To serum, or to cream?

cream, serum, or both? moisturizing can be complicated so let’s break it down— moisturizers are primarily designed to hydrate the skin by adding to and sealing in the natural moisture of the body. although moisturizers often contain ingredients to target specific issues like ageing or sun damage, their main role is to get hydration to the skin and keep it there. serums, on the other hand, are formulated to penetrate deeply into the skin and address or even reverse the causes of ageing and skin damage at the cellular level. serums are likely to contain more antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins that work to repair the structure of skin cells, increasing skin radiance, smoothness and suppleness. one key difference between serums and moisturizers is what serums don't include. serums leave out the ‘sealing’ ingredients such as petrolatum and mineral oils that moisturizers often use to keep water from evaporating from the skin. serums also contain fewer fillers, thickeners and lubricating agents. another big difference is that serums are actually able to work more effectively in your skin for two reasons. firstly, because serums have smaller particles they penetrate the skin on a deeper cellular level - into the living layer of skin, the dermis. second, because serums don’t contain the thick ‘sealing’ particles present in moisturizers, the active ingredients in a serum penetrate your skin faster and can work more effectively. this is why we layer these products – while an antioxidant serum works to repair skin cells and combat free radicals, a moisturizer acts to prevent the evaporation of moisture and provides a physical barrier to protect the skin from environmental irritants and makeup particles. serums can be used AM and ON to address specific skin issues more effectively than a moisturizer alone and will also boost the hydrating effects of your moisturizer. Ensure your serum contains antioxidants to provide protection from environmental damage. ideally, you use a facial serum to increase the effectiveness of your skincare regime and combat ageing and skin damage more successfully. my favorite is the juicy hyaluronic acid serum by @forgetbeauty — avail. in studio