Is face serum necessary?

What should you use instead?

Start with a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer suited to your skin and daily sun protection. Wash before bed, and limit washing to twice a day and after sweating. Apply moisturizer to damp skin to help trap water. Oily skin still needs moisturizer.1

Choose broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, apply it to uncovered skin and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Shade and protective clothing also matter. If your budget is limited, prioritize these basics before buying a serum. Limiting the number of products saves money, which is a useful benefit even without a clinical sounding name.1

When is a serum worth adding?

Serums are light, easily absorbed liquids that deliver concentrated ingredients. They can add targeted treatment beyond a typical moisturizer, but the useful choice depends on what you want to address. Consider vitamin C for dark spots and signs of sun damage, or a formula containing hyaluronic acid or ceramides for dry skin. Ceramides are fatty molecules that help keep moisture from escaping.2

Read the ingredients rather than choosing by price. How well a serum works depends on its active ingredients, the complete formula and ingredient stability. Buying a more expensive bottle is not the useful selection rule. Choose products suited to your skin type, and look for labels saying noncomedogenic, meaning they are designed not to clog pores.12

How do you fit serum into your routine?

1. 1Wash with a gentle cleanser and gently pat dry.
2. 2Apply the serum after cleansing and before moisturizer. A few drops typically cover the face. Use one serum at a time rather than layering several.
3. 3Apply moisturizer, then sunscreen as the final skincare step in the morning. Vitamin C can support sun protection, but it does not replace sunscreen.
4. 4Apply makeup afterwards, if you wear it.

Morning is a practical time for a vitamin C serum. Retinol treatments belong in the evening instead. The ingredient matters more than the word serum when deciding where a treatment fits.4

When should you be careful?

Test a serum on a small area before applying it widely, especially if your skin is sensitive. Concentrated ingredients can irritate skin. Be cautious about combining acid containing products or adding a retinol serum alongside a prescription retinol cream. Avoid heavily fragranced products and introduce fewer new products at once. If a product causes skin irritation, stop using it and make an appointment with a dermatologist.24