2 Hydrating Face Serums

Here are two ways to help keep your face hydrated, soft, and glowing:

Quench Hydrating Face Serum

The Bottom Line

This hydrating face serum contains a special complex to pull essential moisture in and lock it there for skin that feels like satin.

Pros

• The serum delivers hydration to dry skin and locks moisture in skin cells.
• Good for normal to dry, mature and sensitive skin types.
• Helps protect against environmental damage and excessive UV exposure.

Cons

• Expensive, but worth it.

Description

• Manufacturer – Kate Somerville Skin Care
• Size: 1 ounce
• Suggested retail price: $75
• Described as a moisture-locking treatment that delivers a luminous glow. The serum moisturizes skin and protects against photoaging and regenerates tissue to promote firmness and elasticity for youthful, healthy and fresher looking skin.
• Ingredients – HSC Complex to deliver intense hydration while counteracting environmental stressors; wheat germ oil, with a concentrated dose of vitamins E, B1, B2, B3, B6, phosphorous, zinc and iron to sooth irritated skin and increase firmness; RetiStar, an advanced and stabilized form of vitamin A to counteract aging for a more youthful appearance and lipids to help improve elasticity.
• Usage – Apply one pump on the face and neck twice daily, in the morning and evening. It can also be used alone or under moisturizer.

Review of Quench Hydrating Face Serum

I had a wow moment when I tried Quench for the first time. My skin instantly felt silky smooth, and I loved the way the product felt as I applied it to my face, giving it a subtle glossy glow.

I’m sure this is because of the silicones in the formulation – dimethiconol, an emollient that gives a glossy look to the skin and makes it feel smooth and silky while forming a protective barrier and filling in lines and wrinkles, and dimethicone protects the skin from transdermal water loss (TEWL). Black skin has a higher rate of TEWL because the stratum corneum (outermost layer of the skin) is made of more layers. After using the product, I definitely saw improvement in skin texture and complexion.

Also read my review of ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, which you can use to cleanse and prepare the face for the hydrating serum.

How to make your own hydrating face serum >>

Homemade Hydrating Face Serum

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 1-tablespoon wheat germ oil
• 1-tablespoon rosehip seed oil
• 15 drops rose essential oil

Directions

Fill a dark-colored glass dropper bottle with half of the carrier oils (jojoba, wheat germ, and rosehip oil) then add the essential oil. Fill the bottle with the remainder of the carrier oils and shake for 1-2 minutes. Apply with fingertips to your face and also neck.

Store in a cool, dark place—away from heat and light.

The serum should last up to six months.

About the ingredients

Jojoba Oil. Jojoba (ho-ho-bah) oil resembles the skin’s own sebum. It’s a non-greasy oil that absorbs easily. As a natural sunscreen, containing vitamin E, it protects the layers of the skin and fights fine lines and skin imperfections.

Wheat Germ Oil. Wheat germ oil is high in vitamin E and also essential fatty acids. It helps promote the formation of new cells, improves skin circulation, and repairs and protects the skin from sun damage and the loss of elasticity. Wheat germ also helps moisturize dry, dehydrated, and mature skin for a smoother, more youthful appearance. An additional benefit is that it is an antioxidant and also preserves shelf life. You can substitute wheat germ oil with vitamin E oil.

Rosehip Seed Oil. The rosehip seed oil contains vitamin A, and like retinol helps delay the effects of skin aging by helping to fight wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes and mouth, assisting in skin cell regeneration and collagen and elastin production.

It also softens and hydrates the skin.

Rose Oil. Rose oil is a great emollient for dry, mature, and sensitive skin. It tones and tightens the skin and promotes a smooth and clear complexion.

More anti-aging recipes for the face.

What Is A Facial Serum? – And How To Use One?

Serums are a great skincare product that is often misunderstood. Here’s what a serum is and how to use one.

I think one of the more confusing skincare products on the market is serums. People are generally perplexed about what serums are and how and when to use them as part of their skincare routine.

What Is A Serum?

Serums are generally water-based liquid or gel products that feel lightweight on the skin. They differ from moisturizers not only in their consistency and feel on the skin but also in terms of the ingredients they contain. For instance, a moisturizer will have an occlusive ingredient in it so that water won’t evaporate from your skin while a serum will not have such an ingredient.

Serums have a high concentration of active ingredients like antioxidants, vitamins, skin brighteners, peptides, hydrators, or exfoliators. Because of the formulation of serums they generally penetrate better than your moisturizer and are fast-absorbing. A serum can be used to address specific skincare concerns such as dark spots, fine lines, or dry skin.

Who Needs A Serum?

