Benefits Of A Face Serum

Why do we need serums? Isn’t our regular routine good enough?

Not always. Sometimes we have a skin condition that needs an extra specialised, intensive boost. A highly effective, super-charged serum can tackle stubborn dark spots and acne scars; oily, acne-prone skin, plus premature ageing and wrinkles that never seem to go away no matter how many skin care products you try.

And skin-care experts say that a change of season is tough on our complexions so they recommend a serum for a glowing skin boost.

When we head into summer, this is a good time to give our skin some TLC. Cold, dry winter air, followed by overheated, dehydrated air indoors, can take a serious toll on our skin’s hydration levels, which impacts all of the skin’s natural processes. The first priority is rehydration, protection and repair and lots and lots of TLC, so it looks gorgeous, glowing and renewed in time for spring.

When we transition back into winter, the drop in temperature and humidity - and all those heaters that get turned on - causes our skin to again start drying out and get more sensitive. And after a bout of nasty winter flu leaves us looking dull, grey and haggard, serums are a great skin booster. They are ‘emergency’ treatments that give you an instant boost in circulation, energy and glow if the face in the mirror is showing signs of battle fatigue.

Many face serums are designed to be used for a few weeks every few months, but some, especially the anti-ageing ones, are designed for use every day.
 
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Your Pick Of The Best Serum Ingredients

The best serums are often a cocktail of different, complementary ingredients that work together to reach their targeted goal. You can also alternate different serums that are complementary to address different concerns.

It’s important that you do some homework before choosing your specialist, even if it’s based on well-known safe ingredients like Vitamin C or E, retinol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide or salicylic acid.
 
Whether you need a face serum for anti-ageing, wrinkles or dry skin concerns, oily and acne-prone skin, pigmentation problems, a moisture boost for brighter, glowing skin, or to calm sensitivity, these ingredients are generally considered the go-to guys to treat different skin types and problems…
 

• Age-fighting heroes: Retinol, different peptides, vitamins, antioxidants, various hydroxy acids (glycolic acid being the gold standard), salicylic acid and plant growth factors like zeatin and kinetin.

• Antioxidants (your essential ingredients for glowing skin): Vitamins C and E in various forms, particularly L-Ascorbic acid and SkinCeutical’s CE Ferulic patent, resveratrol and grape seed extract. Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), retinol and Coenzyme Q10 are also powerful antioxidants.

• Oily skin and acne busters: The big kahuna in general skin repair, retinol, as well as those hydroxy acids again: salicylic, glycolic and citric. Acne products should also contain soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients that will reduce irritation and redness.

• Inflammation-soothing: Niacinamide, panthenol (Vitamin B5) and botanicals such as calendula, meadowsweet, comfrey, aloe, green tea and camomile.

• Dry skin glow boosters: Water-attracting hyaluronic acid, moisturising powerhouse vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) and rosehip oil.

• Dark marks, pigmentation and skin brightening: L-Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), kojic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide, soy, glucosamine, retinol, liquorice extract and arbutin.

If in doubt about what your skin needs or what to choose, consult a qualified skin-care therapist or beauty advisor for your best options.
 

Best Serums For Oily, Acne-Prone Skins - Spot Saviours

Most people with acne-prone skin love the texture of a serum because it is light and usually non-greasy, absorbing easily into the skin. Because they are mostly water based, they are ideal for oily skin and you'll have none of that greasy feeling you hate so much.
 

• Clarins Pore Control Serum not only helps shrink pores for a smoother skin, but also reduces oil production and removes dead skin cells, both of which help prevent breakouts.

• Celltone Intensive Spot Control Serum uses a blend of niacinamide (vitamin B3), salicylic acid, sarcosine and tea tree oil to act on problem skins, helping clear breakouts and prevent new ones forming.

• Bioderma Sebium Night Peel is a night-time serum to be used every second day to remove existing blemishes and smooth and refine the skin’s texture (due to the gentle peeling effect of 15% glycolic acid). Panthenol also soothes redness and restores radiance. Recommended especially for adult acne.

• Skin Republic Salicylic Acid Oil Control + Anti-Spot Serum is a spot-fighting serum with 2% salicylic acid that helps reduce the appearance of acne and blemishes for a visibly clean and clear complexion. Cleans pores and reduces excess oil and shine.

• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum is designed to improve overall skin texture, while simultaneously targeting blackheads, pimples and marks. Ideal for acne-prone skin with ageing concerns, it contains glycolic acid, salicylic acid, LHA (lipo-hydroxy acid) and niacinamide.

• Clinique Anti Blemish + Line Correcting Serum has been developed specifically for those with adult acne along with lines and wrinkles. A gentle, hydrating formula helps clear and treat acne without dryness or irritation. Potent anti-ageing technology visibly improves lines, wrinkles, texture.

