The Truth About Facial Serums and How to Use Them

Remember the good old days when all you needed in your skincare regimen was a face wash and moisturizer? With trends like the Korean 12 Step Routine and thousands of potions and lotions to choose from, beauty has never been more complicated — and layering a zillion skincare products has somehow become the new normal. If you consider yourself a skincare rookie, then a facial serum is an easy and simple way for you to amp your your daily routine. Here’s everything you need to know in order to successfully incorporate a serum into your skincare regimen.

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Serums Are More Potent Than Toners and Moisturizers

Serums are like the high-strength, multi-vitamin in your skincare routine. They are lighter-weight, faster-absorbing, and contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than your average lotion or cream.

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Know When to Apply Your Face Serum

Serums tend to have a liquid or gel-like consistency and should be applied after your face wash and toner, but before your moisturizer and/or sunscreen.

See more: 20 major sunscreen mistakes you're making.

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Choose Your Serum Based on Key Ingredients and Benefits

Hydrating serums will contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to draw moisture into the skin. Exfoliating serums will contain resurfacing actives like lactic acid and glycolic acid for smoother, brighter looking skin. Anti-aging serums often contain pro-repair, antioxidants like Vitamins A, C, and E to keep skin supple.

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Don’t Think Your Serum is Doing it All

Depending on the types of active ingredients used in the formula, each serum will offer its own unique benefits to the skin and they are not always a “replacement” for your toner or moisturizer. If you find that your moisturizer doesn’t offer enough hydration, then you may want to find a hydrating serum for an extra boost of moisture. On the other hand, if you already use an exfoliating toner, then you may want to avoid using an exfoliating serum and find another one that offers different benefits

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Less is More With Serums

Because serums are extremely lightweight and absorb almost immediately into the skin, it can be tempting to apply an excessive amount of product — just to make sure that it's “working”.

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How Much Face Serum Should You Apply?

When it comes to serums — which are already highly potent formulations — over applying could do you more harm than good and may even end up irritating your skin. The best way to apply your serum is by evenly dispensing 3-5 drops into the palms of your hands and pressing gently into the skin.

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The Golden Rule for Layering: Water Before Oil

Serums are generally either water-based or oil-based. If you plan on layering multiple serums in one routine, then apply the water-based ones first, followed by the oil-based ones to ensure optimal absorption.

See more: try these hydration hacks to drink more water every day.

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Be Careful When Combining Serums

With effective and affordable serums being more accessible than ever, it can be easy to go overboard with layering. If you are prone to sensitivity, try to avoid layering serums with potent actives such as exfoliating acids, retinols/retinoids, and pure Vitamin C to reduce any chance of irritation.

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Switch Between Day and Night Serums

Apply your hydrating and/or antioxidant serums in the morning to keep your skin feeling moisturized and protected throughout the day. On the other hand, it is best to use serums with exfoliating acids or retinol/retinoids at nighttime as their resurfacing action can be tingling upon application and increase skin sensitivity.

See more: 10 big skin cleansing mistakes you could be making.