Cosmetic serums have long been products 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 a serum?
Women often ask if such products are necessary at all if they can use face creams.Serum differs from cream in the increased concentration of active ingredients.There may be several of them, unlike extracts or extracts, and in different proportions.And if creams are cosmetic products for daily facial care, serums are designed to solve specific problems.They are usually homogeneous in consistency and can be oil or water based.It depends on which environment is most suitable for the ingredients included.
What is facial serum for?
It is used when conventional skin care products do not cope with the most relevant facial skin problems at the moment.The serum helps to achieve the desired effect quickly - for example, removing acne, eliminating dehydration, reducing or eliminating wrinkles.Before using a facial serum, you need to know what composition you need for the expected results.Thanks to the nutritious components and light consistency, it has a very strong effect on the skin:
- refreshes and improves the skin;deeply moisturizes the skin;
- acts against rosacea;
- restores the elasticity and firmness of the epidermis;
- delay the aging process;
- remove age spots;
- rejuvenating, eliminating early signs of aging;
- quickly improve the appearance of the dermis;
- remove spots and acne marks.
If the skin condition is good, you can not use serum.Due to the fact that this is a narrowly targeted cosmetic product, when choosing, you should carefully study the composition, not focusing on your skin type, but mainly on the problems you need to get rid of.
What is the way
Based on the problem the serum is dealing with, it comes in several types:
- soothing - intended for sensitive skin, contains herbal extracts, niacinamide, allantoin, neurosensin;
- serum for problematic, acne-prone skin - contains antiseptic ingredients and components that regulate the activity of the sebaceous glands: zinc, retinoid, propolis, AHA and BHA acids, herbal extracts;
- moisturizer - for dehydrated and sensitive dermis, with glycerin, butylene glycol, hyaluronic acid.Such a face serum is used if in the summer there is a feeling of dry skin and insufficient moisture.Can be used twice a day - morning and evening;
- to combat pigmentation - contains arbutin, vitamin C, retinoid, azelaic acid;
- exfoliation - helps remove dead skin particles, with lactic, glycolic, salicylic acid.Such a serum should be used in the evening;
- anti-aging lifting serum - helps eliminate skin laxity, smooth wrinkles, improve skin tone, and slow down the aging process.It contains antioxidants, peptides, ceramides, vitamin C, and retinol in high concentrations.
You should also learn how to use face serum depending on its composition and purpose.For example, serums with retinol should be used only in the evening.It is also better to use the serum to combat pigmentation only in the evening, and during the day you need to protect your face with sunscreen from exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Some active ingredients may be affected by the environment.Therefore, serums with retinoids or vitamin C can be found in opaque packaging.It should be stored in a dark place and minimize contact with air.
How to use the serum correctly
Usually, facial serum is produced in a container with a dispenser, in microcapsules, or a pipette attached to the package.Thanks to this, contact with air is minimized, and the serum can be used with care.Before using the face serum, you must follow the rules of its use and first clean your skin:
- remove cosmetics and impurities using micellar water or hydrophilic oil;
- use foam or gel to wash;
- Spray tonic to refresh the skin.
When using a serum, it is important to know when to stop.4-5 drops are enough to treat the whole face.To get the maximum effect on the skin, you can use two ways.
Method 1. Apply face serum to your fingertips and spread quickly without rubbing.Apply quickly to the face, following the massage lines.Next, use gentle finger pressure to remove any unabsorbed product.It is important to remember that the serum is absorbed almost immediately, so you do not need to hesitate.
Method 2 is the best to use the oil serum properly.Apply to your fingers and gently rub your palms together to evenly distribute and warm the serum.Apply your palms to your face with gentle movements, applying slight pressure.
After this, wait 5-10 minutes for the serum to be absorbed, and then use a cream that will complement it and strengthen the protective barrier on the skin.It is advisable to combine cosmetic products from the same line - this way they will better complement each other, ensure quick results, and the effect will last longer.