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6 Benefits of Face Serums in Skincare

Discover 6 benefits of incorporating a serum into your 4-step routine.

What's in this article:

Meet the Expert:

Dr. André Mahns, Head of Global Development Face Care at Beiersdorf AG. With a doctorate in biology and over 15 years of experience in skin research at Beiersdorf, Dr. Mahns has an in-depth understanding of the science behind skincare and cosmetic ingredients. 
 
Look for his expert insights throughout the article under the sections "A word from our expert."

What Does a Facial Serum Do to the Skin?

Face serums enhance the effectiveness of your skincare routine by addressing specific concerns with precision and may provide visible results faster than other products. 

Incorporating a face serum into your daily regimen can help lead to healthy-looking, more radiant skin.

What is a Face Serum And What is it Used For?

A face serum is a concentrated, lightweight topical product designed to penetrate the skin quickly with potent active ingredients. In comparison with simple moisturisers or creams, serums deliver targeted care against discolouration, dullness, fine lines, or blemishes after cleansing. They penetrate deeper into the skin surface layers to provide faster and more noticeable results. 

In contrast, simple moisturisers and creams primarily focus on hydrating the skin's top and creating a protective barrier to lock in moisture, which is essential for maintaining overall skin hydration and protection.
 
woman holding a Nivea serum

6 Benefits of Face Serums

  1. Quick absorption: Facial serums are formulated to promote deep penetration of ingredients into the epidermis (top layer of the skin). Their thin consistency allows them to absorb faster, delivering active ingredients where they are needed more quickly.
  2. Targeted skincare concerns: Face serums are often designed to address specific skincare concerns such as ageing, hyperpigmentation, hydration, or blemishes. They contain high concentrations of active ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, Peptides, or Hyaluronic Acid to tackle these concerns more effectively.
  3. Lightweight texture: Unlike heavy creams, face serums have a lightweight texture that feels comfortable on the skin. They do not leave a greasy or sticky residue, making them suitable for most skin types, including oily and blemish-prone skin.
  4. Enhanced efficacy: Due to their special formulation and generally higher concentration of active ingredients, facial serums often deliver more visible and faster results than other skincare products.. They can help to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and uneven skin tone with regular use.
  5. Layering adaptability: Face serums can be easily layered with other skincare products such as moisturisers and sunscreens. They can be an effective first step in your skincare routine without interfering too much with the absorption and effectiveness of subsequent products.
  6. Protection against environmental damage: Many face serums contain antioxidants like Vitamin C,  and Vitamin E, which help protect the skin from environmental aggressors such as pollution and free radicals generated by UV rays. Combined with the use of sun creams and other methods of protection, this can help prevent the signs of premature ageing and maintain the skin's health.
    Overall, incorporating a face serum into your daily skincare routine can help improve the healthy appearance of your skin by targeting specific issues and, depending on the formula, helping to provide moisture protection.

What Facial Serum to Choose for Your Skin Type?

woman using Nivea Q10 anti-wrinkle serum

1. Dry Skin

Face serums with Hyaluronic Acid or Glycerin help to deeply hydrate and plump dry skin. These ingredients attract moisture to the skin's surface, providing longer hydration and helping to improve the skin's texture and appearance.

2. Oily or Blemish-prone Skin

Lightweight facial serums with ingredients like Niacinamide can help regulate oil production and reduce blemishes. 

3. Combination Skin

Face serums can help to balance hydration levels across different areas of the face, addressing both dry and oily zones. Ingredients like Green Tea Extract can regulate sebum production while providing adequate moisture to drier areas. This helps maintain an even skin texture and prevents the overproduction of oil in the T-zone.

4. Normal Skin

Face serums can help maintain the skin's healthy look and provide preventive benefits against environmental damage and ageing. Face serums with ingredients like Vitamin E or Hyaluronic Acid can help to enhance the skin's natural glow and keep it well-hydrated. Regular use can also help to fortify the skin's barrier, making it more resilient against pollutants and stressors.

5. Face Serums for Men

Face serum can also be used by men as part of their skincare routine. Common skin concerns in men, such as dry skin, ageing skin, and oily skin, can all be effectively addressed by face serums adapted for these specific needs.

What Facial Serum to Choose for Your Skin Concern?

  1. Ageing Skin:
    Anti-ageing face serums with antioxidants and Peptides may help to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. Ingredients like Bakuchiol, Vitamin C, and Coenzyme Q10 can help boost Collagen production and help protect the skin from free radical damage. These face serums could also improve skin elasticity and firmness, providing a more youthful-looking and radiant appearance.
    For ageing skin due to glycation, the NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Expert Dual Action Serum combines GLYCOSTOP® and pure Q10 to visibly reduce wrinkles in just 2 weeks*, providing smoother and more youthful-looking skin.

