HOW TO CHOOSE FACE SERUM FOR DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES
Serums make up a significant part of the SkinCeuticals range. Whether for visible signs of ageing, mature skin hydration, blemishes, or discolouration, there's a serum to help address your area of concern.
Here we take a look at what serums are, how they benefit the skin and some of the SkinCeuticals face serums that target different concerns, differentiated by skin type.
WHAT ARE FACE SERUMS?
A facial serum is a lightweight skincare product that delivers a concentrated amount of active ingredient for deeper absorption into the skin. They can come in the form of gels, oils, or even with a water-like consistency.
Facial serums are generally designed to manage specific skin concerns such as anti-ageing, blemishes, dry skin and dullness, but because they're lightweight and only a few drops needed for each application, they can be layered with other serums or skincare products.
Just as with any other product, the choice of active ingredient is important - not only for what it does and how it fits in with the other components of your skincare routine, but also that it suits your skin type.
Your skin’s needs differ slightly between daytime and night, so you may need to use different serums accordingly. During the day we recommend protecting your skin from environmental aggressors with an antioxidant serum, while the evening is the best time to introduce resurfacing ingredients such as retinol and glycolic acid.
UNDERSTANDING SKIN TYPES
By way of a quick refresher, here are the main skin types:
● Normal skin: As the name implies, normal skin is neither too oily nor too dry.
● Oily skin: Oily skin is characterised by overactive oil glands, which can make the skin appear shiny. Excess oil can contribute to clogged pores, which is why those with oily skin may be more prone to breakouts. The skin’s oil production can also be influenced by hormonal fluctuations.
● Dry skin: At the other end of the spectrum, dry skin doesn't produce enough oil. This can cause dry skin to appear flaky, feel itchy or tight. Seasonal changes, environmental conditions, and poorly chosen skincare products can make dry skin worse.
● Combination skin: This skin type is as the name suggests—excess oil production in some areas (commonly the forehead, nose, and chin), but dry skin elsewhere. The key to managing this skin type is to meet the needs of both oily and dry areas.
In addition to the above, there are several other relevant factors that may impact your choice of skin serums.
● Sensitive skin: Normal, oily, dry, and combination skin types can all be sensitive. Although not technically a distinct skin type, sensitive skin is very common.
● Acne-prone skin: Blemishes such as whiteheads and blackheads can occur when pores become clogged with excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. Genetics, hormones, and stress can also contribute to the incidence of acne-prone skin.
● Ageing skin: As we age, the skin's cellular renewal processes slow, and the skin can become drier and more sensitive. The appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of elasticity are all common in ageing skin.
Ingredients to Look for in Face Serums
HYALURONIC ACID FOR HYDRATION
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring large carbohydrate molecule found throughout the body and especially in skin. It's a powerful humectant (which means it draws moisture into the skin and helps retain it). A single molecule of hyaluronic acid can absorb up to 1000 times its own weight in water. As we age, levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin drop, resulting in increased dryness and making it more important than ever to keep the skin hydrated.
Serums featuring this ingredient are used to provide intense hydration, plump skin, visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity and firmness.
Hyaluronic acid serums are gentle and well-tolerated, beneficial for all skin types without causing discomfort.
RETINOL FOR ANTI-AGEING
Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is a topical retinoid. The benefits of retinol in skincare are many:
Antioxidant: Retinol's small molecules penetrate deeply into the skin, where it reduces oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when UV exposure and external aggressors cause a build-up of free radicals. Over time, free radicals contribute to cellular damage and accelerate skin ageing.
Elastin and Collagen Production: Oxidative stress also contributes to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin, resulting in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Collagen gives skin much of its structure, and elastin provides skin elasticity. Together they help keep your skin firm, plump and smooth-looking. Retinol helps boost both elastin and collagen production.
Skin Renewal: Retinol promotes skin cell renewal for faster skin cell turnover and smoother, more radiant skin texture. This helps reduce blemishes caused by pores clogged with bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells, making retinol beneficial for mild acne-prone skin and keratosis pilaris (aka "chicken skin"). It can also reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
VITAMIN C FOR BRIGHTENING
One of the most powerful and effective antioxidants, vitamin C reduces the appearance of dark spots and other discolouration concerns, brightening the skin and bringing a more luminous appearance to the complexion.
