"The thicker, heavier ingredients in creams form a barrier on your skin," Wilson says. "That's great for locking moisture in. But it can also lock active ingredients out. Without these hindrances, the active ingredients in a serum penetrate your skin faster and more effectively."
Face serums are enriched with so many nutrients that is a lot beneficial for having a healthy skin. Whereas the creams only moisturize and hydrates the skin and has no nutritional advantage.
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.
You can use your serum(s) both morning and night. They do not necessarily replace your moisturizer but can boost the hydrating effects of your moisturizer. Moisturizers have a simpler job; they are meant to hydrate the skin and prevent water loss.
“I definitely recommend serums for anyone who is concerned about aging. It's a really good way to get extra anti-aging effects, more than your typical moisturizer and sunscreen,” says Dr. Waldman.
Benefits of a face serum
While serums are no doubt nourishing and weed out many skin problems at the root, they also come with visible benefits and perks. 1) Your skin texture will improve drastically thanks to the collagen and Vitamin C content, becoming firmer and smoother, leading to visibly younger looking skin.
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.
1. 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.
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.
In most cases, it makes sense to apply serum before moisturizer. This is because serum is usually more lightweight, whereas moisturizer tends to be thicker. Applying serum first can also give the skin more opportunity to absorb the active ingredients. In many skin care routines, moisturizer is the last step.
They absorb quickly into your skin, making them an excellent next step after cleansing. There are many different types of serums, each with a unique purpose and ingredients. Some serums help to brighten your skin or reduce blemishes, while others focus on boosting hydration or fighting the signs of aging.
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.
Still, serums aren't for everyone. Wu says the liquid or gel-like texture of a serum can be a poor match for people with chronic skin conditions like eczema or rosacea, which weaken the skin barrier. For these people, serums may penetrate too quickly, causing irritation.
If all your products (serum, moisturiser, sunscreen etc) already have their fair share of antioxidants, you don't need an extra toner too. Dry skin: If your skin feels tight and dry during the day, you skin needs more moisture. You can either opt for a hydrating toner or a richer moisturiser. It's up to you.
It's usually liquid and contains more concentrated active ingredients, says San Diego dermatologist Jeffrey Benabio, MD. So while a moisturizer can give your skin the hydration it needs, a serum is typically better for providing treatment benefits.
The difference between a serum and a cream is the formulation. Serums leave out airtight moisturizing ingredients such as petrolatum or mineral oil that keep water from evaporating. With fewer lubricating and thickening agents and more active ingredients, they are water-based – which makes them ideal for oily skin.
Serums can be incorporated into your daily skin regimen as they are formulated to benefit even oily skin. Ingredients like tea tree oil, salicylic acid and extracts of strawberry lock in excess oil for a mattifying look without leaving your skin dry. Depriving your skin with oil is equally harmful.
Harvard Medical School recommends using a serum to reduce skin concerns related to aging rather than a moisturizer or cream. This is because serums are highly concentrated and absorb more quickly into the skin.
Their Vitamin C serum helps to even the damaged skin tone, brightens your dull skin, helps tighten your skin, and much more. It is made with ingredients like Vitamin C, Acetyl Glucosamine, Polyhydroxy Acid that remove dead skin cells to give your skin the glow it deserves.
As a rule of thumb, we typically recommend applying products in order from lightest to heaviest. For oils and serums, that usually means applying serums (which are often water-based) first. After the serum absorbs into your skin, you can apply facial oil, and then moisturizer and sunscreen.
If there's one skin-care ingredient that puts you in the fast lane to hydrated skin, it's hyaluronic acid. You'll find it as an active ingredient in seemingly every skin-care product category under the sun — serums, cleansers, moisturizers, and more.