• BioNike Acteen Quick Pen Anti-Imperfection zeroes in on zapping spots with various hydroxy acids, soothing allantoin and antioxidant vitamin E. Find more info on the full full BioNike Acteen range here.

 
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Best Serums For Glowing Skin – Early Anti-Ageing

Anti-oxidants are one of the cornerstones of that beautiful glowing skin we all want and crave. But they’re not only glow boosters. Together with other hydroxy acids, they also prevent and delay the onset of wrinkles and help address early hyperpigmentation problems.
 

• SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic is a powerful three-part antioxidant combo, including Vitamin C, that reduces fine lines and wrinkles and reverses environmental aging. While a touch pricy, it’s often regarded as the gold standard for topical antioxidants and has become the go-to serum for many derms.

• Solal Healthy Ageing Vitamin C Serum fights against early signs of ageing with the potent antioxidant and skin brightening effects of Vitamin C and two other active ingredients. It also boosts collagen to firm, strengthen and plump the skin as well as reduce the visibility of wrinkles.

• La Roche Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum is an anti-aging Vitamin C face and neck serum leaves skin more radiant, softer, and hydrated. Wrinkles are visibly reduced and skin texture and tone are more even and refined. Combines concentrated 10% pure Vitamin C, salicylic acid and neurosensine for optimal effectiveness while also being suitable for sensitive skin.

• Nip And Fab Glycolic Fix Serum to deeply exfoliate the skin to boost radiance and refine texture for the smoothest, most even and glowing complexion ever. Suitable for sensitive skin, all the way through to the exfoliation pros.

• Garnier Skinactive Even Matte Vitamin C Booster Serum is a fast-absorbing serum that result in visibly glowing skin from day one and a more even skin tone from 3 days. Aside from ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), it also contains niacinamide, salicylic acid, hyaluronate and citric acids.

• Mineraline Rejuvenate Antioxidant Vitaserum is supercharged with a trifecta of powerful antioxidants - Vitamins C, E and B5 - that regenerate the skin and defy the signs of ageing for brighter, glowing and younger-looking skin.

 

Best Anti-Ageing Serums – Wrinkle-Fighters

Not surprisingly, the area with the most serums is the anti-ageing category, as these address signs of premature ageing from UV damage, our lifestyle and stress. Can you relate?
 

• Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate is the ultimate serum icon. Reformulated numerous times to take advantage of new advances in technology, the two serums – one water and one oil – are kept apart until the moment they are mixed to be applied to your skin, for maximum potency in addressing global skin ageing concerns.

• Olay Total Effects 7-In-One Anti-Ageing Smoothing Serum is another legend. Containing VitaNiacin Complex (Vitamin B3, E and pro-vitamin B5), it helps fight seven signs of ageing: smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, instantly moisturising, exfoliates to even skin tone, minimises pores, leave skin feeling silky and smooth, enhances radiance, and helps restore firmness.

• L’Oréal Revitalift Laser Renew Anti-Ageing Super Serum is advanced anti-ageing skin care with ceramides and proxylane (hyaluronic acid) to replump wrinkles, refine pores and transform skin texture.

• L’Oréal Skin Revitalift Laser Pure Retinol Deep Wrinkle Night Serum has the most potent, highest concentration of Pure Retinol to fight stubborn signs of ageing like deep wrinkles, age spots and uneven skin texture. A powerful formula that is scientifically proven to visibly reduce 100% of wrinkles, even deep ones.

• Skin Republic Serum Pure Retinol 0.2%, a great multitasker that unclogs pores, boosts collagen and speeds up cell turnover to even out discoloration and smooth out lines and wrinkles.

• BioNike Defence Elixage Huile Serum R3 re-densifies, repairs and renews (the 3 Rs) with a patented formula that protects the skin’s DNA, as well as powerful antioxidants.

 
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Best Serums For Dark Marks & Spots – Brightening Pigmentation Powerhouses

The aim of every product that addresses dark spots and excess patches of hyperpigmentation is to break down existing marks and prevent new ones forming. This naturally leads to a more even-toned as well as lighter and brighter looking skin.
 

• Neutrogena Bright Boost Illuminating + Brightening Serum With Turmeric is a brightening face serum, formulated with turmeric extract and Neoglucosamine to visibly improve skin tone, texture and clarity. Exfoliates and reduces appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

• Eucerin Even Pigment Perfector Double Booster Serum has a two-dimensional formula that targets dark marks with patented Thiamidol, plus dehydrated skin with hyaluronic acid, so is perfect for drier skin.