    *In-vivo determination of skin condition by self-grading, STDR-076621C, March 2023
  2. Hyperpigmentation:
    Face serums with Thiamidol may be best suited for your skin. The patented ingredient can help to brighten the skin and reduce dark spots by inhibiting melanin production helping to lighten pigmentation for a more even complexion.
  3. Dullness:
    Face serums with Vitamin C may be a better option. Vitamin C can help revitalise the skin, giving it a radiant glow by neutralising free radicals.
  4. Blemishes:
    You may consider facial serums with Niacinamide to address blemishes. Niacinamide can help to regulate oil production, which can reduce the occurrence of pimples and minimise the appearance of blemishes, resulting in a clearer complexion.
    NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Rebalance & Protect Serum is enriched with Pro-Vitamin B5, Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid to help reduce and prevent the reappearance of blemishes.

Additional Tips:

Consult a dermatologist:
If you have a skin condition that you want to address, it is best to consult a dermatologist.

Consider the texture: 
Although lightweight, facial serums can have different textures, such as gel, liquid or oily. You may want to choose the texture that feels the most comfortable on your skin and that you feel layers best with.

Facts Overview

what does serum do for your face

Targeted:
A face serum helps to target wrinkles, uneven skin tone and dullness, depending on the potent ingredients it contains, in order to penetrate the skin in depth.

Quickly absorbed:
Facial serums are absorbed by the skin quickly and help to deliver noticeable improvements faster than creams due to their concentrated formula.

Versatile:
Face serums are versatile and usually suit most skin types thanks to their lightweight textures and ability to help create a shield against environmental damage.

How to Use a Face Serum?

How and When to Apply a Serum to Your Face?

 

 

1. Cleanse

Start with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil and impurities from your skin. This way, you can ensure the serum penetrates best into your skin and maximises its efficiency.
NIVEA Face Cleansers
woman using Nivea face cream

2. Use a facial serum

You want to apply a face serum before moisturiser, while your skin is still damp from cleansing, to enhance its absorption into the skin.
To apply it to your skin, use 2 to 3 drops of face serum and gently pad it onto your face and neck. You may want to favour patting it rather than rubbing it, to maximise its absorption.
Then give it one to two minutes to fully absorb before jumping onto the moisturising step.
NIVEA Face Serums

3. Moisturise

Continue with a moisturiser to help the face serum lock into your skin and enhance hydration. Moisturisers can help to seal active ingredients in your facial serum and make them more effective.
NIVEA Day Creams

4. Protect your skin with SPF

In all cases, you should be applying an SPF on your skin during your daily skincare routine. This way, you can help protect it against UV rays from sun damage.
 
NIVEA Face Sunscreens

NIVEA Luminous Range

NIVEA Luminous range offers facial serums to even skin tones, for concerns ranging from dark spots to age spots, but also post-acne scars. These products are enriched with the patented Thiamidol ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid, Salicylic Acid, or even Collagen, to hydrate, help brighten the skin and target ageing signs.
Discover NIVEA Luminous
Layering serums to boost results

How to Layer Serum?

Serum layering refers to the practice of applying multiple serums in one skincare routine to address different skin concerns. You may already use one serum, but layering two or more serums can enhance your skincare routine by combining the benefits of various active ingredients. Serums usually have lightweight formulas, allowing them to be applied one after the other without overwhelming the skin. You can layer several serums depending on your skin’s needs, but it’s essential to pay attention to which ones combine well.

A word from our expert: 
Layering serums allows you to customize your skincare routine based on your skin’s changing needs. Starting from a rather dry skin condition, the NIVEA Cellular Expert Filler Vitamin C Serum was already able to provide good moisturising performance. We then layered the NIVEA Cellular Expert Filler Hyaluron Replumping Serum with the Vitamin C Serum: the entire face was clearly moisturised on top."" – Dr. Mahns**

  1. Rule 1: Choose the Right Product 
    Select serums based on your skin type, age, and sensitivity. Check the active ingredients to ensure they meet your skin’s needs. Some ingredients shouldn’t be combined, as they may cause irritation or cancel each other out. Be sure to consult a skin care specialist for personalised advice. 
  2. Rule 2: Order of Application 
    Apply serums from thinnest to thickest. Start with lightweight, watery serums and finish with richer formulas. Always apply products with SPF last for optimal protection.
  3. Rule 3: Take Your Time 
    Apply a few drops of each serum, gently massaging or patting it into the skin. Give each layer time to absorb before applying the next to ensure maximum effectiveness. 