Actually, almost anyone could benefit from using a serum; you just need to find the right serum for you. If you are looking for anti-aging ingredients serums can give your skincare routine a great boost by providing your skin with a dose of concentrated anti-aging ingredients. Oilier skin types usually love serums because they feel weightless on the skin. Everyone can also benefit from using an antioxidant serum during the day like a Vitamin C serum.

How Do You Use A Serum

A lot of serums are actually quite expensive; I won’t beat around the bush when it comes to that fact. But despite their generally high price serums will last for a long time. You apply the serum directly to your skin after cleansing and toning (if you use a toner). Depending on the function of the serum and its active ingredients you apply either morning or night. Most importantly you don’t need a lot of product – a few drops or a pea-size amount of the product is enough. More is not better if it comes to serums. Wait a few minutes after applying your serum (brush your teeth for instance) and then apply your moisturizer on top. If you are applying serum in the morning, don’t forget your sun protection as well.

Products To Try:

• Neutrogena Ageless Intensives® Anti-Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Serum – with retinol, good for nighttime use.
• Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum – yes, this is pricey, but it is also one of the best Vitamin C serums on the market.
• First Aid Beauty Anti-Redness Serum – soothing and anti-inflammatory this serum also has antioxidants.
• BOOTS No7 Pore Refining Serum – great for oily skin this product is also hypoallergenic.
• L’Oreal Paris Youth Code™ Serum Intense – this product has peptides in it in order to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
• Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum – this serum hydrates and gently exfoliates.

DIY Facial Serum

If you are someone who prefers to create their beauty and skincare products, there are lots of ways to whip up your own facial serum. Generally, the recipes for DIY facial serums involve the use of carrier oil such as jojoba, avocado, or olive oil mixed with drops of essential oils like lavender, rose, sandalwood, and frankincense. Of course, there are numerous variations when it comes to homemade facial serums. You might need to try a few different recipes before you hit on the right one for you.

Facial Serum vs. Facial Moisturizer – What’s The Difference?

When To Use A Serum and When To Use A Moisturizer? What is the difference between a facial serum and a facial moisturizer? When do you use one but not the other? Find out in this article.

Question: Facial Serum vs. Facial Moisturizer – What’s The Difference?

When should you use a facial serum, and when should you use a facial moisturizer? What are the differences between these two products?

Introduction:

It can be confusing to know when to use a facial serum and when to use a moisturizer. It can even be confusing to know what the difference between these 2 facial products is. A serum and a moisturizer actually help the skin in different ways.

Sometimes just a serum will be sufficient for your skin requirements, and other times you might find that you need both a serum and a moisturizer.

Answer:

Serums are a skincare product that is easily misunderstood. Serums are thinner and also lighter than moisturizers and can have a great variety of functions.

Usually, serums contain active ingredients that you want to penetrate as deeply as possible into your skin. For this reason, you always apply the serum directly to your skin after cleansing and toning and before your sunscreen and moisturizer. Serums also can be used both in the morning and at night. They do not replace your moisturizer but can boost the hydrating effects of your moisturizer. Serums can be used to address a specific skincare issue. For example, there are anti-aging serums, skin brightening serums, and even acne preventative serums. Serums tend to be more pricey than other skincare products, but luckily since they are full of potent skincare ingredients, a little bit goes a long way.

Moisturizers are thicker and creamier than serums. They are meant above all to hydrate the skin and prevent water loss. Some moisturizers can have extra added ingredients such as anti-aging ingredients so that they do double work for your skin. But to address a problematic skincare problem like dark spots you will need all the help you get and then a serum is just the product your skin needs.

Products To Try:

Serums To Try To Address Specific Skin Care Issues:

Origins make a great anti-aging serum that helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s on the pricier side, but this small bottle lasts a long time and will keep your skin well hydrated along with providing anti-aging ingredients.

If you’re looking for a skin brightening serum, we would recommend checking out Aveda’s Enbrightenment Serum. This serum has contained mulberry extract to help brighten the look of dark spots and also reveal even-toned skin.

There is also a type of acne preventative serums on the market today. We suggest checking out the Mario Badescu Anti-Acne Serum. That serum is a salicylic acid-based gel that you apply directly on any acne-prone regions of the face to clear up existing pimples and to prevent new ones from forming.

Moisturizers:

A moisturizer has bigger molecules than a serum. That means that a moisturizer will not or might not penetrate the skin as deeply as a serum will. As mentioned above, moisturizers are meant to moisturize and hydrate your skin.

If you’re looking for an everyday moisturizer, then we suggest checking out Ahava Essential Day Lotion. It is produced for all skin varieties and also provides all-day hydration for the skin. Also, SPF 15 protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

We also recommend checking out Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer in case you are looking to decrease the look of wrinkles and fine lines while getting skin moisturization as well. This moisturizer is made with antioxidant-rich ingredients and is also ideal for all skin types.

