Face serums are fast becoming a must-have in any skincare routine. Their popularity has followed the rise of the anti-aging skincare market and it’s easy to see why.
Face serums are a lightweight, concentrated version of moisturizer that penetrates deeper into the skin to provide long-term hydration and nutrients.
Face serums also often include other beneficial ingredients such as vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-aging substances.
So if you want to address specific concerns like aging or acne, or you just want to improve your overall skin health or appearance, there is a face serum for you.
Here are some serums you can choose from that will help your face in various ways.
1. Anti-aging Serums
As time moves on, it is normal for our bodies to age. Your skin starts to lose its elasticity and wrinkles and fine lines become more apparent. Dark spots, brown spots, and sunburns might become more visible too.
However, you can delay these signs of aging with the use of anti-aging serums. These types of face serum helps to address aging effects on the skin. And that is why they are a must-have if you’re longing to have a youthful face.
Anti-aging serums come in a variety of forms, but all have a few things in common. The very first thing to look for on the label is retinol. This is a form of vitamin A, which can increase skin cell turnover to help smooth out wrinkles.
Another ingredient to look for is vitamin C. This particular vitamin has been proven repeatedly to reduce discoloration, as well as fine lines. It does this by boosting collagen production and inhibiting melanin production in the skin.
It’s also important to choose an anti-aging serum with hyaluronic acid, which will hold up to 1000 times its water weight to give your skin a burst of hydration.
2. Hydrating Serums
Just as it is with nature, our skin needs to stay hydrated. Hydrating serums are a must-have in your skincare routine even if you have oily skin. That is because they can help balance oil production and prevent your pores from clogging up.
Hydrating serums are specifically created to offer a boost of moisture to the skin so that it not only looks more radiant but has better elasticity as well. This is especially useful during the winter months when your skin will often become dry and flaky.
The key ingredient in types of face serum is hyaluronic acid. This acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body. But as you age, your natural levels of hyaluronic acid decrease, leaving your skin looking dull.
Hydrating serums penetrate deep into your skin layers to supply your skin cells with a burst of hyaluronic acid. This acid helps hydrate your skin by bringing moisture from deep within the layers of your skin up to the surface.
Hydrating serums are also packed with powerful ingredients like water (which hydrates skin), and glycerin (a humectant that attracts water from the air and binds it with itself, making it easier for your skin cells to absorb it).
3. Skin Brightening Serums
As you age, your skin loses its ability to regulate melanin production. This causes it to develop different pigmentations, such as dark spots or sunspots. Your skin may also lose its natural glow because of acne scars, or free radicals.
Whichever it is, what your face needs is a skin brightening serum. These types of face serums can help you get clear skin by lightening hyperpigmentation caused by acne scars, sunspots, and other blemishes that discolor your skin.
There are many brightening serums on the market with different ingredients. But you choose one that contains vitamin C. This vitamin helps to brighten skin by inhibiting melanin transfer or decreasing melanocyte activity within skin cells.
Also look for a serum that contains kojic acid, which helps reduce melanin production and boost collagen production in the skin. This can be effective in reducing hyperpigmentation for some skin types, although it may irritate others.
Other ingredients to look for are natural fruit acids such as glycolic and lactic acid, which help remove dead cells and prevent new ones from forming. This helps reveal fresh, glowing skin that’s free from dark spots and blemishes.
4. Exfoliating Serums
Exfoliating is an essential step in maintaining healthy skin. You may think that exfoliating with a washcloth or loofah is enough. But, you need to make sure your skin is getting the deep exfoliation it needs and deserves.
Exfoliating serums are a great way to get rid of dead skin cells and bring new ones to life. Skin cells naturally shed as new cells form. But sometimes dead skin cells can build upon your skin, resulting in dullness and rough patches.
These types of face serums contain ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and hydroxyl acids which work to rejuvenate and purify your skin. They do this by removing dead skin cells, excess oils, and other impurities that can clog pores.
If you have acne, dry patches, or sun damage on your face, exfoliating serums can also improve those conditions and make your skin look smoother. They also help to diminish fine lines, leaving your face looking brighter, tighter, and more youthful.
5. Skin Repairing Serums
As we age, our bodies go through a lot of changes and so does our skin. Stress, poor diet, and environmental factors can make the skin dull. Dullness can make the complexion look older than it is, and even make the person look ill.
But you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money on “miracle products” to get your skin looking better— you just need to know what ingredients are in repairing serums, and why they work so well.
Repairing serums contain ingredients like retinol or retinoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and plant stem cells, which help to fill the deep lines and wrinkles and regain the skin’s lost elasticity by stimulating collagen synthesis and cell turnover.
