actives directly in your skin, face serum should be your choice of skin care. It is ideal for use when you have more than one skin goal to achieve – say skin brightening along with reducing excess sebum. Since they are highly potent, serums are more effective in improving skin condition.
When you want to manage specific skin issue and see faster visible results, using a serum before applying a moisturiser works best. It helps to deliver the actives deeper into the skin supporting in repair and rejuvenation of the skin. In fact, a serum can help to target specific skin concerns like uneven complexion, fine lines, dryness etc.
Why should you add face serum to your skin care
Ideally you should include a serum in your skin care routine as you cross your 25th year. It helps fight signs of skin aging and helps keep the skin supple and youthful. Use it once a day to begin with before applying your moisturiser. In fact, applying a face serum helps you in dealing with the most pressing skin issue. It could be fine lines, pigmentation, or dullness. Use the serum to deal with the skin problem and use the moisturiser on top to manage other minor skin problems and protect your skin.
Here are some of the types of serums you can add to your skin care routine:
For bright, radiant complexion: When you are looking to brighten your complexion and revive dull skin, pick a serum with vitamin C or lactic acid. Vitamin C helps to fight skin damage caused by free radicals and balances melanin production. Lactic acid promotes skin renewal process and improves skin hydration, making your skin appear bright and supple. For clear complexion, a serum with niacinamide is also a good bet. It evens out complexion and improves skin radiance.
For smooth, hydrated skin: If you have dry, tired looking skin then hyaluronic acid based serum should be your go to. It is a natural skin hydrator that supports skin’s collagen structure and prevents moisture loss from the skin thus giving the skin a plump, smooth texture. Use it twice a day to keep your skin soft and supple.
For acne-free, balanced skin: If you are prone to acne breakouts and excessively greasy skin then try a serum with tea tree oil or salicylic acid. Tea tree oil serum balances excess sebum on your skin and reduces acne breakouts. Salicylic acid serum helps acne-prone skin by gently exfoliating dead skin layer, prevents clogging of the pores and controls excess oiliness. You get a matte, clear skin.
For smooth, wrinkle-free skin: If you want smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, then you need a serum that promotes the skin renewal process and enhances the hydration levels in the skin. You need to look for actives that exfoliate the dead skin layer, improve the collagen production, and strengthen elastin in the skin. Retinol serum is deal for warding off deep wrinkles and giving you smooth skin. Hyaluronic acid serum and Niacinamide serum, help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, boost hydration and have a plumping effect on skin.
How to apply face serum – step by step
You should apply serum first thing after cleansing your face. One thing you should remember when using serums is that since these contain a potent cocktail of actives, a little goes a long way. Use only two to three of the products each time and not more. Do a patch test on your skin to ensure your skin does not react negatively to any of the actives. Apply it twice a day to get the best results. You can have two sets of serum for day and nighttime skin care. Here are the steps to apply face serum:
- Cleanse and tone your face.
- Take two to three drops of the serum on to your fingertips. Warm the product by rubbing your fingers together.
- Dot the serum all over your cleansed face and neck. Smooth it on your skin with fingers.
- Pat it gently on your skin – starting at the cheeks, chin and then the forehead and around your eyes.
- Dab and press it into your skin. Lightly massage your skin to allow the product to soak in.
- Do this for a minute to allow the serum to get soaked into the skin.
- Follow it up with your regular face moisturizer or face cream.
