Moisturizers vs. Serums

What’s the difference between moisturizers and serums and why would I need to use one?

You could use one or the other and get benefits, but they are designed to be used together.

Moisturizers:

A moisturizer’s essential and primary function is to smooth and soften the skin to keep it flexible, as well as maintaining the skin’s moisture levels.  If it does not do these things effectively, it’s not a moisturizer and the skin will not feel better.  Moisturizers work by using a combination of materials that help attract moisture into the skin.  These are known technically as humectants and include materials like glycerin.  They also help to replace the skin’s natural protective barrier using oils and waxes.  More often than not, moisturizers will be an oil/water emulsion to ensure both oils and humectants can be delivered together.  Many modern moisturizers have secondary functions such as protecting the skin against free radicals (e.g. by using antioxidants) and anti-aging (e.g. by using vitamin A), but customer expectation is that the primary function MUST be delivered.  Because of these limitations, it is not always possible to get everything you need from a moisturizer.

Serums:

A serum is probably best thought of as an ADDITIONAL step in the skincare regime, supporting cleansing and moisturizing.  Many serums also soften and smooth the skin (to make them more pleasant to use) but this is not a primary function or expectation with consumers.  Serums offer alternative ways of delivering useful materials that can enhance the skin in all sorts of ways.  Paradoxically, one of these may be to enhance moisturization!  For example, using an oil rich in materials similar to the skin’s own protective components will enhance the skin’s own trapping of moisture (in the same way that ointments do for skin diseases).  Using a serum such as this will leave the skin feeling very different and this may not equate to a consumer’s expectation of a moisturizer (so another name is required!  A serum!).  Serums allow other concentrated ingredients to the skin in a way that is not easily done with water and oil moisturizers.

No7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum is designed to provide concentrated anti-aging ingredients to the skin in a silky smooth serum that allows the product to be finely spread over the skin.

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