When To Apply Face Serum? All You Need to Know About It

Face serums are a vital component of any skincare routine, delivering concentrated active ingredients to target specific skin concerns such as hydration, anti-ageing, brightening, or acne control. Knowing how and when to use face serums can maximise their effectiveness and help you achieve the best results for your skin. This guide will walk you through the best time to apply face serums, how they differ in the morning and evening, and how to choose the best serum for your skin type.

When To Apply Face Serum?

AM Application Of Face Serums

Morning is the time to focus on protection and hydration. Applying a serum in your morning routine helps prepare your skin for the day ahead by creating a barrier against environmental aggressors such as pollution, UV rays, and free radicals.

• Vitamin C serums are ideal for AM use as they are powerful antioxidants that neutralise free radicals and prevent damage from the sun and pollution. They also brighten the skin, giving you a radiant glow throughout the day.
• Hyaluronic acid serums are great for hydration. They bind moisture to the skin, making it plumper and smoother, which helps your makeup sit better.
• Niacinamide serums are useful for controlling excess oil and improving skin texture. It also calms inflammation, making it an excellent choice for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Make sure to follow your serum application with a moisturiser and broad-spectrum sunscreen to lock in hydration and protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

PM Application Of Face Serums

Your evening skincare routine should focus on repair and regeneration. The skin goes into repair mode while you sleep, making it the perfect time to apply serums that target specific skin concerns.

• Retinol or retinoid serums are best used at night. These powerful ingredients speed up cell turnover, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin texture. They are sensitive to sunlight, so they should only be applied in the evening.
• Exfoliating serums containing AHAs (like glycolic acid) or BHAs (like salicylic acid) are also suitable for nighttime. These help to slough off dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve skin texture. Be sure to pair these with hydrating products to prevent dryness or irritation.
• Peptide serums are great for nighttime use as they help stimulate collagen production and repair the skin barrier, reducing signs of ageing and enhancing skin firmness.

After applying a serum at night, follow it with a rich moisturiser or night cream to lock in the active ingredients and nourish your skin while you sleep.

How To Find The Best Serum For Your Skin?

Finding the right serum for your skin type can be challenging, especially with so many options available. Lancôme’s E-Skin Expert Tool is designed to simplify this process. This online diagnostic tool uses advanced skin analysis technology to assess your skin’s needs based on factors like hydration levels, skin texture, and visible signs of ageing. The tool then recommends a personalised skincare routine, including serums tailored specifically to your skin concerns. This innovative approach ensures that you choose products that will effectively target your unique skin issues, leading to better and faster results.

Knowing when to apply face serums is crucial to ensuring you reap their full benefits. Using protective and hydrating serums in the morning helps shield your skin from environmental stressors, while reparative and anti-ageing serums work best at night to renew and regenerate your skin. Browse through a wide range of Lancôme skincare products and incorporate the right serums at the right time to achieve healthier, more radiant skin all year round. You can also head to our skincare beauty magazine to learn everything about face serums.