    A word from our expert: 
    “In general, it is said that you should move in order from more fluid, lighter products to more nourishing products. This ensures optimal absorption by the skin. Otherwise, heavier serums with more nourishing properties could make it more difficult for lighter products to be absorbed.” – Dr. Mahns** 

Layering serums with different active ingredients

  1. Hydrating Ingredients 
    Hyaluronic Acid is excellent for hydration. It pairs well with Niacinamide and Glycerine, enhancing water molecules retention. Niacinamide also complements Bakuchiol and Retinoids, boosting antioxidation and improving skin health appearance.
  2. Antioxidants & Anti-Ageing Ingredients 
    Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, and Vitamin C work effectively together, with Vitamin E stabilising Vitamin C, enhancing its antioxidant power. 
  3. Ingredients for Wrinkles 
    Retinol is proven to reduce wrinkles, but it can irritate sensitive skin and increase sun sensitivity. It should not be combined with strong exfoliants like AHA/BHA or Salicylic Acid. Bakuchiol is a gentler, plant-based alternative with similar benefits to Retinol, making it a great option for sensitive skin. 

    A word from our expert: 
    “You should be careful when combining active ingredients that you know have the potential to cause irritation, such as highly concentrated acids or retinol. In the case of the various NIVEA CELLULAR Expert serums, the compatibility of the combination is assured. We even have a dermatological tolerance test for these products that clinically confirms the skin compatibility of layering these products.” – Dr. Mahns** 

NIVEA Cellular Expert Serums

The NIVEA Cellular Expert Serums are designed to target your skin’s unique needs, offering a personalized approach to skincare. 

  1. The NIVEA Cellular Expert Hyaluron Replumping Serum deeply hydrates deep-down into the epidermis and plumps the skin with pure micro Hyaluronic Acid, locking in moisture for a smoother, more youthful look. The small-sized Hyaluronic Acide penetrates 10 layers deep* of the epidermis to give wrinkles a filled-in effect.

    * In Vitro tested
  2. The NIVEA Cellular Expert Lift 3-Zone Lifting Serum, formulated with 10x pure** Bakuchiol, works at the cell level for a 3-zone lifting effect, reducing wrinkles and firming the face, neck, and décolleté.

    **Compared to Bakuchiol used in other NIVEA Cellular Expert Lift products.
  3. The NIVEA Cellular Expert Filler SPF50+ Daily UV Serum Fluid offers superior UV protection while correcting signs of ageing. Formulated with two types of Hyaluronic Acid, it boosts hydration, reduces wrinkles, and uses Licochalcone A, a powerful antioxidant, to protect against pollution's effects such as oxidative stress.
    -The NIVEA Cellular Expert Vitamin C Radiance Renewing Serum boosts skin’s radiance with Vitamin C & E, 2 powerful antioxidants, to help fight free radicals. Its lightweight formula, enriched with an Amino Acid, deeply hydrates and smooths, leaving skin refreshed and glowing.

Summary

In conclusion, face serums are a powerful addition to any skincare routine, offering targeted treatment for various skin concerns such as wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and dullness. Their high concentration of active ingredients ensures deep penetration and quick, noticeable results, making them more effective than many other skincare products. 
You can achieve healthier, more radiant skin by incorporating a facial serum tailored to your specific skin type and concerns. Regular use of face serums, along with proper application techniques, can significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of your skincare regimen.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I apply two serums on the face?

Yes, you can apply two serums but choose ingredients that complement each other and layer them from thinnest to thickest for best absorption. It is also important to wait until the first product is completely absorbed before applying the second.

Can I use a face serum on its own, without cream?

It is not ideal to use a serum alone, especially during the day. Applying a moisturiser after your serum can enhance its benefits and provide necessary protection for your skin.

Is it okay to use face serum every day?

Using facial serum once or twice daily is generally fine. The frequency depends on your skin goals; for instance, applying in the morning can protect against hyperpigmentation, while nighttime application can optimize cell turnover for ageing skin.

What is the right age to use a facial serum?

It's recommended to start using facial serum between ages 20 and 30 when early signs of ageing, dullness, and post-acne scars may appear. Starting early can address skin concerns effectively over time.

How long does it take for a face serum to work?

Results vary, with visible effects typically appearing within 3 weeks to 2 months. Consistent use is key to maximising the benefits of active ingredients for long-term skin improvement.

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