How to guide: how to use serums in your skincare routine
It's all well and good talking about the benefits of a skincare routine, but for many of us, it's not really explained how best to choose and use individual products to get the most out of them. In recent weeks we have written about how to use cleansing oils and what the benefits are of using skin balms instead of creams. Skin serums are often recommended as an additional layer of nourishment and luxury within your skincare routine. So, what do they do, how do you choose the best one for you, and how do you use them?
The skincare benefits of serums
Serums are recommended as an additional step in a regular skincare routine, applied after cleansing and toning, but before using a moisturiser.
Working on different levels of the skin, and depending on the serum that you choose, they help to address fine lines and wrinkles, plumping the skin, nurturing it and making it more radiant. As a result, they are particularly beneficial at helping to prevent premature ageing, adding moisture to skin as it becomes more dry with age, and restoring skin that's been affected by cancer treatment.
Importantly, they can also be a really joyful part of your regular skincare routine, giving you time for self-care and mindfulness at the start and end of the day.
Key benefits of serums as part of your skincare routine include:
- They absorb quickly into the skin to nourish on a deep level.
- They can soothe sensitive skin.
- Help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Help protect the skin from pollution and the elements.
- Rejuvenates the skin.
At Beauty Despite Cancer, we create our serums with targeted results in mind, particularly relating to the side effects of cancer treatment. As a result, we have four dedicated serums within our skincare collection; our Defiant Beauty Serum, our Defiant Beauty Intensive Serum, our Beyond Beauty Morning Treatment and our Beyond Beauty Night Treatment.
Defiant Beauty Serum
Our Defiant Beauty Serum gently moisturises and rejuvenates dry and tight skin, and helps combat signs of premature ageing caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It's fragrance free and suitable for use during active cancer treatment. Ingredients are all natural, including apricot kernel oil, balancing jojoba oil and macadamia and a dose of vitamin E.
Defiant Beauty Intensive Serum
The Defiant Beauty Intensive Serum is a more targeted treatment, although it can be used as often as you require it on the face or any area that's aggravated. Also fragrance free, it can be used during active cancer treatment, helping to restore your skin to its natural pH. It aims to reduce lines and dark circles, and is for use on extremely sensitive skin, helping to combat the effects of aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the skin. Ingredients include apricot kernel oil, rice bran oil, peach kernel oil, and vitamin E.
Beyond Beauty Morning Treatment
Our Beyond Beauty Morning Treatment is designed to be used after active cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have finished as they contain essential oils. It works to lock in moisture, soothe sensitive skin, restore a youthful appearance and revive skin that's aged with cancer treatment. It contains nourishing calendula along with indulgent frankincense, ylang ylang and sandalwood for a luxurious start to the day.
Beyond Beauty Night Treatment
Also designed to be used after active cancer treatment has finished, our Beyond Beauty Night Treatment is designed to be used as part of your evening skincare routine. It balances and renews skin, gently moisturising and addressing tightness and dryness. Key ingredients include jojoba, macadamia and rice bran oils, along with frankincense, ylang ylang and lavender to help you relax and promote sleep.
Can you use serums if you have oily skin or acne?
As with any oil-based product, we're often asked if serums can be used on oily or acne-prone skin, especially as acne is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Oil based products are often extremely beneficial for oily skin as it helps to redress the balance in oil production. If you dry skin out, it tends to think that it needs to produce more oil.
That said, the important thing is to choose serums that are non-comedogenic (don't clog the pores). Natural skincare ingredients (like peach kernel oil, vitamin E and apricot kernel oil) tend to be far less likely to clog pores, and instead work with the skin to support its needs.
How to use serums
You only need a small amount of serum to have a positive impact on the skin. They are best used after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturiser.
- Use one drop of serum.
- Gently massage it into the skin, using gliding circular movements up towards the temples.
- Allow the product to be fully absorbed.
- Then apply your moisturiser to seal in moisture and protect the skin.
- Use serums twice a day.
