Long story, short
- Skincare serums accomplish one of four things: moisturise (adding hydration or lipids), exfoliate (removing dulling surface layers), stimulate (regeneration from underneath), or supply topical vitamins for antioxidant support and brightening.
- Oily skin types need a hydration-focused serum with moisture magnets like Hyaluronic Acid, Marine Actives, or Aloe Vera that pull water into the skin’s surface without adding oil.
- Dry skin types need richer moisture serums packed with lipids and ceramides — mono-dose capsule formats are ideal for delivering the freshest, most potent dose every time.
- Plumping skin with moisture can only be achieved in two ways: layering on lipids or adding humectants — it really is that simple.
They’ve become an essential step in a daily skincare routine — but serums can do multiple different functions. So how do you know which will be best for you, especially as the seasons are changing?
Serums are skincare’s ‘treatment step.’ Light, quick to sink in, and never greasy, these targeted formulas can carry a whole array of potent ingredients. In the past decade, serums have gone from being an ‘optional extra’ to being the cornerstone of most skincare routines — in fact, some people choose a moisturising serum and skip the ‘face cream’ step altogether.
But their popularity has meant that there are now many serums to choose from, promising a myriad of different benefits. So we’ve put together a fool-proof guide to finding the best serum for your skin type.
What do serums actually do for your skin?
We don’t like to generalise, because each person’s skin is so different, but skincare serums really accomplish one of four actions: they either moisturise (adding hydration or lipids), they exfoliate (removing keratinised, skin-dulling surface layers), they stimulate (regeneration from underneath) or they supply topical vitamins (for antioxidant support and brightening).
Skincare serums either moisturise, exfoliate, stimulate or supply vitamins.
Why do serums seem so complicated to choose?
Because there’s so much choice out there. But it’s actually quite easy to choose a serum, and here’s why: while the ‘old’ beauty industry might like you to think there’s some secret to getting the right ingredients for a glowing face, there really isn’t. It’s simple science. In fact, plumping your skin up with moisture can only be accomplished in one of two ways – by layering on lipids or adding humectants. That’s it.
What kinds of serums are best for oily skin?
If you’re naturally oily, your skin gets shiny by the middle of the day, or you still worry about blackhead build-up, it’s likely you want a serum that’s more ‘hydration’ than oil.
Under your favourite moisturiser, you’ll want to layer something that brings water into the skin’s surface, like Hyaluronic Acid, Marine Actives, whole leaf Aloe Vera, Vital Hydraplex, Saccharide Isomerate or Unsaturated Phospholipids. These moisture-magnet ingredients pull and anchor water from the lower layers of the skin and the surrounding environment, to plump and hydrate the skin’s surface.
What kinds of serums are best for dry skin?
Richer moisture serums are what you need if: you’ve got chronically dry skin; have never been oily; your skin feels too tight; you’re on airplanes a lot; or you do a lot of skiing, hiking or mountain activities.
You’ll also want to know you’re getting an optimum dose of moisture, which is why it might be good to go for a serum packaged into individual doses, like our Superactive Capsules Essential Ceramides+. Capsules have the added advantage of keeping ingredients fresher — some actives can lose their potency if exposed to the air for too long, so mono-dose capsules deliver just about as intense a dose of moisture, vitamins and nutrients as you can get.
