Serum Or Cream? Which One to Use?

Taking care of your skin takes dedication, patience and a generous wallet too, and not only you need to use good quality products, but you also need to choose wisely as you don’t want to damage your skin.

For any beginner, the proper skin care routine can get confusing and it’s only some good education on the matter that is going to bring a little light in some cases. Truth be told, the new terms are many and we need to be merciful with one just entering the proper skin care fields.

From serums, to creams and essences, the skin care routine isn’t just about getting the high dollar cosmetics, but also getting the right cosmetics for certain skin matters and use them properly for maximum results.

Are creams and serums just the same?

The short answer is a definite and big “no” and with that out of the way, we “only” need to enlighten you about when to use, why use and how to use properly a serum or a cream.

Serums and creams are anything but the same and the only thing that they have in common as that they benefit your skin on different levels. The more you get to know about each of them, the easier it’s going to be for one to choose wisely when in need.

What’s to know about creams?

Born in the times of sliced bread, moisturizing face creams sure passed the test of the iconic cosmetics that aren’t ever going to go away (as far as we know). The typically oil-based pastes are created mainly for moisturizing your skin. People are always falling for them and try them over and over again and it’s almost impossible to find one that doesn’t use any sort of cream at some point in his/her life.

Moisturizers creams come in various consistencies and a general rule to choose it the dryer the skin, the heavier the cream is going to have to be. As a matter of fact, normal to dry skin-type are benefits from creams on regular basis as they’re great for sealing in moisture in skin.

Even though moisturizing is the main purpose for the creams, they typically include various active ingredients that are good for the skin on other levels. This is why the diversity of face creams is so impressive and you can get from a simple “rejuvenating” moisturizer cream to a far more sophisticated “anti-aging” face cream.

Argireline, Saccharide Isomerate, retinol, coenzyme Q10 or Glucare S and Trylagen are just some of the ingredients listed on the anti-aging creams and the more you’re willing to pay, the more you should expect in terms of performance from your moisturizer cream. After all, why not pay just one price for a cream that is formulated on effective and strong active ingredients that help your skin healthy and young and with a nice glow too?

One thing to always keep in mind is that an oil-based cream is going to have a heavier consistency so an oily skin type should stay away from this type of creams. The risk for a heavy cream to cause breakouts or acne is pretty high and you don’t want to add grease on top of grease, clogging pores and encouraging oily build-ups.

The creams are typically made of larger molecules so they need more time until full absorption into the skin. They also create a barrier that may lock out all the active ingredients, especially if they’re not mixed very well with the cream’s delivery “base”. Don’t forget this part and take it under consideration when planning to follow the cream with some other creams.

What should you know about serums?

Unlike creams, serums are newer skin care products that may even surprise some with their innovative formulas. Created for addressing specific skin conditions, serums are water-based products so they’re lighter than creams. They’re a reliable choice for the oily skin as they’re not adding more oil to your skin.

Serums are made up of smaller molecules so they soak right into the skin. Additionally, a little goes a long way so you’re not going to have to use much of serum for each use. Due to its smaller molecular structure, serums are typically created to treat specific skin conditions, from the anti-aging formula to the brightening/whitening the dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

What’s similar to creams is that you can increase the benefits of the serums with the addition of effective active ingredients.

Another important benefit of the serums comes from their lightweight consistency that allows you to use up to 3 types of serums on your skin, simply layering them up and not worrying about cancelling each other’s benefits. There’s no reason whatsoever for you not to use serums and creams altogether.

The high concentration of the serums comes with a twist and reveals the main downside of serums: they don’t come cheap. When you come to think of it, you do have to pay more for a serum, but on the long run it’s going to be worth it as a little goes a long way anyway. It’s very likely that the small recipient of a serum is going to outlast the bigger jar of creams, in all fairness.

As they go fast and deeply into the skin, the serums may not be the safest option for one with severe skin conditions (eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and so on). The risk for irritation is to take under consideration. Keep in mind that the serums are water-based cosmetics so you don’t want to apply them on wet skin.

The final thought

Even though they’re not the best choice for an oily skin, the creams are a good cosmetic for the normal to dry skin types. Designed to address specific skin conditions, serums are a valid option for the oily skin types.

As long as you know how to make them work together, you should be able to use both a serum and a cream, only to have a healthier, younger and better looking skin for longer time.