Your skin – looks so simple, but taking care of it can be complicated at times. With so many products available, it’s easy to wonder what each one does and whether you really need all of them.
One of the most common questions people have is about serums and moisturizers.
What’s the difference?
Do you need both?
Can they work together and if yes, then how do they work together?
Understanding the what and how of serum and moisturizer
Let’s start with the basics – what is a serum and what is a moisturiser.
A serum is like a superhero in your skincare routine, because this lightweight product is often packed with powerful active ingredients designed to target specific skin concerns. Think of it as a treatment that goes straight to the problem areas!
- Serums are generally really thin, almost watery and are absorbed into the skin quite quickly. They tend to contain a concentrated dose of active ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or retinol and are often formulated to address specific issues like fine lines, dark spots, acne, or dehydration.
A moisturizer is your skin’s best friend when it comes to hydration, because its primary job is to lock in moisture and create a protective barrier to keep your skin soft and smooth.
- Moisturizers come in creams, lotions, or gels and feel richer than serums, because they tend to contain humectants (like glycerine), emollients (like oils), and occlusives (like petroleum jelly), because these are created to seal in hydration and shield your skin from environmental stressors.
Serum vs moisturizer – which do you need?
There are many people who will ask – do I really need both; serum and moisturizer?
The short answer?
Yes - if you want to give your skin the best care possible, then you should have both in your skincare routine, because both tend to have different roles and when used properly, they can complement each other beautifully.
But why are they both important?
Well, because a serum works deep within the skin to address specific issues, while a moisturiser locks in hydration and supports the skin’s barrier, preventing water loss.
How do you choose the right serum for your skin
You need to remember that not all serums are the same – you need to choose one that works best for your skin type.
- For dry skin – you need to look for serums with hyaluronic acid or glycerine to boost hydration or niacinamide that is great for strengthening the skin barrier.
- For oily skin – choose something that will help balance the sebum in your skin, without stripping away the natural moisture.
- For acne prone skin – pick serums with salicylic acid, tea tree oil, or niacinamide to reduce breakouts and vitamin C to help fade acne scars.
- For anti-aging - Retinol or plant-based alternatives like bakuchiol and peptides are excellent for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, while antioxidants like vitamin E and green tea extract protect against free radical damage.
Similar rules need to be followed when you are choosing a moisturiser for your skin too.
- For dry skin – choose a rich cream with shea butter or ceramides to lock in moisture, and avoid lightweight gels, as they may not provide enough hydration.
- For oily skin – go for oil-free, gel-based moisturizers with mattifying properties and look for ingredients like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid.
- For sensitive skin – pick a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer with soothing ingredients like oatmeal or chamomile.
- For combination skin - a lightweight lotion can balance hydration without being too heavy.
Serum or moisturizer first? Here is the answer!
It’s like the chicken or the egg conundrum - layering these products correctly is what will ensure that you get the most out of them, and here is how you go about doing that:
- Start with clean skin, making sure that you have used a gentle cleanser to wash your face.
- Use a few drops of the serum and spread it evenly across your face, allowing it to get completely absorbed.
- Seal in the serum by applying your moisturizer.
But why bother going into the difference between serum and moisturizer conversation?
Correct – why bother get into that conversation, when you know that the serums offered by us at indē wild are more than enough! They are designed to do what serums are supposed to do and in addition to that, they also offer the care and nourishment that moisturisers offer.
- Our serums are formulated to address specific skin concerns and unlike moisturizers, which primarily focus on hydration, these penetrate deeper layers of the skin to deliver concentrated active ingredients where they’re needed most.
- Our AM Sunrise Glow Serum and PM Sunset Restore Serum are both have a lightweight in texture which ensures that these are absorbed quickly into the skin without leaving a greasy residue.
- Packed with powerful active ingredients like Vitamin C, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, our serums will bring noticeable improvements in skin health.
- These multi-tasking serums are designed to hydrate, nourish, and repair the skin, which means that this is the minimalist skincare that you are looking for.
And in case you do want to layer, for instance a sunscreen or even makeup, these serums are perfect!
So, rather than get into serum or moisturizer which is best; just skip the moisturiser and stick to the serums from indē wild!