Ultimately, face serum and moisturizer are both necessary for a holistic skin care routine and to ensure that your skin doesn't dry out during the day. Face serum can't replace moisturizer, and moisturizer doesn't give your skin the extra vitamins and nutrients it needs to succeed and look great for years to come.
Can You Use Serums and Moisturizers Together? González says that layering the two is really all about the products themselves, their ingredients, and your skin type. "For example, layering a serum and moisturizer can be very helpful for those with very dry skin," she explains.
Serums can be used both morning and night to address specific skin issues more effectively than a moisturizer alone, and will also boost the hydrating effects of your moisturizer. Ensure your serum contains antioxidants to provide protection from environmental damage.
It is not necessary to have a serum in your skincare regimen. "Serums are simply an added step for those that have the right skin type and are looking to go the extra mile in their daily routines," explains Dr. Charles.
Wait, then Moisturize Serums are not moisturizers.
To allow serums to fully absorb, apply and wait 5 minutes before moisturizing. Take note: Well-formulated serums absorb quickly and disappear into your skin. If they leave an oily or sticky residue, they're not doing their job well.
But, whether you get it in a toner, exfoliant, serum, or moisturizer, it doesn't matter. Just find a product you like and that works for you. If it's a toner, use a toner. If it's a serum, use a serum and skip the toner.
While moisturizers work for the outer layer only. Benefits: Serums are a great way to provide nutrients to your skin, such as vitamins, and moisturizers can help hydrate the skin, making it look fresh and supple.
Although, once again, serums are totally optional, they're often a good first step in leveling up your skincare routine and boosting your skin health.
If your skin's happy with serum alone, you can skip moisturizer. But only a lucky few with normal and super oily skin can get away with this, in my experience. So, don't be too disappointed if your skin needs both.
Add in a serum.
Though you can skip it on your laziest days, using a serum in the morning gives your skin extra protection for the day to come. Reminder: If and when you do use a serum, it should come after cleansing and before moisturizing.
The three basic skin-care routine steps are cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen (look for at least SPF 30 and “broad spectrum” on the label). Your morning skin-care routine should include those basics: washing with a cleanser, slathering on a moisturizer, then putting on your sunscreen, says Dr.
When should I use a face serum? Most face serums are safe to be applied twice daily – once in the morning on a cleansed face, before the rest of your makeup, and once at night before bed.
During the day, revitalize your skin by applying a daily antioxidant facial oil after your serum treatment and before your moisturizer and sunscreen . At night, apply a hydrating face oil after a face serum and before a moisturizer or overnight mask.
Toners can restore skin's PH levels to a normal level, hydrate, and refresh the skin. Serums, on the other hand, provide a high concentration of active ingredients to the skin, hydrate and deal with skincare concerns like wrinkles and fine lines.
No, toning is not necessary for skin health. Toners were originally developed to remove soap scum from the face when lye-based soaps combined with hard water left a sticky residue post cleansing. The alcohol-based toner removed the soap scum eliminating irritation and contributing to cleanser mildness.
Serum and Moisturizer: 1 minute
Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.
Serums should be applied twice daily. “They are the first products that should be applied to the skin after cleansing and toning,” Geyer explains. “A sunscreen should be applied over the serum in the morning, and a moisturizer appropriate for an individual's skin type should be used over the serum at night.
Vitamin C serum is typically applied once or twice per day. A good rule of thumb is to cleanse, tone, apply vitamin C serum, and then moisturize. It can be safely used with other active ingredients, although using alongside niacinamide may make vitamin C less effective.
Ideally you can begin around age 12 with just the basics, using a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. During puberty, you may have to switch your cleanser to an oil control one if you suffer from acne and pimples. You can also incorporate spot treatments with salicylic acid to address specific issues.
The basic rule of thumb is that you should choose your moisturizer based on your skin type. If you are oily or combination, a lighter texture (think lotion) will be better. If you are dryer, you need more nourishment (think cream).
Anti-pigmentation and antioxidant serums work best when applied in the morning. This helps protect your skin against environmental assaults and free radical production produced by light, including UV and high energy visible light. Anti-aging serums are often best suited for nighttime application.
You can use face serum twice a day—before your moisturizer—but reserve products with retinol for nighttime. “Generally, most people should be using a treatment serum twice day,” says Hirsch.