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WHAT IS A FACIAL SERUM? THINGS TO KNOW AND LOOK OUT FOR.

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WHAT IS A FACIAL SERUM? THINGS TO KNOW AND LOOK OUT FOR.

Serums are designed to give a focused delivery of ingredients into the deeper skin layers to target specific skin concerns such as fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, dark spots and so on. The effectiveness of a serum depends on the quality and concentration of the active ingredients, their molecular size, the delivery system into the deeper layers of the skin (think encapsulation, penetration enhancers, etc) and ultimately the product’s packaging. (A high concentration vitamin C serum in a clear bottle with dropper won’t give you much benefit due to the light and air degradation.)

 

What are the differences between the types of serums on the market?

 

Oil based serum is the easiest to formulate. As it doesn’t contain any water, all the active ingredients in an oil serum need to be oil-soluble. No matter how lovely a combination of facial oils is, if there aren’t any oil-soluble actives/extracts, the product shouldn’t be called a serum. It is a facial oil. We see too many oil blends marketed as facial serum, so beware of the difference.

 

Water-based serum (including gel serum) will contain water-soluble actives/extracts/humectants. The perfect way to encourage greater penetration of water-based ingredients into the skin, is by layering water-based serum underneath an emulsion/moisturiser/oil which will create an occlusive barrier and lock the serum in.

 

Emulsion serum delivers high performance ingredients into the skin, as well as acting to strengthen the skin’s barrier function. An emulsion serum (blend of oil and water) has the greatest potential for delivering high performance actives deep down into the skin’s tissues, which means they’re amazing at fighting skin damage and skin ageing at a cellular level.

  

Power up your skincare regime with Albiva’s emulsion serums: 

Are you concerned with your skin's laxity, fine lines and wrinkles? As a lifting and firming treatment, our ECM Advanced Repair Revitalise & Contour Serum features a combination of powerful plant-based ingredients to rejuvenate your skin and improve the appearance of facial contours.

 

Revitalise and Contour Serum

Phytoceramides work to reverse signs of ageing, repairing skin’s protective barrier and improving hydration. A potent blend of vitamins and antioxidants stimulates the skin’s natural defence system against environmental aggressors. High-performance firming and lifting ingredients (eg. our ‘botanical botox’ extract) work in synergy to stimulate the production of collagen‚ elastin and glycosaminoglycans (the key constituents of extra-cellular matrix, ECM), targeting the deeper structural layers of the skin.

If your skin concern centres around skin tone, hyperpigmentation, skin dullness, our ECM Advanced Repair Brightening Serum is for you.

Brightening Serum

This intensive, highly concentrated serum harnesses the brightening properties of seven COSMOS certified organic Swiss Alpine plants (Mallow, Peppermint, Cowslip, Lady’s Mantle, Speedwell, Melissa and Yarrow). Together they brighten and even the skin, reducing the appearance of age spots and hyperpigmentation. Teamed with Swiss Garden Cress Sprout extract encapsulated into plant liposomes, they form the ultimate botanical brightening complex. A powerful blend of phytoceramides, peptides, vitamins and proteins suspended in raspberry fruit water also enhance radiance and clarity, reversing the visible signs of environmental damage leaving skin smoother and more vibrant. 

Serum can be a great addition to everyone's skincare regime, especially when it comes to targeting different skin concerns.