Serums and oils- what are they and do I need one?
So you’ve all seen about a thousand different skincare brands with tens of thousands of different products... and the question always remains the same... which one is right for me?
Well before we address which one may be right for you, let's take a step back and talk about our skin.
Our skin is made of 3 layers: the epidermis (outer layer, your skin barrier), the dermis (middle layer, where the collagen lives) and the hypodermis (the innermost layer). The deeper you go into your skin, the more your cells are water-based.
So if we take a look at the epidermis, we see that it is a mostly oil based layer which acts as a barrier to reduce water loss and prevent allergens and bacteria entering in. Your everyday moisturiser can be either water or oil based (or both) and the molecules in them are quite large. This means that when it is absorbed into your skin (the epidermis), it stays within the upmost layer to give you a hydrated feeling. This is fantastic for the top layer... but what about our other layers?
The dermis is where all the action is happening. This is the layer your serums will play a role. Serums will typically be water based, and the size of the molecules are significantly smaller than that of moisturisers. For this reason, they penetrate deeper into the skin and absorb into the dermis to have their effect. You will find that serums tend to be very concentrated for this reason- they pack a punch into your dermis. Using a serum in conjunction with a moisturiser will give you the best result possible for whichever effect you were looking for- be it an anti-aging serum or a brightening serum etc.
Ok... so what about oils? Oils work slightly differently to both serums and moisturisers. They work through a process called occlusion, which is hydration via forming a protective seal on the skin. They work on the uppermost layer, the epidermis, and form a top coat on all of your other skincare efforts to keep it in. They are typically used after moisturising.
So, to sum it up... the steps are this:
Serum, moisturise, and then oil. Makes sense right?
I’m glad you’re on board!
Now we have that covered.... let me give you my recommendations for my favourite products in all 3 categories.
Serums- Genocell has a SKIN RESET range of serums which consist of 6 types, depending on what you want to achieve.
Moisturiser- Purity by Leyla has a no non-sense approach to their products. A sure-fire way to prevent any irritaiton! Check out their new moisturiser Restore Desert Lime on their site www.puritybyleyla.com
Oil- This is like the cherry on top! We love the Dermeren Replenish Oil which is organic and formulated with natural oils. Find it at www.dermeren.com.au
Happy skin-caring!
Well before we address which one may be right for you, let's take a step back and talk about our skin.
Our skin is made of 3 layers: the epidermis (outer layer, your skin barrier), the dermis (middle layer, where the collagen lives) and the hypodermis (the innermost layer). The deeper you go into your skin, the more your cells are water-based.
So if we take a look at the epidermis, we see that it is a mostly oil based layer which acts as a barrier to reduce water loss and prevent allergens and bacteria entering in. Your everyday moisturiser can be either water or oil based (or both) and the molecules in them are quite large. This means that when it is absorbed into your skin (the epidermis), it stays within the upmost layer to give you a hydrated feeling. This is fantastic for the top layer... but what about our other layers?
The dermis is where all the action is happening. This is the layer your serums will play a role. Serums will typically be water based, and the size of the molecules are significantly smaller than that of moisturisers. For this reason, they penetrate deeper into the skin and absorb into the dermis to have their effect. You will find that serums tend to be very concentrated for this reason- they pack a punch into your dermis. Using a serum in conjunction with a moisturiser will give you the best result possible for whichever effect you were looking for- be it an anti-aging serum or a brightening serum etc.
Ok... so what about oils? Oils work slightly differently to both serums and moisturisers. They work through a process called occlusion, which is hydration via forming a protective seal on the skin. They work on the uppermost layer, the epidermis, and form a top coat on all of your other skincare efforts to keep it in. They are typically used after moisturising.
So, to sum it up... the steps are this:
Serum, moisturise, and then oil. Makes sense right?
I’m glad you’re on board!
Now we have that covered.... let me give you my recommendations for my favourite products in all 3 categories.
Serums- Genocell has a SKIN RESET range of serums which consist of 6 types, depending on what you want to achieve.
Moisturiser- Purity by Leyla has a no non-sense approach to their products. A sure-fire way to prevent any irritaiton! Check out their new moisturiser Restore Desert Lime on their site www.puritybyleyla.com
Oil- This is like the cherry on top! We love the Dermeren Replenish Oil which is organic and formulated with natural oils. Find it at www.dermeren.com.au
Happy skin-caring!