Face serums have been around for quite some time, but many people still have no idea what they are for and how to use them properly. Are serums really an important part of a skincare routine and what are their skin benefits? Should a serum be used in addition to a moisturiser or instead of it? Let’s find answers to these questions together.
A face serum is a liquid or gel-like skincare product with a high concentration of active ingredients. Serums usually target specific skin problems and have an immediate or almost immediate effect. Because of this, they are typically used when one needs to solve a certain skin problem as soon as possible.
So what are the skin benefits of face serums? First and foremost, they are able to penetrate deeper into the skin than most other skincare products. Active ingredients contained in face serums are absorbed well by the skin and begin to work the moment you apply the serum. The effect of any particular skin serum depends on its main purpose and ingredients. There are moisturising, nourishing, anti-age (rejuvenating), skin lightening, soothing, antioxidant, cleansing, toning, matting, and many other types of face serums. The active ingredients in each of these types of serums depend on its primary task.
For example, moisturising (hydrating) face serums are typically formulated with humectants. Humectants are substances able to draw moisture from the surrounding air and lock it in the skin. They include, but are not limited to, hyaluronic acid and its salts (sodium hyaluronate), aloe vera leaf juice, peptides, urea (carbamide), glycerine, amino acids, and honey.
Anti-acne serums contain anti-inflammatory, soothing and regenerative ingredients such as AHAs and BHAs (alpha and beta hydroxy acids), ginkgo extract, aloe vera leaf juice, lotus extract, gotu cola extract, chrysanthemum extract, arbutin, niacinamide, tea tree essential oil, zinc oxide, charcoal, azelaic acid, betaine salicylate, retinol, propolis, honey, snail secretion filtrate (mucin), etc.
Soothing serums usually have a high content of aloe vera leaf juice, chamomile extract, chrysanthemum extract, green tea extract, cucumber extract, allantoin, bisabolol, azulene, betaine, ceramides, natural oils (shea butter, cocoa butter, argan oil, olive oil, etc.), squalene or squalane.
Skin lightening (whitening) face serums are typically formulated with arbutin, azelaic acid, retinol, glycolic acid, lactic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and gotu kola extract. Other ingredients that can be found in lightening serums include citrus extracts, bearberry extract, mulberry extract, peppermint extract, cucumber extract, soy extract, aloe vera leaf juice, and vitamin B3 (niacinamide).
Anti-age (rejuvenating) face serums usually contain ingredients that make the skin smoother and boost its elasticity, as well as moisturising agents and antioxidants. They include, for example, niacinamide, retinol, AHAs, azelaic acid, various humectants, caffeine, collagen, snake venom peptides, and argireline.
Regardless of the purpose and active ingredients of your face serum, there are a few important rules you need to follow when using it. For example, face serums are always applied after cleansing and toning, otherwise their active substances will not be able to penetrate deep into the skin structure through the layer of sebum and impurities on the skin surface.
After applying serum, be sure to follow up with moisturiser in order to “seal” the active ingredients of the serum in the skin. Since most serums don’t contain sun filters, opt for a moisturiser that has an SPF factor. It is especially important when you use skin lightening serums because they often contain ingredients that increase skin photosensitivity.
Face serums and moisturisers are not interchangeable, however, these beauty products work really well together. Therefore, it is very important to use face serum and moisturiser from the same collection or at least with similar properties to create a booster effect and achieve the desired result as soon as possible.
In our online shop Organic Store, you can find a selection of face serums and moisturisers produced by brands specialising in the production of natural and organic skincare products. At Organic Store, we offer affordable prices, secure and convenient payment methods, and international delivery to make your online shopping experience as pleasant as possible.
Face Serums in Our Store
Natura Siberica Detox Organics SakhalinVitamin Bomb Serum, 30 ml |
TriugaAyurveda Mix Deep Regeneration Face Serum 55+, 50 ml |
TriugaAyurveda Mix Extra Moisturising Face Serum 35+, 50 ml |