Beauty Spot Beauty Blog

Serums:

The Skincare Superheroes You Need for Radiant Skin

Written By Adele | Edited By Chrissy – Creative Little Soul

Serums are our skincare superheroes! They are saviours when it comes to tackling skin concerns. Their lightweight nature and smaller molecular size allow them to penetrate your skin faster and deeper, leading to healthier and less problematic skin over time. 

Why do I need a serum?
A serum is the fastest way to transform your skin. Active ingredients within serums make them so effective; the more concentrated forms of active ingredients mean you will see quicker results than using just a moisturiser or face wash. Serums enhance the efficacy of your other skincare. An active ingredient is any ingredient that affects the skin in some way. They are what give you the desired result after purchasing your skincare. An active ingredient targets a particular skin concern, e.g., acne, hyperpigmentation, dryness, oiliness, or aging.

What are some active ingredients?

 

There are so many active ingredients in serums, especially now that people are becoming aware of their benefits. Some are more popular than others, but below are some of the most common!

Hyaluronic acid is a beautiful and popular active ingredient. It is a humectant, which means it has moisturising properties and holds 1000 times its weight in water. All that water is then drawn into your skin, hydrating it. Applying hyaluronic acid to your skin, you will experience a plumping effect and smoothen your skin texture. 

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can reverse the effects of sun damage, such as dark spots. It also helps promote collagen production, making it an anti-aging activity. Vitamin C increases the radiance and suppleness of your skin. 

Active ingredients continued:

 

Retinol can seem like a daunting ingredient due to its often powerful effects. Retinol can lead to redness, irritation, and flaking of the skin when misused. It is essential to start slow when using a retinol (or derivative) and not use any other active ingredient serums with your retinol serum (especially not Vitamin C or Glycolic acid). Always do a patch test with your Retinol and start using it once a week, then work up to no more than four times a week. Even though it seems a bit intense, the benefits of using a Retinol serum make it worth it! Retinol speeds up cell regeneration, which in turn leads to reduced fine lines and wrinkles; this anti-ageing active also smooths skin texture and evens skin tone.  It also helps unclog pores and reduce their size. Retinol is often used to treat acne and will help minimise acne scarring. 

Niacinamide is also used for acne-prone skin, reducing excess oil and evening skin tone. Unlike Retinol, it soothes red and irritated skin. 

Salicylic acid falls under the BHA umbrella. It is unmatched when it comes to purging pores, i.e., clearing blackheads or blocked pores. It is a popular anti-acne and oil-reducing active that can be used by all skin types for a cleaner-looking complexion. It also helps promote faster cell turnover, so your skin will look more youthful and smooth.

Now, you might think the more active ingredients you use, the better, but this is not always the case. Our skin can get easily overwhelmed if you use too many active ingredients, so start off with one in the morning and one in the evening, and the results will speak for themselves!