What is Face Serum?

When you look in the mirror, does your skin need a little targeted care? If your skin’s appearance has room for improvement, then it may be time to add serum skincare products to your daily regimen.

There are some major face serum benefits to be gained from this rewarding skincare step. But with so many ingredients on the market, it’s important to tailor your serums to your unique complexion.

If you’re ready to learn how to use face serums to manage your unique skin concerns, read on as we break down our favourite types of serum and the top reasons to add this product to your routine.

What is a Face Serum?

A face serum is a lightweight skincare product that contains a higher concentration of active ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid and vitamin C) compared to typical facial moisturisers. Lancôme Australia’s National Skincare Expert Brittany Hanchard takes us through it:

What does a face serum do?

What serum does for your skin will largely depend on the skin concern you’re trying to target. Face serums are known for their effectiveness at managing specific concerns such as:

• Dryness and dehydration
• Blemishes
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Dullness
• Discolouration and hyperpigmentation
• Redness
• Uneven texture

Due to their small molecular structure, face serums can deeply penetrate the outermost layer of the skin and deliver efficacious ingredients that help address many of the common skin concerns listed above.

What are the benefits of face serums?

Serums are the cornerstone of radiant skin, and you can tap into a wealth of face serum benefits by choosing the right products for your skin type.

Some of the most significant benefits you can expect from a serum include hydration, brightening, blemish-fighting and anti-aging effects. Let’s take a closer look:

• Hydration: Because serums utilise key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, hydration is a major face serum benefit for all skin types. Water-attracting and moisture-locking ingredients help deliver hydration to the skin surface and prevent further water loss.

• Brightening: Many face serums are enriched with antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E to help neutralise free radicals that contribute to UV damage and premature signs of ageing. Paired alongside niacinamide, this trio of brightening ingredients is ideal for dullness and discolouration concerns.

• Blemish-fighting: Face serums formulated with chemical exfoliants such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid are used to unclog pores, and smooth and refine the skin surface in blemish-prone skin.

• Anti-aging: As the skin ages, it naturally loses collagen and moisture – so face serums are one of the most effective products in your skincare arsenal to target fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and loss of elasticity. Retinol serums feature prominently in anti-aging skincare routines, though you’ll also find significant anti-aging benefits in serums formulated with antioxidants, humectants and exfoliants.

What serum should I use? How to choose the right serum for your skin type

You should choose your face serum based on your particular skin concerns. Whilst some serums may work harmoniously for one particular skin type, some formulas may not be the best choice for another skin type.

Key ingredients are very important when it comes to picking the right serum. Although vitamin c and hyaluronic acid are two popular serum ingredients, you’ll find a mix of other hydrators and antioxidants amongst our most effective formulations.

To help maximise your face serum benefits, we’ve curated our top product choices for common skin concerns below.

For dry skin: hydrating serums

Even the most pared-back skincare routines are likely to feature one star ingredient: hyaluronic acid. This water-attracting molecule can hold up 1,000 times its weight in water, which makes hyaluronic acid serums ideal for those with dry, combination or sensitive skin.

Our Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum is formulated with hyaluronic acid (alongside other powerhouse ingredients such as ferulic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide) to re-plump the skin and boost moisture retention.

For dull skin: brightening serums

At Lancôme, we’re particularly fond of serums formulated with vitamin C. This well-known antioxidant helps defend the skin’s surface from free radicals, which are spawned by environmental aggressors like pollution and sun exposure.

Our Clarifique serums are formulated with a vitamin C derivative designed to visibly brighten and even out your skin tone. Better still, you can take advantage of the brightening role of vitamin C in skincare using our Clarifique Watery Emulsion, a serum that works to reduce the appearance of discolouration and pigmentation.

For aging skin: anti-aging serums

The anti-aging serums in our Génifique range help improve the appearance of signs of aging and increase key signs of youth: such as radiance, tone, elasticity and firmness.

The Génifique Ultimate serum adds luminosity and boosts the lit-from-within glow that begins to fade with the very first signs of skin aging. Enriched with millions of prebiotic and probiotic fractions – including yeast and bifidus extracts – this serum acts on the skin microbiome to improve your skin’s texture, firmness and elasticity.

If you’re wondering how to use face serum when your skin is going through a period of sensitivity, swap out your Advanced Génifique for our Advanced Génifique Sensitive, a serum for sensitive skin. Its dual concentrate is enriched with soothing probiotic extracts and pure antioxidants like vitamin E and ferulic acid to protect your skin against daily aggressors.

For blemish-prone skin: refining serums

Some of the biggest concerns for those with blemish-prone skin are pore size, irregular texture, and post-blemish marks. Enter: Clarifique Clarifying Serum, a serum powered by brightening and clarifying actives. This formula includes niacinamide and beech bud extract to manage dark spots and unify skin tone, as well as 10% polyhydroxy acid (PHA) – a gentle exfoliant that helps polish the skin surface for a brighter, smoother complexion.

Blemish-prone skin types may bolster their face serum benefits with a pore-refining cleanser, like our best-selling Clarifique Cleansing Foam. This cleanser utilises the power of salicylic acid to refine and tighten pores in blemish-prone skin.

How do you apply serum, and when is the best time?

By now, you should have an idea of what serum is used for and what kind of serum is right for your skin type and concerns. But when – and how – do you apply serum?

Let’s dive into the particulars below.

• When to apply: Many face serums can be applied morning and night, though this isn’t a blanket rule. For instance, vitamin C is most effective in the morning because it helps protect your skin against environmental aggressors; retinol is best at night for its photosensitivity-increasing properties.

• How to apply: You should always cleanse your skin and apply toner first to ensure optimal absorption of serums. After these steps, apply two to three drops of serum to your face and neck. A little goes a long way when it comes to serums. Using your fingertips, delicately massage the serum over your face and neck. Once the serum is dried, apply your moisturiser and any other skincare products you use daily.

• What not to do: Thanks to their thin consistency and fast absorption rate, you can often layer serums to target multiple concerns; though it’s important to tread lightly, since not all ingredients are going to complement each other. For example, using retinol and vitamin C in the same routine can cause discomfort. On the other hand, pairing vitamin C and hyaluronic acid can promote brighter, plumper skin.

Now that we’ve demystified face serum benefits for different skin concerns, explore the truths and myths about what causes wrinkles – so you can build the skincare regime that’s right for your unique needs.