Are you using and abusing serums, or do you think they’re a waste of time?
As a person who makes her living writing beauty-related content, I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of what’s going on in the makeup and skincare world. I’m by no means a total pro, and there have definitely been times when I’ve looked to you guys for help (see here and here for examples), but in general, I know what’s up.
Except when it comes to serums. I just don’t know what to make of them. I understand the basics–serums are lightweight moisturizers with super high concentrations of active ingredients that penetrate the skin–but should I be incorporating them into my daily skincare routine? And if so, which one?
I should mention that I’m trying to adopt this new lifestyle called “Try Not To Waste Money, Especially On Skin Care Products, Because You Already Have Too Many.” In the past, I’ve fallen prey to products-of-the-moment that cost a ton and do absolutely nothing of real value for my skin. I want to make a real effort to stop buying into the bullshit and just stick to the stuff I really need, like SPF, a good cleanser, and effective moisturizers. With that being said, I recently bought my first serum (God, I have no willpower to speak of), but I’m not sure if it’s really something that I need to be incorporating into my regular beauty routine.
This is the serum I bought:
It’s The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Moisture Serum ($23), and I chose it because of how much I love the Body Shop’s Vitamin E Face Mist. I’ve been using my new serum fairly regularly, and my skin has actually been looking great, but I’m pretty sure that’s a result of the rosehip oil I recently fell in love with. I’m pretty much a ride-or-die fan of the rosehip oil and have no intentions of cutting it out of my daily beauty regimen, but I’m by no means attached to the serum. Should I be? Is it really a miracle product like the Internet says it is? Or is it another “must-have” of the moment that will eventually be replaced by something else?
I guess what I’m really asking is this: should I be shelling out the big bucks for this stuff? Or can I live without it? What do you guys think? Are you using and abusing serums, or are you keeping it simple with SPF and moisturizer and not much else? Let me know in the comments!
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at BlueFashion. She has been steering the website's content and editorial direction since 2013. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra's expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
