Choosing the right facial serum
WHAT IS A FACIAL SERUM?
A facial serum is typically a water-based, hyper-concentrated skin care solution that provides key nutrients to skin based on a specific skin care goal.
Because they’re designed for maximal absorption and can deliver beneficial ingredients into deeper layers of skin, more and more beauty enthusiasts are turning to these wonder products to enhance skin care results.
Serums can be targeted for anti-aging, reducing fine lines & wrinkles; to hydrate overly dry skin; or to tackle dark spots and hyper-pigmentation -not to mention a wealth of other common skin concerns. We are even beginning to see tailor-made serums offered, now being blended to order.
Although they can be pricier then other products due to the concentrated formulations, a good facial serum is definitely worth the splurge as it can make all the difference in your overall skin health and quickly boost anti-aging results.
Keep in mind that once you’ve taken the plunge, you’ll want to commit to using your serum for at least one month as it can take this long for your skin cells to fully turnover, revealing the new and healthier cells beneath.
HOW TO PROPERLY USE A FACIAL SERUM
The best time to apply a facial serum is immediately after cleansing as this will allow the serum to maximally penetrate skin, when pores are open and your skin is free of other barriers such as topical moisturizers.
Because serums are generally formulated with a higher concentration of active ingredients, a few drops should be sufficient to cover the entire face. A little goes a long way here!
A Serum’s texture is usually lighter than a moisturizer and may be sufficiently hydrating to be used as a stand-alone product for someone with oilier skin. Alternately, a serum can be applied before a regular moisturizer for those with normal to dry skin.
In any case, it is recommended that you allow the serum to fully absorb into skin before applying another product on top.
For people who wish to incorporate more than one facial serum into their beauty regimen, it is best to apply these at different times. For example, apply one serum in the a.m. and the other at night.
HOW TO ENSURE YOU ARE GETTING A QUALITY FACIAL SERUM
Most facial serums share three basic ingredients in common.
The Hydrate is used as the product base, acting as the vehicle that delivers key nutrients, while providing water or hydration to the skin. It can be good old fashioned H2O or an alternative such as Aloe Vera Juice. In any case, it needs to be something that will not compromise or denature the active ingredients in the serum itself. For example, an alcohol based product would be much too harsh, not to mention drying on skin. The Hydrator is typically the first ingredient on the list.
Antioxidants protect skin by limiting the oxidative reaction caused by free radicals that deteriorate cells and are created whenever the body is exposed to environmental stressors, pollutants and radiation. Antioxidants counteract these negative effects and keep free radicals in check. Common examples are Vitamins B, C, E, Green Tea and Grape Seed.
A Recover contains humectant is a substance with the ability to attract and hold water to itself from the surrounding environment. These are especially beneficial for dry skin types and Hyaluronic acid is a prime example of an all-natural humectant now gaining popularity in skin care as is it can attract and hold 1000 times its weight in moisture.
Other common examples used in conventional skin care products are glycerin, propylene glycol (a by-product of petroleum refining), Aloe and Honey. Although you certainly wouldn’t want honey left on your skin all day!
HOW TO DETERMINE WHICH FACIAL SERUM IS BEST FOR YOU
Next, you should get to know your ingredient list and discover what nutrients are designed to address which skin care concern so you can find which one is best for you.
In the broad spectrum of facial serums commercially available, you will generally find positives–things that are beneficial for your precise needs and goals while in others you’ll find minuses – things you should steer clear of altogether.
Below, we’ve broken down the ingredients of our popular serums to provide you with some useful insight into which facial serum might work best for you.