While small in size compared to other skincare products, beauty serums pack a powerful, high concentration of active ingredients—including protective antioxidants, anti-aging ingredients, and retexturizing acids—that get to work straight away. This skincare must-have is also lightweight and silky in texture, gliding onto skin after cleansing and toning and providing a plump, moist canvas for your favorite creams and masks.
So how do face serums work, and what’s the trick to adding them to your current routine? We’ve got quick answers.
How Do Face Serums Work?
A face serum is a highly concentrated skincare formula that delivers active ingredients to the skin, including protective antioxidants, skin-bolstering peptides, plumping hydrators, and resurfacing ingredients like acids and enzymes.
They’re meant to target specific skin concerns ranging from discoloration to dehydration to dullness, and you can even layer serums in a single routine or alternate them morning/night or daily to reach your skincare goals.
The texture of a face serum is lightweight and silky, with a thin and almost water-like consistency. This allows the serum to glide onto skin easily and without leaving behind a sticky or greasy residue. With consistent use, serums can visibly enhance skin tone and texture, leaving you skin looking radiant, clear, and rejuvenated.
How To Use Face Serums
Face serums are a true powerhouse in your skincare ritual, but there are some general rules to follow if you want to maximize their benefits. The rule of thumb for applying skincare products is to go from the thinnest consistent to the thickest. Following this rule, you’d cleanse your skin and then apply any toners or essences, then follow up with your serum. After, you can move onto face and eye creams, as well as face masks.
Most serums, including ours, come in pump bottles or with medicine-dropper applicators, making it easy to dispense just a few drops for your morning and nighttime skincare ritual. When applied properly, a small bottle of serum can last months.
Adding Serums to Your Skincare Routine
The beauty of serums is that you can customize usage to reach your skincare goals more quickly. Some are best for morning, others are ideal for night, and some you can layer on top of each other.
Morning Serums
For morning, prioritize antioxidants to shield against environmental stressors. For example, the KNESKO Rose Quartz Antioxidant Serum protects with a formula featuring ferulic acid (a powerful and dermatologist-beloved antioxidant) and rose quartz. Diamond Radiance Serum has a formula featuring stabilized vitamin C and tranexamic acid to brighten and protect. Meanwhile, diamond powder blurs imperfections and boosts luminosity.
Night Serums
At night, focus on using serums with reparative ingredients that visibly renew the skin, as well as those formulated with acids that address tone and texture. For example, KNESKO’s Black Pearl Resurfacing Serum combines an impressive blend of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) to promote cell turnover and support bright, glowing skin.
Layering Serums
Some serums are formulated to play very nicely with others, allowing you to layer them with your preferred morning and evening serums. These typically include serums intended to hydrate, soothe, and nourish. Three of our favorites for this are the peptide-loaded Gold Repair Serum, moisture-boosting Amethyst Hydrate Serum, and soothing Green Jade Calm Serum. Add them to your morning or evening routine and enjoy!
How Long Does It Take for Face Serums To Work?
Face serums can start working as soon as you apply them, particularly those with calming or moisturizing ingredients (like our Amethyst or Green Jade serums). Others require several weeks of consistent usage. Generally, you can expect to see improvements in skin texture and tone within a month or two, with significant changes—such as a reduced appearance of fine lines or dark spots—taking several months or longer.
Instantly Upgrade Your Skincare Ritual
When you’re ready to take your skincare routine to the next level, we’re here to help. At KNESKO, our gemstone-infused serum face masks rebalance, rejuvenate, and revive your skin with a powerful dose of active ingredients. Treat yourself to a luxurious skincare experience with our transformative products to support your skin and recharge your spirit.
Read next: Why Is Amethyst Used in Skincare?
