Great skincare is all about developing a regimen of products that work together harmoniously to nourish, protect, and enhance your healthy skin. As you refine your personal skincare system, you might find yourself wondering, “Should I use both serum and moisturizer?”
However, we’d suggest asking a different question: “How do I find the right serum and moisturizer combo for me?”
UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMIC DUO OF SERUM AND MOISTURIZER
Serums and moisturizers are not interchangeable but complementary. Each has a distinct role in a skincare routine, working together to address various skin concerns. Although both are designed for skin hydration, they also have unique functions that are essential to a well-balanced routine.
SERUMS VS MOISTURIZERS
Serums and moisturizers work together to give you healthy, more youthful-looking skin. While both products have their own individual benefits, they reach their full potential when used as a pair. Here’s why:
- Serums work to infuse your skin with helpful ingredients
- Moisturizers lock in those ingredients with a hydrating, productive barrier
In other words, a quality moisturizer helps the vitamins and antioxidants from your serum sink deeper into your skin, all while keeping your skin soft and supple. They protect your skin cells from irritation and preserve your overall skin health.
THE ROLE OF SERUMS
A face serum is designed to address specific skin concerns, from discoloration to elasticity. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and salicylic acid work at the cellular level to improve various skin issues. You can also pick out an all-purpose serum that nourishes your skin with enriching active ingredients to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
Because serums have a thin consistency with smaller molecules, they quickly penetrate your skin and sink into your cells. Think of your serum as a daily vitamin for your skin, packing in essential nutrients and giving your skin the nourishment it needs to be its absolute best.
THE ROLE OF MOISTURIZERS
Moisturizers, whether it's a daily moisturizer, night cream, or an eye cream, work by creating a protective barrier on the skin's surface. They are your first line of defense when it comes to protecting your dry skin. Because they have a heavier consistency, they’re able to act as a protective barrier that seals in moisture and infuses your skin with enriching ingredients.
A good moisturizer is both proactive and reactive when it comes to supporting your skin. When formulated with the right peptides, minerals, and vitamins, your moisturizer can target existing issues like redness and inflammation while also protecting against future issues like breakouts and wrinkles.
Depending on your skin type, you may want to pick out a specific type of moisturizer to use in your skincare routine. For oily skin, a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that won't clog pores is better, while a moisturizer with soothing ingredients like vitamin E is more suitable for sensitive skin to reduce skin irritation and strengthen the skin barrier.
WHEN TO USE SERUMS AND MOISTURIZERS: MORNING, NIGHT, OR BOTH?
You only need to use serums once a day to enjoy the benefits of their active ingredients. However, you may want to moisturize more often to keep your skin adequately hydrated.
Although everyone’s skin is unique, here’s a good rule of thumb to follow when you start building your skincare routine: use serum once a day and moisturize twice a day. You may be able to use serum twice a day as your skin adjusts to the intense concentration of ingredients.
Remember to apply serum to clean, damp skin for maximum absorption, and follow up with a moisturizer to seal in the benefits of the serum.
When it comes to timing, you can design your skincare schedule to fit your lifestyle. This means it’s up to you whether you want to complete a full skincare regimen in the morning or use your routine to wind down at night (or do something totally unique to you!).
To that end, here are a few options:
- You could use your serum and moisturizer combo in the morning, then supplement your skin’s hydration with an extra layer of moisturizer at night
- You could moisturize your skin to kickstart your day, then finish off the evening with your favorite serum and another dab of moisturizer, locking in all those serum ingredients so that they can penetrate your skin while you sleep
Because moisturizers are designed to sit on the top layer of your skin as a protective barrier, you should always layer them on top of your serum. Also, keep in mind that if your serum includes exfoliating ingredients like retinol, you should only apply it at night to avoid extra irritation from the sun.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SERUMS AND MOISTURIZERS FOR YOUR SKIN
When choosing any skincare product, it’s important to ensure quality ingredients to protect yourself from experiencing skin damage. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, start by honing in on options that feature an anti-inflammatory ingredient list that supports your skin’s elasticity and enhances its natural healing properties. Certain ingredients may be more helpful for restoring your skin health, depending on your skin type.
This will help you get the most out of each drop of moisture that you infuse into your skin. And fortunately, you can get started with a powerful, versatile serum and moisturizer combo designed by skin experts at Seven:Thirty.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, using both a serum and moisturizer in your skincare routine is essential for addressing specific skin concerns and maintaining overall skin health. By choosing the right products and applying them correctly, you can achieve a radiant, healthy complexion.
CREATE AN OPTIMIZED SKINCARE REGIME WITH SEVEN:THIRTY
Both the HERO Peptide Moisturizer and the THIRSTY Hydrating Serum are designed to calm, hydrate, and enhance any skin type. As you rub the THIRSTY Hydrating Serum into your skin, you’ll enjoy the calming benefits of antioxidants like marigold, which also help protect against blue light damage. Additionally, saccharomyces ferment filtrate acts as a humectant to draw moisture into your skin, all while supporting a healthy microbiome.
Then, by layering the HERO Peptide Moisturizer on top, you’ll maximize the benefits of your serum while enriching your skin with copper peptides and zinc gluconate. These powerful ingredients act to stimulate collagen production, support healing, and reduce redness and inflammation.
Explore all of Seven:Thirty’s expertly formulated products to curate an effective skincare routine that unlocks the skin of your dreams.
Sources:
Harvard Health Publishing. Skin serum: What it can and can’t do. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/skin-serum-what-it-can-and-cant-do-2018061214029
Skin Deep Professional. Can You Moisturize Too Much? https://www.skindeepprofessional.com/can-you-moisturize-too-much/
Medical News Today. Should serum or moisturizer go first in a skin care routine? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/serum-or-moisturizer-first