A serum is the pillar of your ENTIRE skin care routine. Compared to a regular moisturizer or lotion, you’re getting way more value for the money spent on skincare products.
Serums are topical treatment products that powerfully deliver active ingredients like antioxidants, vitamins and moisturizing agents into the skin.
Usually, Serums are the thinnest product that one applies on top of bare skin and penetrates quickly. Some are straight-up liquids; some feel more like gels, and some hybrids.
Serums provide active ingridients in a more concentrated form.
Serums are fat-based which provide active compounds with a stable environment to live in. This simply indicates that ingredients mix together more easily and are less likely to come out of the solution resulting in all goodness getting delivered right to your skin.
Which is the right serum for my skin
Serums are great for delivering amino acids and peptides , antioxidants and alpha lipoic acid , retinoids or alpha hydroxy acid and vitamin B
Check for the following pointers while buying a serum
Acne-prone:
*Look for vitamin C (increases collagen production, enhances skin’s repair process, and reduces inflammation),
* retinol (also an antioxidant, reduces inflammation), zinc (soothes irritation, regulates oil production), and
*salicylic acid (unclogs pores).
Dry:
*Look for vitamin E (an antioxidant, protects cells from oxidative damage), *niacinamide (improves skin elasticity, increases ceramide levels in skin), *glycolic acid (gently exfoliates and lightens discoloration), and
*hyaluronic acid (retains moisture).
Feeling dull:
*Look for antioxidants like green tea extract, ferulic acid (these combat free radicals, increase effectiveness of sunscreen by day, and promote cellular repair and healing by night).
A word of caution: Serums are super potent, less is always better. Powerful ingredients can irritate sensitive skin. Always patch-test accordingly.
Application of Serum
Apply serum just after cleansing your face and before applying anything else. A moisturizer, sunscreen, or foundation could block the penetration of your serum. If you have sensitive skin, wait till it’s dry before applying a serum, as damp skin may absorb the active ingredients too quickly, causing irritation.
Apply a rich moisturizer after a serum to lock in hydration and increase the benefits of treatment ingredients.
In short, if you invest in a good serum, you’ll actually have something that works. No more wasting money on multiple products that are just ok, or that you think might be working; a great serum is actually going to give you visible results
“You glow when you’re happy”. seema Nanda