Cosmetic serums have long been a product for salon use and are very expensive.Now they have become more accessible, but not everyone knows when and how to use them.What is a serum, how to use it correctly for the face and whether everyone needs it - this is what we will find out so as not to harm our skin.
What is serum
Women often ask whether such a product is necessary if they can use face cream.Serums differ from creams due to the higher concentration of active ingredients.There can be several of them, unlike extracts or extracts, and in different proportions.And if the cream is a cosmetic product for daily facial care, the serums are designed to solve a specific problem.They usually have a smooth consistency and can be oil or water based.It depends on which environment is best suited to the ingredients included.
What is a face serum used for?
It is used when conventional skin care products do not solve the most relevant facial skin problem at the moment.The serum helps to quickly achieve the desired effect, such as eliminating acne, eliminating dehydration, reducing or removing wrinkles.Before using a face serum, you need to know what composition you need for the expected result.Thanks to its nourishing components and light texture, it has a very intense effect on the skin:
- refreshes and improves the complexion;deeply hydrates the skin;
- acts against rosacea;
- restores the elasticity and firmness of the epidermis;
- slows down the aging processes;
- removes age spots;
- rejuvenates, eliminates the first signs of aging;
- rapidly improves the appearance of the dermis;
- eliminates blemishes and acne marks.
If your skin condition is good, you should not use the serum.Given that this is a strictly targeted cosmetic product, when choosing it, you should carefully study the composition, focusing not on the type of skin, but primarily on the problem you need to get rid of.
What are the means
Depending on the problems that the serums solve, they are available in different types:
- soothing - intended for sensitive skin, containing plant extracts, niacinamide, allantoin, neurosensin;
- serums for problematic acne-prone skin - contain antiseptic substances and components that regulate the activity of the sebaceous glands: zinc, retinoids, propolis, AHA and BHA acids, herbal extracts;
- moisturizing - for dehydrated and sensitive dermis, with glycerin, butylene glycol, hyaluronic acid.Such face serums are used if in summer you feel a feeling of dry skin and insufficient hydration.It can be used twice a day: morning and evening;
- to combat pigmentation - contain arbutin, vitamin C, retinoids, azelaic acid;
- exfoliating: helps remove dead skin particles, with lactic, glycolic and salicylic acids.Such serums should be used in the evening;
- Anti-aging lifting serums: help remove skin laxity, reduce wrinkles, increase skin tone and slow down the aging process.They contain antioxidants, peptides, ceramides, vitamin C and retinol in high concentrations.
You should also learn how to use a face serum depending on its composition and purpose.For example, a serum with retinol should only be used in the evening.It is also better to use serum to combat pigmentation only in the evening, and during the day you need to protect your face with sunscreen from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Some active ingredients can be influenced by the environment.Therefore, serum with retinoids or vitamin C is available in opaque packaging.It should be stored in a dark place and minimize contact with air.
How to use the serum correctly
Typically, facial serum is produced in a container with a dispenser, in microcapsules, or a pipette is attached to the package.Thanks to this, contact with air is minimized and the serum can be used sparingly.Before using face serum, you need to follow the rules for its use and cleanse your skin first:
- remove cosmetics and impurities using micellar water or hydrophilic oil;
- use foam or gel for washing;
- Tonic spray to tone the skin.
When applying the serum, it's important to know when to stop.4-5 drops are enough to treat the entire face.To get the maximum effect on the skin, you can apply it in two ways.
Method 1. Apply the facial serum to your fingertips and spread it quickly without rubbing it.Apply quickly to the face, following the massage lines.Subsequently, use light finger pressure to remove any product residues not yet absorbed.It is important to remember that the serum is absorbed almost instantly, so you should not hesitate.
Method 2 is better for applying oil serum correctly.Apply it to your fingers and lightly rub your palms together to evenly distribute and warm the serum.Apply the palms of your hands to your face with gentle movements, applying light pressure.
After that, wait 5-10 minutes for the serum to be absorbed, then apply a cream that will complement it and strengthen the protective barrier of the skin.It is recommended to combine cosmetic products from the same line: this way they will complement each other better, guarantee quick results and the effect will last longer.