Is it just me - serums

[KubelkoBondy]

Are they really a big con? They never really seem to make a difference to anything. I've tried loads - the Estée Lauder one - the new no7 one blah -loads of other sorts too kiehls and loreal and so on - and none of them seem to make a blind bit of difference. Moisturiser makes a huge difference. If I don't use moisturiser my face falls off. And the right moisturiser makes a huge difference to how makeup goes on. And need different ones in summer and winter. It's all good.

But what are the serums actually supposed to be doing for me? Are we being made fools of by the cosmetics industry?

Don't seem to add any extra hydration. Haven't noticed Face Looking Suddenly Wonderful. Still look tired with sun damage from the past, little red veins about the snout (which is shiny), increasing fine lines and monstrous eye bags. Makeup still slides off by lunch.

Shall I not bother any more and spend my money on something else like cake?

They're quite good around the eye I think. Now my lines are kicking in. I find them light and they absorb. Wouldn't spend too much though

It needs to be the right one for the issue you want to address. There are good ones for all of those issues you list, except for the veins, probably, unless it's general redness. I just read the ingredients on everything and have a collection of serums for different skin issues depending on time of year, hydration levels, if travelling, hormonal spots, etc. They penetrate the skin, whereas as a moisturiser sits on top, for the most part.

I get spots layering too much crap on my face.
I perfect a moisturiser with a dot of oil
Ocassionally redermic R which has made no difference
Oils and acid made the most difference

I don't find moisturiser enough by itself and I use the Aldi serum £3.49 and it is excellent quality as well as very reasonable (cheap) and find my skin much better with it.

Once you get past the phony science, all they undertake to do is minimise the appearance of lines. Same as moisturiser.

My skin is really dehydrated and I use a serum for extra moisturiser. I'm not sure whether it works, but I do like how it feels.

I thought this too until I tried SubQ advanced serum - shockingly good at making fine lines and open pores disappear - also plumps and firms. Noticed it within 2 days.

My favourite serum is a vit C one which lightens dark spots super quickly. It's made a huge difference in the brightness of my skin. I used to wear medium coverage foundation everywhere but now go without as I feel my skin is looking a lot better.

Not sure about lines as I don't have many yet but hopefully it's preventative as well. The best treatment for that would be retin/retinol rather than serums though!

I've just turned 40 and I don't have a fringe so my forehead lines are becoming quite obvious. I recently started using the Olay anti wrinkle serum and am genuinely amazed at the difference it makes to my skin and fine lines!

My skincare routine has been very basic up until now and I never thought I'd bother with serum but I will definitely continue using it.

Mowglik could you please share which vit C serum you use? I have plenty of dark(er) spots

Thanks everyone - reading with interest
Would like to know about the vit c serum too...maybe will look at subQ too?

I've been using the Clinique Smart serum with no effect at all on my skin. I'm also interested in the Vit C serum or any others that are worth spending money on as they can be quite expensive!

I've recently started using Liz Earle. After using the cleanser ended up treating myself to the full range, so for a month or so been using cleanser, toner, eye cream, serum and moisturiser and I've found it really makes a difference. I find I use hardly any moisturiser after the serum, and less foundation too.

Skin def looks better and feels good. Hoped a proper regime would help with dark circles but not made much difference there.

I thought they were to prevent wrinkles? I bloody hope so. Ive been using no7 protect & perfect in the hopes that i dont end up with crows feet like my friends at 34 lol.

I have dry skin and I find serums make a big difference compared to moisturiser alone.

i also have dry skin but haven't found serums particularly helpful for that - I find a richer moisturiser works better. I love the kiehls super multi corrective cream at the moment - it seems to promise a lot too - the same sorts of things that the serums promise - wrinkles and brightening -and so on - and it's creamy and rich without being too heavy.

Sounds like serums are better if you have one particular concern but if I was going to get specific ones for all my issues I would have to have one for pores and oily nose, one for dry forehead and cheeks, one for sun spots and yet another for ageing. And not to mention the eyebags.

Maybe I'm just asking too much! The other thing is the more layers of stuff I have on my face the less likely It is for makeup to stay on properly...

If there was a cream that could prevent or banish wrinkles then the rich folk would be using that instead of botox and fillers.

Dry is a skin type, so the right moisturiser will address that. Dehydrated is a skin issue so a serum will be more effective as it penetrates below the surface. Not all serums are hydrating. Not all are anti aging. You need to find one for your issue. Something like Protect and Perfect is thought of as anti aging but it isn't really. It works by plumping out fine lines by hydrating them so "reduces the appearance of fine lines", which they're allowed to say rather than "anti aging". The only thing that is actually anti aging, as in reverses the signs is vitamin a (retinol). Some serums will be preventative without this though.

OP a retinol serum would help with anti aging, sun damage and probably the pores as well. Moisturiser for the dry bits.

I use an ESPA serum every night before bed. I don't moisturise as I've got large pores and moisturisers seem to make them even bigger and sort of grey. I love the serum, though, and my skin is plumper and lovely with it.

Aha - thanks - any recommendations for retinol? Roc is the first thing that comes to mind - is that any good? Xx

I'm not sure of the % of that one. You want to start slowly. Most you can buy in the chemist will be low %. La Roche Posay and indeed labs do good ones, then you can build up the strength.

Are we being made fools of by the cosmetics industry?
Of course we are. They're preying on women's insecurities and laughing all the way to the bank.

Shall I not bother any more and spend my money on something else like cake?
Good idea. Or save all the money you would've spent on expensive (expensive doesn't necessarily = better) serums/creams/moisturisers, etc, with pseudo science marketing and spend it on a consultation with a dermatologist who can use their medical expertise to diagnose any skin issues you may have. Or buy cake.

I thought they were to prevent wrinkles? I bloody hope so. Ive been using no7 protect & perfect in the hopes that i dont end up with crows feet like my friends at 34 lol.
Considering wrinkles are caused by repeated movements of the face over a long period of time your best bet to avoid them is by not moving your face, ie don't smile, frown, raise your eyes, squint, etc. Also caused by smoking (stop smoking), sun exposure (avoid the sun or use a broad spectrum sun screen) and general aging (die young).

any recommendations for retinol? Roc is the first thing that comes to mind - is that any good?
Nonprescription wrinkle creams contain less of the active ingredients, such as retinol and alpha hydroxy acid, than prescription creams. "Therefore results, if any, are limited and usually short-lived".

I agree with you WhatALoad Cake is an excellent idea. In fact if enough women spread cake all over their faces every night, I'm sure you'd find some reporting back that their skin had never been better.

The skincare industry is ripping the piss.

The superdrug serum here is supposedly good - I've just ordered a bottle so will report back. I do use serum daily and find it keeps my skin well moisturised but dont really see any difference between the cheap and expensive brands. The Aldi stuff is just as effective as Clarins.