A serum should be used on clean, dry skin, so make sure to cleanse and tone before you apply. And a little goes a long way – all you need is a pea-sized drop. Massage it gently all over your face and neck. Let it dry and then apply your oil if you use one, and then your cream.
The better quality a product is, the better (and faster) your skin will soak it up. When it comes to serums and oils (or moisturizers), we recommend waiting about a minute between each application. 60 seconds — give or take, gives each product a little time to delve into your skin.
Here's a quick recap on how to properly use face serum. First, cleanse and exfoliate your skin and follow it up with a toner or facial mist. Next, gently apply a small amount of serum to your face and neck with either your fingertips or palms. Then, wait 5 minutes for your face serum to fully absorb into your skin.
There is no wait time required between applying your serum and moisturizer. You can even choose to mix them together in the palm of your hand before applying. (Exception: a daytime moisturizer with sunscreen shouldn't be mixed into other formulas since doing so could hinder the level of protection).
Let the serum properly settle into your skin before going in with a moisturiser. The recommended time is usually 4-5 minutes. You know your serum is doing a good job when it is seamless –– this means no oily residue or tackiness post application.
Can I leave serum overnight? Leaving a serum on over night is ideal! As stated above, serums need time to absorb and your skin is most receptive when you're asleep so having a serum on before you go to bed is a great way to have your skin get the most out of the serum.
In a skin care routine, it makes sense to apply serum before moisturizer. This is because serum is usually more lightweight, whereas moisturizer tends to be thicker. Applying serum first can also give the skin more opportunity to absorb the active ingredients. In many skin care routines, moisturizer is the last step.
A moisturizer, however, affects the surface layer of the skin, creating a protective barrier. As such, a serum should always be applied before a moisturizer to allow the key ingredients to deeply hydrate and nourish.
Some clients like to wait between applications but in actual fact, a slightly moist skin will absorb serums and skincare products much more effectively. The answer is straight away. You do not need to wait any length of time to apply your moisturiser.
Don't Overdo It: While mixing serums can increase the benefits, you also don't want to overdo it. If you add too many serums, your skin may not be able to absorb all of the ingredients effectively. We recommend sticking to just 2-3 serums at once.
According to Women's Health, wet skin is 10 times more permeable than dry skin. This means that applying serum especially one with hyaluronic acid with its water-binding properties to wet skin can help quicken or enhance absorption of vitamins and nutrients in the formula.
Moisturize
Moisturizing your face is the last step when learning how to use face serum. Before you apply a moisturizer, make sure you wait for at least a minute. Squeeze a small amount of moisturizer on your hand and then rub it over your entire face. The moisturizer seals the serum, making your skin glow.
This will vary from product to product — a toner may take mere seconds to dry, while a serum or thick nighttime eye cream could take a minute, or even a few minutes to dry and be properly absorbed. A good rule to follow to simplify things? Wait about one minute between applying each skincare product.
Thicker products like serums can sometimes require more time to absorb than a lighter, more watery formula. In addition to the overall consistency of the product, ingredients can play a role as well. “High concentrations of hyaluronic acid can leave the skin feeling sticky,” says Dr. Zeichner.
A good rule of thumb with serums is that less is more – the amount will vary, but the standard is around 3–4 drops or pea-sized amounts. There should be enough to lightly cover (not coat) your entire face and neck, but resist the urge to slather on your serum as it's super-potent.
Well, it depends. If you don't have dry skin and aren't in a dry environment or climate, it's possible to use just serum without moisturizer. However, using both may harness the most benefits for your skin. When you use a serum, it delivers active ingredients deep into the skin.
Serums go before your moisturizer because they're normally lighter than a face cream, balm, oil, or lotion. “Serums are formulated with small molecular weight actives so they penetrate into deeper skin layers,” says Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta skin care.
Oil and water don't mix, which is why the order in which you apply your products is important. If you were to apply your moisturizer first, your serum would sit on the top of your skin without ever getting absorbed. It can't penetrate through the oils in your moisturizers, and it may cause your moisturizer to separate.
If already using a gentle serum, it is also perfect for the skin around the eyes as long as it is the same skin type as of the face. Retionol serums, Vitamin C serums are effective serums which work for under eyes.
For most people, the answer is yes. You should use both face serum and moisturizer as part of your total skincare routine, especially to get the most effective results if you're working to improve your complexion. Keep in mind that skincare products work over time.
Generally speaking, applying a serum is okay at any time of day, be it day or night. But some serums contain ingredients that can increase your skin's sensitivity to UV radiation, so your skin may be more likely to burn when exposed to sunlight.
It all depends on the formulation of the product. Keep an eye on your serum if you choose to place it in the fridge as some serums may separate in cooler temperatures.
You should start using face serum at the age of about 20 years, ideally! You may begin to notice some sort of skin damage at about your mid-twenties. So, 20-25 years is the right age to start using face serums. Follow along to explore all about choosing face serums; according to your age in the best way!