Any good skincare routine should include the staples: cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and SPF. Serums are the cornerstone of a solid routine and can do almost anything to improve the skin. These concentrated skincare elixirs are a must for tackling your most pressing skincare needs and doing the heavy lifting and choosing the right one can make all the difference in good and great skin. Ahead, we break down everything there is to know about using a facial serum and how to find the best face serum.
Despite all the skincare educational content out there, a major question remains: What is face serum, and what does a serum do for your face? From adding moisture to providing beneficial active ingredients and skin-friendly nutrients, serums can target a specific need. As a key step in building a skincare routine, serums often pack a more powerful punch compared to lesser potent products.
Lightweight serums typically contain active ingredients in high doses, including vitamins A, C, and E, glycolic, kojic, lactic, salicylic, and ferulic acids, peptides, resveratrol, hyaluronic acids, niacinamide, and retinol. While some may mistake a serum for a moisturizer, the two are entirely different. A serum for the face is far more than yet more potent. It is often used to address a specific skin concern, such as wrinkles, acne, or hyperpigmentation, depending on the main ingredients in the formulation. Since the active ingredients are typically in larger amounts and higher doses, they can better penetrate the skin for more visible results.
Many different ingredients have made their way into face serums, some of which you might recognize from other skincare products. Commonly used active ingredients in serums typically include:
