While facial cleanser and moisturizer are staples of many beauty routines, some cosmetics have a hard time making its way into the bathrooms. This is the case with serumsthese “expert” products concentrated in “beautiful skin” active ingredients that promise an in-depth action.
The Ordinary, the skincare brand that has stood out since 2016 transparent speech, no-frills formulas and affordable pricesis recognized for its many skincare serums that highlight active ingredients with science-proven virtues and effects.
Want to incorporate a serum into your skincare routine but don’t know where to start? Follow the leader!
What is a face serum?
The serum is a intensive care productparticularly concentrated in active ingredients, which has been formulated to act in a targeted way on certain skin problems such as excess sebum, imperfections, lack of hydration, brightness or signs of aging.
Thanks to its fluid texture, it penetrates the skin deeper than a moisturizer, which allows it to effectively (and more quickly) treat minor skin discomfort.
How to use a face serum?
The serum is applied morning and / or evening (depending on the characteristics of the product and the instructions for use provided by the brand) on very clean, perfectly cleansed and cleansed skin. Depending on your skincare habits, it is used after cleansing the faceor after soaking the skin with a tonic lotion or hydrolat.
To apply it is simple: just take a few drops of product in the palm of your hand and then make it penetrate by pressing or brushing on the face and neck.
Once the serum has penetrated the skin, you can move on to the moisturizer: in addition to strengthening the skin barrier, it will seal the active ingredients, allowing them to exercise their full potential. And the talent, they have it!
Good to know: If you want to tackle different skin problems, this is perfect It is possible to superimpose two different sera, provided that their active ingredients are compatible (for example vitamin C does not mix well with retinol and salicylic acid, so they should not be used consecutively). The formula that satisfies his overriding desires must therefore be applied first, followed by the second.
You can also use two different products, one for the morning and one for the evening.
Which serum for my skin care?
Depending on your needs, you can opt for different assets. Niacinamide, zinc and salicylic acid are particularly suitable for skin suffering from blemishes and hyperseborrhea.
Hyaluronic acid, provitamin B5 and amino acids are the best friends of dehydrated and lacking elasticity skin.
As for pretty faces, lacking in brightness and starting to show signs of fatigue, they can count on antioxidants, peptides, glycolic acid, vitamin C and retinol to regain a brighter and more uniform complexion.
Can anyone use a serum?
All skin types can benefit from the benefits of a serum, but don’t forget that it is a powerful treatment that requires some precautions before being used daily, especially if the chosen product contains exfoliating acids, vitamin C or an ingredient of the retinoid family, including retinol (which, among other things, is strongly not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women). It is therefore recommended to start with a weekly application, then ofgradually increase the dose depending on how the skin reacts.
In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, the Ordinary recommends that a patch test (also referred to as a “patch test”) before integrating any new product into your skincare routine. To do this, the brand recommends applying a drop of formula to a clean area of skin on the upper forearm, then waiting 24 hours before rinsing. If the epidermis starts to redden or itch during the test, and / or irritation appears, it is best to stop here and look for a more suitable product.
Finally, some active ingredients that can make the skin more sensitive to the sun (fruit acids, vitamin A derivatives, etc.), are required toapply sunscreen every morning for the entire duration of use of the serum, even if used only in the evening.
A well-crafted skincare routine consists of three essential steps: prepare, process and seal.
The first is to perfectly cleanse the skin to prepare it to receive the active ingredients.
The second concerns the application of one or more products (including serum) aimed at specific problems such as imperfections, dehydration or blemishes.
And as for the third, it involves using a moisturizer (as well as sunscreen) to seal the active ingredients, but also to protect and strengthen the skin barrier.
Front page photo credit: Polina Kovaleva and Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
Source: Madmoizelle
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
