What is Serum & What Are the Skin Benefits of Using Serum?

Ladies, listen up! If you’re approaching 30, it’s high time you ditch the apricot scrub you’ve been using since 8th grade, and step up your skin care game. Fueled by trends on TikTok, and a collective love of Target, quality skin care products are flying off the shelves, especially facial serums.

If you’re stumped about what exactly serums are, and how they serve your skin, you’re not alone. Even if you’ve bought bottles of it to stock your beauty fridge, you may still be curious about the benefits of skin serums. Is it a moisturizer? A facial oil? Something you spritz, perhaps? The beauty buffs at Moody Sisters are breaking it all down for you here!

What is serum for skin?

Facial Serum is a lightweight skin care product typically applied after cleansing your face, but before you moisturize. Most serums are highly concentrated, and contain smaller molecules than other types of products. This makes them particularly powerful for delivering active ingredients that are ideal for targeting skin care concerns. Whether you’re trying to eliminate laugh lines, blemishes, or extreme dryness, serums penetrate deep within the skin and act fast to provide relief.

Serum vs. moisturizer

A common misconception is that moisturizer and serums are the same thing. They’re, in fact, quite different, and bring different benefits to your skin. While serums are often formulated with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and ceramides—the differences between the two are plenty. Facial creams and moisturizers are generally richer and more dense, which builds a barrier on the surface of your skin to protect it from the elements.

Benefits of facial serums

1.   Safe for all skin types

Thanks to their watery texture, serums are often gentler on sensitive skin types. Especially for those who are acne-prone, or tend to get extra oily, serums are a gentler option for achieving maximum moisture.

2.   Quickly & easily absorbs

As we previously mentioned, serums have a thinner viscosity than say, a moisturizer or SPF. This allows them to be rapidly absorbed by your skin. It also explains why serums should be applied pre-moisturizer, as it’s more likely to penetrate the skin quickly.

3.   Reduces appearance of wrinkles

Depending on your most pressing skin care concerns, there’s without a doubt a serum for you. Serums that are formulated with ingredients like retinol, niacinamide, and vitamin C are especially effective at targeting fine lines and wrinkles.

4.   Lightweight enough for daily wear

Thicker, richer skin care products serve their purpose, but they’re not always optimal for everyday application. For those who hate the heavy, greasy feeling of creams facial oils, you may prefer a skin perfecting serum instead.

5.   Delivers noticeable results

Most serums aim to remedy specific skin care concerns, like acne, age spots, dry skin, or dullness. Because of their tendency to absorb more quickly, they have the ability to pinpoint their target, and deliver results that you can see and feel.

How many serums can you use?

There’s no set limit to how many face serums a person can use on their skin. However, most skin health experts would advise using around 3. Not only does packing on several products take up your time, it decreases the likelihood of the ingredients absorbing properly.

Must-have serums for skin care

Depending on your skin type, the following are some types of facial serums that are intended to tackle even your toughest complexion concerns.

1.    Hydrating serum

If your skin is thirsting for some moisture, look for a hydrating serum with aloe vera, rosehip oil, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid.

2.    Brightening serum

Energizing and invigorating, brightening serums contain active ingredients such as green tea, antioxidants, and vitamin C.

3.    Anti-aging serum

Serums are best known for their anti-aging properties. Alpha hydroxy acids, retinol, collagen, and peptides are all elements to look for in a skin smoothing facial serum.

4.    Acne fighting serum

What’s more bothersome than a breakout right before a big event? Find an acne blemish serum that includes salicylic acid, glycolic acid, tea tree, and other botanical extracts. Beat breakouts at the source, and unveil the flawless face you were meant to have.

5.    Exfoliating serum

One of the keys to healthy, radiant skin is regularly exfoliating. Slough off dead, dry skin with the help of citric acid, lactic acid, and fruit enzymes. What’s revealed will be a fresh faced glow that even an esthetician would be impressed by.

Skin care myths about serum

1.    Serums are too powerful

Although serums are known for containing a higher concentration of active ingredients, that doesn’t make them too powerful for regular use. In fact, the more saturated a serum is with vitamins and ceramides, the faster it will act to address your skin care concerns.

2.    Serums are expensive

While it’s true that beauty products can be pretty pricey, you don’t have to dip into savings to get your hands on quality skin serums. Moody Sisters’ serums are safe, effective, smell heavenly, and best of all—won’t break the bank!

3.    Serums are for older women

Probably the most widely known misconception about serums is that they’re strictly reserved for those with aging skin. The truth is, your skin begins aging from a pretty early age, so whether you realize it or not, the process has likely already begun. You can start using serums in your early 20’s to try preserving your youthful glow for as long as possible.

4.    Serums are not hydrating

Serums can be as hydrating as you’d like, or they can be oil-free. It all depends on what issue you’re trying to directly address. If moisture is your mission, look for serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.