Skincare

The benefits of using moisturisers and serums together in a skincare routine

There are an overwhelming number of moisturisers and serums on the market today that have many individual benefits but do they work better together?

Moisturisers are designed to hydrate the skin by adding to and sealing in the natural moisture of the body. Although they often contain ingredients that target specific skin issues like ageing or sun damage, their main role is to get hydration to the skin and keep it there.

However, serums on the other hand, are formulated to penetrate deeply into the skin and address or even reverse the causes of ageing and skin damage at the cellular level. They are more likely to contain more antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins that work to repair the structure of skin cells, increasing skin radiance, smoothness and suppleness.

BUT there are two main differences between serums and moisturisers. Firstly, serums leave out the ‘sealing’ ingredients such as petrolatum and mineral oils that moisturisers often use to keep water from evaporating from the skin. Serums also contain fewer fillers, thickeners and lubricating agents.

The second important difference is that serums are actually able to work more effectively in your skin. This is because serums have smaller particles they penetrate the skin on a deeper cellular level. And serums don’t contain the thick airtight ‘sealing’ particles present in moisturisers, the active ingredients in a serum penetrate the skin faster and can work more effectively.

So, the beauty of a serum is that they provide a high concentration of active ingredients, and penetrate further, effectively delivering beneficial nutrients and hydration to the deepest layers of the skin where moisturisers only affect the top layer of the skin sealing in moisture.

How does a serum work?

Serums are lightweight, intensive skincare products made to penetrate deeply, allowing their active ingredients to combat free radical damage, skin pigmentation, ageing, acne and scarring by delivering nutrients and vitamins right into the skin cells.

They provide antioxidants, peptides, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C amongst other ingredients which can have dramatic and swift effects on the radiance of the skin by brightening, exfoliating and hydrating the skin.

Serums are designed to repair the skin at a cellular level and act on a wide range of skin health factors at the same time. If you have aged, damaged, scarred or sun-damaged skin, a serum is your best choice to reduce the visible impacts on your skin. Serums act to improve skin firmness, smoothness and luminosity while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

How does a moisturiser work?

A moisturiser is a lotion or cream which contains skin hydrating emollients and forms a physical barrier to help skin stay hydrated. Moisturisers have larger, heavier molecules than serums, so they don’t penetrate into the epidermis or surface layer of the skin. Their main benefit is that they seal the skin, locking in moisture and nutrients. But it can also lock active ingredients in the moisturiser out of the skin, reducing their efficacy.

Does your skin need a serum or a moisturiser?

While an antioxidant serum works to repair skin cells and combat free radicals, a moisturiser acts to prevent the evaporation of moisture and provides a physical barrier to protect the skin from environmental irritants and makeup particles.

Serums can be used both morning and night to address specific skin issues more effectively than a moisturiser alone, and can also boost the hydrating effects of your moisturiser. When buying a serum make sure that it contains antioxidants to provide protection from environmental damage.

Ideally, you need to use a facial serum to increase the effectiveness of your skincare regime and combat ageing and skin damage more successfully. If you are 30 or older, using a serum could make a huge difference in improving your skin.

Serums can be used alone by those with a naturally oilier skin, or under a moisturiser to help protect the hydration levels in normal to dry skin.

During the winter months, it’s a good idea to use a moisturiser over your serum for extra hydration and to help your skin cope with changing temperature and drying winds.

Main reasons to use facial serums in your skincare regime include:

  • repairing sun damage and reducing wrinkles
  • deeper skin hydration
  • skin firming and improved texture
  • exfoliation for smoother more radiant skin
  • calming redness and sensitivity
  • clearing and preventing blemishes
  • to fade brown spots and pigmentation.

How to apply a serum and moisturiser?

Moist skin is ten times more permeable than dry skin, so we recommend that you always apply your serum twice daily, directly to your skin after cleansing and toning. In the morning apply your facial serum before your SPF moisturiser or sunscreen, at night apply the serum before your night cream or moisturiser.

After cleansing, your serum should be applied over the entire face, neck and décolletage. Gently press on a small amount with your fingertips and massage thoroughly into the skin allowing it to be absorbed into the skin for a few minutes before applying a moisturiser. More serum does not equal more benefit. Your skin can only absorb a certain amount, and when a serum is packed with great actives, you don’t need large amounts.

Using a moisturiser over your serum will help lock in the serum anti-ageing ingredients. If you keep your moisturiser in the fridge, the coldness of the cream, when applied after your serum, can push surface blood into the skin through the capillary contraction, increasing the penetration of the serum’s active ingredients.

Summer SkincareHow to keep your skin radiant in summer

Protect your skin from the sun

Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is when the sun is most intense and produces the greatest chance of sunburn. UV rays put major stress on your skin, that’s why you should always apply sun protection to your face and body.

Provide your skin with moisture

Your skin loses moisture in summer due to the heat. A moisturising after sun lotion will soothe your skin and replenish its moisture levels.

Drink enough water

During the summer you should always have a water bottle on hand. Your body loses a lot of moisture due to heavy sweating. You should drink two to three litres of water a day in summer to keep your skin supplied with plenty of moisture.

Take some time to cool off

In summer, many people like to jump in an ice-cold shower to cool down. But this sudden cold shock means not enough heat escapes from the body after showering, and you’ll quickly start sweating again. It’s therefore, better to take a lukewarm shower, to ensure you stay cool for longer.

For more information call 0208 892 7999 and speak to one of the team.