Facial Cream Vs. Facial Serum: What's Better?

Sheetal Rawal, Founder, Apsara Skin Care

By: Marty S.

When we were young, taking care of our skin seemed like it was so simple: just wash our face twice a day and apply a moisturizer as needed. Yet, as we get older, our skin care routine gets more and more complicated. We want the very best for our skin so that it does not look dull and prematurely aged, but it can be difficult to understand what in particular your skin needs to thrive. Plus, there is a fear that we may be doing more harm than good when we don’t know what we’re doing.

Two of the most common questions we get at Apsara Skin Care are about facial creams and facial serums. When people build a skin care routine for the first time, they want to know why they should be using a particular product and if there is anything they should avoid. Today, we will help with exactly that. Keep reading to learn the major differences between a facial cream and facial serum and which of these you should be using on your skin. We hope that this information gives you more insight into building a skin care routine so that your skin starts looking more glowing and youthful in no time. 

What Is a Facial Cream?

We bet that you are already familiar with a facial cream and may have used one on your skin multiple times. Simply put, facial creams moisturize your skin. It’s important to keep your skin moisturized at all times because when your skin lacks moisture, it is far more likely to develop issues like irritation and inflammation than skin that is healthy and moisturized. A high-quality facial cream hydrates your skin as well as traps moisture so that your skin does not dry out. Facial creams are even beneficial for those with oily/acne-prone skin. Oily skin can keep itself moisturized by producing a lot of sebum, but a facial cream will help balance out your skin so that sebum does not clog your pores and cause acne.

Plus, facial creams typically have anti-aging benefits. By supplying moisture to your skin, a high-quality facial cream can make your skin look soft and supple and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When your skin is hydrated and plump, it starts looking more youthful and flawless. 

Related: Apsara’s Sandalwood Facial Serum can help your skin become healthier, more youthful, and more colorful.

What Is a Facial Serum?

Facial serums are products that contain high concentrations of nutrients and other compounds meant to nourish your skin. Facial serums are able to deeply penetrate your skin so that even the deeper layers of your skin are able to absorb a serum’s nutrients. Though many facial serums are made from essential oils, they shouldn’t be a concern for those with oily or acne-prone skin. Facial serums are typically light in texture and are quickly absorbed by your skin so they shouldn’t leave your skin feeling greasy afterward.

Whereas facial creams are formulated to match your skin type, serums are formulated to address certain skin issues. Do you have dark spots that you wish could be significantly reduced in appearance? There is a facial serum for that. Are you worried about early aging and the premature wrinkles on your skin? You can use an anti-aging facial serum to keep your skin youthful. In short, a facial serum can put your skin on the right path so that issues like dark spots and blemishes become less noticeable. 

Apsara Skin Care's Essence of Lavender Facial Lotion

Which Should You Use, Facial Cream or Facial Serum?

Now that we know what the difference is between a facial cream and a facial serum, it’s time to tell you which is better. The truth is, both are essential to your daily and weekly skin care routine. You can’t neglect either of the two if you want your skin to be flawless and radiant. Without a facial cream, your facial serum becomes less effective if your skin constantly dries out. Without a facial serum, your skin won’t be as nourished as it should be because a facial cream isn’t light enough to affect more than the upper layers of your skin. Conversely, using them together (first your serum, then your cream) is ideal. The facial serum will provide nourishment while the facial cream will provide moisture and protection; the facial serum will target specific skin issues while the facial cream will do its best to keep your skin balanced and healthy.

Your skin care routine should actually consist of 4 products: cleanser, toner, serum, and cream/lotion. While this does seem like a lot, over time, this routine can feel like second nature to you, to the point where it may take you less than 5 minutes to complete it. Not only will your skin be happy, but it is bound to look more flawless, youthful, and glowing.

Related: Learn Why Facial Serums Should Be in Your Skin Care Routine

We hoped this information helped you understand how beneficial facial creams and facial serums are and why you should use them regularly. If you have any skin or hair-related questions for us, we’d be happy to hear them. Leave a comment down below and we’ll send you a reply soon. You can also fill out this form to get expert advice from us.

Go natural. It is good karma!

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