When it refers to skincare, we generally know the basics: cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen. Serum, on the other hand, is the secret to getting the most out of your routine.
It sometimes feels like you need a cosmetic education just to figure out what various skincare treatments do. Take serums, for example. What separates them from moisturizers? What are the advantages of including this extra step in your skincare routine?
You’ve probably seen and tried some of the many serum concoctions on the market. To mention a few, there are moisturizing serums, brightening serums, anti-aging serums, and relaxing serums. In addition, some serums claim to perform all of the above.
So, are they genuinely worthwhile? And how do you pick the best one according to your skin type and derma issues?
The Ordinary Serums
What is a serum?
Serums are topical treatment products with a thinner fluidity that contains concentrations of active substances like acids, botanical extracts, antioxidants, peptides, vitamins, and more, depending on your skin.
The idea behind a serum is that it contains more active molecules that might effectively penetrate the skin’s surface for maximum efficiency. Furthermore, because of the high levels of active substances, it usually requires less time to get evident and outstanding results.
The Ordinary Serum
What are the benefits of serums?
- Soothes irritated and sensitive skin. Serums, with their mild formulations, are generally recommended for people with acne-prone or oily skin.
- Serums have lighter formulations than moisturizers. The serum’s lower viscosity allows it to be absorbed more easily into your skin. As a result, face serum is an excellent first step in the layering process.
- It reduces the visibility of wrinkles, big pores and fine lines. Some face serums contain retinol, which may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- It feels light on your skin. A face serum does not feel heavy or greasy on your skin because it gets absorbed fast.
How to use a serum?
Depending on your skin condition and type, the serum might take an average of 7 weeks to show effective results. You are more likely to see immediate results in terms of hydration; your skin might feel soft and healthy.
To get the most value for money, apply your serum all over your face and neck twice daily, in the morning and in the evening, before applying your moisturizer.
What serum should you use?
You’ll find dozens of serums on The Ordinary Discounts; some of these serums are meant to target specific skin issues while the others are for the overall healthy appearance of the skin. We have summarized the types of serums as follows:
Hydrating Serums
Hydrating serums provide an additional layer of moisture under face creams, oils, and sunscreens. They attain this by using humectants, which attract water into the stratum corneum, the topmost layer of the skin.
The most common ingredients in hydrating serums are glycerin, hyaluronic acid, snail mucin, and aloe vera. And this serum is recommended and suitable for all skin types.
Antioxidant Serums
Antioxidant serums shield your skin from free radicals, which cause aging. Free radicals are unstable compounds that destroy cells through a process known as oxidation. They are typically produced by air pollution and UV rays. Free radicals are neutralized and prevented from causing damage by antioxidant substances.
Niacinamide, retinoids, ferulic acid, green tea, Vitamin C, etc., are few examples of the key ingredients found in antioxidant serums. This serum is generally suitable for all skin types, but it is better to get a second opinion if you have acne-prone skin.
