Give your beauty regime a boost before summer with one of our favourite skin care products, the serum. These wonder treatments are super concentrated, which means your skin gets a bigger hit of age-defying active ingredients with every application. Whether you want to firm, rejuvenate, lift or protect your complexion, serums are one of easiest ways to update and improve any skin care routine. Here are the best and latest super serums to suit any skin concern.
Rescu. spoke to Catherine Biedermann from Advanced Cosmeceuticals about why serums are a skin care must-have.
RESCU: Why are serums so important and how do they differ to creams and lotions?
Catherine: Serums are formulated to deliver concentrated active ingredients deeper into the skin. Most serums are not meant to hydrate but to allow ingredients like antioxidants, retinol, acids, peptides to quickly penetrate. Some serums contain hyaluronic acid which helps to lock moisture into the skin. Many active ingredients can only work in either an aqueous or lipid base. Creams and lotions are a combination of both. They act as moisturisers and hydrate the top layer of the skin. They usually have a larger molecular structure which makes it harder for an active ingredient to penetrate below the top layer of the skin.
RESCU: How important is the concentration of active ingredients in a serum?
Catherine: The percentage of an active ingredient in a formulation is very important. Some ingredients need a minimum percentage to be able to correct or protect, others will cause irritation if the percentage is too high. There are active ingredients that can address certain problems when used at a specific percentage and address other problems when used at a higher or lower percentage.
RESCU: What’s the correct order to apply products when you include a serum in your skincare regime?
Catherine: Always use a serum first, apply a few drops to the entire face or spot treat. Let the serum absorb for a few minutes before following with a moisturiser. For very oily skin, a serum of hyaluronic acid can replace the moisturiser.
RESCU: Does it make a difference if a serum is used day or night?
Catherine: Recommendation of using a product AM or PM usually relates to the extent of photosensitivity the active ingredient in the serum can cause. E.g. Retinol is best used at night when skin isn’t exposed to sun. An antioxidant serum is best used in day time when skin is exposed most to sun and environmental insults. Many serums can be used twice, morning and night.
Here are our pick of the best Super Serums:
Turn Back Cellular Time: Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale Longevity Concentrate
If you’ve tried a million different skin care products and haven’t seen positive results, then it’s time to pull out the big ‘skincare guns’. This is our ultimate super serum, an intensive treatment that is guaranteed to turn back time for your skin. Containing the powerful active properties of the Orchid, this serum literally sinks into your skin and the effect is immediate. You can watch as your complexion is transformed by this boost of health and radiance. On a completely aesthetic note, the serum comes in a beautiful and chic capsule that makes it even more special.
RRP $700. Available on November 7th, call 02 9695 4800 for stocklists.
Tackle Facial Redness: First Aid Beauty Anti-Redness Serum
Begin your summer beauty regime on a healthy note by using this powerful serum to combat redness instead of covering it up with foundation and concealer. This serum uses caffeine to reduce the redness, aloe to calm the skin and ginger as a powerful anti-inflammatory.
RRP $35.95. Available in David Jones.
Tighten Your Complexion: Eve Lom Intense Firming Serum
Serums are the wonder product’s that will truly make a difference to any anti-ageing regime. This lightweight, intense treatment gives your skin the daily boost it needs to fight wrinkles and increase elasticity. Stimulating your skin to strengthen its deepest layers, this super serum will work wonders for any ageing complexion.
RRP $172. Available from Mecca Cosmetica.
Strengthen Ageing Skin: Shiseido Future Solutions LX Ultimate Regenerating Serum
Strengthen your skin cells so they can fight environmental aggressors and the gradual signs of ageing with this age-defending serum from Shiseido. This product gives your skin that extra boost it needs to stay healthy while successfully reducing the visible signs of ageing. As an added treat, it is formulated with Soft Glow Powder, so your skin will literally shine with radiance.
RRP $410. Available from David Jones, Myer and selected pharmacies nationwide.
For Wrinkles and Fine Lines: Seruderm
The creator of this amazing product, Dr Peter Bakaric, set out to create a serum that had the same effect as a collagen injection, minus the needle and expenses. That product is called Seruderm, a serum for all you ladies who have existing wrinkles they would like to banish. Despite its powerful anti-ageing ingredients, it is extremely gentle and can be used on most skin types.
RRP $149. Visit www.seruderm.com for stocklists.
For An All-Round Healthier Complexion: Lancome Visionnaire
Taking the beauty world by storm, Lancome’s latest wonder product, Visionnaire is an all over skin corrector that tackles nearly every skin problem you can think of. It does this by propelling the product deep into your skin and working its magic from the inside out. As a result, wrinkles decrease, pigmentation is erased, pores are tightened and the over all texture of your skin is healthier, brighter and much more youthful.
30ml, $115 50ml, $160. Call 02 9931 8888 for stocklists.
Protect and Replenish Sun Damaged Skin: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
It’s a shock to realise just how much damage environmental factors cause our skin. The sun is the main culprit, and especially as summer-loving Australian’s we really have to take extra special care to prevent free radical damage from the sun’s rays. This serum is packed with powerful antioxidants to protect your skin and also helps to build up your collagen levels. It is absorbed straight away, so it is a perfect beauty companion to pair with your sunscreen.
RRP $269.25. Available from physicians and licensed skincare professionals.
