Which is better - serum or face cream: comparison of compositions, differences in consistency, effectiveness

Recently, cosmetic companies, in addition to the usual and well-known skin care products, began to offer serums to customers. Previously, they were used only within beauty salons.

Nowadays, various types of essences are available to everyone: they can be bought in every cosmetic store and used independently at home.

Almost all cosmetic companies offer serum for non-professional use. Serums for moisturizing were the first to conquer the global industry of care cosmetics, after them came oil-based ones and then for each individual area, for example, for lips, eyelids, or T-zone.

Proper care

Professional cosmetologists around the world claim that the skin needs constant cleansing, toning and moisturizing. In the modern world, a trend of Korean care has emerged, which includes a large number of stages using cosmetics. According to reviews from girls, using this technique you can quickly get rid of possible imperfections and improve the condition of your skin. To answer the question of which is better, serum or face cream, you need to understand what kind of care will be used.

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Stages:

• Makeup remover All kinds of products are used here: milk, oil, micellar water or cream to remove decorative cosmetics.
• Cleansing with foams, gels or mousses.
• Toning. Girls often skip this stage, but the skin needs to restore balance after washing. Using a tonic, you can remove remaining impurities, increase elasticity and improve the penetrating ability of subsequent products.
• Hydration. When discussing this stage, the question comes up about what is better - face cream or serum. For a clear answer, it is necessary to consider these two caring products in more detail.

Serum features

This cosmetic product has become very popular in Korea, where girls regularly include it in their skin care routine. When choosing which is better - serum or face cream, you need to understand that they differ in their properties. And accordingly, efficiency. Serum molecules are much smaller, which ensures deep penetration into cells.

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With regular use, you can really get rid of various imperfections, improve the condition, even out the natural shade and saturate the skin with useful components. The serum is saturated with various acids, active ingredients, vitamins and mineral complexes, which increases the effectiveness of the cosmetic product for quickly solving specific problems.

Face cream

This cosmetic product is more popular among Russian buyers, as it is more familiar to girls. Various cosmetic companies offer products that will nourish, tone, brighten and moisturize. The face cream has a familiar texture and is used after wiping the skin with tonic. But this product is unable to penetrate deep layers, so the effect after the first use is absolutely unnoticeable.

The difference between a cream and a facial serum is that its components are present in lower concentrations, which virtually eliminates the occurrence of an undesirable allergic reaction. But manufacturers use various emulsifiers and fragrances that extend the shelf life of the care product. Active components:

Professional cosmetologists, when answering the question of what is better - cream or serum for the face, argue that these two products should be present in daily care, as they have a complex effect to obtain the maximum effect from use.

Fluid

At its core, the fluid is the same cream, only it is more liquid and lighter than its counterpart. The weightless texture of the fluid is achieved due to the abundance of water in its composition. Most often, a product with an unusual name is used in the hot season, because it is not felt on the skin and does not clog pores. If the fluid contains reflective particles, it refreshes the skin and makes it radiant. Polymers do not allow the sebaceous glands to produce too much sebum, so makeup applied on top of liquid cream does not run even under direct sunlight. For combination skin, the fluid is a salvation from oily sheen; for oily skin, it is a win-win option, suitable for use in both summer and winter. If you wish, you can choose a product with a light texture for dry and problematic skin.

Selection by skin type

Each of them has distinctive characteristics and needs that must be satisfied to restore and preserve beauty. Creams and serums for facial skin have certain properties, are saturated with various components and are aimed at solving specific problems. How to choose a caring product is based on individual needs:

Retinol cream – reviews, rating 2021

Below we will present a list of creams with retinol that can be purchased in online stores or in cosmetology clinics. It should be noted that highly effective products based on pure microencapsulated retinol will certainly be expensive. And of course, the leaders of the rating will be such companies as SkinCeuticals (USA) and ZO® Skin Health (USA), which we are ready to put together in 1st place in the rating. We will also mention several more affordable products with retinol (from the category of pharmacy cosmetics).

Products with retinol from SkinCeuticals (USA) –

American produces 2 excellent products that contain 0.3 and 1.0% pure microencapsulated retinol. These products are called "Retinol 0.3" and "Retinol 1.0", respectively. Once again, please note that the products contain pure retinol, and not its esters. Microencapsulation technology increases the stability of retinol and also reduces its irritating effect on the skin.

