AN-Sérum pour le visage

Facial serum

Serums are generally lightweight formulations that provide active ingredients. And because they don’t have a strict definition, a serum can technically be a lotion, gel or oil.

Serums also tend to treat a variety of skin problems, from anti-ageing and skin brightening to acne prevention. Although they tend to be more expensive than other skincare products, they are packed with powerful ingredients and can go a long way in the skin.

Serums are thinner and lighter, while moisturisers have a thicker, creamier consistency. Serums are intended to penetrate deep into the skin to deliver targeted active ingredients, while moisturizers help fortify the skin’s surface, binding skin cells more effectively and acting on the skin’s surface to increase hydration.

The serum should be applied after the toning lotion.

To effectively layer your serum and moisturizer, first apply the serum to your face and neck. Then, wait 30-60 seconds before applying your moisturizer on top.

The reason for the wait is that you want the serum to set before applying the moisturizer.

While most serums and moisturisers are used both in the morning and evening, some serums or creams should only be used at night depending on their ingredients. For example, retinol products should only be used at night as they can increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun.

The acids in serums (as well as toners, cleansers and other treatments) are ingredients that act to lower the skin’s pH. This process dissolves and chemically digests the cement that holds cells together, helping to remove dry cells from the surface. The removal of this cell build-up makes way for newer, healthier cells.

Common acids in home skin care products include exfoliants such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids.

Acid serums can help skin look smoother, reduce clogged pores and breakouts, increase collagen production, even out skin tone, soften fine lines, reduce hyperpigmentation and eliminate dryness and flakiness. The argument for serums in particular, as opposed to acidic cleansers, for example, is that they are easy to add to your existing routine and stay on the skin long enough to work their real magic.

That said, you want to make sure you use the right acid for your skin type.

It is very rare that someone cannot use any product containing acid, especially if they use the products according to the instructions.

It is advisable to test the product on a small area of your face before applying it everywhere.

Apply your acid serum before bed, never as part of your morning routine. You’ll also get better results this way, as your skin goes into repair mode while you sleep.

Instead of using the acid serum every night, use it this way: after cleansing and toning, apply a thin layer all over your face, then follow with your favourite night cream. Use for three nights, three nights off. Using your acid serum three nights in a row allows the ingredients to exfoliate the skin a little more each time. After these three nights, you want to expose your fresh new cells to nourishing ingredients such as moisturizers, brighteners and skin-soothing antioxidants.