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Natural Spa Beauty | Get your glow on: facial serum and why you need it |
If you’re anything like us, you’ll have a favourite part of your skincare routine. Maybe you’re religious about retinol. Maybe you’re all over your SPFs. But the one thing that never seems to make the favourite? Facial serums!
Facial serums tend to get neglected because they’re that “extra” step. When we’re in a hurry, we tend to settle for a quick cleanse and some moisturiser. But if you really want to level up your skincare, you need to make time for your facial serums.
Without them, you’ll never make that jump from ‘good skin’ to ‘glass skin’.
And here’s why.
- Serums are different from moisturisers. They tend to be lower-viscosity, more highly concentrated products that contain a much higher level of active ingredients.
- There’s no effective moisturising without the moisture barrier. Moisture we apply topically naturally evaporates throughout the day, unless you have something locking it in. This is the job of serums, and plant oil-based serums specifically do an amazing job of this. Because they don’t just reinforce the moisture barrier - they repair it. This is something dry skin types truly can’t go without.
- Oil-based serums come with a whole bunch of vitamins and compounds you won’t find in a standard moisturiser. They’re rich in antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E and omega fatty acids - the building blocks of our skin. They’re vital for everything from anti-ageing to oil regulation.
How do I use facial serums in my routine?
As a rule of thumb, products should go from lightest to heaviest. There’s some confusion about exactly when serums come in, because serums can come in different forms. So let’s clear it up.
Water-based serums tend to be lighter than many moisturisers and pure plant oils (like avocado, olive, or rosehip oil). This means they’ll go on first (after cleansing). Your moisturiser followed by any emollients like oils or face balm will then lock in that moisture.
Oil-based serums are slightly different. They have larger molecules, so they’re best placed to sit on top of your moisturiser. Oil-based serums deliver a ‘best of both worlds’ benefit - their ingredients are inherently nourishing, but they also lock in all the other good stuff like moisture and nutrients from your moisturiser.
Why should I use oil-based serums?
- They’re anti-ageing: High concentrations of vitamins A, C, and E are found in botanical oils. They play a key role in our skin, supporting the generation of collagen, regeneration of skin cells, eradication of free radicals (unbonded oxygen particles in the hair which degrade our natural tissues), and repair of UV damage. For example, rosehip and pumpkin seed oils are particularly high in vitamin A, and prickly pear oil is bursting with vitamin C.
- They help reduce wrinkles and fine lines: The vitamin A in plant oils targets lines and wrinkles by speeding up cell regeneration. The fatty acids in oils like apricot kernel oil (including omegas 3, 6 and 9) work to support the building blocks of the skin, volumising the skin from within, and rebuilding the moisture barrier.
- They’re balancing: Many people worry about putting oil on their skin if it’s already oily. But plant oils actually have a balancing effect. This is because they closely imitate the sebum that our skin produces. By applying it topically, we’re telling our skin it has enough moisture, so it isn’t triggered to produce more.
- Plant oils are anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial: Omega-6 fatty acids found in plant oils soothe acne prone skin, rid the skin’s surface of bacteria, and reduce the chances of further outbreaks. Many people also find omegas 3 and 6 to play a profound role in the healing of sensitive skin issues such as rosacea, eczema and dermatitis. Camelia, flaxseed, and hemp oils are particularly rich in these fatty acids.
This article is your sign to get facial serum into your aesthetic routine ASAP. And we’ve got the perfect thing for it.
Our Floral Facial Feast Serum is packed with oils of oat, rice bran, apricot kernel, peach kernel, thistle, and lavender. It’s formulated with squalene for super hydration and moisture retention, vitamin E for protection against free radical damage, and Ylang Ylang for balancing oily complexions.
It’s light enough to slip right into your daily routine - we recommend applying it at night, so your skin can absorb and enjoy the healing, soothing benefits overnight, and you can wake up with a gorgeous morning glow.