If you follow trends in skincare, you probably know there's a big debate about how many steps and products are needed in a skincare routine. Should you follow the Korean skincare routine with 10 or more steps, or is simplicity better – using fewer but quality products? Both sides have their arguments, but one thing they agree on is face serum. But do you need face serum too? The easiest way to check if you need face serum is to ask yourself if your skin needs more hydration, if you want stronger action against wrinkles, or something else. If your answer is yes and you want to address your facial skin issues more effectively, then keep reading.

What is face serum?

Face serum is a skincare product that contains a higher concentration of active ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E) than other facial skincare products, like typical face creams. The higher concentration of active ingredients in face serum is the main reason why it's so effective and is used to address specific skin concerns such as wrinkles, acne, dehydration, and more. Face serums offer various benefits to the skin, depending on the type of serum you use. And the type of face serum will also determine its texture, as serums can come in various formulations including gels, oils, and even watery textures.

How to use face serum?

To get the most out of your face serum, it's important to use it properly. Here are a few tips:

WHEN TO USE face serum: Apply serum in the morning and/or evening. Apply the serum to cleansed skin, after toner if you use it. Follow with a moisturizer after serum application to lock in moisture and hydration on your skin.

HOW TO APPLY face serum: With serums, less is more, so apply only two to three drops of serum to cleansed face, neck, and décolletage. Gently massage the applied serum into the skin using your fingertips, wait a minute, and then apply moisturizer and other skincare products you use daily.

How to use hyaluronic acid serum for the face?

Hyaluronic acid can be considered a magical ingredient, as it suits absolutely all skin types. Each molecule of hyaluronic acid has the ability to retain water up to 1000 times its weight, making it perfect for dry and dehydrated skin. Hyaluronic acid is also non-comedogenic (meaning it won't clog pores), making it perfect for oily skin types as well. Hyaluronic acid is truly the "IT" ingredient for every skin type, as all skin types require hydration.

Since hyaluronic acid is a humectant, the process of applying hyaluronic serum is slightly different. Specifically, humectant means that something acts as a magnet, to be more precise, humectants attract and retain moisture in a binding process that improves skin hydration. Therefore, it's best to apply your hyaluronic serum to damp skin so that hyaluronic acid can attract and retain that moisture. So, after cleansing your face and applying toner, do not dry your face; instead, apply hyaluronic serum immediately after toner, to damp skin, and then apply moisturizer to complete your facial care routine.

Can you use multiple face serums at once? When it comes to the rules of applying multiple serums at once, the rule of 'less is more' applies. We recommend using two or at most three serums simultaneously to ensure that you get the most benefit from all the ingredients. Anything more than that can reduce the chance that each serum and oil properly penetrate the skin. The order of application also matters. Apply your serums according to their consistency, from thinnest to thickest, for the best results.

Our recommendation

Now that we've established why using serums is so important for caring for our skin, there's nothing left but to recommend some of the serums from the most esteemed Croatian cosmetic brand. For those in search of the perfect hyaluronic serum, we recommend NiKEL Hyaluron +C+E+B vitamin serum, which will leave your skin hydrated and revitalized. For those who want a wonderful feeling on the skin that a Helichrysum italicum face serum provides, there's the Immortelle BIO elixir that will renew your skin.