It’s only recently that face serums have become the BIG thing in the world of skincare. And already the market is saturated with different serums for different skin types. But are they worth the hype or are serums just a fad? Aren’t moisturisers enough? Well, while it is true that moisturisers are enough to provide your skin with the nourishment it needs, as you age your skin starts demanding more and more from you. And that’s where a serum comes to the rescue! Simply put, face serums do things that your moisturisers cannot. The molecules in serums are smaller than your regular moisturiser which helps actives penetrate deeper into your skin to give better results.

Moreover, when your skin starts ageing, it needs nutrients—vitamins and minerals—to keep it glowing and looking young. And for that, serums are needed as they come loaded with ingredients like AHAs, vitamin C, niacinamide, and hyaluronic that cater to your different needs.

If you are still contemplating whether to add a serum to your skincare regimen or not, then here are 4 benefits of using serums that will help you make up your mind!

Face serums deeply hydrate your skin

Serums go deeper into your skin and provide much more hydration than your moisturiser can. Moreover, when you age, your skin produces fewer sebum (or natural oil), and there’s decreased cell renewal which can lead to dry skin. So, it becomes important to provide the nourishment, which a serum can easily provide. Go for face serums that feature hyaluronic acid which helps in locking the moisture in your skin.

Help you shrink your pores

As your skin ages it loses elasticity which can make pores appear larger. Serums can very well help you in shrinking enlarged pores by making them seem smaller. Moreover, antioxidants and active ingredients present in pore-refining serums can help unclog pores, unlike the moisturisers, thus reducing the formation of blackheads and whiteheads.

If large enlarged and clogged pores is a concern, then opt for serums with AHAs like glycolic acid or lactic acid.

Give you younger skin

Most serums are high on antioxidants and have ingredients such as retinol, resveratrol and vitamin C which help fight off signs of ageing such as wrinkles and fine lines. Furthermore, these active ingredients also repair your skin, giving your visage the much-needed radiance.

Can reduce skin irritation

Your skin can get irritated because of several reasons, including allergens and the weather. Not to mention, the skin tends to get more sensitive as we age, leading to redness, itchiness and irritation. In this situation, skin damage is inevitable–and your moisturiser is not enough to undo it.

Many serums have calming and anti-inflammatory active ingredients, such as aloe vera, glycerin, and shea butter, which can help soothe your skin and nourish it at the same time.