Why You Should Seriously Use Serums

When skincare products were first conceived, we’re pretty sure it all started with one product – the infamous “wrinkle cream.” And while it may keep skin from feeling dry, it did little to really slow down the signs of aging. Now that the industry has evolved (so very far!), the ingredient and formulation technologies have as well. Skincare can start simple; but, for it to be effective – it will take a regimen of more than a couple products. And the major player in any product lineup is the serum. Because when it comes down to it, the rest of your products’ primary purpose is to set up your serum to most effectively do its job.

We’re here to teach you what serums really are, what they do, and why your skin needs them. And while we could talk about serums and ingredients all day (it’s our favorite hobby, actually), we have broken it down as basic as possible: nourishing serums versus active serums. And of course, because nothing is ever truly black and white – some serums can be both nourishing AND active!

We will teach you a bit about each type below and have also included a diagram of where all our serums fall, so you can understand more about the products you are using at home. 

Active Serums: You know us, we LOVE a good active. Active ingredients create real change in the skin. Many actives, like acids, focus on exfoliation by dissolving the glue that binds dead skin cells together – this promotes cellular turnover. Our skin’s ability to naturally turnover skin cells (AKA desquamation) slows down as we age, which means that our dead skin cells get sticky and build up. So, basically, the more you exfoliate with actives – the more you will promote lively, smooth, and glowing skin cells.

Peptides are another ingredient that can be classified as “active” because they, too, effect real change in skin. Peptides are chains of amino acids and different peptides have different functions. Some are signal peptides that message the skin to perform different activities (think: make more collagen!) while others are neurotransmitter peptides that can block certain adverse skin functions (think: stop frown lines!). Remember this blog where we dove deep into our love affair with peptides, take another look to refresh yourself on why you should incorporate peptides as actives in your skincare routine too.

Now you see why we love actives! The active ingredients you will find most in Skin MPLS serums are retinyl propionate, mandelic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, kojic acid, oxygen, peptides, growth factors, benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone, and salicylic acid. You can learn about several of these ingredients here! The best place to start for a beginner using an active is Vivant’s Mandelic Acid.

Nourishing Serums: You can’t achieve healthy skin without a healthy skin barrier. Nourishing ingredients can help to hydrate, plump, protect, moisturize, and soothe the skin’s barrier while also building collagen and elasticity. As we age, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) occurs, which can weaken our skin in various ways. Nourishing ingredients replenish what’s been lost and also plump up the skin after exfoliation.

Antioxidants are another nourishing must in your skin products. Antioxidants prevent cell damage and promote radiant skin (envision applying citrus juice to apple flesh to prevent browning). The nourishing ingredients you find in Skin MPLS serums are glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, green tea, oils, ceramides, algae, honey, peptides, niacinamide, vitamin E, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), resveratrol, and growth factors. Learn about several of these ingredients here. The best place for a beginner to start nourishing their skin is the ultimate in protective ingredients and hydration, Blue Crystalline.