THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SERUMS
Face serums: most of us have them, some of us apply them – but do we really know the benefits of them?
With that in mind, here at Cult Beauty we’ve done the hard work for you and uncovered everything you need to know about the best face serums and how to use them.
WHAT ARE SERUMS
Serums are topical products that deliver a high concentration of active ingredients to our complexion. Generally more potent than most of your products, face serums are renowned for tackling your targeted skin concerns faster than other formulas. But the best part? They’re extremely customisable – meaning you can mix them up according to your specific skin woes. Think of them like a personalised recipe just for you!
BENEFITS OF USING FACE SERUMS
Your skin is individual to you, which is why it’s key to find a serum that compliments your complexion type while confronting your specific concerns. Plus, they serve up a series of benefits for a happier and healthier looking dermis. Keep scrolling to uncover the top five benefits of face serums below…
HOW TO USE FACE SERUMS
When it comes to incorporating face serums into your daily routine, it’s all about how
Generally speaking, your face serums should be applied after cleansing and before you moisturise. For some this will be the second step in their regime, or for those who use toners or exfoliators the third or fourth. Use a pea-sized amount over your clean, dry complexion, then wait 30 to 60 seconds for the formula to absorb before layering on your remaining products (we’re talking face oils, day creams, SPF and more). Serums are designed to work with your other skin care products, not as a substitute. For optimum results, you’ll need to pair them with your daily cleansers, moisturisers, sunscreen and everything in between. As for the time of day which you should be applying serums, that’s down to the ingredients included within them – for example, if they feature retinol, you should be easing yourself into application by applying them a few days a week during your evening routine. Or if they include vitamin C, integrating it into your morning schedule will boost bountiful benefits such as shielding you from free radicals. Finally, don’t be afraid to layer them up! If you’re utilising more than one serum, always apply the most fluid first.
BEST FACE SERUMS
9
81.36€
Packing a serious hydration punch, Shani Darden Skin Care’s Moisture Boost Plumping Serum is flooded with not one, but 17 thirst quenching ingredients – include humectants like snow mushroom and gylcerin that pull and lock water into your skin. Plus topped with the brand’s antioxidant fruit complex, the featherweight formula shields your complexion against environmental stressors too (wind, pollution and UV rays, we're looking at you).
11
RRP: 97.10€Current price: 72.83€
Delivering a daily dose of sunshine all year around,
109
RRP: 65.00€Current price: 48.75€
With not one, but four, strengths to suit your skin’s needs, Medik8s Crystal Retinal Serum looks to bolster your complexion’s resilience and density. Harnessing encapsulated retinaldehyde, this potent potion smooths the looks of fine lines while diminishing dark spots and enhancing a firmer finish. What’s more, with its signature crystal structure, it mitigates irritation – making it ideal for those with sensitive skin too.
2
129.90€
Bringing balance back to your moisture levels, BIOEFFECT’s EGF Day Serum is here to quench your skin’s thirst. Housed in an airless container to keep its potency, this hydrating gel is supercharged with EGF (that’s protein that plays a key part in the production of collagen, FYI), hyaluronic acid and nutrient-rich Icelandic water to delivery long-lasting dewy effects.
24
RRP: 25.90€Current price: 19.43€
Slipping seamlessly into your morning and evening routine, CeraVe’s Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum is designed to treat even the most sensitive of complexions. Fusing the brand’s signature three ceramides blend with its unique 'MVE Technology', this gel-cream formula enhances long-lasting nourishment while soothing and balancing your skin.
155
20.40€
Suffering from sensitive skin? We have just the thing… Cue: The Ordinary's Soothing & Barrier Support Serum. A multi-active solution that soothes and smooths, this replenishing recipe is designed to alleviate discomfort while reducing the look of redness and irritation. Infused with vitamin B12, gallic acid derivatives and bisabolol, it not only targets tightness, but also shields against external aggressors – UV, pollution and all types of weather, we’re looking at you).
Now you have everything you need to know about face serums, it’s time to wave goodbye to complicated regimes and bid farewell to all your personal skin concerns!
Cult Beauty’s Senior SEO Copywriter, Trifonia started out in the industry when bold brows were just becoming a ‘thing’, and shares a passion for all things fashion and beauty. Currently embracing her curly girl journey (after endless years of straightening her strands), she is finally reverting to her natural ways! When Triffy isn’t busy testing out the latest curl-saving solutions, you’ll find her binging the latest reality TV show or on a long walk listening to her ever-evolving country music playlist.