In addition to retinol, both of these products also contain - 1) Boswellia serrata extract, which additionally relieves skin irritation and inflammation, 2) bisabolol, i.e. this is nothing more than chamomile extract. Previously, “Retinol 0.3” and “Retinol 1.0” were produced with a dispenser (pump), but after microencapsulation technology began to be used in their production, the need for a pump disappeared. Now these products look like this.

Retinol 0.3 / Retinol 1.0 –

The cost of the products Retinol 0.3 and Retinol 1.0 - without any discounts - will be about 6,700 and 8,800 rubles, respectively (volume of 30 ml tubes). A product with 1.0% pure retinol is suitable for older women who need significant correction. A product with a concentration of 0.3% less is certainly less effective and has different indications for use. It is suitable when minor corrections are needed, for example to reduce the depth of fine lines and improve skin elasticity.

In addition, we can use the product “Retinol 0.3” in patients with sensitive skin, for whom the 1.0% concentration may not be suitable at all. We can also recommend this form to reduce wrinkles in the corners of the eyes (in this case, the cream is applied 3 times a week), as well as as a preparatory stage of therapy - before using a more concentrated 1% form of pure retinol. The drugs are quite economical and will last you for several months of daily use.

Reviews : I can leave reviews for this cream with retinol for the face based on my own experience of use. I am 43 years old, and I personally bought a cream with retinol “Retinol 0.3” (at that time it was still available with a dispenser) - to reduce the severity of wrinkles in the corners of the eyes, as well as to reduce the oiliness of the skin on the forehead. I noticed the first visible effect of reducing wrinkles after about 6-8 weeks of use, using the product every other day. So, I can guarantee the effectiveness of this brand of products with retinol from personal experience of use.

Products with retinol ZO® SKIN HEALTH –

The cosmetic company ZO® SKIN HEALTH (USA) is a world leader in the production of cosmetics with retinol, and it was founded by the famous doctor Zane Obagi. In principle, ZO Skin Health are two of the coolest manufacturers of products with pure retinol in the world. In fact, it is quite difficult to put one of them in 1st place. The products of these companies really work, but they are not cheap.

ZO® SKIN HEALTH produces several products with pure microencapsulated retinol of different concentrations, which have different indications for use.

1. WRINKLE + TEXTURE REPAIR Cream - contains encapsulated 0.5% pure retinol, ZCORE™ complex (composed of biomimetic tetrapeptide and sweet yellow clover extract), ZPRO® complex, which stimulates the production of your own hyaluronic acid, broccoli extract, and seed oil sunflower. This product is recommended for correcting the initial signs of skin aging, as well as preventing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The cost will be from 9,000 rubles for 50 ml (this is quite a large volume).

2. RADICAL NIGHT REPAIR cream - contains encapsulated 1.0% pure retinol, edelweiss and horehound stem cells, Sichuan pepper fruit extract, plukenetia volubilis seed oil, sunflower seed oil and rosemary leaf extract, as well as vitamins C and E. This The product is recommended for the correction of pronounced signs of skin aging, as well as the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Price from 11,000 rubles for 60 ml (good price for such a large volume).

3. INTENS EYE CREME (around the eyes) - contains encapsulated pure retinol, Matrixyl 3000® complex (powerful anti-aging peptides - palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7), MDI® complex (it mimics the action of glycosaminoglycans to restore skin hydration, and also inhibits matrix metalloproteinase enzyme to prevent collagen breakdown), lecithin extract, mica microparticles, vitamin E, and lavender extract.
   The price for this cream with retinol is about 9,000 rubles (volume 15 ml). Please note that this is a new product, and the manufacturer has not yet disclosed the exact concentration of retinol in it. Many companies do this to prevent competitors from using the recipe, and usually publish this information only after several years. But considering that other ZO® products contain adequate concentrations of pure retinol, we have no doubts here either.

Products with retinol and retinaldehyde from SIRCUIT® –

The SIRCUIT company is not represented in Russia, but you can purchase their products on Ebay or Amazon. Speaking about products with retinoids, it is impossible not to talk about the products of this company, which are used by many world celebrities. SIRCUIT initially entered the market with two cosmetics based on stabilized retinaldehyde (an even more active form of retinoids than pure retinol). SIRCUIT was the first company in the world to develop retinaldehyde stabilization technology.

Now this company produces a large number of cosmetics - both with pure retinol and retinaldehyde. Just for fun, you can check out their official website (sircuitskin.com). We would like to present to you in more detail 2 products that really deserve your attention - this is SIRCUIT cream and serum with 0.1% retinaldehyde. Retinaldehyde is intermediate in strength between pure retinol and the strongest form of retinoids, tretinoin (trans-retinoic acid).

