Facial serums are packed with nutrients, antioxidants, peptides, vitamins and moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Serums contain higher concentration of active ingredients and are made up of smaller molecules than other skincare products. While other face creams contain only 5-10 percent of active ingredients, a facial serum can contain up to 70 percent and have the ability to penetrate deep into the skin and target specific skin concerns such as aging or acne. ..... Use a serum in your daily skincare routine before the moisturizer and after a toner. Although some serums target dry skin and contain powerful moisturizing ingredients, they do not replace your daily moisturizing cream, so make sure you apply a cream on top. Creams are generally richer and create a barrier on top of the skin to keep all the nutrients in and prevent water loss. ..... Serums can be oil-based or water-based. Water-based serums are always applied before the moisturizer while oil-based serums have larger molecular structure and can be applied on top of the moisturizer. Follow the instructions on the label of the specific serum to find out the amount and frequency of use of the specific product. Generally you would use a serum twice a day as a part of your daily skincare routine. ..... The most common benefits of using facial serums include: - Nourishment of the inner layer of the skin. - Serums with Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides and Glycerin help to hydrate the skin. - Serums with Retinol help to boost collagen synthesis, reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. - Serums with Vitamin C help to brighten and even out skin tone, reduce inflammation, prevent aging and protect skin from UV damage and premature aging. - Serums that contain Salicylic Acid and Zinc help to prevent acne, regulate sebum production and unclog pores. - Aloe Vera or Arnica helps to soothe the skin and reduce inflammations. - Vitamin E in serums helps to soothe inflammations, moisturize, and fight free radical damage. - Glycolic Acid gently exfoliates and evens out skin tone. - Serums with powerful natural Antioxidants such as Green Tea extract, Camu Camu extract or Grape Seed extracts help to fight free radicals and promote cellular repair. - Pepties in serums tighten the skin and increase skin elasticity. ..... Because of the higher concentration of active ingredients in serums they might also irritate the skin, especially if you have pre-existing conditions; such as, rosacea or eczema. So make sure to do the patch test when trying new product for the first time. Further, use serums as per product directions, dousing the skin with a serum may lead to irritations, so generally 2 pearl size drops is enough. .....
