Hydration serums replenish dry skin, restoring its texture and appearance. However, skin can be oily and undernourished, or 'combination skin' - skin that is dry in some areas and oily in others.
Oily skin requires a different approach to your skincare routine. The key is choosing the right hydration serum. A skincare routine for oily skin might look like this:
Starting with an oil-based cleanser
Working with an oil-based cleanser will help clean the sebum (skin oils) from your skin, washing up the dirt and bacteria accumulated over the day. Oil-based cleansers can lift the layer of unwanted grease while preserving the skin's natural microflora (the layer of bacteria that supports the skin's function).
Toner
Toner is often considered an optional ingredient in a skincare ritual but can be essential in maintaining consistent skin tone. Toner also decreases the appearance of pores while locking in a layer of hydration.
Toner should be as easy as possible to apply - either splashing it on or applying it in a gentle mist.
Niacinamide serum
Hydration serums all have one function: to nourish the skin as deeply as possible. A hydrating serum should be water-based, meaning it avoids the greasy feel and appearance associated with heavy facial moisturisers.
Another benefit to using a hydration serum is that it is based around natural, concentrated extracts. Users often experience a deeper, longer-lasting nourishment compared to its creamy counterparts.
High-quality hydrating serums will generally include niacinamide: a form of vitamin B3 that calms unsettled skin, reduces natural water loss and generally brightens skin. One of niacinamide's most interesting benefits is that it can be used to treat the dry skin conditions associated with eczema, and the oily conditions of acne. In other words, niacinamide-based serums can moisturise without leaving bacteria-breeding oily residue behind on delicate facial skin.
Lightweight day cream
A day cream will protect your delicate facial skin against outdoor conditions. Whether you're exposed to rain, sun, heat or cold conditions, a lightweight day cream will lock in the glow that you've worked to achieve, ensuring a radiance that will last for the rest of the day.
SPF (Optional)
If you live in a region with a high UV index, you may be in the habit of adding SPF in the form of a day cream, foundation or sun cream directly. The SPF should be as light as possible, to allow quick absorption.
As you can see, a high-quality skincare routine mostly focuses on moisturising and nourishing the skin, rather than repeated cleansing. Though cleansing is an essential step in any skincare routine, cleansing without hydrating will result in the skin looking and feeling worse than before.
The Importance of Using Hydration Serum with Vitamin C for Brightening
Hydration serums come in all shapes, sizes, and scents. Some are designed for eczema; others for acne, but they are not all made equally. One crucial ingredient that you should always check for is Vitamin C.
Vitamin C isn't just for consumption; it's also deeply nourishing for healthy skin. It's actually an antioxidant, meaning it can prevent environmental damage (sun damage, etc.) from accelerating visible signs of age. In dermatological circles, Vitamin C has a well-deserved reputation for boosting youth. Symptoms of ageing, such as wrinkles or discolouration, can be reduced by regularly applying Vitamin C-containing products in your skincare routine.
A little amount of Vitamin C in a product like hydration serum goes a long way. Ingredients that contain Vitamin C you might notice in a serum include Kakadu Plum, Pinnatifida (Wakame) Leaf and Stem Extract and Blue Tansy Oil.
Though Vitamin C is vitally important for truly hydrating products, look out for Vitamin E, which is also helpful in mitigating the damage from free radicals while promoting a youthful appearance.
Try a Lightweight Hydration Serum
We've mentioned it before, but we'll say it again: lightweight is better. Being water-based and non-greasy allows deeper hydration without excess, hard-to-absorb cream-based products.
Try IKKARI’s lightweight hydration serum, which locks in a layer of essential hydration without leaving any greasy residue or marks. Our hydration serum is made with carefully chosen and sourced natural extracts. Customers rate the serum highly, with particular praise going to how a little can go, its texture and (arguably most importantly) how much moisture it provides to skin of all types.