SIRCUIT® Cream and Serum –

a) “Supernatural-A” cream from SIRCUIT® (40 ml) – its most important component is a stabilized form of 0.1% retinaldehyde. But in addition, the cream contains: caproyl tetrapeptide-3 to stimulate collagen synthesis and smooth out wrinkles, squalane, powerful antioxidants (tocotrienols and tocopherol-D-alpha), Adaptonyl® (these are hydrolyzed wheat and soy proteins), organic cloudberry seed oils, jojoba , rose hips and sunflower seeds, as well as a combination of cetearyl olivate/sorbitan olivate to improve skin barrier function and condition.

b) Serum “Infusion-A” (30 ml) – its most important component is also a stabilized form of 0.1% retinaldehyde. Additional components: this is Aldenine® - tripeptide-1, which is one of the most effective anti-aging peptides, Antarcticine® - moisturizing glycoprotein, hydrolyzed soy protein and wheat proteins, cloudberry seed oil, honeysuckle extract, as well as a fermentation product of pseudoalteromonas (bacteria that live in invertebrates of the Black Sea).

Overall these are really good anti-aging products that are designed to correct wrinkles and fine lines. The cost of these products is $80 per package. Please note that the 0.1% concentration of retinaldehyde is much stronger than 0.1% pure retinol (so you should not think that it contains too low a percentage of active substances). Studies show that even a lower concentration of 0.05% retinaldehyde shows a good effect in terms of correcting age-related changes.

Cream with retinol from SESDERMA (Spain) –

The Spanish company Sesderma is one of the world leaders in the production of peelings, which are sold under the Mediderma brand, as well as a wide range of cosmetics with retinol and retinaldehyde. Sesderma is a very well-known brand, but in our country it can only be bought in cosmetology clinics (through cosmetologists). Moreover, in Europe these products are sold in pharmacies and cost at least 1.5 times cheaper. But since in Russia there are very few “pharmacy” products with retinol in general, we are forced to talk about these products.

There are a lot of products in the Sesderma line that have minimal concentrations of pure retinol or retinaldehyde, and from which you should not expect the effect of reducing wrinkles or fine lines, or increasing skin elasticity (such as “SESRETINAL MATURE”). The only line from Sesderma that can really help correct age-related skin changes is RETISES. This line includes “Regenerating Anti-Wrinkle Cream” with 0.25 and 0.5% pure retinol, as well as 0.25 or 0.5% Gel.

The gel is a priori suitable only for those with oily skin, and for everyone else only the cream. The working concentration is exclusively 0.5% retinol (if you want to achieve wrinkle reduction), but again this concentration will only work on small wrinkles and fine lines. For older patients, ideally, a 1% concentration of pure retinol is still needed. If, to prevent photoaging, or there is a need to improve only the tone and texture of the skin (without wrinkles), a 0.25% cream will be sufficient.

The advantage is that these products additionally contain stabilized vitamin C + glycoprotein. The downside is that retinol in creams is neither microencapsulated nor liposomed, i.e. This form of retinol has a higher potential for skin irritation. But in gels, retinol is liposomed. The price for all products in the RETISES line ranges from 4,500 to 5,000 rubles (30 ml tubes). In our opinion, this is kind of expensive, given the not too high concentration of retinol, and also the fact that it comes in the cream in free form, and not microencapsulated.

Retinol cream from La Roche-Posay –

La Roche-Posay produces a line of Redermic products, which includes a couple of products with retinol. Firstly, this is the “REDERMIC-R” eye contour cream with 0.3% retinol. However, upon closer examination, it turns out that there is only 0.1% pure retinol, and the remaining 0.2% is only an ester of retinol, namely retinol linoleate. All retinol esters are much less effective compared to pure retinol (according to various sources, from 1:10 to 1:20).

The second product is the REDERMIC–RETINOL cream, which also contains 0.3% retinol. This product also contains only 0.1% pure retinol, and the remaining 0.2% is still retinol linoleate. But these products have one big advantage - they are sold in almost every pharmacy and at a more affordable price - both products cost about 2,400 rubles (30 ml tubes).

"Redermic-R" and "Redermic-Retinol" –

Essentially, we will assume that both products contain only a 0.1% concentration of retinol, because... Retinol esters are a priori ineffective and, at the very least, will only work at the level of the epidermis. Therefore, only “Redermic-R” (for wrinkles around the eyes) will be an effective remedy for wrinkles, because the periorbital zone has thin, sensitive skin, and lower concentrations of retinol are needed there (0.1% pure retinol is sufficient for daily use, or 0.3% for use 3 times a week).

