Why you need to add serum to your skincare routine
With so many options on the market today, sometimes, it can feel like you need a beauty degree just to figure out what various skincare solutions actually work. Take serums, for instance.
Using a facial serum may seem intimidating at first with its hefty price tag. Then, we are reminded of all its skincare benefits—from clearing blemishes to smoothing wrinkles to brightening effects.
Not convinced? Allow us to persuade you further.
What is a face serum?
Serum is a skincare product you can apply to your skin after cleansing and before moisturizing. A crucial step in any skincare routine, a face serum is thinner than traditional moisturizer and is the best to deliver a highly concentrated dose of active ingredients, like deeply moisturizing hyaluronic acid, antioxidant vitamin C, and anti-aging retinol—all of which are good for your face.
Plus, since serums are so lightweight, they’re easy to integrate into your beauty routine. In the morning, apply serum (think hyaluronic acid or vitamins C and E) after you cleanse and before applying SPF or makeup; at night, apply repairing serums (hello, retinol!) after washing your face.
Is serum a moisturizer?
Serums can be chockfull of moisturizing ingredients to help skin retain moisture. But that doesn’t make them moisturizers in the traditional sense. Face lotions and creams are richer and create a barrier on top of the skin to keep all the good stuff in.
What serum should I use?
There are lots of them out there, so choosing wisely is always a challenge. It’s best to assess the benefits of your current serum and your skin type to guide your ongoing pursuit of products that are truly effective.
Here are some of our top picks.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Best for dry skin
This product is definitely a cult classic for a reason. With its dry-touch feel and a host of good-for-your-skin ingredients, it lives up to its claims of giving you brighter, smoother skin overnight.
Available on Lazada.
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
Best for all skin types
This serum helps to combat signs of aging, environmental factors, and stress. With daily use, skin appears smoother, wrinkles are less noticeable and skin becomes more resilient against environmental aggressors.
Available at Rustan’s.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex
Best for sensitive skin
The original. The classic. This incredible serum reduces the appearance of the key signs of aging and it also hydrates and illuminates. And it was the first skincare product to use hyaluronic acid, and the formula has been patented until 2033.
Available on Lazada.
Snailwhite Miracle Intensive Repair Serum
Best for stressed-out skin
Infused with Ultra Repair Botanical Complex, ultra-brightening Alpha Arbutin, and Snail Potion, this product promises to give your skin a luminous glow with a few drops. Not only that, it also boosts your skin’s renewal process to reduce dark marks, hyperpigmentation, and smoothen out fine lines and pores.
Available on BeautyMnl.
La Mer The Regenerating Serum
Best for dry, mature skin
It’s pricey, but a lot of celebrities and beauty aficionados alike credit this brand with being the créme de la créme of skincare. Containing a high concentration of sea kelp and vitamins, this anti-aging skin serum plumps skin, leaving it feeling softer after use.
Available at Rustan’s.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Best for oily skin
Packed with 10% niacinamide, this serum is all your skin needs to prevent excess oil and irritating breakouts. It works by decongesting skin and rebalancing sebum production to keep spots under control. Not only does it stop breakouts and minimize pores, but it also soothes skin, leaving it looking clearer and brighter.
Available on BeautyMnl.