How to Choose the Right Skin Serum?

Serums have become an important step in our skin care routines. As with any other product, there are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming. Luckily, we’re here to help and find out how to choose the right skin serum for you.

How to Choose a Skin Serum?

There is a wide variety of different skin serums on the market and a good place to start is to first figure out what skin type you have. We often unknowingly use products that aren’t meant for our skin type, which in most cases causes skin issues to seemingly appear out of nowhere! To help you with this, you can read our blog post on the 4 most common skin types to find out which one you fall into. Once you’ve figured this out, finding the best skin serum for your skin type becomes a lot easier.

Introducing a serum into your skin care routine is essential to maintaining balanced, healthy, and fully functional skin. The beauty of using a serum is that the ingredients used in the formula are often more potent, penetrating deeper into the skin and addressing issues in areas such as collagen and elastin, both of which are extremely beneficial to the overall appearance of the skin. By combining a serum with a nourishing moisturizer and daily SPF, you give your skin the best chance of staying protected, looking healthy, and repairing any damage it may have already sustained.

To learn more about the benefits of using a serum, you can check out our dedicated blog post on serums and why you should consider using them.

Now, we’ll give you a detailed breakdown of which serums and ingredients are best for your skin type and concerns.

Best serums for dry skin types?

If you have a dry skin type, you may have noticed that you have some dry, flaky patches, and your complexion can look a little dull and lifeless. To rejuvenate and restore vitality and hydration to your skin, choose a serum that contains any of the following ingredients:

Hyaluronic acid

Aloe vera

Vitamin C

Antioxidants

Mild fruit acids

If the formula contains hyaluronic acid, it’s generally considered well worth applying the serum to still slightly damp skin to let the hyaluronic acid lock in moisture. Here are some more suggestions on how to use it alongside a serum to improve your complexion.

Using a gentle cleanser or a chemical exfoliant containing AHAs, such as lactic acid, will remove dead skin cells and reveal new healthy cells.

Take a pea-sized amount of serum and gently massage it into your skin. Many dermatologists recommend patting the product in to best allow the serum to absorb into the skin without too much movement, which can irritate the skin.

Hyaluronic acid is a powerful ingredient that locks moisture into the skin and draws in the surrounding skin, creating a continuous hydration cycle.

Aloe vera is also extremely hydrating, providing super hydration for dry skin.

Last but not least, Vitamin C helps correct all signs of aging and pigmentation, restoring skin radiance, while its antioxidant properties protect the skin from free radicals and other daily aggressors.

These ingredients are extremely beneficial for all skin types. The most important thing when treating dry skin is to make sure the product is not too harsh, as this may cause a reaction or irritation. If you stick with the ingredients mentioned, you will find that your skin feels great.

Best serum for oily skin types?

Oily skin types are known to be too particular about the number of products in their daily skincare routine. Overburdening the skin with too many layers of heavy products can lead to blemishes and breakouts.

Serums are usually watery or gel-like, depending on the ingredients, and have a small molecular size, which allows the product to pass through the epidermis and into the lower layers of the skin. This means it is very lightweight and does not cause enlarged pores, a common problem for oily skin.

The best active ingredients for oily skin are:

Hyaluronic acid

Salicylic acid

Alpha-hydroxy acids

Antioxidants

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid, also known as a BHA, which, unlike AHA, can penetrate deep into the pores. It removes all the bacteria, dirt, and debris that can accumulate and cause breakouts like blackheads and spots, while also enlarging the pores.

Use a cleanser or toner with facial acids, such as glycolic acid, to remove traces of dirt and bacteria buildup.

Make sure your skin is clean before applying a pea-sized amount of serum to your skin and allow enough time for the serum to absorb before applying other products.

Salicylic acid thoroughly cleanses pores and fights excess sebum. Bacteria and dirt can lead to acne and blackheads

Hyaluronic acid locks in moisture, ensuring that the skin remains balanced and does not lose oil

Antioxidants fight daily skin stressors such as UV rays, pollution and climate that weaken the skin’s protective barrier.

By using a serum with a unique blend of these ingredients, you give your skin a chance to stay balanced and protected, keeping blemishes and excess sebum in check. You’ll also notice that your skin feels comfortable and non-greasy without being overloaded with product. If you use a blend designed for oily skin, you’ll find that this is also the best serum for acne-prone skin that often breaks out.

How to choose a serum for combination skin?

The difficulty with combination skin is learning how to treat it properly. Since your skin is both dry and oily, many beauty experts say you should use multiple serums and spot-treat any problem areas with different serums. Depending on your budget and time, this can be difficult to achieve. Try using these ingredients to improve your skin’s appearance overall and address any issues you find.

Vitamin C

Mild AHAs, such as lactic or glycolic acid

Hyaluronic acid

Antioxidants

By using a serum with these ingredients, you can keep your skin’s protective barrier functioning and repair any damage.

Now that we’ve established which active ingredients to look for in a serum based on your skin type, let’s move on to some of the most common issues some people have with their skin. You’ll find that once you have a better understanding of effective products, you can tailor your skin care routine to treat your skin while fighting signs of damage, premature aging, breakouts, and dullness.

Best Serums for Aging Skin

Finding the best serums for aging skin is the hard part. Incorporating the product into your routine isn’t as easy as a serum can be combined with any existing product in your skincare routine. There are a variety of serums designed to treat signs of aging. They are packed with active ingredients that create a potent blend. The key ingredients to look out for are:

Retinol

AHAs

Antioxidants

Hyaluronic Acid

You can learn more about the best serums for aging skin on our website. There you’ll also learn more about treating fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.

Retinol is an anti-aging powerhouse, but it should be introduced with caution into your skincare routine. The most effective approach is to start with a low percentage and allow the skin to adjust to higher doses over a slow period of time. Retinol can have a number of side effects and reactions if used improperly or introduced too quickly into your skincare routine. Beyond that, the results you see when using retinoids are remarkable: fine lines and wrinkles are smoothed, skin texture becomes smooth and has an airbrushed look, not to mention the lit-from-within glow that comes with using this versatile ingredient.

Best serum for uneven skin tone?

Uneven skin tone can have a variety of causes, such as: B. Sun damage, dark spots, acne scars, or other signs of hyperpigmentation. You may also notice that the more you are exposed to the sun, the darker your hyperpigmentation becomes. This is a result of damage that occurs deep below the surface of the skin. Luckily, serums are the perfect product to combat uneven skin tone because they can penetrate deeper and work their magic, especially when they contain ingredients such as:

Vitamin C

Niacinamide

Retinol

Unfortunately, hyperpigmentation can never completely disappear, but it can fade so that it is less noticeable to the naked eye. The above active ingredients help the skin reduce areas of dark spots or uneven skin tone, restoring radiance and vitality to the skin.

Now that you know exactly which active ingredients are right for your skin type and how to address any concerns, you can tailor your skin-care routine to treat your skin, balance water-oil levels, repair damage, and strengthen the moisture barrier to keep your skin fully functional.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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