As for the REDERMIC-RETINOL cream, it contains exactly the same concentrations of retinols as Redermic-R. Those. we can safely ignore the fact that this drug contains retinol esters. And we are left with 0.1% pure retinol, but studies show that this concentration has virtually no effect on the dermal layer of the skin. Therefore, you should not expect a reduction in the depth of wrinkles, but it will even out the tone and texture of the skin, and is also suitable for the prevention of aging in relatively young patients.

Retinol products from RoC and Neutrogena –

The RoC company is the most famous manufacturer of retinol products in the world (in the segment for the mass consumer). The manufacturer refuses to disclose the concentration of retinol in its cosmetics, because... according to him, he does not want to participate in the so-called “retinol race” among cosmetics, representatives said.

also produces several products with retinol for the mass consumer. In general, this is a well-known cosmetics brand in the mass market segment, which sells its products at a low price. In the description of its products with retinol, Neutrogena claims the highest permissible concentrations of retinol, but in every possible way refuses to make them public. Products from RoC and Neutrogena can be purchased on iHerb for approximately 1,800 rubles per package.

When using these products, you should not expect too much because... Apparently the concentration of pure retinol in them is at the level of 0.1-0.2%. These products are only suitable if you are hoping for a reduction in fine lines and a slight increase in skin firmness. Prevention of photoaging of the skin, or improvement of skin tone and texture, increasing skin elasticity in the periorbital zone - these remedies will also be effective. But for older patients and serious correction they are certainly not suitable.

Main similarities and differences

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As was written earlier, serum is a more concentrated care product. It aims to eliminate certain deficiencies in a short period of time. What is the difference between a cream and a facial serum? It has a cumulative effect, as it must be used regularly over several weeks. Main similarities of the funds:

• Can be used on all skin types;
• solving various problems;
• availability;
• budget cost;
• good skin hydration;
• saturation with useful components.

Before purchasing a care product, you need to understand what the difference is. Serum or face cream is a pretty big choice to consider. The differences are as follows:

• consistency: the serum is more liquid, absorbs quickly and does not leave marks on the face;
• composition: high concentration of useful components ensures deep penetration and saturation of cells;
• effectiveness: with the help of serum you can get the desired effect in a shorter period of time, while the cream must be used regularly for several weeks;
• purpose: the cream can be used at any age due to the low content of active ingredients; the main task is to moisturize and protect the epidermis from the effects of various factors, and the serum is distinguished by the fact that it has a complex effect.

Efficiency

On the shelves of cosmetic stores there is a huge selection of care products that can combine several properties. This is justified by the fact that whey has a more saturated concentration of beneficial components and can cause allergic reactions. Therefore, it is not recommended for use by girls under 25 years of age, when the skin is able to recover on its own.

Quite popular is cream-serum for the face and eyelids, which greatly simplifies the care process and replaces several “beauty jars”. The effectiveness of use will be much lower than that of the product in its pure form, but this combination will be the best option for those with a sensitive type of epidermis prone to allergic reactions. The result after using the serum can be seen after one or two applications, but the cream should take several weeks to take effect. This depends on the concentration of active ingredients and the focus of the cosmetic product.

Recommendations for use

To obtain the maximum effect, you must follow the instructions indicated by the manufacturers of cosmetics. When answering the question of whether cream is needed after facial serum, professional cosmetologists say that it is. The molecules of the saturated product are quite small and are able to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, but they can quickly evaporate and lose their properties.

To get maximum effect, it is recommended to follow these instructions:

This instruction will be an excellent option for evening care, when the skin needs more nutrition and restoration. In the morning, you should use either serum or cream to avoid clogging pores and not to apply an extra layer of cosmetics.

About sad Russian products with retinol -

Unfortunately, the Russian cosmetology industry does not want to work with modern forms of retinol (we are talking about microencapsulated or liposomed pure retinol), because such cosmetics will have a very high cost. Unfortunately, all that we can find from Russian preparations in retinol does not contain pure retinol, but its esters. Most often it is retinol palmitate (retinyl palmitate).

In addition, in pharmacies you can buy Videstim ointment with 0.5% retinol palmitate and Radevit Active ointment with 1% retinol palmitate. There are a large number of clinical studies in which retinol palmitate (or any other retinol esters) are found to have “no significant effect on skin aging.” Example, research (“The growing importance of topical retinoids in clinical dermatology: a retrospective and prospective analysis” Klingman AM). We can read about this in the publication “Cosmetic Dermatology” by L. Bauman, popular among dermatologists.