• La Roche Posay 10% Pure Niacinamide Serum tackles dark marks and uneven skin tone with visible results starting within one week. An anti-aging formula with 10% Niacinamide, PhE-resorcinol and hyaluronic acid, it reduces hyperpigmentation and stubborn dark spots for a brighter, more even complexion.

• Nivea Perfect & Radiant Luminous630 Anti Dark Marks Advanced Treatment Serum visibly reduces dark marks and spots and prevents reappearance for even and luminous skin. Visible results in just 4 weeks and up to 50% reduction after 8 weeks.

• BioNike Defence B-Lucent Anti-Dark Spots Roll-On uses polyhydroxy acids and a biomimetic peptide to target localised dark spots (sun spots, age spots, dark spots left over by other conditions, such as acne). See real-life reviews on the full BioNike Defence B-Lucent range here.

• Dermactin-TS Age Defying Spot Serum is a concentrated formula which helps reduce the appearance of unwanted age spots, freckles and even the most difficult discolorations and dark areas.  

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Best Serums For Dry Skin – Glowing Hydrating Heroes

Perfect to add much-needed moisture back into dry or dehydrated skin, these can also be used by all skin types to spot treat drier areas like cheeks, and for that glowing skin look.
 

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Supercharged Serum with hyaluronic acid, botanicals, trehalose and Vitamin E for a powerful hydration boost that instantly energizes tired skin. For a glowing skin day after day.

• Vichy Mineral 89 Booster uses mineralized water and hyaluronic acid to both fortify and plump the skin. It strengthens the skin’s barrier against environmental aggressors while boosting moisture levels. Ideal for that beautifully healthy and glowing skin we all want.

• L'Oréal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle Filler Hyaluronic Acid Serum charged with 1.5% pure Hyaluronic Acid to intensely hydrate skin, smooth and replump wrinkles. No ordinary serum, it contains two types of hyaluronic acid to not only boost hydration on top of the skin but also penetrate deeper into the epidermis to hydrate from within.

• Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Intensive Moisture Quenching Serum uses organic ingredients to boost and revitalise the skin's natural hydration, teaching the skin to rehydrate itself. It also helps shield the skin from sudden temperature changes, pollutants and environmental stress.

• La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Serum is an intensely hydrating serum that is clinically proven to re-plump and repair skin in only 1 day. With hyaluronic acid to plump and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, Vitamin B5 (panthenol) to stimulate collagen and help repair and restore skin, and nourishing madecassoside.

• Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Skin Refining Serum is suitable for skin showing first signs of ageing such as fine lines, enlarged pores or rough or dull skin. Ideal for oily skins, it contains three key actives including hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid, plus anti-oxidant protection.

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Best Serums For Sensitive Skins - Soothing Supporters

If you find ‘normal’ serums make your skin feel and look even worse, these serums are specially formulated for problematic and very dry skin.
 

• La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Hydrating Facial Serum helps to soothe skin and visibly reduce facial redness. It is enriched with ambophenol, a powerful natural extract, soothing neurosensine, and light reflectors.

• Bioderma Hydrabio Serum Moisturising Concentrate for very dehydrated and sensitive skins is a year-round all-rounder for all skins, helping skin to relearn to hydrate itself with the Aquagenium patent that includes vitamin PP.

• Dermalogica UltraCalming Serum Concentrate is a super-concentrated serum that helps calm, restore and defend sensitised skin. It’s UltraCalming Complex contains oat and botanical actives to calm inflammation, burning and itching. Collagen-stimulating peptides help build the skins tolerance, and oil of evening primrose, sunflower seed and avocado extracts restore the skin’s natural lipid barrier.

• Avène Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum for dehydrated and sensitive skin has liposomes which carry concentrated Avène thermal spring water into the skin where it is released over 24 hours to hydrate, soothe and calm skin.

Best Serums For Eye & Lip - Laser Targeting

These specialist serums sometimes do double duty, treating fine lines and plumping up the eye and lip area.
 

• IQ Ultra Rich Eye & Lip Contour Serum provides antioxidant protection to protect and restore delicate skin. Boosted with hyaluronic acid to help smooth wrinkles and fine lines, improving skin’s elasticity while reducing dark circles and redness.

• Olay Eyes Eye Firming Serum includes an advanced amino-peptide and niacinamide duo that plumps skin and help surface skin turnover so reducing the appearance of fine lines.

• Solal Revitalising Eye Serum an anti-ageing superstar with high performance hyaluronic acid that lifts, tightens and reduces puffiness. Boosts collagen and assists with the immediate and long-term reduction of wrinkles.

• BioNike Defence Xage Eye Lift Eye Contour Serum uses a patented Rejuvenate SGF™ complex combined with a plankton extract to help to smooth wrinkles and reduce puffiness and dark circles.

 
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