Wondering why you need facial serum in your skincare routine? Nowadays, beauty bloggers and vloggers are all pumped up about facial serums and this has made many people wonder about the importance of serums in their skincare routine. With all the noise and hype surrounding them, are facial serums necessary?
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The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Consult with a healthcare provider or dermatologist for personalized skincare recommendations. Please Read Our Disclaimer for more!
What is a serum?
To know why serums are important, we must first start by understanding what they are. A serum is a lightweight, water or oil-based skincare product containing a high concentration of active ingredients (or actives) such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Niacinamide and so on, that has been designed to penetrate the skin layers. Actives are powerful ingredients that improve a particular skin condition, for instance Niacinamide is an active that helps to directly reduce visible pores or the orange-peel look on the face.
In terms of content, a serum is made up of small molecules that can deeply penetrate into the skin and deliver a high concentration of active ingredients. It is usually applied to the skin after cleansing and right before moisturizing it. The intention is to deliver actives directly into the skin.
Please understand that different serums work for different people and that’s why you must know which serum should be in your skincare routine. The typical types of serums in people’s skincare routines are anti-aging serums, skin-brightening serums, hydrating serums, acne-prone and sensitive skin serums and exfoliating serums.
When should you use a serum?
Knowing when to apply a facial serum in your skincare routine is important. It can make all the difference and be a game changer in your skincare routine. The general rule of thumb while applying facial serums in your skincare routine is to use it immediately after cleansing. This is due to the fact that it is lighter in consistency and applying it after other beauty products may inhibit the efficacy of the facial serum.
Most serums are suitable to be applied twice in a day. However, certain serums may come with special instructions, so it’s therefore important to read the label of any facial serum before incorporating it into your skincare routine.
Some facial serums are meant to be used during the daytime while others are designed specifically for night time.
Why You Need Facial Serum: 7 Reasons to Add Serums to your Skincare Routine
Below are seven reasons why you need serums in your skincare routine:
1. Serums are good for hydration:
As we age, our skin tends to produce less natural oil which can make a skin prone to dryness and cause inflammation and breakouts on the skin. Therefore a serum is needed in your skincare routine to prevent these adverse effects. It has been stated earlier that serums are designed to penetrate deeply into your skin; therefore, it can provide more hydration than a moisturizer.
2. Serums reduce the signs of aging:
There is a reason why a woman is thirty for ten years. Most serums have high concentrations of retinol and Vitamin C which have proved effective in stopping fine lines and other symptoms associated with aging.
These ingredients do this by repairing damaged skin. Facial serums can also encourage the production of collagen. Normally, we should have collagen in sufficient amounts but as we grow older our body produces less collagen.
Another great benefit of facial serums in skincare routines is that it brightens dull skin and closes enlarged pores caused by aging. These serums can help in shrinking enlarged pores by making them smaller. This happens by unclogging pores which then discourages blackheads and whiteheads. A serum when used along with a sunscreen can help to repair and nourish skin to have a good skin texture.
3. Reduction of skin irritation:
another reason why you need facial serums in your skincare routine is that it reduces the incidence of skin irritation due to a variety of reasons. Combat skin dullness. It also reduces symptoms of aging by fighting skin sagging. Skin sagging occurs when the skin loses its volume. It usually occurs around the cheekbones area and the eyes area.
However the benefit of serum in your skin care routine is that it reduces the incidence of skin irritation. Our skin can be prone to irritation due to a variety of reasons. They include the weather, age and allergens. In this case, there is little moisturizer can do. This is where serums step in. Most serums contain ingredients that have calming and soothing effects on the skin. For example, research has shown that Vitamin c has anti-–inflammatory properties and can also help reduce redness which can create an even toned skin.
4. It minimizes the appearance of dark spots and acne.
One of the harmful effects of overexposure to the sun is the appearance of dark spots. However some serums are specifically designed to combat the harmful effects of the sun and if properly applied in your skincare routine can reduce the appearance of dark spots.
One of the reasons why you need serums in your skincare routine is that it fights and reduces incidence of acne. Many people are plagued with these notorious skin diseases and would like to do away with it.
6. Serums are good primers:
Another great reason to include serums in your skincare routine is that it can prime your skin for makeup. The moisturizing effects of serums ensure that your makeup, especially powders, do not set into fine lines. It helps to achieve a smooth and even application of makeup.
