Facial Serums: The Skincare Secret Weapon You Didn't Know You Needed

 what is a serum?

Serums are highly-concentrated concoctions with the intent of delivering powerful ingredients directly into the skin. Serums allow you to focus on a specific skin concern (wrinkles, discoloration, acne, etc.) and target that directly. Serums can penetrate  deeply into the skin (because their molecular size is v v small) and deliver a very high concentration of active ingredients which makes them mega effective. AKA—nothing diluted and weak about them. They’re like a super-powerful, super-specific recipe MADE to target a skin issue—and solve it.

 

is a serum a moisturizer?

Yes and no. Serums can be oil-based and/or full of moisturizing compounds...it just depends on which one you get! Technically speaking, they can add  moisture, but are not substitutes for your moisturizer. Think of the serum as the powerful ingredient that you want to go deeeeep into your skin, and a good rich, moisturizer can be used to create a barrier on top of the skin to keep all that serum-y goodness in.

 

when should i apply a serum?

Serums should be applied after cleansing and toning but before moisturizing so they can deliver powerful ingredients directly into your skin and then be locked in with your moisturizer. NOTE: sometimes less is more—these serums are super potent so 5–10 drops of it should do the trick! (Optional: you can microneedle after applying serum, but before moisturizing so you can get the serum deeeeep into the skin + boost collagen production!)