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6 Benefits of
Face Serums in Skincare

Discover 6 benefits of incorporating a serum into your 4-step routine.

Read time

6 min

In short:

What does a Facial Serum do to the skin?
6 Benefits of Face Serums
What Facial Serum to choose for your skin type?
What Facial Serum to choose for your skin concern?
Facts overview
How to use a Face Serum?
Can serums be layered to boost results?
Layering Different Ingredients
NIVEA Luminous630 Even Glow
Summary
FAQs

Meet
the Expert:

Dr. André Mahns, Head of Global Development Face Care at Beiersdorf AG. With a doctorate in biology and over 15 years of experience in skin research at Beiersdorf, Dr. Mahns has an in-depth understanding of the science behind skincare and cosmetic ingredients.

What does a
Facial Serum do to the skin?

Face serums enhance the effectiveness of your skincare routine by addressing specific concerns with precision and can provide visible results faster than other products.

Incorporating a face serum into your daily regimen can help lead to healthy-looking, more radiant skin.

What is a Face Serum and what is it used for?

A face serum is a concentrated, lightweight topical product designed to sink into your skin quickly with potent active ingredients. Compared with simple moisturisers or creams, serums deliver targeted care against discolouration, dullness, fine lines or blemishes after cleansing. They penetrate deeper into the skin surface layers to provide faster and more noticeable results.

In contrast, simple moisturisers and creams primarily focus on hydrating the skin's top layers and creating a protective barrier to lock in moisture, which is essential for maintaining overall skin hydration and protection.

Close-up of a woman receiving a drop of facial serum from a glass pipette above her eyebrow

6 Benefits of
Face Serums

1
Quick absorption
Facial serums are formulated to promote deep penetration of ingredients into the epidermis (the top layer of your skin). Their thin consistency lets them absorb faster, delivering active ingredients where they're needed more quickly.

2
Targeted skincare concerns
Face serums are often designed to address specific skincare concerns such as ageing, hydration or blemishes. They contain high concentrations of active ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, Peptides or Hyaluronic Acid to tackle these concerns more effectively.

3
Lightweight texture
Unlike heavy creams, face serums have a lightweight texture that feels comfortable on your skin. They don't leave a greasy or sticky residue, making them suitable for most skin types, including oily and blemish-prone skin.

4
Enhanced efficacy
Because of their special formulation and generally higher concentration of active ingredients, facial serums often deliver more visible and faster results than other skincare products. They can help to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and uneven skin tone with regular use.

5
Layering adaptability
Face serums can be easily layered with other skincare products such as moisturisers and sunscreens. They can be an effective first step in your skincare routine without interfering too much with the absorption and effectiveness of the products you use afterwards.

6
Protection against environmental damage
Many face serums contain antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which help protect your skin from environmental aggressors such as pollution and free radicals generated by UV rays. Combined with the use of sun creams and other methods of protection, this can help prevent the signs of premature ageing and maintain your skin's health.
Overall, adding a face serum into your daily skincare routine can help improve the healthy appearance of your skin by targeting specific issues and, depending on the formula, helping to provide moisture protection.

Plain blue gradient background fading from dark blue at the top to pale blue at the bottom

What Facial Serum to choose for
Your Skin Type?

woman using Nivea Q10 anti-wrinkle serum

1. Dry skin

Face serums with Hyaluronic Acid or Glycerin help to deeply hydrate and plump dry skin. These ingredients attract moisture to your skin's surface, providing longer hydration and helping to improve your skin's texture and appearance.

2. Oily or Blemish-Prone skin

Lightweight facial serums with ingredients like Niacinamide can help regulate oil production and reduce blemishes.

3. Combination skin

Face serums can help to balance hydration levels across different areas of your face, addressing both dry and oily zones. Ingredients like Green Tea Extract can regulate sebum production while providing adequate moisture to drier areas. This helps maintain an even skin texture and prevents the overproduction of oil in the T-zone.

4. Normal skin

Face serums can help maintain your skin's healthy look and provide preventive benefits against environmental damage and ageing. Face serums with ingredients like Vitamin E or Hyaluronic Acid can help to enhance your skin's natural glow and keep it well hydrated. Regular use can also help to fortify your skin's barrier, making it more resilient against pollutants and stressors.

5. Face Serums for Men

Face serum can also be used by men as part of their skincare routine. Common skin concerns in men, such as dry skin, ageing skin and oily skin, can all be effectively addressed by face serums adapted for these specific needs.

What Facial Serum to choose for
Your Skin Concern?

1
Ageing Skin:
Anti-ageing face serums with antioxidants and Peptides may help to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. Ingredients like Bakuchiol, Vitamin C and Coenzyme Q10 can help boost Collagen production and help protect your skin from free radical damage. These face serums could also improve skin elasticity and firmness, providing a more youthful-looking and radiant appearance.
For ageing skin due to glycation, the NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Expert Dual Action Serum combines pure Q10 to visibly reduce wrinkles, providing smoother and more youthful-looking skin.

2
Dullness:
Face serums with Vitamin C may be a better option. Vitamin C can help revitalise your skin, giving it a radiant glow by neutralising free radicals.

3
Blemishes:
You may consider facial serums with Niacinamide to address blemishes. Niacinamide can help to regulate oil production, which can reduce the occurrence of pimples and minimise the appearance of blemishes, resulting in a clearer complexion.

