What is Serum in Skincare?

You have your moisturizer, your cleanser, and your sunscreen—but when it comes to building a radiance-boosting skincare routine, there’s one product that can provide a powerful punch of benefits. Serum.

Serums are a versatile skincare category that can deliver incredible results. 

But if you’re new to skincare, you may ask, what is a face serum? And, what can serum do for my skin or how to apply face serum? Fortunately, we have some illuminating answers. Keep reading for our ultimate guide on facial serums and their benefits.

What is a Serum?

It’s pretty easy to understand what moisturizers and cleansers do. But what is serum for skin?

A serum is a lightweight, fast-absorbing skincare product that usually contains a potent concentration of active ingredients. Depending on the active ingredient, a skin serum may be able to address any of these skin needs:

• Moisture
• Tone
• Anti-aging
• Acne
• Discoloration
• Oily texture 

While often thinner, serums vary widely in texture and feel. Some are viscous and sticky, while others are like water on the skin. However, a serum will always be more liquid than solid, unlike creams or lotions. 

3 Benefits of Using Serums

When it comes to skincare routines, simple is best—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. A serum can deliver the precise and powerful impact you need to take your skin from “good” to “glowing.” 

While every serum has its unique purpose, they often fill a gap in your skin’s needs. By incorporating a serum into your daily regimen, you can experience benefits like:

• Targeted skincare – Serums are formulated with high concentrations of active ingredients, allowing them to target specific skin concerns effectively. Whether you're looking to reduce fine lines, fade dark spots, or hydrate dry skin, you can find a serum tailored to your unique needs.
• Deep penetration – Thanks to their lightweight texture, serums penetrate deeply into the skin, delivering potent ingredients directly to the desired area. This allows for enhanced efficacy and quicker results.
• Skincare synergy – Certain skincare ingredients are like yin and yang—they balance each other out to produce harmonious results. This means the ingredients in your skin serum could enhance the benefits of your other skincare products. For example, retinol matches well with moisturizing hyaluronic acid, while vitamin C mixes well with ferulic acid [1].

5 Types of Serums

Serums are definitely not one-size-fits-all products. From vitamin C to glycolic acid, the active ingredients in serums range far and wide to suit different skin types, conditions, and issues. If you’re adding a face serum to your routine, consider the category that best meets your skin type needs.  

Let’s explore some of the most popular below.

1. Hydrating Serums

In general, hydrating serums are made with humectants—aka, ingredients that draw in water. To help your skin feel more bouncy and moisturized, consider a serum with these primary ingredients:

• Hyaluronic acid – Found naturally in skin, hyaluronic acid is proven to improve skin hydration, elasticity, and texture. In fact, the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology found that topical application can improve skin hydration in just 15 minutes [2]. 
• Glycerin – Another gentle humectant, glycerin can prevent water content from evaporating out of your skin [3].
• Ceramides – While not a humectant, ceramides play an important part in skin’s moisture. These waxy lipid molecules link skin cells together to form your skin’s barrier, which seals in moisture. A serum with ceramides can strengthen the skin barrier to boost hydration by helping to prevent moisture loss, especially in cases like atopic dermatitis [4].

2. Antioxidant Serums

Antioxidants are special molecules that protect your body from free radicals, or molecules that accelerate aging [5]. When applied topically, antioxidants can boost the overall health and youthfulness of your skin.

To reap the benefits of antioxidants, consider serums that put these ingredients at the forefront:

• Vitamin C – Beyond your daily glass of orange juice, you can also get vitamin C benefits from your skincare routine. Serums with topical vitamin C can significantly improve fine lines, skin texture, and signs of sun damage [6].
• Vitamin E – If you struggle with dry skin, make vitamin E your new best friend. This antioxidant provides deep moisture and can even accelerate wound healing. On serum ingredient lists, it may appear under the name tocopherol. 
• Resveratrol – This compound is a polyphenol—the type of antioxidant found in berries. By promoting collagen production, serums with resveratrol can prevent signs of aging, like wrinkles and fine lines [7]. They can also protect the skin from harmful UV rays.

3. Anti-Aging Serums

If you're looking to target fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin, anti-aging serums are your go-to option. Anti-aging serums typically contain potent ingredients that can prevent or even reverse signs of aging. These ingredients include:

• Retinol – Retinol is a gentler form of retinoid (a group of skin care topicals that feature vitamin A). Retinol works to speed up skin cell turnover and boost collagen production, which helps reduce fine lines and improve skin texture [8]. 
• Peptides – If amino acids are the supportive walls to your skin’s vital protein structure, peptides are the bricks that hold it all together. In a facial serum, peptides can tell your skin to produce more collagen to help fill in fine lines and wrinkles [9].
• Growth factors – Naturally occurring in your skin, growth factors regulate your skin’s cell growth and tissue repair. A facial serum with growth factors can stimulate your skin to produce more collagen and elastin, reducing wrinkles and plumping the skin [10.

4. Brightening Serums

When your skin glows, you know it’s in a good place. To slough away any skin dullness, consider using a brightening serum. These types of serums will contain top brightening agents like:

• Niacinamide – Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide has shown significant brightening effects on the skin. This nutrient stops melanin (the pigment responsible for skin color) from transferring to the skin, reducing hyperpigmentation and dark spots in just 4 weeks of use [11].
• Kojic acid – This fungi-derived natural compound inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in melanin production. With just 12 weeks of topical use, kojic acid can significantly reduce hyperpigmentation and improve radiance [12].
• Arbutin – A longtime skin-brightening ingredient, arbutin also inhibits tyrosinase activity to reduce melanin production [13]. As an added bonus, its gentle nature makes it suitable for even the most sensitive skin types.

5. Acne-Fighting Serums

For those struggling with acne-prone skin or occasional breakouts, acne-fighting serums can be a game-changer. These serums often contain ingredients that reduce sebum production and inflammation, such as:

• Salicylic acid – A beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), salicylic acid can reduce acne by sloughing away dead skin cells that clog pores. One study found that salicylic acid products can reduce acne lesions in just 8 weeks [14].
• Tea tree oil – For natural skincare lovers, tea tree oil is a great acne-fighting ingredient. In one study across 12 weeks, a tea tree oil topical significantly reduced lesions and inflammation in mild to moderate acne [15].
• Zinc – This vital nutrient could be the key to unlocking blemish-free skin. In fact, research has shown that topicals with 5% zinc sulfate have reduced mild to moderate acne by decreasing inflammation [16].

Upgrade Your Skincare Routine with PROVEN

If you’re asking the question “What is serum good for?”, the answer is—what isn’t serum good for? These targeted and versatile products are excellent additions to any skincare routine. 

But before you add extra steps to your daily skincare session, it’s important to have the basics down. And that’s where PROVEN Skincare can help.

Through the power of natural and clinically-effective ingredients, PROVEN designs simple routines fit for your skin. Whether you’re facing pesky comedones or fine lines, we can create a 3-step regimen that brings the best out of your complexion. 

Take our skincare quiz today to discover your perfect formula and start your journey toward glowing, healthy skin.