With cleansers, toners and moisturisers already making up the typical skincare regime, your client might be asking why they‘d want to add yet another product to the list. And moreover, can one replace the other?
What’s the hype about serums all about? Do they really work, or can we spare our client’s the inconvenience of squeezing another product into their skincare reigime?
Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about these mysterious little lotions…
What’s the difference between serums and moisturisers?
Moisturisers bring comfort to all layers of the epidermis working to hydrate and soften the skin, whereas facial serums are lighter in texture and are a smaller molecular size making them able to be absorbed quickly and penetrate deeper into the lower dermal layers of the skin. They are an additional product typically applied after cleansing but before moisturising.
Why would anyone use a serum?
Serums are designed to penetrate and treat various skin conditions, such as redness, dehydration, wrinkles, dark spots or to brighten the skin. The active ingredients can bring antioxidants, peptides, lightening agents and plant derived stem cells to the skin to restore cell growth, and help decrease pore size improving your overall complexion.
What one is right for your client’s skin?
For acne prone or oily skin, a serum might best replace a moisturiser as they tend to be free of the oils found in moisturisers, yet they still provide the needed hydration for this skin type.
Look for products with glycolic acid or retinol to help smooth the skin’s texture, stimulate collagen, accelerate cellular turnover and prevent clogged pores. Vitamin C, bearberry, licorice, and willow bark extract assist with scarring by lightening skin and fading redness, while green tea extract, oat kernel, chamomile and arnica function as anti-inflammatories for acne prone skin.
For ageing skin, find a serum with potent peptides that inhibit presynaptic muscle contraction, prevent the formation of wrinkles and promote collagen production. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argirelene), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3P (Matrixyl Synthe) and Acetyl Octapeptide (SNAP-8) are just a few of the peptides to look out for. Plant derived stem cells have also been found to provide protection against oxidative stress and to have anti-wrinkle effects.
For dry skin, look for hydrating ingredients like Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid which binds 1000x its weight in water and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 which increases collagen production and dermal thickness. People with normal to dry skin should use a serum under moisturiser for an added boost to the skin.
In a nutshell
The addition of a powerful facial serum for specific skin conditions will produce prolonged results and knowing the difference between serums will help your client get the best outcome possible. Click here to find out about Image Skincare’s range of serums designed for different skin types.