Meet the single most important product in your skincare regimen: the best face serum
Many believe that the cornerstone of a good skin care routine is moisturizer. Wrong. The wunderkind of the skincare world is actually the ultimate face serum.
What these little bottles of joy can do is pretty much unbeatable in the skincare world. Even the best moisturizer can’t do what a powerful serum can.
However, serums can be quite difficult to get your head around. Cleaners clean; Moisturizers hydrate, but serums? Not so obvious. Plus, it can feel like there are about a million different options on the market.
In short, serums heal. Everything from dehydration and wrinkles to dullness and pigmentation. Skin experts agree that it’s the most important product in your skincare regimen and the one you should invest the most money in. Let’s dig a little deeper…
What is a face serum?
Serums can be water-based or have more of an oil feel. As for their placement at your disposal, they are applied after the best toner and before moisturiser.
Due to their high concentration and potency, serums are the most effective way to deliver active ingredients to the skin.
“Much lighter in texture than your face cream, serums are made up of tiny molecules that absorb into the skin at a deeper level,” says the consultant dermatologist Dr. Justine Kluk.
Moisturizer is thicker and sits on the surface of your skin where, among other things, it seals in moisture and all the goodness of a serum on your skin.
When do you apply the face serum?
Twice a day is the golden rule, but the serum you apply in the morning should be different from the one you use before bed. You’ll find some that work best while you sleep, like retinol serums, and others, like the best vitamin C serums, are perfect during the day.
‘During the day, the priority is protection from inflammatory and oxidizing elements,” he explains Dr. Barbara Sturm. That means anti-pollution protection, UV protection and using a hyaluronic acid-based serum. At night, it is necessary to use active ingredients that help the body’s recovery processes while you sleep.’
After applying your serum, follow with the best moisturizer for dry skin or one of the best moisturizers for oily skin, depending on your skin type.
How to choose the best face serum for your skin type
“Make a list of goals for your skin. for example, shine or hydration,” says Kluk. “Focus on the top one or two priorities and choose ingredients that address them first. You can always adjust them as your needs change.”
Ingredients like polyglutamine and the aforementioned hyaluronic acid offer excellent hydration for all skin types, while different exfoliating acids – AHAs and BHAs – can help brighten, improve skin texture, clear blemishes and even reduce blemishes. of redness and pigmentation. Antioxidants are great at fending off environmental aggressors and boosting radiance, and retinol is the only ingredient proven to reduce wrinkles.
Be sure to always apply the Acid Hydration Serum first, followed by your treatment a second.
The best face serums 2022
Our beauty team has tried and tested many, many serums over the years and have become quite the expert on what makes a decent serum and what doesn’t. They looked at everything from price and packaging to ingredients and texture. And of course the results.
Here’s our beauty editor-approved roundup of the best face serums money can buy.