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Serum or Moisturiser First? Here’s How To Layer Skincare Products

Does your daily therapeutic skincare routine sometimes feel like a small battlefield, where you stare at your products, wondering whether to apply your serum or moisturiser first? While this might seem like a trivial dilemma, the order in which you apply your skincare products can significantly impact their effectiveness.

 In This Article:

What Are Serums?

Types Of Serums

Correctly sequencing your skincare regimen can transform you from a novice to a seasoned skincare pro on the path to healthy skin. This blog aims to highlight the importance of the correct order for applying serums and moisturisers, the science behind it, the benefits you can achieve, and how this seemingly small step can refine your overall skincare routine.

Both serums and moisturisers contribute to healthy skin, but they each take a different path to get there. Let’s start by understanding the difference between serums & moisturisers.

What Are Serums?

Serums are typically lightweight, concentrated formulas packed with active ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, and peptides that target specific skin needs. Unlike moisturisers, serums are composed of smaller molecules. This allows them to dive deep into the layers of the skin to ensure those potent ingredients are delivered where they’re needed the most. With their concentrated formulas, a little goes a long way, making serums a crucial step in any skincare regimen.

Types Of Serums 

Face serums hold the potential to target and heal the specific concerns of your skin, be it uneven pigmentation or ageing. The variety of formulations makes serums versatile for multiple skin types. Here are the types of serums available and their purposes:

1. Hydrating serums: Pick up our 3% Hyaluronic Acid + B5 Booster Serum. It is potent yet kind to the skin and maximises skin hydration while promoting soft and smooth skin. The multi-vitamin infusion with hyaluronic acid provides instant 72-hour hydration and promotes soft and smooth skin that’s plump from within.

2. Brightening serums: Consider using our 10% Vitamin C+E+F Booster Serum. It is potent yet kind to the skin and gives an instant glow without irritation. The multi-vitamin infusion provides youthful, glowing skin, strengthens the skin barrier and moisturises with every use.

3. Antioxidant serums: Use our 10% Niacinamide Booster Serum. It strengthens the skin barrier to prevent moisture loss, promotes even skin tone, protects from dryness to improve skin elasticity and fights signs of premature ageing. The infusion of 1% Pro-vitamin B5 deeply hydrates and enhances soft, smooth skin while Niacinamide unclogs and visibly reduces large pores to give young, clear skin with reduced dark spots.

    What Are Moisturisers?

    The primary function of moisturisers is to hydrate the skin and prevent moisture loss. They do this by creating a moisture-locking shield on the skin's surface that not only keeps it soft and smooth but also helps protect it from environmental aggressors. This barrier helps prevent dryness and irritation, actively building the skin’s resilience and ensuring healthier skin. Depending on the type, some moisturisers feature active ingredients, while others focus solely on hydration.

    Types Of Moisturisers 

    Knowing the different types of moisturisers is essential for being able to pick one that suits your skin type.

    Here’s what you can choose from:

    1. Hydrating moisturiser: Use our Hydrating Gel Creme. It is an oil-free face moisturiser that provides 100-hour hydration with a light feel on the skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and refreshed all day long.

      2. Liquid moisturiser: Use our Ultra Light Liquid Moisturiser. This formula gives your skin 24-hour hydration and a matte effect. This liquid moisturiser is ultra-light on the skin and leaves no greasy residue while making sure your skin gets all the nourishment it needs.

        3. Gel moisturiser: Consider using our Vitamin C Moisturising Glow Gel. This glow gel provides all-day hydration to reveal brighter skin. The added infusion of plant-based Pentavitin technology boosts the skin’s renewal process and resets the skin 2x faster for dewy, fresh, and glowing skin.

            Each of these moisturisers aims to address specific skin types, ensuring your skin remains healthy and hydrated!

            Key Differences Between Serums & Moisturisers

            Serums Moisturisers
            Purpose Delivers potent active ingredients to target specific skin concerns like hydration, aging, or blemishes
            Primarily focused on hydrating & preventing moisture loss by creating a protective barrier.
            Concentration Higher concentration of active ingredients, designed to provide targeted treatment
            Lower concentration of actives; primarily serves to hydrate and seal in moisture.
            Molecule Size Composed of smaller molecules that penetrate deeper into the skin for maximum absorption.
            Larger molecules that sit on the skin's surface, forming a barrier to lock in moisture.
            Texture Lightweight, fast-absorbing (often gel-like or liquid)
            Relatively thicker texture designed to provide surface hydration & protection.
            Order in Routine Applied before moisturiser to allow active ingredients to penetrate deeply
            Applied after serums to seal in moisture and protect the skin’s barrier.
            Hydration vs. Treatment Primarily treatment-focused, targeting specific concerns like fine lines, pigmentation, or dullness.
            Primarily hydration-focused, ensuring the skin stays soft and smooth.

            Should You Use Both Face Serum & Moisturiser?

            Absolutely! Serums provide targeted treatment with concentrated ingredients, reaching deeply into the skin. Moisturisers, on the other hand, work to lock in all that goodness while keeping your skin hydrated and protected. When combined, they offer a well-rounded approach to healthy skin.

            That being said, the order in which you apply them makes all the difference.

            What To Apply First: Serum Or Moisturiser?

            In any skincare routine, serums should always be applied before moisturisers for maximum absorption. Their lightweight, water-based formulas and smaller molecules are designed to penetrate deeply into the skin, delivering active ingredients right where they’re needed. On the other hand, moisturisers are thicker and act primarily as a barrier to seal in moisture. Applying a moisturiser first can prevent the serum from penetrating effectively, reducing its potency. That's why serums go first for deep absorption, while moisturisers come afterward to lock everything in.

            Takeaway 

            Understanding the working mechanism of serums and moisturisers and their types makes it easy to decide which product to apply first, serums or moisturisers. Hence, a simple layering decision will help take your skincare game to a whole new level!

            Frequently Asked Questions

            Q:1 When to apply face serum?

            A. You should apply face serum right after cleansing and toning, but before moisturiser. Depending on the type of serum, it can be used in your AM routine, PM routine, or both. Certain serums, like Vitamin C, are best for daytime use, whereas lactic acid works well at night to gently exfoliate. Niacinamide can be used both morning and night for calming and improving skin texture.

            Q:2 Can we apply moisturiser after serum?

            A. Definitely! After applying your serum, apply a moisturiser to seal in the benefits and keep your skin hydrated. Moisturisers create a barrier that locks in both moisture and the serum’s active ingredients.

            Samradni Pradhan
            Written by Samradni Pradhan on Jun 14, 2024
            Samradni combines her love for exploring diverse beauty products with her knack for expressive writing. She delivers engaging content in the world of beauty with confidence and insight.
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