What Are Serums?
Over the past few years, serums have become a key element in any developed skin-care routine. When we talk about serums, we’re referring to a skin care product that is formulated with a high concentration of active ingredients. Serums are a powerful ally in achieving naturally healthy skin and can be made out of 100% organic and natural ingredients. They can be oil-based or water-based and can have many different benefits: anti-aging, brightening, anti-blemish, balancing skin tone - the possibilities are endless!
Over the past few years, serums have become a key element in any developed skin-care routine. When we talk about serums, we’re referring to a skin care product that is formulated with a high concentration of active ingredients. Serums are a powerful ally in achieving naturally healthy skin and can be made out of 100% organic and natural ingredients. They can be oil-based or water-based and can have many different benefits: anti-aging, brightening, anti-blemish, balancing skin tone - the possibilities are endless!
How to use serums?
It is generally considered best to apply serums after cleansing and toning but before moisturiser and sunscreen. The powerful active ingredients will have the most effect if applied to clean skin without any dead skin build-up! Just a few drops of serum should be a sufficient amount to cover your entire face and neck. Some people like to use serums as a stand-alone product, particularly those with oily skin who find that using a light serum means they don’t need a moisturiser. For those who prefer a simpler morning routine, specialised “night time” serums will nourish, repair and enhance your skin whilst you sleep. It’s still important to cleanse and tone your skin before bed to remove any makeup and make sure you apply your serum before any night creams. This is to ensure that your skin is reaping the maximum benefits of your serum.
It is generally considered best to apply serums after cleansing and toning but before moisturiser and sunscreen. The powerful active ingredients will have the most effect if applied to clean skin without any dead skin build-up! Just a few drops of serum should be a sufficient amount to cover your entire face and neck. Some people like to use serums as a stand-alone product, particularly those with oily skin who find that using a light serum means they don’t need a moisturiser. For those who prefer a simpler morning routine, specialised “night time” serums will nourish, repair and enhance your skin whilst you sleep. It’s still important to cleanse and tone your skin before bed to remove any makeup and make sure you apply your serum before any night creams. This is to ensure that your skin is reaping the maximum benefits of your serum.
The benefits of using natural serum
Natural ingredients such as natural vegetable oils and hydrolates (flower waters) have a wide range of different properties and are overall more beneficial to our skin than synthetic equivalents, before active ingredients are even taken into consideration. By carefully choosing the ingredients in your serums, you can create a powerful multi-tasking product. Multifunctional serums can for example not only protect the skin but also help to even out skin tone and visibly improve the depth of facial wrinkles. If you are looking to make your own natural serums, using natural ingredients as your base will ensure that you are packing as many benefits as possible into your product - every ingredient will play its part in making your skin look radiant.
Using Active Agents in Serums
Active ingredients are raw natural materials that if used correctly and chosen carefully, can enhance and add immense value to your natural serums. Serums contain a higher concentration of active ingredients compared to creams or lotions, representing up to 20% of the final product. Active ingredients are either water-soluble or oil-soluble. Some vegetable oils such as pomegranate seed oil are so effective that they could be considered active ingredients in their own right. Water-based serums will often be made using a hydrolate such as rose water and contain active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, botanical glycerol extracts, and vitamin C. Oil-based serums can be a blend of vegetable oils and active ingredients such as botanical CO2 extracts or Algaktiv Zen. Let’s not forget about the skin care benefits of essential oils! As well as making your products smell fantastic, essential oils are great active ingredients to use in oil-based serums.
Active ingredients are raw natural materials that if used correctly and chosen carefully, can enhance and add immense value to your natural serums. Serums contain a higher concentration of active ingredients compared to creams or lotions, representing up to 20% of the final product. Active ingredients are either water-soluble or oil-soluble. Some vegetable oils such as pomegranate seed oil are so effective that they could be considered active ingredients in their own right. Water-based serums will often be made using a hydrolate such as rose water and contain active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, botanical glycerol extracts, and vitamin C. Oil-based serums can be a blend of vegetable oils and active ingredients such as botanical CO2 extracts or Algaktiv Zen. Let’s not forget about the skin care benefits of essential oils! As well as making your products smell fantastic, essential oils are great active ingredients to use in oil-based serums.
View some of our serum recipes by clicking on the links below: