What Exactly Is A Face Serum?

Are you baffled by facial serums and have no idea why you need one or, more importantly, which one will offer the best results for your skin type and concerns? Then allow us to shed some light on these small, yet mighty skincare treatments.

Face serums are arguably some of the most misunderstood skincare products out there. Some can be super moisturizing… but should never be mistaken for moisturizer. Others can help tone and balance your skin… yet they’re not really toners. So where exactly do they fit in your skincare routine and are they genuinely important or can you just skip them altogether?

Ask any skin expert to recommend a product that’ll help target skin concerns like wrinkles, dark spots, acne or poor texture and nine times out of ten, some kind of serum will be top of their list. So, in terms of their importance? Face serums are vital for enhancing your best skin.

But if that’s not enough to convince you to add a serum into your skincare regime, here’s everything else we know…

Face Serums: The Facts

First things first, what are face serums and how do they differ from other skincare products? Well, serums are clear, highly concentrated treatments that are either gel-, oil- or water-based. They’re super lightweight, so they should not only feel fairly thin and slippery to the touch but they should absorb into your skin lightning fast. Some formulations don’t meet these requirements, but don’t even get us started on those sticky, heavy serums that seem to sit on the surface of your skin and do nothing but ruin the rest of your beauty routine. Let’s just move on, shall we?

The reason ‘good’ serums are so lightweight is because, unlike creams or lotions that contain large molecules designed to work at a surface level, they have a very small molecular structure. These tiny molecules are the absolute foundation of a serum’s super powers, because it’s thanks to these that they’re able to penetrate your skin quicker and deeper, delivering an intense dose of active ingredients exactly where your skin needs them most.

What Are The Benefits Of A Face Serum?

More’s the question, what’s not? Face serums can be used to help treat all skin types and pretty much any concern – as long as you choose wisely, of course, sticking with thoughtfully blended formulations and high quality ingredients.

Some serums concentrate on one specific ingredient while others (including ours!) use a combination of actives to offer a more rounded approach to fabulous skin. Antioxidants like vitamin C and E are major players because these are vital for helping to protect all skin types from environmental damage. Other popular ingredients include retinol and peptides to target the visible signs of aging; botanical oils and plant extracts to nourish and fortify; humectants like hyaluronic acid to hydrate; vitamins; minerals and exfoliating acids. In fact, the list is practically endless.

Think of your serum as the icing on your skincare cake. Your cleanser and moisturizer are the basic must-haves for healthy skin, while your serum does all the heavy lifting to really target your specific concerns.

How To Use A Face Serum

Knowing how and when to apply a face serum is where many people go wrong. But the main thing to remember is that after cleansing, your thinnest product should be applied first, working your way up to the thickest. This means that serum comes AFTER cleansing and toning, but BEFORE moisturizer. And this part is really important because if you apply serum after moisturizing, that layer of lotion will block its path and stop all those active ingredients from penetrating your skin and doing their jobs. We like to call that ‘money down the drain.’

Is there a right and a wrong way to apply your serum? Not really, but you should always follow the instructions on the label because this will give you the best results. And remember, a little goes a very long way so just a few drops should be enough for your entire face and neck.

Finally, if you want to treat your skin with the utmost of respect (and why wouldn’t you?), gently pat rather than rub serum onto your skin. This is the gold standard way to apply skincare products in Japan because it not only stimulates circulation (hello glowy skin!) but it also reduces friction and dragging, making it less damaging for your delicate complexion. Win-win!

So, Which Serum Is Right For You?

Your serum choice is all down to your skin concerns and the goals you hope to achieve. Check out our line-up of incredible, effective formulations, curated to target many different issues…

Your main concern: DEHYDRATION. Try Hyaluronic Acid Serum with Vitamins C + E

Your main concern: DULL SKIN. Try Vitamin C Serum with Vitamin E + Hyaluronic Acid

Your main concern: FINE LINES & WRINKLES. Try Multi-Peptide Collagen Renewal

Your main concern: BREAKOUTS. Try Tea Tree Pro Serum

Your main concern: DARK SPOTS & AGING. Try Retinol Serum with Vitamin E + Hyaluronic Acid

Your main concern: DRYNESS & POOR TEXTURE. Try Hydrate & Renewal Serum

Your main concern: INFLAMMATION. Try Clear Skin & Redness Relief

Your main concern: ENLARGED PORES. Try Niacinamide 10% Serum + Zinc PCA 1%

Of course, you may have a few skin issues to contend with – because, life – so you could even alternate between two different serums, one in the morning and one at night. You might also want to apply one serum just two or three times a week and another for the rest of the week. There’s nothing wrong with mixing and matching, just don’t apply more than one serum at the same time as this could overload your skin with actives, causing unnecessary irritation and sensitivities.

Speaking of which, one final takeaway for you… Always patch test any new face serum before applying it regularly all over. It’s super easy and could save a whole lot of heartache in the long run. Simply dab a tiny amount of serum on a discreet area of your skin (behind your ear or on the inside of your wrist) and leave it for 48 hours to check for irritation. Our serums have been carefully formulated to suit most skin types but everyone’s skin is different, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.