Vitamin C isn’t naturally produced by the body, so to gain its benefits it needs to be applied topically to the skin and incorporated into a healthy diet with foods such as citrus fruit.
A serum is the most effective way of using vitamin C topically. The best time to apply is in the morning. This is because of the environmental protection it provides the skin through the day when UV radiation is at its highest.
Vitamin C is suitable for all skin types and can benefit everyone.
SALICYLIC ACID FOR BLEMISH-PRONE SKIN
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), used widely in skincare as a gentle chemical exfoliant. It's oil-soluble, enabling it to mix with skin's natural oils (sebum) both on the surface and deep in clogged pores. This makes it useful for oily and blemish-prone skin in two ways:
- Exfoliation: Salicylic acid helps shed dead skin cells from the skin's surface and promote skin cell turnover - a process that naturally slows as we age. Chemical exfoliation refines the appearance of pores for brighter skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture.
- Oil Control: Salicylic acid helps regulate the skin's sebum production and remove excess oil, thus decreasing the likelihood of breakouts.
Salicylic acid is appropriate for all skin types. It can cause mild, temporary discomfort, increased dryness, and increased sun sensitivity, so individuals with dry or sensitive skin should use salicylic acid in moderation.
Choosing Serums for Different Skin Types
WHICH SKINCEUTICALS SERUMS ARE RIGHT FOR MY SKIN TYPE?
At SkinCeuticals, we offer a range of hydrating and corrective serums to suit different skin types. Here’s a simple guide to matching our most popular serums with your skin type needs.
OUR BEST SERUMS FOR NORMAL SKIN OR COMBINATION SKIN TYPES
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is suitable for both normal and dry skin types. A high potency serum with a combination of powerful antioxidants, it provides advanced environmental protection by neutralising damaging free radicals and protecting skin against atmospheric ageing. Pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), vitamin E (tocopherol), and ferulic acid work in combination to protect against environmental damage and signs of premature ageing caused by free radical damage.
C E Ferulic can also help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness that comes with age, while brightening the complexion for more radiant looking skin.
SkinCeuticals Serum 10 AOX Vitamin C serum for sensitive skin is an introductory daytime antioxidant serum that offers environmental protection for all skin types, while visibly improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Ideal for sensitive skin types or those new to vitamin C antioxidant serum, Serum 10 utilises 10% pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) and 0.2% ferulic acid to help neutralise damaging free radicals caused by environmental aggressors that contribute to atmospheric skin ageing – environmental damage and premature signs of ageing caused by free radicals from environmental exposure.
OUR BEST SERUMS FOR OILY SKIN
SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF is our breakthrough oil-free antioxidant serum for oily skin and blemish-prone skin that combines silymarin (milk thistle extract), pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), ferulic acid and salicylic acid. Together, these help prevent oil oxidation in the pores that can lead to breakouts, as well as targeting visible signs of ageing.
SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense is a targeted, oil-free serum for ageing skin prone to breakouts that contains a blend of both alpha and beta hydroxy acids, including salicylic acid. It reduces excess sebum production and unclogs pores to improve the appearance of blemishes, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Ideal for acne-prone, oily, combination, and ageing skin types, and best applied in the evening.
Oil-free SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator is a replenishing, resurfacing and exfoliating dual action serum that helps stimulate new cell turnover and reinforces the skin’s moisture barrier for smoother, more radiant looking skin. It exfoliates dead surface skin cells to visibly reduce fine lines, hyperpigmentation and blemishes. And the inclusion of powerful humectant hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and reinforces its moisture barrier. Combining these two key mechanisms – exfoliation and hydration – encourages optimal skin cell renewal.
OUR SERUMS FOR DRY SKIN
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is suitable for both normal and dry skin types. A high potency serum with a combination of powerful antioxidants, it provides advanced environmental protection by neutralising damaging free radicals and protecting skin against atmospheric ageing. Pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), vitamin E (tocopherol), and ferulic acid work in combination to protect against environmental damage and signs of premature ageing caused by free radicals.
C E Ferulic can also help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness that comes with age, while brightening the complexion for more radiant looking skin.