If your concern is oily and breakout-prone skin we recommend trying out La Roche-Posay Toleriane Fluide Daily Soothing Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin. It’s formulated to reduce excessive oil on the skin and also reduces the appearance of large pores while soothing skin as well.

Bottom Line

Of course, skincare companies would like to make you believe that you need both a serum and a moisturizer every day, but of course, that is not true. If you think you have problems with your skin that you would want to improve, such as early signs of skin aging or dark spots, adding a serum to the daily skincare routine can, of course, help to enhance the appearance of your skin. Also, if your skin is very oily, a serum can give you enough hydration that you won’t even need a moisturizer. However, if your skin looks and feels fine with just using your regular moisturizer alone, there is no need to hurry off to buy a serum.

Aveda: Enbrightenment Brightening Correcting Serum – Beauty Product of the Day

A common skincare complaint is dark spots caused by the over-production of melanin in your skin. These spots are sometimes called sun spots or age spots. If you have them, you probably wish you could get rid of them. Aveda has an entire product line made for you: Enlightenment.

Today I want to feature the Brightening Correcting Serum. Serums are different from moisturizers because they go deeper into your skin’s layers putting treatment ingredients down closer to the source. If I were to pick one single product in Aveda’s Enbrightenment line, it would be the serum.

To use this product, apply it to your skin after cleansing, but before moisturizing. Allow it to penetrate and absorb into your skin before you apply your moisturizer.

The serum is lightweight and milky-white in color and has the lovely aromatherapy scent that Aveda is known for. The ingredients state that you may feel a bit of a tightening feeling with use. With continued use, you’ll notice your spots lightening and your skin’s clarity improved.

Aveda: Enbrightenment Brightening Correcting Serum

Do I Need to Use a Serum and Toner Daily? – How To Know If You Really Need A Serum and Toner Daily?

Skin Care Q&A – What exactly is a serum, and do I need to use a serum and a toner daily?

Question: Do I Need to Use a Serum and Toner Daily?

I am 22 years old, and I am trying to figure out a good skin care regimen. I went to Sephora, and they suggested that I use a toner and serum.

I have normal skin, sometimes a little dry, and I have never heard of serum and was wondering if a toner and serum were things that I should be using. And if I should, what products you would recommend?

Answer:

Let’s start with toners

A toner is a product that you use after you wash your face and before your moisturizer, directly on your skin. It is a liquid that you use with a cotton ball though there are a few toners that you can spray directly on your face. There also are many different toners which help different skin types.

For example, there are toners for oily skin which get rid of excess oil, toners for dry skin that add moisture to the skin, and lastly toners for sensitive skin that can soothe irritated skin. There are also facial mists and waters that hydrate and soothe your skin and can be used both under and over makeup.

The verdict on toners tends to be that they are not necessary to use daily. In fact, many experts think they can be a waste of time and money if you are using a product that cleans your face thoroughly. It was typically considered in the past that you required a toner to change the pH of the skin after cleansing. However, cleaners have come a long way and did not harm the pH of the skin so drastically anymore.

So using a toner has fallen out of fashion you could say. Unless your skin is very oily, you probably don’t need toner every day. Since your skin is normal to dry you can have a toner on hand to use when the skin is feeling a little parched. It can give your skin a boost of needed hydration. Also, consider using facial water or mist throughout the day, keep one in your purse, to revive your skin while you are on the go.

Personally, I use toner. I have combination skin; when I use a toner, I feel my pores look smaller, and my skin gets a little extra pampering. But, it’s also a habit for me. For your skin, I think you can easily skip the toner if you’re using a good face wash.

Product Picks:

• Evian Facial Spray Mineral Water
• Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray
• Simple Soothing Facial Toner
• Thayers Alcohol-free Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera

On to serums

First, see my explanation of moisturizers versus serums.

Serums are thinner liquids that generally have active ingredients that penetrate the skin. They are used straight on the skin after cleansing and toning but before moisturizers and sunscreen. A little bit goes a long way. Often serums are useful for treating specific skincare problems. There are serums for brightening treatments, anti-aging treatments, and sometimes acne treatments, none of which it sounds like you need. Serums are also good for people with very oily skin, as they can use them instead of traditional moisturizers. Some serums are simply used for extra hydration for dry skin during the winter for instance. Anyone can use other serums like Vitamin C serums since they offer antioxidant protection that everyone’s skin needs no matter what age they are.

Product Picks:

• Art Naturals® Enhanced Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum with SPF 50
• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Serum

Bottom Line

Because you are only 22, I think that if you have overall healthy clear skin, I’d recommend you stick with a good facial cleanser, an exfoliator, and moisturizer with SPF in it. You can add additional skincare steps as you desire, such as masks or other treatment products once a week or so.