If you have never heard of a facial serum before, you are definitely missing out. Unlike facial cream, facial serum sits on the surface of your skin where it doesn’t penetrate. Instead, facial serum is intended to lock in all the good ingredients in your moisturizers and other serums, and that is why serum should always, be your last step in your facial skin care regimen. You should only put your moisturizers, eye contour gels, age defying moisturizers, sun protection creams, and any other products that are made for your specific skin type into a container or bottle with a snap lid. That way, the product will remain on the face where it will do the most good.
Facial serum works best as a base for additional products. You want a versatile facial serum that has a powerful lactic acid content. A typical lactic acid content in facial serums is 10 percent or less. You want a serum base that is highly effective but one that also has a soothing texture.
Another essential in an effective facial serum is humectants. These are substances that pull dirt and grime away from the surface of your face while moisturizing. Some humectants are oil based and some are water based. Most water based humectants are lipid emollients that form a greasy film on the surface of your face, preventing grime and oil from being pulled off.
There are several different compositions of retinol, a compound that is produced by the skin’s photoreceptor layer. Retinol works to tighten the skin as well as reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots caused by free radicals and environmental pollutants. A facial serum with a high concentration of retinol will smooth skin, decrease dark spots, and will tighten fine lines. A high concentration of retinol also produces dramatic results in anti-aging.
One of the most common complaints of women is that their current skin is too dry. Facial serums are usually formulated to work better if they contain moisture-retaining ingredients. You want to make sure that your anti-aging moisturizer does not contain petroleum-based moisturizers like petrolatum or mineral oil, which can clog the pores and cause increased irritation and dryness. Look for natural oils like grape seed oil, jojoba oil, or plant-based oils like olive oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, and Shea butter. You might also want to consider a sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB rays.
An antioxidant in a facial serum can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Antioxidants work by fighting free radical molecules that break down healthy skin cells. Free radicals are created during cellular activity and exposure to the sun. Drinking enough water helps to keep the skin cells hydrated, while eating more fruits and vegetables helps to provide more antioxidants. The more antioxidants in your skincare products, the better chance you have of reversing damage caused by free radicals.
If you want your facial serum to perform more than simply moisturize and hydrate, you may want to look for a vitamin C serum. A vitamin C serum can be formulated to increase moisture retention and to heal damage. A vitamin C serum can also be formulated to help reduce wrinkles and dark spots. You may also want to look for a vitamin C serum that contains exfoliating ingredients. A vitamin C serum that exfoliates removes dead skin cells can help remove the appearance of age spots.
Most facial serum and moisturizers on the market today do an excellent job of addressing all skin concerns. Make sure that the product you choose includes ingredients that will address your skin’s needs. While a basic moisturizer can be used once or twice a day, a facial serum should be used at least once per day. You should also consider using a daily moisturizer after cleansing to help seal in moisture that has been absorbed throughout the day.