So in practice, this means that products that help boost your skin's hydration and moisture - such as essences, toners, facial sprays, serums, sheet masks, and moisturisers - are all ideal for applying to damp skin.
Face serums are ideal for dry skin as they retain and lock skin moisture providing deep skin hydration. Face serums for dry skin having components like hyaluronic acid make your skin plump, smooth, and glowing. Can face serum be used daily? Yes, face serums are ideal for daily use.
Dampening your skin before you apply your skin care prepares it to absorb whatever product you follow with. This is because damp skin is easier to penetrate than dry skin.
The Best Way to Apply SERUM:
Using your fingertips, pat serum onto skin, then smooth it outward. Resist the temptation to massage, and let the formula absorb on its own. Serums are packed with active ingredients, so James advises using more than the standard pea-sized amount to ensure your entire face gets coverage.
Apply to Damp Skin
“Damp skin is more permeable than dry skin,” says Debbie Thomas. “So technically you should get... better absorption of your products if applied directly after cleansing. You don't want it to be wet, but my advice is to apply your products within a minute of cleansing or washing your skin.”
According to the experts, the hero ingredient actually needs to be applied to damp skin in order to work. In fact, applying it to a dry face can have the opposite effect of what is intended, and actually leave skin more dehydrated. "Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet," says Allies of Skin founder Nicolas Travis.
Vitamin C serums must be applied on dry skin that has been cleaned. Being a water-soluble vitamin [4], applying it on damp skin can dilute the product and make it lose its slight acidic nature.
Serum and Moisturizer: 1 minute
Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.
Applying serums is a whole different ball game. For starters, rubbing it onto your face is not advised. Serums should be pressed and patted into the skin so that it can fully absorb all the benefits. Follow our simple steps to ensure you're getting the most out of your serums.
Let the serum properly settle into your skin before going in with a moisturiser. The recommended time is usually 4-5 minutes. You know your serum is doing a good job when it is seamless –– this means no oily residue or tackiness post application.
So, for the most part, you're going to get the best out of your serum if you apply it to damp skin (think slightly dewy; having just washed your face and patted the excess off - not soaking wet). Whilst damp, your skin is going to absorb all the goodness so much more effectively than if it were bone dry.
In general, it is best to apply serum before moisturizer. This gives the active ingredients in the serum the best chance of working. Otherwise, the best order and time of day for a skin care routine depends on the products' ingredients and the person's goals.
Any active treatment should be completely absorbed by your skin before moving on to the next step. The ideal wait time is 5-10 minutes depending on how soon the product is absorbed.
Still, serums aren't for everyone. Wu says the liquid or gel-like texture of a serum can be a poor match for people with chronic skin conditions like eczema or rosacea, which weaken the skin barrier. For these people, serums may penetrate too quickly, causing irritation.
After you've waited 5 minutes for the serum to absorb, apply your moisturizer to your face and neck. The moisturizer is the final step and finishing touch that helps seal in your serum and lock in the nutrients. It also gives you an extra layer of moisture to protect and hydrate your skin for a supple, dewy glow.
Serums usually contain a higher concentration of active ingredients compared to moisturisers. However, if you're wondering, “should I use face serum every day?”, well, yes, they're extremely safe to use every day. In fact, it is recommended by experts that you use a serum every day to get optimal results.
To apply a facial serum, clean your face thoroughly and pat dry with a damp towel. Then, massage a small amount of product into your hands and use circular motions to apply to wrinkles, blemishes, or other areas of concern on the face. The only wrong way to apply facial serum is never to use it at all!
Not patting dry: Especially if you have sensitive skin, take care to pat your face dry rather than rub after you've cleansed. The tugging of a towel can cause irritation, plus years of tugging at your skin can make it lose elasticity. When you rub around your eyes, dark spots are more likely to form.
Can I leave serum overnight? Leaving a serum on over night is ideal! As stated above, serums need time to absorb and your skin is most receptive when you're asleep so having a serum on before you go to bed is a great way to have your skin get the most out of the serum.
As such, a serum should always be applied before a moisturizer to allow the key ingredients to deeply hydrate and nourish. The moisturizer then works to lock those ingredients in.
We recommend you use no more than two face serums per routine. Again, alternating skin care items is a strategy here. If you have many serums that you like, use one or two in your morning routine and two different serums in the evening.
To layer vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums, always apply vitamin C first to cleansed, dry skin. Be sure to leave time for your vitamin C to sink in, then follow up with your hyaluronic acid.
This is because when your favorite moisturizers aren't applied to dry skin, they're able to trap more moisture and give your skin the long-lasting hydration you're after. Skip drying your face and apply your face cream or lotion directly to damp skin to get the most out of your moisturizing skin care products.