Define: Serum
What is a serum, anyway? In brief, serums are specialists! While cleansers prepare the skin for your skincare routine, and moisturizers defend and fortify the skin's moisture barrier, serums can help you target specific concerns such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and dark circles.
These highly concentrated formulations are designed to deliver a potent mix of ingredients to your skin. Serums often address specific skincare concerns, such as signs of aging, redness, dullness or blemishes.
Is a serum the same as a moisturizer?
Serums generally prioritize nourishment and don’t contain the emollients (such as petrolatum, mineral oils, and shea butter) found in creams and lotions — so even if the purpose of a serum is to provide moisture, it doesn’t take the place of your moisturizer.
To ensure that your skin is absorbing all the serum’s benefits, always top your serum with a hydrating moisturizer.
What does a serum do for your face?
What is serum used for, you ask?
Serums for skin and face can add a power-packed dose of moisturization, hydration, and other skincare benefits to your existing routine.
Serums are usually made up of smaller molecules that allow their key ingredients to penetrate more deeply and efficiently than other skincare products, delivering higher concentrations to the skin. This makes them especially effective for addressing specific skincare needs like wrinkles, dark spots, and dryness!
Note: if you’re trying a new serum and it doesn’t seem to be working, don’t give up too quickly! Some serums take a few weeks of use to show results.
What ingredients do serums include?
Serums can contain a whole range of different ingredients, all of which target different skin issues.
Some of the most common ingredients popular for their serum benefits include:
Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and niacinamide to calm skin and add moisture
Vitamin C to brighten dull skin, support collagen and defend your complexion from environmental irritants
Kojic acid and glycolic acid to boost radiance and lessen hyperpigmentation
Retinol and peptides to provide anti-aging properties
It's worth noting that some ingredients, especially certain acids like vitamin C and glycolic acid, may irritate sensitive skin. The best way to test a serum according to the American Academy of Dermatology is to try it on a small patch of skin twice daily for 7-10 days.
Are there serums for sensitive skin?
Of course! Aveeno Calm + Restore® Triple Oat Serum is formulated with nourishing Triple Oat™ Complex and calming Feverfew, making it a great serum for sensitive skin. This hydrating face serum instantly smooths and fortifies skin’s natural moisture barrier, giving irritated, dry, sensitive skin some much-needed nourishment.
Can Aveeno® Calm + Restore Serum improve fine lines and wrinkles?
If you’re looking to visibly improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles, try Aveeno Calm + Restore® Age Renewal Serum. Proven gentle for sensitive skin, this nourishing anti-wrinkle serum contains Cranberry Extract, a gentle, plant-based retinol alternative. With its antioxidant-rich peptides, the extract is clinically proven to reduce visible signs of aging without redness or sensitivity.
How do I use a serum?
If you’re unsure how your skin will react to a new serum, try patch testing the product first on your arm, and then introducing it into your routine slowly.
To prepare your skin for a serum, first cleanse your skin to provide a clean slate for absorption.
Next, drop a pea-sized amount of serum onto your fingertips (or 3-4 pumps), making sure not to touch the tip of the dropper!
Resist the urge to rub the serum in. Gently massage or pat into your skin and allow it to absorb.
Step 1: Cleanse
Cleanse your skin gently with lukewarm water.
Step 2: Dispense
Dispense a pea-sized amount.
Step 3: Gently dab
Gently dab and press into your skin.
Step 4: Wait
Wait about 1 minute.
Consistency is Key
Remember, the heart of any routine is consistency. By practicing a daily skincare routine with the right products for your skin and your needs, you can develop skin that is comfortable, nourished, and moisturized in the long-run.