Skin Serum
Skin care serums are light, fast-absorbing liquids used as an alternative or in addition to creams or lotions. They have the highest percentage of active ingredients in a formulation. They contain the most potent dose of anti-aging ingredients: antioxidants, peptides, and skin brighteners such as kojic acid, hyaluronic acid, vitamin e, vitamin c and more.
Serums are made of very small molecules, so the skin absorbs them quickly and deeply. They're great for people with oily skin or those who prefer a weightless feel to their skin care products. Serums have a non-greasy finish and they don't leave behind a sticky residue.
If you have mature or dry skin, you can't get away with using just a serum, serum is a great add-on to your skin care regimen, layered under your moisturizer. There's a lot of benefit to serums, from smoothing fine lines to reducing age spots that you can't reproduce in any other formulation.
How to Apply Serums
Adding a serum to your daily beauty routine? Here's how to apply these lightweight elixirs for maximum effect.
1. After cleansing your face, apply a pea-sized amount of serum, patting it evenly over skin with your finger.
2. If you have sensitive skin, wait 10 to 15 minutes after washing your face before using serum. "When your skin is damp, applying a water-based product is more likely to lead to irritation. Allowing your skin to dry completely slows down penetration."
3. You don't need to skip the moisturizer you love. Just pat on your serum first, so it isn't blocked from penetrating your skin.
4. Is your serum too pricey for twice-a-day use? Borrow this trick from cosmetic chemist Wilson. Use the serum as a booster either a.m. or p.m., adding a couple of drops to your moisturizer.
Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of "WebMD Magazine."
Serums are made of very small molecules, so the skin absorbs them quickly and deeply. They're great for people with oily skin or those who prefer a weightless feel to their skin care products. Serums have a non-greasy finish and they don't leave behind a sticky residue.
If you have mature or dry skin, you can't get away with using just a serum, serum is a great add-on to your skin care regimen, layered under your moisturizer. There's a lot of benefit to serums, from smoothing fine lines to reducing age spots that you can't reproduce in any other formulation.
How to Apply Serums
Adding a serum to your daily beauty routine? Here's how to apply these lightweight elixirs for maximum effect.
1. After cleansing your face, apply a pea-sized amount of serum, patting it evenly over skin with your finger.
2. If you have sensitive skin, wait 10 to 15 minutes after washing your face before using serum. "When your skin is damp, applying a water-based product is more likely to lead to irritation. Allowing your skin to dry completely slows down penetration."
3. You don't need to skip the moisturizer you love. Just pat on your serum first, so it isn't blocked from penetrating your skin.
4. Is your serum too pricey for twice-a-day use? Borrow this trick from cosmetic chemist Wilson. Use the serum as a booster either a.m. or p.m., adding a couple of drops to your moisturizer.
Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of "WebMD Magazine."