What is a serum?

Serums are lightweight skincare products formulated with high-performance active ingredients designed to deliver targeted benefits to the skin.

Serums are not an alternative to moisturises and they don’t replace other skincare products. They are designed to be layered and work alongside and complement other products such as your moisturisers to enhance overall results. Serums are applied on the face and neck and can also target specifically the eye contour area. Serums are usually applied after cleansing and toning and before the moisturiser to create a beneficial layer of active ingredients between your skin and the moisturiser. Serums can come in various forms including oil-based, gel based, lighter water based and emulsions.

In general, light water-based serums should be used first then emulsion-based serums and then oil-based serums. Facial serums can target specific skin concerns and can be formulated to focus on anti-aging, soothing and calming, protecting skin barrier, firming and toning, oil balancing, nourishing and brightening.

Oil-based Serums:

Facial oils are blends of nourishing carrier oils and/or esters that act as emollients. They help moisturise the skin while smoothing and softening its texture.

Oil-based serums are primarily formulated with carrier oils and naturally derived emollients, which help to soften and smooth the skin. One such emollient is squalane, a compound found in certain plant oils like olive oil, where it functions as both an emollient and an antioxidant. Interestingly, squalane is also a natural component of our skin’s own sebum, making it highly biocompatible and beneficial for skin hydration and barrier support.

In addition to carrier oils, oil-based serums can include other oil-soluble ingredients such as essential oils, oil-soluble vitamins (like Vitamin E), and botanical extracts, further enhancing their therapeutic and cosmetic benefits.