Serums 101: Everything You Need to Know About These Skincare Power Players

So, maybe you’ve heard of serums and are somewhat familiar with them, but need a little more guidance with how to start incorporating them into your skincare routine. No worries, we’ll explain in this Serums 101 post.

And, if you’re not familiar with them at all, serums are pretty much the superheroes of the skincare world. They’re lightweight, nutrient-dense liquids that are truly power players, packing a serious punch when it comes to targeting specific skin concerns.

Now, let’s give a little more detail on these amazing products, some background, some examples and how to use these power players for your skin.

What Exactly are Serums?

Serums are super concentrated skincare products, usually water-based, that are able to easily penetrate your skin on a deep level, delivering ingredients that are powerful, potent and, we’ll say promising. They’re designed to target specific skin concerns, such as: acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles and other issues. Serums mostly come in water-based or oil-based formulas that are to be used after you cleanse and tone your skin, and right before you add your moisturizer.

Popular Serums for Skin of Color

There’s a huge array of serums on the market, so you have options. But, if you know exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to targeting your skincare concerns, here are a few popular serums that are beneficial for those of us with skin of color:

• Vitamin C serums – These antioxidants are great for helping boost your skin’s immunity, and they help to brighten your skin, fade dark spots, and even out skin tone.
• Hyaluronic acid serums – Unlike a regular moisturizer, these serums go deep and boost your skin’s hydration levels to the max, making your skin look plumper and smoother.
• Niacinamide serums – They’re beneficial if you have acne-prone skin because they help to regulate your skin’s oil production and also reduce inflammation.
• Kojic acid serums – These ingredients help to fade hyperpigmentation and brighten your skin, helping to even out your skin tone.
• Retinol serums – As a powerful anti-aging serum, or as some prefer to say, an ally-aging support serum, retinol serums help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots on your skin.
• Arbutin serums – These work similarly to kojic acid, but are less irritating and gentler on one’s skin.
• Licorice root serums – They’re great for reducing inflammation and redness which make them a good option for those with sensitive skin.

How to Apply Serums like a Pro

Now that you’ve chosen the perfect serum for your skin, it’s time to apply it–yay!

To apply it like a pro, here’s what you do:

1. Cleanse and tone your skin as you usually do.
2. Take a small amount of serum, like a pea-sized amount, and please trust us, a little goes a way long way, and use your fingertips to apply it to your face. Make sure you focus on the areas that need special attention, gently massaging the serum into your skin using upward strokes.
3. Wait a couple of minutes for the serum to fully absorb into your skin.
4. Now, follow up on the serum with your moisturizer and sunscreen.

How to Layer Serums Like a Boss

Once you’ve seen and experienced the power of one serum, you might be ready to move onto more, especially if you’d like to target multiple skin concerns – so here’s how you can layer serums like a boss:

1. Always start with the thinnest serum first so it can fully absorb into your skin.
2. Once the previous serum is fully absorbed, you’re going to choose the next lightest serum, always waiting for each to absorb as much as possible.
3. Apply your moisturizer and sunscreen.

Pretty simple, right? Always apply in order from the lightest, or thinnest serum to the thickest serum. Think of the last serum as the strong wall that pushes the lighter ones deeper into your skin.

Final Thoughts

If you know your skin needs a little boost, it’s time to go for ingredients that can zero-in on some of your concerns. And, serums are the go-to products and can be a true, easy and effective game-changer for your skin. So, hey, go ahead and add a serum or two, or maybe even three, to your routine.

And, as always, if you need more guidance or information, reach out to your esthetician or schedule a virtual consultation with an esthetician who can help you choose the right serum(s) for your skin.