What is a serum and how does it fit into my skin routine?

If your skin care consists of cleansing, moisturizing and protecting, a serum can be an extra step to keep your skin in condition.

What is a serum?

A serum is a gel-like liquid that feels thinner and lighter than a cream or ointment. Often this fluid base consists of hyaluronic acid, sometimes oil. This base is combined with concentrated active ingredients such as vitamin C, vitamin B3, Bakuchiol or peptides.

Serum with a base of high and low hyaluronic acid sugars

Hyaluronic acid, the base we use for our serum, is a sugar compound with a high water-attracting capacity. This means that hyaluronic acid attracts water and thus hydrates the skin.

Iconic-Elements investigated the different molecular properties of hyaluronic acid. It turns out that hyaluronic acid is even better distributed and gets deeper into the skin if you break it up into different pieces.

We therefore developed a serum with a combination of high and low hyaluronic acid sugars as a base.

Why do you apply a serum to your skin?

A serum can give a boost, reduce pigment formation or soothe your skin. Because the serum is more concentrated, you don’t need much of it and because of its composition it penetrates deeper into the skin than an ointment or cream.

Serum: an intermediate step in your skin routine?

You often apply a serum to your skin after skin cleansing. The structure of a serum is light and due to the gel-like composition it absorbs well into the skin, without leaving a layer.

You need very little of it and the properties of the liquid base make it very easy to spread. Because a serum does not stick, and penetrates the skin, you can combine it well with other skin care products, sun protection or make-up.

You could say that it is an intermediate product: you apply it after skin cleansing and before your standard skin care. The serum can be applied in the morning and evening.

Why this explanation about the use of serums?

In my dermatology practice, people often ask me about skin-enhancing products. I see what they struggle with and unfortunately too often notice that certain care products help someone out of the rain.
Because I want you as a user to be able to trust the product you are applying, I combine scientific insights and my knowledge about the skin to develop a skin care line that stands out because it works (evidence-based)! – Francis Wu

While you are here

Lotions, cream and ointment what are the differences? It is possible that because of the many products you no longer see the trees for the forest. Even worse if you apply the wrong product to your skin you can make the problem like dry skin worse. Learn more about the basics of lotions, creams and ointments