What’s the difference between a serum and a moisturizer? If you’re a little confused about the age-old serum vs. moisturizer problem, don’t worry! Here, read everything there is to know about serums vs. moisturizers: from how skincare products differ, to what they do, and how to use them together to enhance skin health. Read on to finally uncover the difference between a serum and a moisturizer and get pro tips on incorporating both into your skincare regimen.
What Is Serum?
Serums are usually lightweight formulations that provide an effective concentration of actives. They are usually thin and highly absorbent, leaving few, if any, marks on the surface of the skin.
Serums can come in different forms. Traditionally, the name serum has been used to describe water-based skincare products. Sometimes, you can see oil-based serums, but this is not common. Serums can be used in daily skincare routines or as part of an aggressive treatment for specific needs such as acne, dryness, or age-related skin changes. Common serum types include hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.
What Is Moisturizer?
Moisturizers use a thicker formula to create a physical barrier that locks in moisture and prevents the skin from drying out. In addition, they enhance the function of the stratum corneum (the uppermost layer of the skin made up of fat and oily skin cells) to help retain moisture. The main function of moisturizers is naturally to moisturize the skin, so they usually contain the following ingredients:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Ceramides
- Organic oils such as macadamia nuts, sweet almonds, meadow, borage, and enotera
- Vitamin E
- Carrageenan
Some moisturizers have anti-aging ingredients added to them, so they have a dual effect on your skin. But to tackle tricky skincare issues like sun damage, you may need to combine a moisturizer with a good serum.
Serums and Moisturizers
Serums have a thinner consistency and are designed to provide potent active ingredients such as vitamin C or hyaluronic acid, while moisturizers provide moisture to the skin and support the skin barrier. Serums are designed to penetrate deep into the skin to deliver targeted active ingredients, while moisturizers help to strengthen the skin’s surface, bond skin cells together more effectively, and work on the skin’s surface for increased hydration.
Moisturizers can also have larger molecules than serums. This means that moisturizers typically don’t penetrate the skin as deeply or as quickly as serums. This can be a double-edged sword: if you’re looking for potent results, you should rely on serums, but if you’re looking for consistent hydration, you’ll need a moisturizer.
Can Serums and Moisturizers Be Used Together?
Applying serums and moisturizers” is very helpful for people with very dry skin. The serum will help to deliver any active ingredients, while the moisturizer will help to lock in moisture in the skin, seal the serum, and help enhance its active ingredients. That said, if your skin is prone to acne, it’s best to avoid oily serums.
How to Apply Serums and Moisturizers?
When it comes to layering skincare, order matters. Generally, skincare products are layered in order from thinnest to thickest, with the thinnest product being applied to the skin first. If you think about the expected goals, it makes sense. The purpose of the serum is to deliver the active ingredients deep into the skin, while the moisturizer forms a seal that makes the serum more effective.
To apply the serum and moisturizer effectively, start by rubbing the serum onto your face and neck. Then wait 30 to 60 seconds before applying a moisturizer on top. The reason for waiting is that you want the serum to settle down before applying the moisturizer.
When to Use Serums?
While most serums and moisturizers are used in the morning and evening, some serums or creams can only be used in the evening, depending on their ingredients.
Any skincare products based on active retinol forms, including retinol itself, retinaldehyde, and retinoic acid, should only be used at night. Retinol is quickly excited by ultraviolet light and converted into a harmful and less efficient substance.
Be sure to read the instructions for the product you’re using to understand which products you should use in the morning and which ones you should use in the evening. As always, if you are unsure about anything, please consult your dermatologist.
At Last
If you have skin concerns that you want to improve, such as dark spots or early signs of aging, adding a targeted serum product to your daily skincare routine can help improve the appearance of your skin. For people with dry skin, the right combination of serum and moisturizer can really make a big difference.