What Are the Benefits of a Face Serum?

Using a face serum is a means of attacking various skin care problems deep below the surface of the skin. These thin, highly concentrated face treatments contain high levels of nourishing ingredients such as vitamins, amino acids, and essential oils that help restore moisture and elasticity to the skin while regulating oil production. Each serum may be aimed at solving a specific skin care complaint, so the benefits of using one can vary. The most common benefits include hydration, increased nourishment, brightening of the skin, and acne prevention.

Many of the benefits of using a face serum are derived from the product’s most distinguishing characteristic: a very high concentration of active ingredients compared to most other skin care products. While most moisturizers and other face creams only contain 5–10% of active ingredients, a serum can contain up to 70% active ingredients. These potent products are able to deliver a much greater concentration of nutrients deeper into the skin.

High concentrations of vitamins such as C and E are responsible for multiple benefits associated with using a face serum. Keep the skin nourished and healthy is one benefit of vitamins, which in turn protects against free radicals and other environmental damage that can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin. Vitamin C, which is a popular ingredient in many serums, is especially revered for its anti-aging and skin brightening effects, as it eases discoloration and evens skin tone. Another benefit of using a serum is that some topically applied vitamins, particularly vitamins C and E, are believed to stave off sun damage.

A face serum can also be beneficial because of its moisturizing characteristics. Some serums contain hydrating essential oils that assist in regulating the skin’s natural oil production. Others may contain hyaluronic acid, a hydrating ingredient common in skin care products that helps moisturize the skin and improve suppleness and elasticity. The advantage of using a serum over a regular moisturizer that contains essential oils or hyaluronic acid is that serums absorb into the skin quickly and are able to reach deeper into lower layers of skin that creams and gels can miss. Some people may find that a face serum alone provides enough moisture for their skin, but in cases of very dry skin a serum can be applied before a moisturizer.

Since face serums absorb so quickly, they are also beneficial to people with oily or acne-prone skin. The thin, almost watery texture of serums allows the nutrients to sink in deeply without leaving oily residue on top of the skin to clog pores and encourage breakouts. The deeply penetrating moisture also helps regulate natural oil production; people with oily skin often shy away from moisturizers for fear of worsening the problem, but if oily skin becomes too dry, the sebaceous glands produce even more oil to compensate. Using a serum has the double benefit of feeding the skin healthy, hydrating nutrients without clogging pores.