What is the difference between a Face Serum and a Face Cream? A guide to Face Serum and Face Cream.

There are plenty of products available in the market and it gets difficult to choose which product will yield our skin the most. With age comes wisdom, but also responsibility for our health and longevity. But being mindful extends far beyond taking vitamins, maintaining a healthy weight and getting a good night’s rest. This encompasses our skin, too. While your dermatologist has already reminded you to develop a daily sunscreen habit, they might also recommend other anti-aging superstars, like wrinkle serums, creams, tonics and more. But if you’ve ever found yourself browsing the virtual shelves of your favorite beauty website, then you know it can be confusing to navigate your way through the myriad of anti-aging products and find the right match for what your skin needs.

It can be hard to differentiate between all of the skincare products out there — sleeping masks, sheet masks, face creams, facial serums, toners, essences…the list goes on. But two of the most basic, and essential, products in your face care routine are your facial serum and your moisturizing face cream. What exactly is the difference between the two?

So, here we have this very helpful article that will make it easy to differentiate between a FACE SERUM and a FACE CREAM.

Let’s start with a FACE SERUM

WHAT IS A FACE SERUM?

Serums are typically a thinner product that easily penetrate the skin’s surface to achieve a deeper level of moisture. When used in conjunction with the proper moisturizer, the moisturizer will help to lock in the serum. Face Serums are lightweight moisturizers that penetrate deeper to deliver active ingredients into your skin.

Serums target a specific skin concern. The concentrations in serums are meant to penetrate the skin faster and easier than creams because they’re not diluted with moisturizer. As an example, serums with ingredients like Vitamin C work to remove a layer of your skin, unveiling a smoother, more youthful appearance after just a few weeks’ use. Using a brightening serum as a spot treatment for brown spots may work better than using a brightening moisturizer on your whole face.

The level of active ingredients is higher than in a usual face cream, since the heavier oils and ingredients have been done away with. So, while the latter could have around ten per cent of active ingredients, the former has a massive seventy per cent or more.

There are Mainly 6 types of Serums

1. Anti-Ageing Serums — They target any current fine lines, sagging, or wrinkles, while firming and plumping the skin. Anti-aging serums also focus on promoting increased cell turnover, aiding in cell repair, and cell renewal. You might see anti-aging serums specifically for night time use. A plus for using retinol based anti-aging serums at night is that this is a prime time for your body to restore and repair itself as you’re sleeping.

2. Skin Brightening Serums — Brightening serums work by smoothing your complexion, fading any age or sunspots, evening skin tone, and diminishing hyperpigmentation. This leaves your skin with a natural, radiant glow.

3. Acne Fighting Serums — Acne fighting serums may just be the ticket to finally banish annoying acne breakouts for good. They are formulated with small molecules that can easily dive deep into the skin and deliver potent active ingredients. This is in contrast to face washes and creams that work more at the surface of the skin.

4. Hydrating Face Serums — When your skin is parched and dehydrated, sometimes moisturizers and lotions just don’t cut it. These particular face serums penetrate deep into your pores to deliver an extra layer of hydration. To increase moisture in thirsty skin, look for ingredients such as Argan oil, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, Aloe Vera, rosehip oil, ceramide, rosewater, sea kelp, jojoba, and Vitamin E.

5. Exfoliating Face Serums — An exfoliating serum works to smooth and tone complexion, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and correct discoloration and hyperpigmentation from natural aging and Sun damage. Our skin becomes dramatically less efficient at removing dead skin cells as we age, along with producing less collagen and elastin. Exfoliating serums are an easy way to ensure that your skin is functioning normally and optimally.

6. Reparative and Renewing Face Serums — Reparative and renewing face serums stimulate the skin’s natural repair functions so your skin can heal at its core. It fades away acne scarring and Sun damage, while promoting the growth of skin cells such as collagen and elastin. These serums help your epidermis maintain optimal moisture and oil levels to keep skin hydrated, supple, and smooth.

How to use a FACE SERUM?

A Serum should always come before anything else in your skin care routine. Once you apply this, it’s essential to allow it to completely seep into your pores before adding anything else on top. After this step, apply a moisturizer to lock in the active ingredients found in the serum.

Let’s talk about FACE CREAMS now…

What is a FACE CREAM used for?

“Cream” is a catch-all term for all sorts of products — from your typical moisturizer to day and night creams to an Americanized version of “crème.” Most of these more lotion-like varieties offer a mix of hydration, nutrients and Sun protection. Anti-aging creams are moisturizers with key ingredients that smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Some anti-aging creams are meant to brighten the skin as well.

Unlike a serum that could potentially dry out or over-exfoliate your skin, depending on the ingredients, a cream is gentler and can be applied both at mornings and nights. Another quality of creams is that it’s beneficial for your skin regardless of age and its “SPF protection” that’s often included as part of the formula. More than any other anti-aging tactic you try, keeping your pores shielded from sunshine is more impactful in the long run.

There are 4 types of FACE CREAMS

1. Moisturizer — Moisturizer is a type of face cream that is designed to keep the skin hydrated by restoring water to the upper layers of the dermis. By maintaining your skin’s hydration levels, moisturizer helps prevent dry, flaky patches on your face. Because it adds water, it can benefit all skin types. Choose an oil-free, water-based face cream if you have oily skin. Normal and dry complexions are better off with an oil-based moisturizer for more intense hydration.

2. Anti-Aging Creams — Anti-aging creams help combat visible signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots. They have hydrating properties, and include ingredients that smooth and brighten the skin for a more youthful appearance. Anti-aging creams contain retinol, a vitamin A derivative that helps speed up cell turnover and boost collagen production. Retinol can be potent, however, so if you have sensitive skin, start with every other night application to get your skin used to it.

3. Acne Creams — Treat breakouts and prevent future ones from occurring with a cream that addresses acne. Acne Creams often contain benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial agent that can penetrate the pores and kill the bacteria that causes breakouts. It can also help reduce acne inflammation. Other acne face creams may contain salicylic acid, which also has antibacterial properties and can help reduce inflammation associated with breakouts. It also helps to exfoliate the skin and clean inside the pores to prevent clogs that can lead to acne. If you have active breakouts, use an acne face cream twice a day. To prevent breakouts, once-a-day application is usually sufficient.

4. Sunscreen — Sunscreen may be the most important face cream that you can use. It protects your skin from harmful rays of the Sun, which can cause damage that leads to fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. It also helps prevent skin cancer. For the most effective protection, choose a sunscreen cream of an SPF 15 or higher, and with broad-spectrum protection to guard against both UVA and UVB rays. Use sunscreen or a product containing sunscreen on your face year-round — even in the winter. Look for moisturizers with SPF in them, so you can moisturize and protect your skin in one step.

How can you use a FACE CREAM?

Splash your face with cold water and gently pat it dry with a soft towel. Consider applying some toner with a cotton ball or cotton pad (if you have dry or sensitive skin, opt for an alcohol-free toner). Squeeze out a pea-sized amount of face cream onto the back of your hand. Dab the cream onto your face in small dots. Focus on trouble areas, such as the cheeks and forehead. Avoid areas that tend to get very oily, such as the creases to either side of your nostrils. Gently massage the cream into your skin using small, upward, circular motions. Consider applying some face cream on your neck too.

Hope you enjoyed reading this article. If it was helpful to you in any way then please give it a thumbs up. And your feedback is always most welcome 😊. Stay kind, Stay humble, Stay you 😊.

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