What is a face serum? Why and how it’s used
Looking for a glowing, radiant complexion? A face serum may help - and here's what to know.
In the quest for radiant skin, there is a product out there for every skin type and concern. Beyond a skin care routine that includes a gentle face wash, moisturizer and broad-spectrum SPF lotion, using facial serums can help support skin.
Serums are formulated to help deliver targeted ingredients to clean, bare skin. Knowing how to use serums correctly can help get the most out of these products and put the best, most glowing face forward.
En este artículo:
What is a face serum?
Face serums are generally thin, oil-based or water-based liquid containing concentrated ingredients to help improve the look and feel of skin. Unlike thicker moisturizing lotions and creams, serums are formulated to sink deep into skin more quickly.
There are lots of different serums available geared toward different skin concerns such as signs of aging, dark spots, sequedad and more. When you are shopping, certain active ingredients will be mentioned, including vitamin C and other antioxidants, ácido hialurónico y niacinamide, to name just a few. Each ingredient supports a different skin concern:
- Hyaluronic acid helps trap water in the skin, improving hydration.
- Vitamina C helps prevent sun damage (when used with a broad spectrum sunscreen), diminish the appearance of dark spots and can improve acne (it’s often combined with vitamin E and ferulic acid).
- Niacinamida helps brighten skin and control oil production, helping to reduce acne and breakouts.
- Retinol helps increase collagen production, helps unclog pores and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Glycolic acid can help remove surface dead skin cells to help smooth skin and refine pores.
What do serums do for the face?
A serum can be added to a skin care routine to deliver a concentrated dose of active ingredients to help support skin. It's always best to talk with a dermatologist before introducing any new skin care products.
How to use a face serum
Want radiant, glowing skin? A face serum may help. Here's how to apply one in just three steps.
Wash with cleanser
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Then pat it dry.
Apply serum
Apply a few drops of the serum onto a fingertip. Then pat onto the face and neck.
Add moisturizer and SPF
Don't forget to add moisturizer afterwards. And if you're applying during the day, put sunscreen on with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Applying face serum
It's easy to incorporate a face serum into an existing routine. These simple steps provide a framework, but always read package directions before using a new product.
- Wash face with a gentle limpiador and pat dry.
- Apply just a few drops of serum to the fingertips and pat onto the face and neck.
- Siga con hidratante y protector solar with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher (if applying serum during the day).
Some serums may cause photosensitivity - they'll make the skin more sensitive to sunlight - and so are often recommended to be used at night. These include serums with retinol and glycolic acid. Serums that contain hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and niacinamide can be used during a morning routine.
Typically, serums are intended to be used daily, but follow package directions (and the way your skin responds to the serum). Some experts recommend switching to every other day if there's irritation. When in doubt, consult a health care provider.
Este contenido es solo para fines informativos y no constituye un asesoramiento médico. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.
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FOR SKIN CARE ROUTINE SOURCE: Paula Ludmann. Dermatologist-recommended skin care for your 20s. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Actualización: 23 de febrero de 2023.
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FOR SERUMS HELP DELIVER INGREDIENTS TO CLEAN, BARE SKIN SOURCE: Kelly Bilodeau. Skin serum: What it can and can’t do. Harvard Medical School. Published June 12, 2018.
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FOR WHAT IS A FACE SERUM SOURCE: Kelly Bilodeau. Skin serum: What it can and can’t do. Harvard Medical School. Published June 12, 2018.
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FOR SERUMS GEARED TOWARD SPECIFIC SKIN CONCERNS SOURCE: Kelly Bilodeau. Skin serum: What it can and can’t do. Harvard Medical School. Published June 12, 2018.
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FOR HYALURONIC ACID SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. Hyaluronic acid. Reviewed on May 4, 2022.
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FOR VITAMIN C SOURCE: Neera Nathan and Payal Patel. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Harvard Medical School. Publicado el 10 de noviembre de 2021.
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FOR NIACINAMIDE SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. Top 6 benefits of niacinamide. Published December 19, 2022.
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FOR RETINOL SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. Retinol. Reviewed June 17, 2022.
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FOR GLYCOLIC ACID SOURCE: Andrija Kornhauser, Rong-Rong Wei, Yuji Yamaguchi, Sergio G Coelho, Kays Kaidbey, Curtis Barton, Kaoruko Takahashi, Janusz Z Beer, Sharon A Miller, Vincent J Hearing. The Effects of Topically Applied Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid on Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Erythema, DNA Damage and Sunburn Cell Formation in Human Skin. Publicado el 2 de mayo de 2009.
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FOR GLYCOLIC ACID SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. Facial acids: know what you need in your skin care routine. Publicado el 6 de marzo de 2023.
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FOR APPLYING FACE SERUM SOURCE: Kelly Bilodeau. Skin serum: what it can and can’t do. Harvard Medical School. Published June 12, 2018.
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FOR APPLYING FACE SERUM SOURCE: Neera Nathan and Payal Patel. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Harvard Medical School. Publicado el 10 de noviembre de 2021.
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FOR RETINAL SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. Retinol. Updated June 17, 2022.
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FOR GLYCOLIC ACID SOURCE: Andrija Kornhauser, Rong-Rong Wei, Yuji Yamaguchi, Sergio G Coelho, Kays Kaidbey, Curtis Barton, Kaoruko Takahashi, Janusz Z Beer, Sharon A Miller, Vincent J Hearing. The effects of topically applied glycolic acid and salicylic acid on ultraviolet radiation-induced erythema, DNA damage and sunburn cell formation in human skin. Publicado el 2 de mayo de 2009.
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FOR PHOTOSENSITIVITY SOURCE: Ali Venosa. Is your beauty routine making you photosensitive? Skin Cancer Foundation. Publicado el 19 de enero de 2023.
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FOR SERUMS THAT CONTAIN HYALURONIC ACID SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. Hyaluronic acid. Reviewed May 4, 2022.
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FOR VITAMIN C CAN BE USED DURING A MORNING ROUTINE SOURCE: Neera Nathan and Payal Patel. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Harvard Medical School. Publicado el 10 de noviembre de 2021.
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FOR VITAMIN C SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. What can vitamin C do for your skin? Published December 12, 2022.
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FOR NIACINAMIDE CAN BE USED DURING A MORNING ROUTINE SOURCE: Cleveland Clinic. Top 6 benefits of niacinamide. Published December 19, 2022.
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FOR SWITCHING TO USING SERUMS EVERY OTHER DAY SOURCE: Neera Nathan and Payal Patel. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Harvard Medical School. Publicado el 10 de noviembre de 2021.