There are so many serum products and ingredients circulating around the skin care community, it can often feel like you’re not sure which serum will work best for your skin. If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by the abundance of serum options, COSMEDIX’s own Dr. Hadley King, an award-winning, New York City-based dermatologist, is here to help! Dr. King, who has been featured on Good Morning America and in publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Women’s Health, Refinery 29, Men’s Health, Elle, Good Housekeeping, Self, and more, also works as a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and an advising dermatologist here at COSMEDIX. This week, she’s popping into our blog to help you select a serum based on your skin concern. Let’s dive in!
For Acne-Prone Skin
As we enter back-to-school season, breakouts may be on our minds a little more than usual. If you’ve got skin that’s prone to acne flare-ups, Dr. King recommends our Retinol and Salicylic Acid-infused Clarity Skin-Clarifying Serum. Here’s her explanation of how these powerhouse ingredients work together with natural botanicals like Aloe Vera and Tea Tree Oil:
“Clarity Skin-Clarifying Serum is helpful for treating and preventing blackheads because Retinol increases cell turnover and makes dead skin cells less likely to stick together and clog up pores, while Salicylic Acid penetrates into pores to gently exfoliate and remove pore-clogging oils and keratin debris. Also contains Aloe Vera, which hydrates and soothes the skin, as well as Tea Tree Oil, which has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.”
This clarifying serum also helps to moisturize and balance the skin, and it’s gentle enough to incorporate into your daily morning and evening skincare routine.
For Tired-Looking Eyes
If your undereye area is causing you to look a little sleepy, Opti Crystal Liquid Crystal Eye Serum can be your ultra-luxe answer for waking up your skin. Our number one bestseller, Opti Crystal has a gorgeous texture and intensely hydrating ingredients that help lock moisture in to the delicate skin beneath your eyes. Dr. King highlights Opti Crystal’s hydrating power here:
“Opti Crystal Liquid Crystal Eye Serum hydrates with Coconut Water, Aloe and Glycerin, and supports the skin barrier with Rice Bran Oil, Moringa Seed Oil and Jojoba Seed Oil.”
For Dull-Looking Skin
Niacinamide, or Vitamin B3, is a rising star ingredient in skin care circles because it combines gentle, everyday useability with powerful brightening potential. If your skin concern is related to helping reducing red or fading hyperpigmentation, Dr. King recommends Simply Brilliant 24/7 Brightening Serum because of its supercharged, antioxidant-rich formula. Here she is going in-depth about some of Simply Brilliant’s ten specific brightening skin care ingredients:
“Simply Brilliant Brightening Serum contains a powerful combination of ingredients for brightening the skin. Niacinamide is a multi-tasking ingredient that helps improve tone and texture. It is a potent antioxidant that brightens skin by fading hyperpigmentation and reducing redness. It also increases the skin's production of ceramides, which help strengthen the skin barrier, preventing loss of moisture. Licorice Root Extract contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties, and the formulation contains other antioxidants as well, including Ascorbic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Tocopherol, and Green Tea Extract, all of which help to brighten the skin… Waltheria Indica Leaf Extract also helps to brighten. And Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Gluconolacctone gently exfoliate the skin to brighten and improve absorption of other brightening ingredients.”
Because of its uber-gentle formula, this brightening serum can help bring extra Niacinamide in the morning or at night—all you need is a dime-sized amount applied to cleansed and toned skin!
For Dry Skin
The fall and winter seasons are coming fast, and for some of us that means a switch to a more hydrating moisturizer. If your skin is on the drier side, it may help to apply Humidify Deep Moisture Cream to lock in your chosen serum. Humidify moisturizer also uses Niacinamide, Jojoba Seed Oil, and Colloidal Oatmeal—three ingredients that Dr. King agrees help prevent loss of moisture and improve skin’s texture:
“Humidify Deep Moisture & Firming Hydrator contains the perfect moisturizing combination of humectants like Glycerin and Trehalose to hydrate, emollients like Jojoba Seed Oil and triglycerides to support the skin barrier, and occlusives like Shea Butter (also has emollient properties) to lock in moisture. Plus it also contains Niacinamide, which helps improve texture and increases the skin's production of ceramides, which help strengthen the skin barrier, preventing loss of moisture. And it contains Colloidal Oatmeal, which soothes the skin and serves as a skin protectant.”
The results of clinical studies from some of our key ingredient manufacturers would agree with the Dr.’s assessment—42% of participants saw improvement in their skin’s hydration after fifteen days of continuous use!
For Recovering Skin
If you are a regular customer at your local spa for treatments like peels or micro-needling, your skin may occasionally need time to recover without harsh ingredients. You can read more about how to baby your skin during these delicate windows of time here. One effective way to help heal your skin is C.P.R. Skin Recovery Serum, recommended by Dr. King because of its soothing ingredients and hydrating, antioxidant-rich formula. She points out that C.P.R.’s formula contains Centella Asiatica, or Cica, which is “an antioxidant-rich herb that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.” She goes on to say that “Studies have shown that it is an effective wound healing agent and it also has anti-inflammatory and highly moisturizing properties…This makes it a great ingredient for anyone with dry, flaky skin [or] anyone with acne, eczema or sensitive skin.”
