Beauty Moment- All About Serums

Skincare has become a top priority for me since I turned 30 almost a year ago. Since then, I've become much more aware of moisturization, sunscreen, and have dipped my toes into the realm of "anti-aging" products...just a bit. One product category that I've heard a lot of buzz about is serum.

There are tons of skin serums on the market these days, and I've tried a couple but will admit that I didn't really understand what the products were doing or what was in them. So I of course got tired of that one extra step in my skincare routine and quit using them.

As my 31st birthday looms before me (next month), I thought I'd revisit serums (just in case they really are the key to eternal youth...not that I want to look 30 when I'm 50). But this time, I decided to arm myself with a little more information before slapping one on.

I went to a great resource at my favorite skincare brand, Mario Badescu, for the scoop on serums. Nicole Darmanin, spokesperson for Mario Badescu Skin Care, sat down and answered all the questions I could think of about serums.

What does a serum do that really makes it worthwhile to add one more step to a skincare routine?

In general I think the word serum is most often associated with anti aging products; however there are many serum formulations on the market that address other skin issues. Most often serums are formulated to penetrate deeper into the skin than a moisturizer and are intended to be applied to the skin before the moisturizer. If you have a skin issue that needs special attention, like fine lines, acne, extreme dryness or discoloration a serum could take your skin care routine to the next level.

At what point should someone start using a serum? Are they more or less beneficial to people at different ages?

There is no specific age to start using a serum, it all depends on what your skin care needs are.

Mario Badescu carries 7 different serums. Of these, which would be best for someone in her 20's, her 30/40's, and then beyond?

20’s – Anti Acne Serum, adults can have acne at any age but many 20-somethings still experience the same breakouts that they had in their teens.

30’s- The Herbal Hydrating is great for a person in their 30’s, it helps to balance the skin’s moisture levels, and since there is no oil in the formulation it doesn’t congest the skin. It’s great for frequent fliers and for skin that is unbalanced due to pregnancy.

40’s and 50’s- For those who have visible sun damage in the form of discoloration, dullness and fine lines I would recommend the Vitamin C Serum. For those who are noticing a loss of elasticity in the skin I would recommend the Cellufirm Drops.

Keep in mind that these are generalizations, we have plenty of clients in their 20’s who use the Vitamin C Serum and clients in their 40’s who use the Anti Acne Serum. It really depends on the individual’s skin type.

If I've never used a serum before, what should I look for? A specific ingredient or benefit?

The best advice I can give you when shopping for any skin care is to consult with a skin specialist. There is truly no one size fits all in skin care. Mario Badescu offers a consultation service on www.mariobadescu.com . All you have to do is fill out a short skin questionnaire and we will send you a complimentary sample regimen of products to try.

So there you have it - everything you need to know about serums. Since I use Mario Badescu products, I went through the questionnaire Nicole referred to, and my recommended serum was the Herbal Hydrating Serum. So I'll pick up a bottle and give it a go. Even if you don't use Mario products, I'll bet you could get an idea for what type of serum you should be using by way of their questionnaire; then you could take your results to whichever brand of skincare you do use for product recommendations.