Face Serums and How to Choose One for Your Skin Type and Issue

Jun 17, 2019 - Ujala Safdar

Skin serums have become essential part of skin care routine since the Korean beauty have inspired every beauty enthusiast around the world. Along with moisturizers and facial oil, serums are used not only for extra hydration but to treat different issues like a wrinkles, acne, dryness, uneven tone etc. Many of you might be thinking that it is an extra step to your routine but it is really effective in terms of getting clear and glowing complexion.

Article content.

What are face serums and how do they work?
Are Serums necessary?
How and When to apply serum?
Choosing right serum for you.
Face Serum for Anti-aging skin.
Face Serum for oily/acne skin.
Face Serum for dry skin.
Face Serum for dull and uneven skin.

1. What are face serums and how do they work?
Serums are potent, they are used to target specific skin conditions or to enhance the beauty of your skin. They contain concentrated active ingredients and have light texture therefore they are light weight. The active ingredient target your skin issue and gives you more clear and smooth skin. Even they contain good amount of hydrants, they are not very moisturizing. To lock in all the moisture in skin, you still need an emollient moisturizer. So you need both serum and moisturizer in your skin care routine for better skin.

2. Are Serums necessary?
Serums help you to get more clear complexion and smooths wrinkles. Depending on your skin issues, serums are not necessary but an added product for better skin. When you don't have many flaws to hide, you need limited makeup and can go bare face more often. As they can double for your base, makeup applies more smoothly. With regular use of right serum, your skin will be more firmer, brighter and healthy.

3. How and When to apply serum?
Serums are best used before moisturizers and preferably in the morning routine before applying makeup or sunscreen. Because of their light texture, they don't feel heavy on skin and provide a smooth base for makeup. You can also use them in evening depending your serum type, however it is best to avoid it, if you are also using retinoids. As serums are very concentrated, you only need little amount to apply and pat on skin. Once you apply the serum, let it sit for few minutes before applying other products.

4. Choosing right serum for you
Don't be hasty to pick any serum which got raved just because of good marketing or if your favorite influencer is using it. You need to identify your skin needs and thoroughly check ingredients of serum to see if your skin needs them or not. If you are not careful in choosing the right serum, you might end up with one which doesn't suit you and doesn't make your skin any better.

5. Face Serum for Anti-aging
Serum for aging skin needs to be the one which can boost collagen, hydrates and include ingredients to diminish fine lines or wrinkles. The ingredients should include Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin A, Peptides, Retinol, Antioxidents, Vitamin C. This type of serum is not just meant for the aging ones but it is better to start it after 30s to control the wrinkles in early age. If you have dry skin, you should start this type of serums more early. Following are some of the anti aging serums.

La Roche-Posay Substiane Anti-Aging Serum

Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE Anti-Aging Intensive Repair Daily Serum
Algenist Retinol Firming & Lifting Serum
Caudalie VineActiv Vitamin C Smoothing Serum
L'Oréal Revitalift Triple Power Concentrated Serum Treatment
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
Embryolisse Anti Aging Redensifying Serum
Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum
The Face Shop - The Therapy Water Drop Anti-Aging Serum

6. Face Serums for Oily and Acne
With oily skin, you must probably think that it is not good idea to apply serums as they might be more oily or can cause breakouts. However if you choose right serum for your skin, it will not only balance your skin sebum, minimize pores, heal your skin but will also provide right amount of hydration, your skin need. Choose serums which have salicylic or glycolic acids, niacinamide, Vitamin C, Antioxidants, Hyaluronic acid, Green Tea, Tea Tree. Followings are some serums for oily and acne prone skin.

Clinique Acne Solutions Acne + Line Correcting Serum

Mario Badescu Anti-Acne Serum
Paula's Choice RESIST Ultra-Light Antioxidant Serum
Boots No7 Pore Refining Serum
Innisfree The Green Tea Seed Serum
It's Skin Power 10 VB Sebum Control Serum
Odacité Oily-Acne Prone Serum Concentrate

7. Face serums for dry skin
Face serums for dry skin can be saviors with their hydrating factors which will not only moisturize skin from outside but also hydrate it from inside. They keep the skin hydrated for longer instead of creams and lotions which only hydrate upper layer of skin and after few hours, you need to re apply them. In serums for dry skin, ingredients should be Hyaluronic acid, Glycerin, Vitamin E, Plant based oils or Mineral oil.

Bioderma Hydrabio Serum Moisturizing Concentrate

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum
e.l.f. cosmetics Soothing Serum
Mario Badescu Peptide Renewal Serum
Tatcha Luminous Overnight Memory Serum Concentrate
MIZON - Hyaluronic Acid
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum
Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster
Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum

8. Face serums for dull and uneven skin tone
The most common issue among every age is discoloration or dark spots which eventually also lead to dull complexion. It can be because of sun exposure, harsh chemical products or old acne marks. Getting rid of them can be tiring but not impossible. The one ingredient which promises to remove dark spots, remove discoloration and brighten your complexion is Vitamin C. An anti-inflammatory, antioxidants which can do wonders for your skin.