How to Choose Face Serums & What to Look for

Our suggestion for a daily routine typically goes something like this: wash with a gentle cleanser, apply a serum, and then a moisturizer on top.

We don’t suggest using serums just because they’re something fancy to add to your routine, we suggest it because choosing the right one can make all the difference for any skin type.  But what are the most important factors in determining how to choose face serums that go well with your particular skin?

A Skin Care Necessity

In fact, we were chatting about our skin care routines (big surprise there, right?) and most of us agreed that the serum we use is the one thing we will splurge on.

Why do I need a face serum?

Because, with enough effort, a good cleanser and moisturizer can be concocted in our kitchens but a good organic serum takes a precise blend of ingredients and a homemade serum can be difficult to preserve and difficult to keep consistent. We all agree we’ll trust the experts for this part of our skin care routine.

What is Face Serum and What Does it Do?

A face serum is a concentrated skin care product that is full of nutrients for your skin.

It is typically an aqueous (water) based formula with a dense infusion of ingredients to target something specific like fine lines, wrinkles, or dark spots. Because they’re so jam-packed with nutrients, a little bit goes a long way. For example, vitamin C serums not only hydrate the skin, but also brighten and even out skin tone.

What is The Best Way to Apply Face Serum?

The best way to use a serum is after cleansing (and toning if you use a toner in your routine) and right before your moisturizer.

This type of product is easily absorbed by the skin so you want to apply it before your moisturizer so the serum can absorb fully into your skin. Then your moisturizer is applied on top of that to help your skin soak up all the nourishing components.

First and foremost, a serum is a hydrator. Since it has an aqueous base with little to no oils in it, a serum’s function is to add water. So let’s start with what that means.

What’s the Difference Between a Hydrator and a Moisturizer?

In the skin care industry, the terms ‘hydration’ and ‘moisture’ are often used interchangeably. While they are intricately related and each are vital for optimal health of the skin, they aren’t the same thing at all.

Oil vs. Water

The term hydration refers to the water content in the skin while moisture refers to oils in the skin. When you use a serum, you add water to the skin. This plumps up the skin so that the moisturizer you put on top of it can absorb better and deeper, making it really beneficial for those of you working with dry skin.

Not Just For Dry Skin

At the same time, plumping the skin also reduces the appearance of pore size, so a hydrating serum is awesome for those of you with oily skin because it both reduces the appearance of the pores and helps the skin absorb the natural oils that it creates.

We like the reminder that our skin is a living barrier that defines what is us and what isn’t. Since our bodies are made up of about 80% water and the skin is the last organ to receive nutrients internally, it’s important to give it that external hydration boost too.

What to Look for in a Face Serum

Knowing that your serum is the power punch that helps to balance your skin is awesome because it gives you a product to hone in on when you’re thinking about what your skin care goals are. Here are a few things you want to make sure to look for when choosing a face serum.

Clean Ingredients

We think it’s important to use Earth-based products for your whole routine, but because your serum is made to be the most absorbed product in your routine, it’s extra important to check out the ingredients.

A serum is aqueous and our bodies are like sponges for water-based things, so we need to do our due diligence with the ingredients on this one. What you don’t want to find is synthetic preservatives or petroleum based ingredients.

A Hydrator

This goes without saying but if you’re using a hydrating product, you want to make sure that there are ingredients that add water to the skin!

Aloe vera makes an awesome base for a serum because it’s like using a little packet of water that sticks long enough to absorb into the skin. It’s also an amazing plant that’s high in amino acids, minerals, and enzymes plus it can be used to infuse other amazing ingredients into the skin!

A Humectant

Always check your serum for the humectant. A humectant is an ingredient that attracts water and helps to secure moisture by plumping the skin so that it can absorb more nutrients to give you the appearance of fullness you’re looking for.

Hyaluronic acid is an ideal ingredient to see in a serum because it is able to hold about 1000 times its weight in water, and since it’s found naturally in the body, it’s easily absorbed by the skin.

Antioxidants

Serums are a great product to use for any sort of anti-aging concern. It’s well known that antioxidants combat environmental stressors and since these stressors have been shown to increase the appearance of aging, you want your serum to be directly combating them.

You also want to look at the general focus of your serum and do research on the extra infused ingredients or parts of the blends.

If you’re working to lighten or brighten your skin, a serum high in vitamin C is key. Check out this article for a simple vitamin C serum recipe you can make at home!

If you’re looking for a serum geared toward fine lines and wrinkles/anti-aging, you want to search for ingredients that are soothing and make sure that you’re not adding chemicals that can dehydrate your skin over time.

 

How to Choose the Right Face Serum?

One of the main questions that we get when it comes to helping people with their routine has to do with their choice of serum.

Focus In On Your Skin Care Goals

We spend a lot of time directing people to products that help them work toward their skin care goals and making the serum choice always seems to be where people get a bit stuck.

That’s okay, that’s what we’re here for! We always start with the general question, “what is your main skin care goal?” because a facial serum is the product for targeting goals.

One At a Time!

Our face serums do have different functions and though they’re all aloe based and very hydrating for the skin, we find that many people opt for more than one of them.

While our serums are gentle, they pack a pretty heavy punch in terms of the botanicals we infuse. We recommend that if you are using more than one of them, interchange products between morning and evening rather than mixing them together in an application.

Anti-Aging Serum

The Anti-Aging Serum works to soothe the feeling of inflammation and plump up the skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid hydrates, while the herbal extracts buddleja davidii and edelweiss protect skin from environmental stressors. This serum is great for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.

Citrus Stem Cell Serum

The Citrus Stem Cell Serum rejuvenates skin and provides powerful antioxidant activity to help promote beautiful skin.

It is formulated with uva ursi, licorice root and amla berry to deliver youthful, vibrant and radiant looking skin. This serum is ideal for reviving the look of dull skin and helping lighten the appearance of dark spots—looking at you sun lovers!

Wild Fruit Serum

The Wild Fruit Serum is the first serum from the Wild Alchemy Collection, our luxury line, and it’s made to do it all!

It brightens, hydrates, and helps tone aging skin. It’s a full-functioning serum with ingredients like kakadu plum and knotweed that are great for sensitive skin but very rejuvenating and beautifying.

Probiotic Serum with Tremella – Bio Facial Elixir

The Probiotic Serum with Tremella works to support your skin’s natural defenses with a concentrated blend of skin-reviving probiotics. Tremella, a powerful mushroom, immerses your skin with deep hydration.

It works for all skin types, containing herbs that are rich in minerals and antioxidants with soothing properties to help ease sensitivities and bring skin back to a state of balance.