6 Hacks to Optimize Your Anti-Aging Serum
Want to make your anti-aging serum work harder? There are plenty of hacks you can try to get more from your retinol, bakuchiol, or vitamin C serum. When it comes to skincare, how you prep skin and apply product can make a huge impact on the effects of a product. If you’d like to get the maximum benefits from your anti-aging serum to finally see the back of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, read on.
Here are six easy hacks to optimize your youth-restoring serum.
#1: Exfoliate First
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. Not only does this instantly brighten and refresh skin, but it also enables skincare products to penetrate deeper into the skin. All those active ingredients in your anti-aging serum will sink in beautifully and work their best when applied to freshly exfoliated skin.
You don’t need to exfoliate every time you apply serum. In fact, you shouldn’t, as it can irritate the skin. According to dermatologists, you should be exfoliating at least once a week but no more than three times a week. It depends on your skin type. If you have normal, mature, or oily skin, you can afford to exfoliate up to three times a week, whereas if you have dry skin or sensitive skin, limit exfoliation to once a week.
#2: Apply it Before Bed
At night, skin absorbs product best. All those fabulous skincare ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants will work their best when applied at night before going to bed. Alongside this, some ingredients like retinoids and acids are actually advised for night-time use only as they can leave skin sensitive to the sun when used in the daytime.
For your pm skincare routine, start with a gentle cleanser followed by your anti-aging serum, and then layer on your eye cream and face cream. Layering your beauty products is also essential for ensuring every product in your routine properly absorbs.
#3: Pat it into Damp Skin
Damp skin absorbs product much better than dry skin. After washing your face, pat skin with a clean towel so that it’s still damp, but not dripping wet. Then take your serum and pat it into your face and neck. Avoid aggressively rubbing the skin, which can contribute to signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles.
You can also apply this theory to other skincare products including your lotions, night creams, and face oils. Besides absorbing deeper into your skin, applying serum to damp skin leaves your complexion looking dewy and glass-like.
#4: Sleep On Silk or Satin
Cotton absorbs moisture more than silk or satin. So when you go to bed slathered in serums and creams, most of what’s on your skin will end up getting absorbed by your cotton pillowcase. Bummer, right? The good news is, there is a quick fix: invest in a silk or satin pillowcase. Both silk and satin absorb less moisture, allowing your skincare products to absorb as you sleep without stealing their benefits. Plus, satin and silk cause less friction on your skin, preventing the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
#5: Use Daily
Whether you’re dealing with sun damage, premature signs of aging, or another skin concern, serums need to be used daily in order for you to see visible changes in your skin. You don’t need to use a lot. A couple of drops should be enough for the face and neck.
That said, if you have sensitive skin and you’re using a retinol serum, make sure you start slowly to avoid annoying the heck out of your skin. Start by using it once a week, then increase to every two days, until you’re skin fully adjusts and is able to tolerate daily use. If your skin still feels a little red after daily vitamin A serum use, reduce the frequency to every two days — or whatever makes your skin happy!
#6: Layer Under Sunscreen
While it can be beneficial to apply serums at night, some work well for daytime use. Vitamin C is one of those ingredients. This potent antioxidant helps to fight free radicals and ultimately premature aging, slowing down the aging process and promoting strong, healthy skin. According to the pros, vitamin C pairs perfectly with SPF to provide an additional layer of sun protection.
While it shouldn’t be used alone, when paired with sunscreen, vitamin C serum helps protect skin from damaging UV rays which are the leading cause of fine lines and dark spots. Vitamin C also offers other skin benefits such as brightening, evening out skin tone, and fading dark circles.
SHOP ANTI-AGING SERUMS
Haven’t found the right anti-aging serum yet? Here are a few you should try to get back your youth.
Smooth Serum
A vitamin C serum infused with vegan collagen to boost natural collagen production, restore elasticity, and protect against line-causing free radicals. Smooth Serum is a powerful topical treatment for ironing out creases and lightening discoloration.
Tighten Serum
A firming face serum powered by alpha hydroxy acids and red microalgae to lift, smooth, and restore elasticity. Thanks to jojoba oil and aloe, this formula also hydrates the skin, making skin look smooth, dewy, and youthful.
Glow Serum
While it’s technically a brightening treatment, Glow Serum contains bakuchiol — a gentle retinol alternative — that boosts collagen, restores elasticity, and speeds cellular turnover for smooth, radiant skin. It also contains glycolic acid to buff away dead skin, breakouts, and dryness for a soft to the touch complexion that glows!
Skin health starts with good skincare habits. If you want to make your anti-aging serum work harder so that you actually see results from it (ASAP), it’s important to apply it in the right way otherwise you could be suppressing its full range of benefits. Try the above hacks to optimize your anti-aging serum, and we guarantee, you’ll see and feel the difference in next to no time!
You can also try these hacks for other serums to boost their effects.