SkinCeuticals HA intensifier is a corrective hyaluronic acid serum for the face. This serum's unique formula combines pure hyaluronic acid with botanical extracts and Proxylane to support and hydrate dry, dehydrated skin.
And SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 serum also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate without clogging pores. Suitable for normal, combination and oily skin types.
OUR BEST SERUMS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel is a non-greasy, non-sticky, lightweight serum formulated with hyaluronic acid. A botanical blend of cucumber, thyme, olive leaf extract and other comforting ingredients make it an ideal hydrating serum for sensitive skin. This comforting green gel serum helps promote a more even skin tone and promote a clear, fresh-looking complexion. Ideal for all skin types, but particularly beneficial for improving the appearance of large pores, redness, sun damage, free radical damage, discolouration, and ageing skin.
SkinCeuticals Serum 10 AOX for sensitive skin is an introductory daytime antioxidant serum that offers environmental protection for all skin types. Ideal for sensitive skin types or those new to vitamin C antioxidant serum, Serum 10 utilises pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) and ferulic acid to help neutralise the free radicals caused by environmental aggressors that contribute to skin ageing, which visibly improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
For more help in finding the right serum for you, use the SkinCeuticals Routine Finder.
HOW TO TEST AND INTRODUCE A NEW SERUM TO YOUR ROUTINE
PATCH TESTING
Patch testing is recommended before using any new skincare product. Here’s how to do a patch test:
- Apply a small amount of the product to a discreet area of your skin.
- Wait for 24 hours to see if you experience any reaction.
- If you experience redness, itchy sensation, or swelling, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.
Patch testing is especially important if you have sensitive skin or a history of allergies.
GRADUAL INTRODUCTION TO SKINCARE ROUTINE.
Introducing a new ingredient to your routine gradually is always a good idea, to allow your skin to build up tolerance. This is even more important for ingredients like retinol, where too high a concentration to begin with can result in retinol burn.
MONITORING YOUR SKIN'S REACTION
Being aware of both your skin's normal appearance and the possible side effects to watch out for when introducing a new ingredient is also wise. Side effects can include:
● Skin irritation
● Redness
● Itchy or burning sensation
● Additional dryness
If any side effects worry you or persist, consult a healthcare professional.
ADDITIONAL TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS
Seasonal Changes and Serum Choices. Don't forget that as the seasons change, so can your skin type. This may mean you need to adjust your skincare routine and serum selection too.
Using Sun Protection with Certain Ingredients: As the skin ages, protecting it from the sun is a vital step in maintaining its condition and youthful-looking appearance. So, regardless of any other aims of your routine, an essential component should always be the morning application of a high SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen. This becomes even more important if you're using a serum containing ingredients such as retinol, which can make the skin extra sensitive to the effects of the sun.
Layering Serums and Other Skincare Products: As already mentioned at the top of this article, one of the advantages of serums is their wide ability to be layered with each other and other skincare ingredients, such as moisturisers. However, it's important to be aware of any incompatibilities between different ingredients, possible overuse of active ingredients by combining products that both contain the same ingredient, as well as the order in which different ones should be applied to maximise their effect. To minimise the risk of side effects, always use serums as instructed.
When to Apply Serum in Your Routine: Apply after cleansing and toning, but before applying a moisturiser to lock in hydration.
Some active ingredients, such as antioxidants like vitamin C, are best applied as part of your morning routine, for protection during the day. Conversely, skin resurfacing agents like retinol and glycolic acid are better applied in the evening. On the other hand, hydrating serums that contain gentle hyaluronic acid can usually be applied twice daily.
How to Apply Face Serum: After cleansing and toning, apply two or three drops of serum to your entire face and neck. Using your fingertips, delicately massage the serum over your skin. Once it's dried, apply your moisturiser and any other skincare products.
CONCLUSION
This article provides a good general introduction to the world of face serums, and SkinCeuticals serums in particular. By following the guidance, and being careful, you can be more confident to experiment and find out what products work best for your unique skin.
For help choosing the most appropriate facial serums or building the ideal complete routine for your skin type, use our online Routine Finder, or schedule an appointment with a SkinCeuticals Skincare Professional for a one-on-one consultation.