Effective forms of topical retinoids include tretinoin, retinaldehyde (retinal), and pure retinol, which optimally should only be microencapsulated. Encapsulating retinol molecules in microcapsules (or liposomes) makes it possible to give it stability, which is necessary because Non-encapsulated pure retinol immediately begins to decompose when exposed to air and light. In turn, retinol esters have very high stability, but not effectiveness.

Advantages

These cosmetic products have certain features and differences that help in choosing the right one for daily care. The benefits of the serum, according to cosmetologists and buyers:

• high efficiency;
• possibility of daily use;
• quick results;
• economical consumption;
• ease of use;
• availability of a large assortment and range of applications;
• rich composition;
• intensive hydration;
• anti-aging effect;
• restores elasticity;
• the presence of a pipette, which ensures hygienic use;
• enriched with acids and other active substances;
• saturates cells with useful components;
• absorbs quickly and leaves no residue.

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Positive qualities of face cream:

• pleasant texture;
• minimal risk of allergic reactions;
• no contraindications;
• good hydration;
• Suitable for all skin types;
• restores water balance;
• may contain UV protection;
• Can be used at any age;
• economical consumption;
• allows you to eliminate unpleasant sensations in the form of dryness, tightness and irritation;
• budget cost.

It is worth noting that these are two completely different products, so professionals do not recommend using serum instead of face cream. To obtain the desired effect, they should be used in combination during evening care.

Facial serum with retinol –

Most serums that you can easily find on the Internet will contain only retinol esters (retinol palmitate). Such serums will be enough to improve skin tone and texture, but not to correct wrinkles. You can also find a large number of serums that use non-microencapsulated pure retinol, which will mean that the active substance will quickly degrade when exposed to light and air.

Of the world's leading brands, only SIRCUIT® has high-quality serums with retinoids, but you can order their products on Ebay or Amazon (the “Infusion-A” serum will cost $80). The Spanish company Sesderma also has serums with pure retinol - this is the “Anti-aging serum RETI AGE”, as well as the “Liposomed serum SNAILAS”. These products are highly concentrated, but the manufacturer does not publish the concentration of pure retinol in these products.

You can also find a large number of facial serums with retinol on the iHerb website. Once again, we draw your attention to the fact that you need to choose only those that indicate that the retinol is microencapsulated / stabilized. In addition, almost no serum manufacturer on this site indicates the concentration of retinol in their products.

The best manufacturers

There are a huge number of manufacturers of high-quality caring cosmetics on the global trade market. A high price is not always an indicator of the effectiveness of a product, so it is worth listening to the opinions of professionals and other buyers. A review of manufacturers of face creams and serums will help you choose a quality product without much difficulty.

Thanks to reviews from cosmetologists and ordinary girls, you can make a list of the best products for solving various problems:

When choosing a serum, it is necessary to take into account the individual needs of each type and determine the tasks that this cosmetic product should solve.

The best serums, according to customer reviews:

It is worth noting that the wide range makes it easy to choose the right product. It is necessary to pay attention to the purpose of the serum or cream, its composition, manufacturer’s recommendations, as well as the expiration date.

How do creams and serums work?

The principle of action of the drugs is also different. This is understandable, because they pursue different goals:

Serums are light, non-greasy products that restore skin cells from the inside. They contain active ingredients that solve many skin problems. They penetrate as deeply as possible - otherwise it simply will not achieve its goal. It will deliver antioxidants, vitamins and other components to the lower layers of the skin to eliminate or reverse negative processes and damage.

The cream works superficially. And, no matter what they write, he will not penetrate deeply - this is not his role. But at its level, it performs many tasks - it gives a moisturizing effect, starts the processes of regeneration, rejuvenation and renewal. At this level he is a true king.

The serum must be used strictly according to the recommendations. For example, if the manufacturer indicated that it should be applied to the face only at night, then it does not need to be used at other times. At best, the drug simply will not work, and at worst, it can cause irritation, swelling, and other undesirable effects. The cream is more "free". If you confuse daytime and nighttime, it will still have some beneficial effect. At least it won't cause problems. But often this cannot be done.

Most serums recommend use from age 25. It is believed that at an earlier age there are no situations when an ambulance is needed. The exception is acne medications - even teenagers use them. The cream can be applied at any age. But in both cases, you cannot use products designed for someone else’s age category.