WHAT TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A SERUM AND A CREAM?
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SUMMARY
- What are the differences between a serum and a cream?
- Day cream, night cream, serum: Which facial care should you adopt?
- The must do : combining cream and serum for more effectiveness
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What are the differences between a serum and a cream?
To make a choice, it's important to first understand the difference between what a facial serum is and what a day or night cream is. Here are some points that can help clarify the subject.
The cream: your daily protection
Moisturizing creams are designed to hydrate, seal in moisture, and protect the skin. In the form of creamy emulsions, creams combine lipophilic and hydrophilic ingredients that play different roles.
Lipophilic ingredients are soluble in the lipid phase of the cream. They are intended to nourish and protect the skin by strengthening its protective barrier. This group includes vegetable oils, fatty acids, and other types of compounds.
Hydrophilic ingredients are soluble in water (such as floral waters or certain actives like GSM10, for example). They come into play to provide the skin with various benefits (anti-aging, soothing, regenerating, etc.).
The serum: A concentrated active formula
Skin serums are facial care products concentrated with active ingredients. They stand out with their lightweight texture, allowing them to penetrate deeply into the layers of the epidermis. Thanks to their small molecules, serums can penetrate the skin barrier quickly and effectively for profound action.
There are different types of serums formulated to address specific needs. Among the commonly present active ingredients are hyaluronic acid, renowned for its exceptional water-retaining capacity. Serum compositions also include antioxidants, peptides, vitamins, AHA or BHA, among other beneficial components.
Cream and Serum: Two complementary cares for your skin
Due to their different compositions and modes of action, creams and serums complement each other as facial cares. In very rare cases (extremely humid climate, very oily skin), some people may opt for using a serum alone. However, in most cases, the use of a moisturizing cream is essential to protect the skin (specifically the sensitive skin and the dry skin) and reinforce its skin barrier. Thus, if the choice between a cream and a serum must be made, we generally recommend using a cream alone.
However, it would be a shame to miss out on the benefits of the serum, to be used daily or as a treatment. Paired with the use of a moisturizing cream, the serum is a perfect ally for specific needs: during seasonal changes, when the skin shows signs of fatigue, when it is attacked by the sun, cold, or when it experiences the first signs of aging. Let's see how to combine them to optimize their effectiveness.
Day cream, night cream, serum: Which facial care should you adopt?
Your skin needs hydration from morning to night (and from night to morning). But did you know that depending on the time of day, your facial care should address different types of issues? Let's see how to multiply the benefits of your facial care according to your needs throughout the day.
In the morning
Upon waking up, your routine should focus on effective skin protection. During the day, choose a cream that suits your skin type and needs, offering long-lasting moisturizing effects to help the skin maintain optimal hydration balance and protect it from external aggressions. As for the serum, opt for a product that matches your current needs, whether it be mattifying, targeting imperfections, spots, wrinkles, or providing protection, etc. For additional antioxidant action, prioritize serums with active antioxidant ingredients that protect the skin throughout the day.
In the evening
Before bedtime, it's better to focus on skin regeneration and repair. Choose a richer moisturizing cream that will allow the skin to regenerate well at night, with a "plump" effect upon waking up.Combine this action with a serum capable of repairing the skin and increasing its natural ability to rejuvenate.
A continuous action on the skin
Some facial cares combine several essential functions for the skin. Therefore, they can be used morning and evening as the skin draws the actives it needs when it needs them. This is the case with Le Domaine Serum, for example. Its boosting and tightening effect helps awaken and "smooth out" the skin in the morning. Its concentration of antioxidants ensures skin protection throughout the day. In the evening, the Serum provides its richness in anti-aging actives to help the skin regenerate.
Reducing visible signs of aging
While for some issues (imperfections, sensitivity, dehydration, etc.), the use of serums as a treatment may suffice, other subjects require continuous use of facial cares. Reducing visible signs of aging with a good anti-aging cream is part of this second group.
The must do : combining cream and serum for more effectiveness
The actives used in cream and serum are often complementary. Their different compositions allow them to contain actives of different natures or in different quantities that have complementary actions to act on the skin. To simplify, a moisturizing cream, while providing different actives to the skin, creates a protective barrier by sealing in moisture on the skin's surface. Applied under this barrier, the serum has the opportunity to fully play its role by penetrating the deeper layers of the skin.
In the case of Beau Domaine Routines, facial cares like The Serum and The Cream or The Fluid Cream are perfect examples of this complementarity. On one hand, certain actives, like ProGR3 or GSM10, are found in different formulations and echo each other. On the other hand, the specific actives in each type of care allow them to work in symbiosis to reduce visible signs of aging.
The perks of choosing the right products
Facial cares aimed at reducing visible signs of aging require consistency. It is important to choose cares whose effectiveness has been tested, of course, but this effectiveness will have little benefit if you do not apply the chosen care routine.
Try to choose skin care products that you will enjoy using first and foremost. For a moisturizing cream, for example, the choice of texture is important based on your skin's needs (and sensations). It may seem obvious, but you will not choose the same cream texture based on your skin type. This is why Le Beau Domaine offers two moisturizing creams. The Cream, with its whipped texture, creamy and rich, and is better suited for skin in need of hydration and comfort. The Fluid Cream, on the other hand, quickly penetrates the skin while leaving it hydrated. Feel free to play with textures. For example, we advise some of our clients to use The Fluid Cream as a day cream and The Cream as a night cream.
Finally, don't forget to always check the composition of your facial cares. A strict blacklist is often the best way to avoid controversial ingredients, whether for the environment or for the balance of your skin.
Preventing rather than curing : the power of SPF and hydration
Sunscreen protection is an essential element of skincare, especially to prevent premature aging but also others skin issues. On a daily basis, choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 to 50 according to your phototype, as the final touch to your skin care routine to protect your skin. During the summer months, feel free to increase the protection factor. Note that good hydration is also a good way to slow down the appearance of wrinkles, mature skin and fine lines. Drink enough water (between 1.5 and 2 liters per day) to maintain your skin's hydration from the inside and also to prevent a youthful appearance.