7. It protects your skin and neutralizes free radicals:
face serums often create a barrier between the skin and the elements. It does this by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illnesses and aging. They attach to other unmatched atoms in our body thereby accelerating aging.
However, these free radicals can be combated by cleansing, exfoliating and applying antioxidants to your skin. However you can be free from the harmful effects of free radicals in the environment by incorporating the right facial serum in your skincare routine.
How to apply a face serum
Most times, people do not have an idea of how to incorporate face serums in their skincare routine.
Serums are meant to be applied to your skin in small tapping motions with your fingertips or your palm.
Since serums contain active ingredients in concentrated forms, a little will go a long way. It is not advisable to use it excessively.
Most serums come in dropper bottles and this makes it easier. You would need about 3 to 4 drops on your face.
When you are done, allow the serum to sit on your skin for a few minutes before going on with your skincare routine.
If you intend to use more than one serum, start with the lighter one and top off with the one with the thicker consistency before adding other products.
Do’s and Don’ts of Applying Face Serums
- It is important to understand the various ingredients that make up certain serums and how they may react to other ingredients in other serums.
- Mixing the wrong sets of serums can bring about adverse effects. For example, you should never mix Retinol and AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) or BHAs (Beta Hydroxy acids) because they can lead to skin dryness and irritation. Also, do not mix Vitamin C and AHAs or BHAs as it will give you the same result as above.
- Another set of ingredients that you should not pair together is Retinol and Vitamin C serum as they will work against each other. You can use them at different times of the day. Use Vitamin C in the morning and Retinol at night.
- For glowing skin and to reduce the symptoms of aging, you can mix a Niacinamide serum with a Vitamin C serum.
- For skin brightening, Salicylic and Niacinamide work like magic, so they are safe to mix. Don’t forget to do a patch test before trying out a new serum, it is better to be safe than sorry.
How can you choose the right serums for you?
The task of picking a facial serum to include in your skincare routine may seem like a daunting task. However, with a few tips and considerations, picking the right serum for you should be a breeze. Before you can choose the right serums to incorporate into your skincare routine, there are certain factors to consider:
- They include your skin type,
- your sensitivity to products, and
- your budget.
Be sure to use a face serum that suits your skin type and skin issues.
For this, the Xubian Wellness and Acne Clinic– the best dermatologist Fayetteville NC, has a fine array of face serums that have been specially designed to meet your skin needs. These serums have been specially crafted to combat acne, dryness and skin irritation. Here are a few of the face serums available in our online store.
1. The sacred retinol A complex 0.5%:
The Sacred Retinol A Complex 0.5% is a highly concentrated facial serum that combats free radicals and its effects. It dramatically reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
The Retinol A should be used sparingly on the face and neck while avoiding the face area. And it’s recommended for dry, normal and sensitive skin. It should also be used once a day at bedtime or as prescribed by a physician. It also has exfoliating and toning properties; it’s goodness in one small bottle.
2. COB Splendor Dermatology Needleless Serum:
COB Needless serum, a painless, topical alternative to injectable fillers and toxins. Quickly delivers equivalent results to one injection of collagen filler within 2 weeks of use.
Increase in Collagen III production after 11 days. Decrease in skin laxity after 28 days. Improved skin clarity for rosacea patients within 12 weeks. Firmness increased in 15 days. Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles. Great with skin tightening treatments. Redness reducer. Use as a stand-alone hydration booster.
Apply 4 to 5 drops of Needle Free Serum onto fingers and smooth over face and neck, avoiding eye area.
Allow to absorb before applying additional products.
3. Crown of Beauty NonHQ Brightening Serum:
COB Non-HQ Brightening Serum, a non-Hydroquinone based skin brightening serum, containing several botanical skin lightening agents, including Kojic Acid, to provide a powerful effect on pigmentation and age spots found within the skin. Apply evenly over face and neck avoiding eye area.
Why You Need Facial Serum in Your Skincare Wrap Up
With all the hype surrounding facial serums, I believe this post has and will help you cure the confusion about incorporating facial serums in your skincare routine. Using medical grade serums isn’t supposed to be difficult considering it’s what you need to nourish and revitalize your skin. But don’t forget, choosing the best facial serums for your face can make all the difference in your appearance. So, go for it, your skin will thank you for it.
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