Tag Archives: cream

Serum or Cream?

What are the differences between facial serums and creams and do you really need both?

Serums may seem like they are the latest buzz in skin products but for those who are serious about their skincare, serums have been their secret weapon for years! Indeed when I launched my product range in 2010, the focus was all on corrective serums.

So, what is a serum and how is it different from a cream?

Hydrating cream with Hyaluronic acid

**As Seen On Xpose** €29.00

A serum is a highly concentrated active skincare product that will address a certain concern such as dullness, redness or lines. Sometimes a serum can address several skin issues at once, as many issues have a common cause.

For example, dullness, fine lines and inflammation can all be caused by dehydration, so a single serum addresses all these symptoms by binding water in the skin. See Hyaluronic+ Moisture Boost.

Most serums are water-based to allow deepest possible penetration into the layers of the epidermis, but some are oil-based and intended to work on the surface layers. See Lipid Repair Concentrate.

Serums work deeper and are more active than creams but they do not replace them. Think of serums working at the cellar layers of your epidermis, strengthening skin cell processes and function, while creams can be considered the roof of the structure, protecting everything underneath and adding softness, suppleness and comfort.

For this reason, even though serums do more corrective work, creams must come first in your programme if you can only budget for one or the other. There is no point having a good cellar and no roof!

In a normal skin not requiring any particular correction, I recommend adding a serum from mid to late twenties to keep skin vital and strong. A product such as Essential Nutrient Serum gives skin many of the water soluble minerals. vitamins and anti-oxidants that it needs to stay healthy.

From mid-thirties I recommend switching this out for an anti-ageing serum such as Hydra Collagen Serum to slow down the visible signs of ageing such as fine lines, dullness, loss of firmness and discolouration.

Hydra Collagen Serum airless pump 30ml size Skin Essentials by Mariga shop online wexford

Hydra Collagen Serum €68

If you have any issues to correct such as redness, sensitised skin, flaking, texture issues etc. you will need to have a corrective serum professionally recommended just for you to rebalance your skin before going on to a maintenance product.

Do you have any questions. comments or feedback about serums or other skin products? Just drop in to our Wexford Town clinic, call us on 053 9145981 or email info@skinessentialsbymariga.com and we will be happy to help you get great skin.

Don’t forget you can shop our natural skincare products online too, we ship to Irish and UK addresses!

Mariga x

Shop skincare at skin essentials by mariga