Simply put, serums are powerful skin allies. Filled with concentrated doses of active ingredients, these elixirs can mitigate a number of issues, from dark spots to wrinkles. “Even if you don’t have any specific issues, everyone still needs a general antioxidant serum in the morning to protect from daily aggressors.  While there are “limitless options” for ingredients, Nazarian singles out her hardworking favorites. To handle specific issues, look for these products:

Hyaluronic acid to seal in hydration and strengthen the barrier function (the top layer of your skin) to prevent moisture loss.

Vitamin C to help brighten dull skin and decrease dark spots with continued use.

Retinol, vitamin B3, peptides to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, proteins in the body that help prevent lines and skin sagging.

Colloidal sulfur, niacinamide to calm redness and irritation by decreasing inflammation, and improve acne with its antimicrobial effects.

Helpful Hints and Pointers

If you have multiple concerns, you might want to use multiple formulas. “I recommend treating different areas with different products “Maybe you’ll use a vitamin C serum all over but then dab on [another] for hyperpigmentation on just a few spots.” Just run any combination by your dermatologist to avoid any potential reactions.

To save time, don’t try mixing a serum into your moisturizer. This “lessens the ability of the serum to absorb effectively. “Products should be applied one by one.”

Not all serums are applied with the same frequency. “This varies with the ingredients.“I prefer antioxidants in the morning because they give you additional protection from the environment, and most of us don’t use enough sunscreen as is. Yet certain ingredients are best when slathered on at night. For example: “Retinols are not sun-stable and will degrade if applied in daytime.

• It is the golden component of the beauty industry. Retinol, one of the most active ingredients in skin care, has a well-deserved reputation for reversing genetic signs of aging.
• Retinol, a type of vitamin A. It activates skin care ingredients, but when exposed to sunlight, retinol molecules break down and lose their strength. For this reason, it is always recommended to be used with a cream containing a high amount of sunscreen.
• What does it do?

Retinol primarily slows down the aging process of the skin. This is very important, because from the age of 30, cell renewal decreases. The slowing down of the renewal speed of the cells causes the wrinkles to increase and our faces to look dull and dry. Retinol helps bring this process back to normal. Our skin uses vitamin A in the regeneration process. Retinoid receptors are proteins found naturally in the skin. These receptors transport vitamin A derivatives to skin cells and trigger collagen production.

Also,

• It increases the amount of collagen in the skin.
• It tightens the skin.
• Smoothing.
• It reduces the appearance of dark spots.
• Used in acne and blackhead treatment.
• Helps to remove fine lines and wrinkles.

Why should it be used?

• Retinol accelerates the self-renewal process as it helps to trigger the collagen and elastin production of the skin. Research shows that vitamin A derivatives have the effect of thickening the skin. For this reason, the skin gains a better structure, that is, the skin quality increases.

How should it be used?

• Everyone’s skin reacts differently to retinol. Some people may experience temporary redness, peeling, and tenderness. The way retinol is used depends on the type of your skin and the amount of retinol in the cream you use. You should use your skin to get used to retinol.