Effective home skin care consists of several stages, one of which is the use of serum. This cosmetic product allows you to quickly achieve the desired result: smooth the skin tone, cleanse it from inflammatory elements or make it fresher and more elastic. However, you can only achieve the effect by choosing and using the serum correctly.
Advertising for facial serums can be very attractive and promising. It’s not hard to believe it’s a truly magical elixir. In fact, in order not to be disappointed and harm your skin, you need to be very critical of your marketing tricks and pay close attention to your choices. Spoiler Warning: Sera are working. But sometimes not everything works out the way you expect.
Any serum is an emulsion of oil and water bases. Depending on the amount of emulsifier and the ratio of these two emulsion phases, the following can be distinguished:
- liquid, homogeneous emulsions consisting mainly of an aqueous phase. It is better to use these serums in the summer or if you do not plan to go out in the winter, as well as as an evening care product.
- emulsions consisting mainly of an oil phase. These sera are designed to restore the lipid material of the epidermis and are perfect for use in the cold season.
Why are sera needed for care and can they be used instead of cream?
Most sera are used as a cream after cream rather than as a stand-alone product. Whey, due to its chemical formula, ensures greater bioavailability of the constituent substances. In other words, using the serum, you will be able to quickly deliver the necessary substances to the skin and thus achieve the effect.
Serums cannot replace the cream, because it is the cream that "closes" the serum and allows it to function fully. If you live in a climate where the climate is dry and there is not enough moisture in the air, be sure to apply the cream on glycerin.
What expectations will the serum meet?
The main goal of home care, in addition to treating and correcting existing problems, is prevention. And whey is exactly the product that will help you avoid a lot of worries in the future.dermatologist, cosmetologist Anna Smolyanova. . .
"If you use a serum that has sunscreen properties, then the chances of age spots appearing on your face are much lower. And pigmentation is a very permanent defect that is quite difficult to get rid of. And really - it's long and expensive, because it will take a whole course of serious medical procedures - partial surface rejuvenation, peeling, injection of special drugs. It is also important to preserve the water lipid shell, optimal moisture, maintain the elastic properties of the skin. If you create conditions in the skin where it can fully synthesize collagen and elastin, you will get moisture, nutrition, oxygen, do not let "metabolism" and metabolism of the skin system - it becomes noticeable not only for you.
With regular use of sera, the skin becomes well-maintained, existing problems are eliminated or less obvious, and the lack of biologically active substances: vitamins, micro and macro elements is added. Serums are a simple and affordable replacement therapy that provides all the effects for which we buy the product.
The most popular are sera with antioxidants, peptides and acids. Depending on the combination of these components, the product has a special effect ".
There are sera to address and prevent specific problems.
Serums that promote skin regeneration
Sera with a strong skin regeneration-promoting effect, and this is what we mean by the word "rejuvenation". These are products containing retinol, that is, vitamin A. The concentration is not less than 0. 2%. Note that the composition containsexactly retinol, not its derivatives. As most retinol derivatives or their preparations in beta-carotene format will have antioxidant effects (protects against oxidative stress) rather than promote cell growth and division and skin regeneration.
Lifting serum for aging skin
The main biologically active components of such funds are peptides to reduce mimic wrinkles, or collagen-stimulating peptides and antioxidants to help prevent cellular lipid oxidation and destruction of cell membranes. Such serums restore the tone and density of aging skin, thus achieving a lifting effect.
Botulinum sera
For those who want to prolong the effect of botulinum therapy, there are sera containing a complex of peptides with botulinum-type effect: argirelin, botoxin-type syncope. Or you can use this tool as a stand-alone to reduce visits to the beautician for botulinum toxin injections. As you may have noticed, such sera smooth out lines of expression.
Whitening sera
The product is used to even out skin tone. May contain peptides, retinol and antioxidants. Antioxidants act as a protective agent. Thus, we prevent photoaging, including the appearance of pigmentation and wrinkles, and do not overload the skin with hygienic protections. I would like to point out that absolutely everyone needs to use cosmetics with sunscreen properties all year round. Especially for owners of sensitive, fair skin, prone to age spots. Regular use of such serums will help to gently correct and slightly "darken" the freckles.
Serums for oily and problem skin
They usually contain acids, fat-reducing substances, and ingredients that have an anti-inflammatory and astringent pore. They usually contain: niocinamide, components of seawater consisting of trace elements - silicon, magnesium and zinc, as well as acids. For example, salicylic acid. Salicylic acid sera may be recommended to reduce the severity of blackheads on the face. Glycolic acid sera reduce the formation of milia, closed comedones and promote cell division.
Serums for dry skin
The serum with vitamins C and E will help restore the damaged skin barrier. This problem is common in people with dry, irritated and flaky skin. Such sera are recommended for those who have already developed or are just beginning to form a network of fine wrinkles and early pigmentation. And also for those who would like to delay the onset of these signs of aging as much as possible.
I would also like to mention the sera that contain almond acid, which is a great gentle keratolytic and can be used even for very dry skin as well as aging skin as a rejuvenating peel.
It is important to understand that the final effect of serum use should be evaluated no earlier than one and a half months later. It is during this time that the skin will have time to fully regenerate.
How to use the serum correctly?
It depends on the composition of the product. For example, if the serum contains active acids that act to promote skin exfoliation and skin rejuvenation, it is recommended to use it as an evening home care ingredient. If the serum contains mainly antioxidants that act as filters for ultraviolet radiation, then it is recommended to use such serum in the morning. If you have a tendency to swell your face, do not use moisturizing serums in the evening before bedtime. In fact, in this case, the swelling of the face will be more pronounced. However, as a morning care, such products are perfect.
Errors in using serum
- A common mistake is to mix several incompatible sera. Very often another serum is applied to one serum. In most cases, this results in one or both measures not working at the same time. If you want to solve more than one problem, choose a universal serum that contains vitamins C and E. If you are worried about a specific problem, choose a specially designed serum.
- Another common mistake is carelessness in the shelf life of the serum. When you open a tube or jar, many people forget about it. However, sera are active three to six months after opening. The product then loses its properties. Make a note of the opening date of the serum. It’s convenient to do this on a blog or in a special app.
- Storing whey in the wrong place is another big mistake. See where your products stand? If they are stored on a windowsill, in active sunlight, or near radiators and heaters, in a bathroom where it is humid and warm, serum components break down more quickly. Store cosmetics in a cool, dark place. A convenient plastic container will fit you and will be stored in a dark closet. And before you do your morning or evening home care session, you will get it.
- If you have sensitive and irritated skin, try to avoid an abundance of alcohol and preservatives in cosmetics. Yes, this product will not be kept open for a long time. But if you see that the serum contains preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, parabens, then it is better to abandon the use of such a product. Otherwise, the skin may become even drier and more irritated after using the serum (this should have solved the problem) than before using it.
- Note the amount of dye in the serum. They are usually labeled CL on the label, which means color.