Using a serum is a key step in any skincare routine.
What is a face serum?
While moisturizers are used for hydration and locking in moisture, face serums are water-based and have a thinner texture, which means they can penetrate more deeply into the skin, delivering active ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid where they need to go to be most effective. Serums often contain a high concentration of ingredients that make them excellent at targeting specific skin concerns, like breakouts, dark spots, fine lines and more. When applied topically, serums are usually absorbed quickly and should always be applied before reaching for your favourite moisturizer.
What are the benefits of using a face serum?
The benefits of face serums are wide-ranging as different serum formulas treat different skin concerns. The benefits of a hyaluronic acid serum differ from those of a vitamin C serum, but both can help skin look brighter and smoother. Three of the most popular and buzzy ingredients in face serums are vitamin C, retinol and hyaluronic acid.
Vitamin C serum benefits
Vitamin C (often listed as L-ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant; it helps protect the skin from the free radicals it gets exposed to daily, such as environmental aggressors like UV rays and pollution. Vitamin C is not only a nourishing protectant for the skin but also an anti-aging heavyweight as it boosts radiance, can help to fade dark spots and promotes collagen production for smooth, clear skin. La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Anti-Aging Serum contains 10% pure vitamin C to deliver a powerful hit of the antioxidant. Use this vitamin C serum every morning to give your skin a serious brightening boost.
Hyaluronic acid serum benefits
Face serums that contain hyaluronic acid (HA) are meant to plump and hydrate the skin. Our skin naturally produces HA—its purpose is to retain water and keep the tissues in the skin and body hydrated. When applied topically in the form of a hyaluronic acid serum, it acts as a humectant, drawing in water and plumping up fine lines and wrinkles to give the skin a smoother appearance. La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Anti-Aging Serum is formulated with pure HA and vitamin B5 to replenish the skin’s moisture barrier and activate skin renewal, making it a great pick for all skin types, especially dry and dehydrated skin. Discover all the benefits of hyaluronic acid here.
Retinol serum benefits
One of the best face serums for aging skin, retinol is a dermatologist-recommended anti-aging ingredient that has a long list of benefits. Applied to the skin at night, retinol serum can help to increase the production of collagen (which minimizes fine lines and wrinkles), improve skin texture, curb breakouts and even help with fading dark spots, depending on the formula you’re using. La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Anti-Aging Serum is a gentle retinol serum that renews skin by combining the anti-aging powerhouse ingredient with vitamin B3 (niacinamide) in a silky, fast-absorbing formula that delivers for all skin types, even sensitive.
Niacinamide serum benefits
It’s anti-inflammatory, brightening and soothing, and it can be used on all skin types from oily to sensitive and everything in between. Using a niacinamide serum like La Roche-Posay Pure Niacinamide 10 Serum helps with minimizing dark spots and marks on the skin.
How do you properly apply serum?
Because face serums have a thinner consistency than creams and lotions, they are best applied on dry, bare skin or directly after a daily facial toner if using one is part of your regular routine. This will also help to ensure that the active ingredients within the serum formula get properly absorbed. After cleansing, squeeze a pea-size amount of the face serum into the palm of your hand and then gently massage it into your face. After your application is complete, wait a few minutes to let the serum absorb into your skin before applying any additional skincare on top. If you’re using a face serum in the morning, always remember to apply your daily broad-spectrum sunscreen as the last step in your routine to protect your skin from UV damage and round out your anti-aging routine. Find out more about the best anti-aging skincare routine here.
