Ask Belle: Beginner Serums
Jul 9, 2014
Dear Belle,
I know you try a lot of beauty products, and I have a question about serums. Â Can you suggest a “starter serum” for someone who has never used that type of product before?
Love the blog. Thanks for everything. Cayley
Choosing a serum depends completely on your skin’s individual needs. Â Serums penetrate deeper than a surface cream or gel to treat a specific condition. Â They’re also lighter and don’t overwhelm the skin like a heavy cream can. Â PopSugar Beauty has more info on serums, but here are some of my favorites.
Acne. My favorite acne serums are the IS Clinical Active Serum and Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Defense. Â Need a drugstore brand? Â Try the Yes to Grapefruit correcting serum.
Wrinkles. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair is the one I go back to time and again. Â Looking for something under-$25? Â A friend just started using Physician’s Formula Laser-Resurfacing Serum, and she loves it. Â They also make a dark spot-correcting serum.
Brightening and/or Tone Correcting. Weil for Organics makes a highly rated brightening serum. Â Sephora also makes an inexpensive brightening serum.
All-Purpose. Don’t have one specific concern? Â Go for a combination of vitamin-C and collagen like in Ole Henriksen’s Truth Serum. Â They also make a facial oil with all the benefits of Truth Serum.
Obviously, I don’t use these all at the same time. Â The Is Clinical is my every day serum for face, and I smear the Estee Lauder wrinkle serum on my forehead. Â And the Truth Serum Oil is currently being used on my eye area.
Have a recommendation you want to share? Â Leave it in the comments.
Have been using the Lancome Genifique every day. Been using it for 3 years now and it is a true miracle working serum! Firms the skin and really makes a huge difference.
Trader Joe’s has an antioxidant serum that makes my skin feel great! And it is perfect for the summer months when I want something on the lighter side. Plus it’s under $20. I highly recommend.
I’ve been using Clinque’s Repairwear Laser Focus for a couple years now and I’m a big, big fan. (PS — Lord & Taylor is having a free-gift-with-purchase Clinique Bonus right now!
I’ve used this, I liked it. Totally forgot about it though. That’s when you know you own too many beauty products.
If you just want a serum for general use and not a specific concern, I would suggest First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Liquid Recovery. It does a little bit of everything at a good price point. https://www.sephora.com/ultra-repair-liquid-recovery-P385330?icid2=First_Aid_Beauty_Bestsellers_carousel_P385330_link
I love both Boots No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum and Nip + Fab Night Fix as multi-purpose serums at a $25 and under price point.
I think you kinda missed the boat in that every single solitary Derm recommends a Vit C serum for the morning (and retinol at night, of course). So, a starter serum for anyone/everyone should always be a Vit C serum.
That’s why I put it under the multi-purpose serum. I think most of the other serums have the same type of acids found in Vita-C serums along with the other things. But your right, Vita-C is a great place to start.
I’ve used Olay Regenerist Serum for years as an everyday general use serum and I like it a lot, its a good price and works well. I like that it comes in a fragrance free version since I have super sensitive skin.
I’ve also found the big bottle of it at costco for around $30 so its a good deal when you get it there.
https://www.amazon.com/Olay-Regenerist-Regenerating-Serum-Moisturizer/dp/B00008ZPGA
I’ve also been using this for the last few years. I also love that it’s fragrance free for sensitive skin! I usually only put it on after i remove my makeup at night before bed but as I get older i’m considering using it under my regular moisturizer in the morning too.
I’ve tried Rwgenerist lotion several times over the years and always ended up with breakouts. I wonder if the serum would be better…lighter, perhaps?
I tried samples of the Ole Henriksen serum & oil. After a month, I found they irritated my sensitive, dry skin. Try the sampler pack first!
I’m looking forward to trying Mizon’s hyuralonic acid serum. Sounds scary, but it’s actually a mild, super-moisturizing ingredient (https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=32088049). Lastly, I’ve been checking Beautypedia more and more for irritating or non-proven ingredients in my cosmetics.
is Clinical’s Hydra Cool Serum has transformed my skin! My skin is clearer, brighter and smoother- it is worth every penny. My sister is a convert now too.
I get so confused on the order when it comes to applying skin products. For morning, I wash my face, then toner, serum, zit zapping potion on acne, moisturizer/sunscreen and then make-up. At night, I wash my face, followed by toner again, night serum, zip zapper, night moisturizer. I should be using an eye cream more than I am. Do you wait a few minutes between applications to let everything “sink in?” Am I doing it wrong?! 🙂