These types of face serums also contain a lot of antioxidants and peptides, which help to improve skin health at a cellular level by reducing damage caused by free radicals and other environmental factors.
Additionally, repairing serums contain ingredients such as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, or ceramide that can help to renew your skin and make it look years younger by penetrating your skin to provide hydration and seal in moisture.
6. Acne Fighting Serums
If you have acne, these types of face serums are the treatment you need to give your skin a boost. However, they work best when used in combination with other acne treatments, so don’t skip out on the face washes and cleansers.
Acne-fighting serums are essentially serums that help reduce the severity of acne. They differ from other serums because they contain ingredients that help to kill acne, causing bacteria, regulate oil production, and minimize pores.
When choosing these serums, you should look for ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and zinc oxide. These active ingredients work by exfoliating the top layers of dead skin cells, absorbing excess oil, and stimulating circulation.
You should also look for ingredients like sulfur, azelaic acid, glycolic acid, tea tree oil, cucumber, and green tea. These ingredients help to minimize pores, combat bacteria, and stop breakouts before they even start.
What Type of Face Serum Should You Use?
There is no one cure-all. The best way to pick a serum is to look at your skin type and what you hope to achieve. Every serum contains different ingredients and benefits, so picking one for your specific needs is key.
For instance, if you have dehydrated skin, use a hydrating serum with rich moisturizing ingredients. If you want to get rid of discolorations and even your skin tone, then choose a skin brightening serum or an exfoliating serum.
Anti-aging and repairing serums are the best for your face if you want to get rid of aging signs like fine lines and wrinkles. But to get rid of acne breakouts and even prevent them, choose acne-fighting serums.
Why Should You Use a Face Serum?
Targeted treatment
By applying a few drops of serum to your face each day, you can target specific skin concerns. This allows for more effective treatment of these issues while using less product than a typical moisturizer or lotion.
Lightweight
Serums are typically lightweight skincare solutions that contain concentrated amounts of active ingredients. This makes them extremely effective and ideal for oily skin types and those who have sensitive skin.
Fast absorption
Unlike creams and lotions, the skin easily absorbs serums because their molecules are small enough to penetrate quickly into the dermis. This allows for quicker results and a more improved appearance.
How to Add Face Serums to Your Skincare Routine
Now that you know a little more about serums, it’s time to learn how to use them. The best part of face serums is that you can use them as part of your daily routine with no hesitation at all.
However, you should only apply a face serum after cleansing and toning but before moisturizing. Also, ensure to wear sunscreen after applying a face serum during the day.
- Wash your face and neck as you normally would with a gentle cleanser and warm water.
- Apply a toner to remove all the makeup and other residues from your face.
- Simply squeeze a few drops (preferably 2-3) of your desired serum on your face.
- Gently smooth it over the entire surface of your face using small circular motions.
- Squeeze a few drops of the serum onto your neck and rub it in until you cover the entire area with the product.
- Let the serum sit for 10 minutes before applying your moisturizer, sunscreen, and other skincare products.
FAQs
Can you use serums to treat wrinkles?
Yes, you can. Serums are a quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive way to treat wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and other signs of aging.
Serums work by boosting collagen and elastin production, two of the most important components in skin structure. As a result, fine lines and wrinkles diminish to reveal softer, smoother-looking skin.
Do you need face serums?
Yes, you do. Face serums are formulated to penetrate deep into your skin and deliver concentrated doses of key ingredients that benefit your skin in a variety of ways.
Face serums can help to combat a variety of skin concerns and rejuvenate your skin. This is because they contain ingredients that rebuild collagen, improve elasticity, stimulate cell turnover, reduce inflammation, and more.
Can you use a serum at night?
Yes, you can. If you apply serum at night, it has more time to penetrate your skin and work with the rest of your products before you go to sleep.
Also, some serums will work better at night than during the day. For instance, serums containing retinol are best used at night because they break down on exposure to sunlight.
Conclusion
Serums are an excellent way to provide the skin on your face with the nutrients it needs to improve its texture and appearance. They work by penetrating your skin to deliver potent ingredients which help to improve your skin’s health.
Regardless of what you might be looking for, there are many different types of serums you can choose from for your skincare routine.
Some serums are created to reduce signs of aging, some are created to reduce acne breakouts, some help to even out skin tone, and some to help hydrate your skin.
The key is to choose a serum based on your skin type and specific to your skin needs.
Thanks for reading.
Visit Serum101 to learn more about serums and other skincare products.
