While we’ll always be a proponent of “less is more” when it comes to skincare, we’ll never let you skip out on the essentials just to shorten your regimen. That’s why we’re here to share everything you need to know about the must-have step for targeted results: serum. Keep reading to dive deeper into the importance of serum and how it’ll help maximize your skin transformation.
What Is Serum & Why Is It Important?
As the second step in your skincare routine, your serum is the treatment that gets applied after you cleanse (step 1) and before you moisturize (step 3). This treatment is an essential part of your skincare regimen because it delivers a concentrated dose of active ingredients to target your specific skin concerns. Such concerns can range from skin dehydration, wrinkles, uneven tone, uneven texture, breakouts, and more.
Between the high concentration of actives and the typically lightweight texture, serums can penetrate the skin more deeply than heavier face creams. In turn, serums act as the power booster of your regimen to amplify efficacy for even more impactful results.
The Best Ingredients for Serums
Depending on your skin concerns, there are a variety of active ingredients we recommend looking for in a serum. A few of our favorites include hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, peptides, and AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids). Here’s how these work:
Hyaluronic Acid (HA): The ne plus ultra of hydration, HA works wonders to moisturize and plump skin while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Since this molecule is found naturally in the human body (with approximately 50% of it found in our skin) and it depletes as you age, topical application of the ingredient is all the more critical for ultimate replenishment as you get older.
Vitamin C: A supercharged ingredient, vitamin C is unmatched when it comes to brightening benefits. Beyond the brilliance, this antioxidant protects against free radical damage (think wrinkles, sun spots, redness, and more) while boosting collagen production, inhibiting inflammation, evening skin texture, and minimizing discoloration.
Peptides: Peptides are short chains of amino acids, AKA the “building blocks of life,” that make up proteins throughout the body, from your skin and hair to your blood and organs. When applied topically, peptides play a crucial role in keeping your skin healthy and bouncy. To do so, they stimulate collagen and elastin production (think tighter skin); smooth lines, wrinkles, and texture; support and strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier; and help reduce inflammation.
AHAs: Alpha Hydroxy Acids increase cell turnover to remove pore-clogging impurities that can cause breakouts and shedding dull, dead skin cells for a boost in luminosity. In doing so, AHAs help to soften, smooth, and improve overall skin texture for a noticeably healthier, more radiant appearance. Our AHAs come in the form of The Reflekt Complex. This signature blend of fruit enzymes (like pomegranate, pineapple, and passionfruit), gently exfoliates for a luminous, reflective effect on the skin.
For a targeted treatment formulated with all of these ingredients, you’ll want to experience Reflekt 2 Collagen Boost Vitamin C Brightening Serum. It’s a true one-and-done serum that’s suitable for all skin types to deliver multi-dimensional hydration, boost elasticity, and visibly minimize pores.
