What makes an effective hydrating serum?
Among the many skincare products, serums are known for moisturizing the skineffectively.
Hydration is important to maintain the skin's own protective mechanisms Therefore, it makes sense to include at least one moisturizer in your skin care routine. While some serums target different needs, a hydrating serum is recommended for all skin types. The hydration boost gained from a serum with highly effective moisturizing agents makes it an essential part of any skincare routine.
What is a hydrating serum?
A hydrating serum helps the skin retain moisture lost due to environmental factors and excessive skin care. The moisturizing formulation should be designed to absorb quickly and provide your skin with the moisture it needs.
Moisturizers and lotions provide plenty of moisture, but a serum provides the key ingredients your skin needs to maintain and support your skin's own cellular-level functions. Still, a moisturizing serum is not a substitute for other skin care that provides lipids and other substances. Lipids are important to lock in the moisture that your serum adds to your skin.
Who needs a moisturizing serum?
Normal and dry skin
Astudy examined the effect of a hydrating serum on normal and dry skin. The serum was used for two weeks. After that, the participants showed significant changes in their skin compared to those who used only a moisturizer. The serum reduced the dryness of the skin and made it softer.
In summary, everyone can benefit from moisturizing serums, regardless of skin type.
Mature skin
Those with mature skin need a moisturizing serum.in order for the skin to look youthful and retain its tone, it needs a high water content, which usually only a coordinated serum provides.
As skin ages, it naturally loses moistureand the barrier function is compromised. Premature aging of the skin occurs. So a moisturizing serum has a visible effect on the overall health of the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
Active ingredients in hydrating serums
Serums have many ingredients, but which ones are important?
These include:
-
Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid with a molecular size of 50 kD (kilo Dalton). It is deeply absorbed into the skin and provides hydration of connective tissue. The low-molecular hyaluronic acid stores water in the skin for a long time. Wrinkles are reduced and skin texture smoothed. Overall, it helps to more elasticity and resilience.
-
High molecular weight hyaluronic acid with a molecular size of 1500 kD (kilo Dalton). Can not penetrate the skin barrier so deeply but acts visually plumping and promoting elasticity. This form of hyaluronic acid has anti-inflammatory, nourishing and cooling properties. As an ingredient, or INCI, both forms of hyaluronic acid are declared as 'Sodium Hyaluronate'. Even low active ingredient concentrations in the range of 0.3%, are ideal for daily use and are sufficiently effective. Too high concentrations can have a counterproductive effect, as hyaluronic acid can bind many times more water to itself and attracts moisture at all costs. If there is too much hyaluronic acid in a care product, there is a risk that the hyaluronic acid molecules help themselves to the water stores in the skin and not to the water that is already contained in the product, or available in the ambient air.
- Glycerin draws moisture into the skin without making it greasy. It also repairs the skin barrier and its effect lasts for hours. Glycerin is an intensively hydrating active ingredient and binds many times more water to itself. It is a skin-own component of the acid mantle very well tolerated. Glycerin acts as a penetration promoter and thus helps moisture to be transported into the skin. Depending on the dosage, glycerin provides intensive moisture without leaving a sticky feeling on the skin. Glycerin soothes irritation, strengthens the skin barrier and protects against external environmental influences.
- Pentylene glycol is an ingredient with multifunctional properties. In the product and on the skin, it prevents the formation and growth of microbial organisms, such as germs, bacteria and yeasts. It is well-founded as a preservative and at the same time can increase the effectiveness of other active ingredients. As a polyhydric alcohol, Pentylene Glycol can bind water to itself, thus ensuring the transport of moisture into the skin and providing intense hydration. This is not a classic alcohol molecule, but a bivalent alcohol, also called a diol. Even at high doses of this active ingredient, no dehydration of the skin takes place, but a reliable supply of sufficient moisture.
- Other reliable moisturizers are sorbitol, aloe vera, urea and lactic acid. In principle, all those substances are suitable, which have a high water-binding capacity, due to their hydrophilic property (water-loving), in the skin.
Transepidermal water loss
In addition to a water-based serum, it is important to add lipids to the skin. Depending on the type of oil and the particular composition of different lipids, you can reduce the transepidermal water loss of the skin to a certain degree and thus promote the retention of moisture in the skin.
After the Hydrating Serum, any further care is better absorbed, because a moisturized skin is much more permeable to thicker care products, such as an oil serum or a balm. The skin's natural barrier layer absolutely needs moisture and lipids to function. Miraculously, you can bring a disturbed skin barrier back into balance with coordinated skin care.
Application of the serum
Since serums are usually very light, you should apply them directly after cleansing and before further care. Because they contain humectants,serums can absorb water from the deeper layers of the skin and drain the skin of its moisture reserves. In order not to lose the binded hydration to the ambient air a light barrier film should be created. It is therefore advisable to use a lightly occlusive moisturizing cream or oil after application.For maximum results, follow these steps:
- Clean.
- Dry your skin with gentle patting only, avoid rubbing it with a towel.
- Apply an appropriate amount of serum to your face and neck.
- Then apply another care to lock in moisture.
- Apply a sunscreen when you use the serum in the morning.
You can apply a moisturizing serum in the morning and evening to get the most out of the hydrating effect.
Side effects
Since serums contain concentrated ingredients, it's best to start slowly to avoid irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you're worried about skin irritation,we recommend doing a patch test and watching for redness or reactions before applying the serum to a larger area of skin.
Lipid Glory Hydrating Serum
If you're looking for a mildly formulated but effective serum, the Lipid Glory Hydrating Serumcould be the one. It is lightweight yet provides intense hydration. It is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It contains 0.3% low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and 0.25% high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, as well as other organic water-binding ingredients. This particular concentration of hyaluronic acid is perfect for safe daily use.
- Skin type: All.
- Most important ingredients: High and low molecular weight Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, pentylene glycol.
- Smell: Perfume-free.
The Hydrating Serum is a lightweight, hydrating, water-based care with a preservative system consisting of multifunctional active ingredients that have an antimicrobial effect in the product and on the skin, provide intense moisture and strengthen the skin's protective barrier. The serum brings many useful properties to any skin care routine.