For a lot of guys, serum as part of a skincare routine seems like one step too far. Maybe it’s the vaguely scientific name that makes it appear a little too serious or it’s just the thought of doing something between the cleanser and moisturiser stage keeps you away from breakfast for too long. I thought the same for ages but, in the pursuit of research, I decided to give them a go. And trust me, they REALLY work. So take a deep breath, get over yourself and add an extra 30 seconds to your skincare regime in the morning. You won’t regret it.
Despite sounding like something Dracula might use to keep looking younger, serums in fact are (mostly) water-based ways of getting certain beneficial, active ingredients directly into the skin. What these are can vary, depending on your needs, but mostly they are used to help with wrinkles (I hold my hand up to that one!), acne, pigmentation or dryness of the skin. And because they are light and very concentrated, they are applied and absorbed very quickly.
So basically have a good look at what you think you could benefit from and choose a serum that deals directly with that. To treat acne, something with vitamin C and retinol is good whilst very dry skin responds to serums with vitamin E and glycolic acid. Retinol and peptides are also great for fine lines as it speeds up the cell turnover process. If you suffer from blotchy skin or hyperpigmentation, then peptides are good to stimulate collagen growth whilst niacinamide tackles discolouration. Most serums contain a cocktail of different ingredients but a bit of research will get you on the right track.
Being…. ahem… of a ‘certain’ age, I mostly tried serums with anti-ageing properties but on your behalf I did tests with others too. These are the ones that I thought genuinely made a positive improvement to my skin.
Biotherm Force Supreme Blue Serum
With its blue packaging and fresh-out-of-the-shower aroma, this is a serum aimed directly at the male market. But it’s great and not too expensive either. Using live plankton (a bit thing in the Biotherm world) and pro-retinol, this aims to reduce lines and wrinkles and give the skin a youthful glow.
Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High Potency Serum 5% Niacinamide
Despite the long name, Kiehl’s actually keeps things quite clear with their serums as they pretty much tell you the benefits and ingredients on the packaging. This one deals with oily and shiny skin with a healthy dose of Niacinamide which also helps to even out blemishes.
Augustinus Bader The Retinol Serum
Another one that clearly tells you the main ingredient, this serum delivers a big hit of wrinkle-reducing retinol directly into your skin. It also reduces redness and evens out discolouration. It’s not the cheapest kid on the block but the quality is excellent and you need only a tiny amount every day to notice the difference.
L:A Bruket Replenishing Serum
Swedish-based L:A Brucket specialise in organic, natural products that are based on traditional homespun recipes passed down over generations, but now supported with modern scientific proof of efficiency. Case in point is this serum that uses moss extract and green algae to rejuvenate ageing skin and hydrate when elasticity is beginning to wane.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum
Working whilst you sleep, this serum is applied before you go to bed and then moisturises and reduces wrinkles overnight by boosting your natural cell renewal cycle. It’s also a very good price which at least means you probably have easier dreams.
BioEffect EGF Serum
Finally we have one of Robin’s favourites, produced by Iceland-based BioEffect. This serum pumps plant-based EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor protein) extracted from sustainably grown barley directly into your skin to combat ageing and lack of elasticity. Robin looks years younger than his age so clearly this product works.
