Serums are not just a “nice to have,” but a must-have in any skincare routine. By deeply penetrating and working together with moisturizers, serums strengthen the skin barrier, help hydrate, and improve overall skin health. If you use a soothing barrier support serum as part of your daily skincare routine, you’ll unlock more resilient, healthy skin.
What Do Serums Do For Your Face?
While moisturizers form a protective layer on the skin’s surface to seal in hydration. However, serums are formulated with high concentrations of active ingredients to penetrate deeper to deliver targeted benefits and results that tackle specific concerns like fine lines, dark spots, or dryness.
Strengthens & Repairs the Skin Barrier
The job of a serum is to reinforce your skin's natural defenses, the skin barrier. Serums’s formulations contain lipids like ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol that are essential components of a healthy skin barrier. By replenishing these lipids, serums help to repair skin damage to build a more resilient surface, making your skin less susceptible to environmental stressors.
Deeply Hydrates
Dehydrated skin often looks dull and can feel tight or uncomfortable. A serum that targets dehydrated skin goes beyond the surface. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin act as humectants, drawing moisture from the air and locking it into the skin. This makes your skin feel plump, smooth, and hydrated all day.
Calms Irritation & Reduces Redness
If you struggle with skin that’s sensitive, tingles, tightens, reddens, or even burns, serums should definitely be a part of your skincare routine. Serums have calming ingredients like niacinamides that have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe visible redness, ease discomfort, and reduce overall irritation so your skin is healthier and more balanced.
When Should You Use Serum in Your Skincare Routine?
After Cleansing
Apply serum to your face after cleansing so that all dirt, oil, and impurities are removed because this allows the serum’s active ingredients to penetrate more effectively. Shop recommended cleansers.
Before Moisturizer
Serums are lightweight and fast-absorbing, so they should be applied before your moisturizer. Moisturizers are the protective layer that locks in the benefits of serums. Shop recommended moisturizers.
Morning Or Night
Serums can be applied both morning and night, but the ideal timing depends on the type of serum and your skin type. Dispense 2-3 drops of serum onto your fingertips, then gently press or pat the serum onto your face and neck. Avoid rubbing serum on your skin because this can stretch or pull at the delicate skin under your eyes or around the mouth. Over time, this can contribute to fine lines, irritation, and even inflammation. Allow it to completely absorb into your skin.
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Morning serum⎯Use serums with antioxidants like Vitamin C to protect your skin from environmental stressors during the day. We recommend Environ’s Intense C-Boost Mela-Even Cream.
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Night serum⎯Use serums that focus on repair and hydration like those with peptides or hyaluronic acid to support skin regeneration overnight. We recommend: Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum, Biologique Rechereche Serum Matriciel Visage, Environ Seriénce Night Serum and Auteur Definitive Retinol Serum.
Consistently Use Serum
For the best results, use serum consistently into your skincare routine. The effectiveness of active ingredients on your skin works best when they’re used consistently, because they work at a cellular level to improve the skin’s structure, tone, and overall health.
Get a Personalized Skincare Routine at Sarah Akram Skincare
Discover which serum works best for your skin type and concerns with a personalized skincare routine, available through a virtual or in-person consultation. If you’re located in the DC area or Alexandria, VA, contact us by reserving an appointment or calling us at (703) 531-9350.