Additional tips:

Chat with a dermatologist:
If you have a skin condition that you want to sort out, it's best to chat with a dermatologist.

Think about the texture:
Although lightweight, facial serums can have different textures, such as gel, liquid or oily. You might want to choose the texture that feels the most comfortable on your skin and that you feel layers best with your other products.

Facts Overview

What does Serum do for your face

Targeted:
A face serum helps to target wrinkles, uneven skin tone and dullness, depending on the potent ingredients it contains, in order to penetrate your skin in depth.

Quickly absorbed:
Facial serums are absorbed by your skin quickly and help to deliver noticeable improvements faster than creams thanks to their concentrated formula.

Versatile:
Face serums are versatile and usually suit most skin types thanks to their lightweight textures and ability to help create a shield against environmental damage.

How to use a Face Serum?

How and when to
apply a Serum to Your Face?

1. Cleanse

Start with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil and impurities from your skin. This way, you can make sure the serum penetrates properly into your skin and maximises its effectiveness.

2. Use a Facial Serum

You want to apply a face serum before moisturiser, while your skin is still slightly damp from cleansing, to enhance its absorption into the skin.
To apply it, use 2 to 3 drops of face serum and gently pat it onto your face and neck. Try to pat rather than rub, to maximise absorption.
Then give it one to two minutes to fully absorb before moving on to the moisturising step.

3. Moisturise

Continue with a moisturiser to help lock the face serum into your skin and enhance hydration. Moisturisers can help to seal in the active ingredients in your facial serum and make them more effective.

4. Protect your skin with SPF

In all cases, you should be applying an SPF on your skin during your daily skincare routine. This way, you can help protect it against UV rays and sun damage.

Layering serums to boost results

How to
layer Serum?

Serum layering refers to the practice of applying multiple serums in one skincare routine to address different skin concerns. You might already use one serum, but layering two or more serums can enhance your skincare routine by combining the benefits of various active ingredients. Serums usually have lightweight formulas, allowing them to be applied one after the other without overwhelming your skin. You can layer several serums depending on your skin’s needs, but it’s essential to pay attention to which ones combine well.

A word from our expert:
"Layering serums allows you to customise your skincare routine based on your skin’s changing needs. Starting from a rather dry skin condition, the NIVEA Cellular Expert Filler Vitamin C Serum was already able to provide good moisturising performance. We then layered the NIVEA Cellular Expert Filler Hyaluron Replumping Serum with the Vitamin C Serum: the entire face was clearly moisturised on top." – Dr. Mahns**

How to layer serums

1
Rule 1: Choose the Right Product
Select serums based on your skin type, age and sensitivity. Check the active ingredients to make sure they meet your skin’s needs. Some ingredients shouldn’t be combined, as they may cause irritation or cancel each other out. Be sure to consult a skincare specialist for personalised advice.

2
Rule 2: Order of Application
Apply serums from thinnest to thickest. Start with lightweight, watery serums and finish with richer formulas. Always apply products with SPF last for optimal protection.

3
Rule 3: Take Your Time
Apply a few drops of each serum, gently massaging or patting it into your skin. Give each layer time to absorb before applying the next to ensure maximum effectiveness.

A word from our expert:
“In general, it is said that you should move in order from more fluid, lighter products to more nourishing products. This ensures optimal absorption by the skin. Otherwise, heavier serums with more nourishing properties could make it more difficult for lighter products to be absorbed.” – Dr. Mahns**

Layering serums with
different active ingredients

1
Hydrating Ingredients
Hyaluronic Acid is excellent for hydration. It pairs well with Niacinamide and Glycerine, enhancing water molecule retention. Niacinamide also complements Bakuchiol and Retinoids, boosting antioxidation and improving the appearance of skin health.

2
Antioxidants & Anti-Ageing Ingredients
Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin C work effectively together, with Vitamin E helping to stabilise Vitamin C, enhancing its antioxidant power.

3
Ingredients for Wrinkles
Retinol is proven to reduce wrinkles, but it can irritate sensitive skin and increase sun sensitivity. It shouldn't be combined with strong exfoliants like AHA/BHA or Salicylic Acid. Bakuchiol is a gentler, plant-based alternative with similar benefits to Retinol, making it a great option for sensitive skin.

NIVEA LUMINOUS630
Skin Glow Serum

The NIVEA LUMINOUS630 Skin Glow Serum helps unlock your skin’s natural radiance with a powerful blend of caring ingredients. Containing Thiamidol®, Niacinamide and Aloe vera, it evens skin tone, refines skin texture and provides fresh, instant and long-lasting hydration.

Its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula provides instant luminosity without feeling heavy or greasy. Designed for effortless daily use, it fits seamlessly into your skincare routine—whether worn on its own or under makeup. Perfect if you want smooth, radiant and healthy-looking skin.

Summary

In conclusion, face serums are a powerful addition to any skincare routine, offering targeted treatment for various skin concerns such as wrinkles and dullness. Their high concentration of active ingredients helps ensure deep penetration and quick, noticeable results, making them more effective than many other skincare products.
By incorporating a facial serum tailored to your specific skin type and concerns, you can achieve healthier, more radiant skin. Regular use of face serums, along with proper application techniques, can significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of your skincare routine.