Serum Vs. Moisturizer: Which To Use And When?
Both serums and moisturizers are an essential part of a top-notch skincare routine and provide daily benefits for things like anti-aging and rich hydration. But when honing your perfect daily routine, you may ask why you’re using both, and whether it’s worth keeping both a hydrating serum in your routine if you’re just going to moisturize at the end anyway.
We’ll break down what makes the difference between serums and moisturizers so you know whether it’s important to have both in your skincare regimen.
What is a Facial Moisturizer?
Fairly self-explanatory, a moisturizer is a product that hydrates your skin. Typical moisturizers are emollients, meaning they contain lipids and oils to help it retain moisture with a protective barrier. However, moisturizers can also be humectants, using compounds like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, or even occlusives like lanolin or bee’s wax. The last type of moisturizer is not recommended for daily use, as it is highly comedogenic, meaning it clogs pores like nobody’s business.
Our moisturizers are fine-tuned with different degrees of hydration for those with varying skin types, like our Hydro Plus Moisturizer vs. our Nourish Daily moisturizer. They should be applied at the end of your skincare routine prior to sunscreen application.
What is a Facial Serum?
Face serums have a more lightweight formula than moisturizers that is easily absorbed into the surface of the skin for specific concerns, including moisturization. Our serums are full of highly potent ingredients, offering many benefits (Instantlift Tightening Serum) and for specific areas of the face (Eye Alive Serum). The formulas vary quite a bit, allowing people to customize and elevate their daily routine to address specific concerns and get more from their skincare products than simply cleansing and hydrating each day and night.
Differences Between Serums and Moisturizers
The key difference between a serum and moisturizers is that serums are made with physically smaller molecules that make them fundamentally different in their goals and purpose. The potent, small molecules of serums’ active ingredients absorb into the surface of the skin, as opposed to lotions’ ingredients, which sit on top of the skin, locking in moisture all day.
Serums deliver active ingredients that can help with the appearance of pigmentation, fine lines, and slightly sagging skin. Moisturizers not only promote the appearance of hydrated skin, but some come formulated with UV protection as an added bonus
How to Use Serums and Moisturizers
Because serums absorb so quickly, they should be applied after your skin has been cleansed, clearing away excess oil and other debris that could hinder its ability to sink in. Toners are effective at further clearing skin of oils and dead skin cells to provide an even more satisfying serum application. Nearly anyone can benefit from using a high-quality serum for their specific skin concerns or goals, and they are especially good to add to your skincare routine.
Moisturizers should be the last step in your daily routine, followed only by sun care when needed. Everyone should use a moisturizer, but depending on your skin type, you may want one that’s more or less rich to offset your skin’s natural oil production tendencies.
Professional Grade Serums and Moisturizers
If you’re looking for the best in proven ingredients and top-quality skincare products, Epicuren Discovery is the place to start. Browse our complete collection of professional products or find tailored solutions to your unique skin type and category of products by taking our Skin Quiz today.