Finding a skincare routine that works for you can be a tricky business. You might have your cleanser, exfoliant, and moisturiser down pat, but have you invested in the right serum?
Now, some of you might be a little unfamiliar with what a serum actually does. Daily Vanity is here to break it down for you, and to give you some pro tips for picking out a good serum. Read on and stay till the end to register for complimentary serum samples!
What is a serum?
Applied after cleansing and before moisturising, serums help deliver potent, highly concentrated ingredients right into your skin, making it a perfect tool for addressing specific skincare concerns. We’re talking dry skin, ageing skin, dull skin… the list goes on.
In short? A good serum whips your skin in shape, bringing you closer to the smooth, even, and radiant skin of your dreams. Your skincare routine is not complete until you have a great serum in your line-up.
But, are serums actually effective?
Well, the answer depends largely on if you pick out a good serum that works for you. According to the professionals, serums are one of the few skincare products you should splurge on, due to how they go ‘above and beyond as compared to regular skincare’.
This is because serums, in general, are developed with a higher concentration of active ingredients, with many of them ensuring that you get a better penetration of these aforementioned nutrient-rich, good-for-you ingredients . That’s why a little goes a long way when it comes to these effective powerhouses: three to five drops a day should do it.
Alright, you convinced me. So, how do I pick out a good serum?
1. Look at the ingredients list
Always start off by looking at the ingredients list of any serum that you’re interested in getting. Sure, the wall of text can be pretty intimidating at first, but we guarantee that you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
Here are sone pretty common ingredients found in good serums:
- Vitamin C: Helps even out skin tone, enhance skin repair process, and improve skin elasticity.
- Liposomes: A multi-layered molecule, it is engineered to encapsulate multiple powerful ingredients, releasing them into the skin layer by layer to provide long-lasting hydration and moisturisation. And as we all know, well hydrated and moisturised skin will, naturally, appear brighter and more radiant than before.
- Retinol/Peptides: Boosts collagen production, which keeps skin plump, firm, and bouncy.
2. Test out to see if the product has a light, clear formula
Serums — or a good serum, that is — are typically made of a clear formula, and will appear very light as compared to creams. The reason behind this? Well, according to dermatologists, this is because lighter coloured serums tend to have smaller molecules, which in turn, makes it easier to penetrate and pass through layers of the skin. This means that the powerful active ingredients contained in your serum goes right down to the cellular level, hence allowing users to maximise the effectiveness of the product. Score!
DV Tip: If you’re unsure as to how ‘light’ or ‘clear’ the formula is compared to other serums out there in the market, simply pick out a product that contains Liposomes. These tiny molecules are just 1/300 the size of your skin cells, which allows for effortless and quicker absorption into your skin!
3. Make sure your serum is hydrating
And nope, we don’t mean moisturising. The terms are often used interchangeably despite the fact that there is a key difference between both processes. Sure, both involve the obtaining of moisture to fight dryness, signs of ageing, as well as environmental damage, but how they go about achieving those results is another story all together. According to dermatologists, moisturisers trap the natural oils and lipids on the surface of your skin, preventing water from evaporating to maintain a healthy moisture balance. Hydrators, on the other hand, are specifically formulated to increase water content by catching moisture from the air and delivering it down to the skin’s layers.
So, what does this mean? Well, to sum it up: using a hydrating serum actually adds water to the skin, plumping it and allowing a whole host of other benefits, such as increasing your skin’s absorption abilities, thus further increasing the effectiveness of the other products in your skincare routine.
DV Tip: Always check to see if the serum of your choice has hydrating properties. More often than not, it is stated on the product itself. If unsure, feel free to consult with the people working at the store to get more information.
Looking for a serum that fulfills all of the above points?
A serum that ticks all of the boxes mentioned above? The DECORTÉ MOISTURE LIPOSOME Hydration Boosting Serum. This underrated product has garnered several notable accolades already, with it winning ‘Best Hydrating Serum’ in Japan’s top 3 beauty bibles: Voce, Biteki, and Macquia.
This, in large part, has to do with how the product contains all the qualities that one is looking for in a good serum, such as:
1. Rapid penetration
DECORTÉ MOISTURE LIPOSOME Hydration Boosting Serum is formulated with multi-layered liposomes, with each liposome measuring at a mere 0.1 micron! It is precisely its minute size that enables the rapid penetration of nutrients into your skin, going right down to the cells and giving it all the benefits it needs.
2. Intelligent targeting
Repairing damaged skin cells is a breeze with DECORTÉ MOISTURE LIPOSOME Hydration Boosting Serum’s intelligent targeting system. Being able to tell which areas require the most moisure also allows for it to be transported to said areas rapidly, soothing dry, irritated skin instantaneously.
3. Long-lasting hydration
Known as a hydration boosting serum, it is also infused with Liposome technology, which gives your skin unparalleled levels of hydration and moisture. Layer by layer, wholesome beauty ingredients are released gradually over a long period of time, even while you sleep, allowing for continuous hydration. The end result? Firm, bouncy, and radiant skin.
4. Synergistic capability
Nope, you’re not reading that wrong: it even doubles up as a booster for the other products in your skincare routine. Say what?! This is due to the fact that it helps to regulate your skin condition, with a softened skin texture allowing for better absorption capabilities. The more moisturised your skin is, the more other beauty products are absorbed easily into your skin.
5. Gentle on your skin
Plus, let’s not forget that this baby is oil free, alcohol free, and suitable for all skin types, even those with the most sensitive of skin. This is because of how each layer of the liposome molecule is made of phospholipids, similar to that of your skin cell membrane, resulting in high affinity to your skin.
With a long list of powerful ingredients, a light, clear formula, as well as intensive hydrating abilities, there’s no doubt that the DECORTÉ MOISTURE LIPOSOME Hydration Boosting Serum fulfills all the requirements of a good serum.
Looking to try it out for yourself? Well, DECORTÉ MOISTURE LIPOSOME Hydration Boosting Serum is available at its beauty counters in major departmental stores such as Takashimaya, Isetan Scotts, Metro Centrepoint and Isetan Katong. It retails for SGD157 for 40ml, and SGD203 for 60ml.
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-This article is brought to you by DECORTÉ.
