Serum versus cream: what's the difference and how you can integrate each product into your skincare routine
Posted by Ivatherm
When to use serum and when to use cream? Can you use both in your daily routine? What benefits does serum have for your skin, and how can cream help maintain your skin health? We will discuss the differences between cream and serum, as well as the benefits of each product in the following lines.
It is important to know that serums have a lighter texture and, therefore, ensure rapid absorption. On the other hand, cream is a more concentrated product and requires a longer time to be fully absorbed.
Table of Contents
Serum: what it is and what benefits it has for the skin
Serums are skincare products that are usually lighter in texture and consistency, easily absorbed by the skin, and formulated to target specific problems. Most serums have higher concentrations of active ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, peptides, and retinol.
Due to their light consistency and ability to penetrate deeper into the skin, serums are designed to address specific skin concerns: wrinkles, pigment spots, dry skin.
Types of serums
Vitamin C serums – for brightness and youthful appearance Vitamin C-based serums work to smooth the skin, providing a softer and more youthful appearance after a few weeks of use. You can use a serum as a treatment for pigment spots. Being a concentrated product, it will act faster on brown spots than a cream for skin brightening.
Anti-aging serums – for fine lines and wrinkles Serums are also recommended for preventing and fading fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol, bakuchiol, and Granactive Retinoid are among the active ingredients found in anti-aging serums.
Hydrating serums – for dry and dehydrated skin Serums with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and Aquaphyline provide deep skin hydration, penetrating into deeper layers to restore moisture levels and prevent the appearance of aging signs.
Serums for oily skin – for sebum regulation and acne prevention Serums with niacinamide, salicylic acid, or bakuchiol are ideal for oily skin, helping to regulate sebum production, reduce dilated pores, and prevent the appearance of imperfections. Their light texture does not weigh down the skin and absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy film.
How to apply a serum?
Immediately after cleansing the skin, serum can be applied. The application of cosmetic products takes into account their density. Therefore, serum, being more fluid than cream, is applied first. Because it is highly concentrated, the amount applied should be small: just a few drops. Massage gently and allow 1-2 minutes for it to penetrate the skin well. Afterwards, other cosmetic products can be applied. As a rule, a moisturizing cream is applied after serum to seal in the active ingredients found in the serum.
Steps for applying serum:
After cleansing your face, apply a pea-sized amount of serum , dabbing evenly onto the skin with your finger.
If you have sensitive skin, wait between 10 and 15 minutes between washing/cleansing your face and applying the serum. When the skin is damp, applying a water-based product can cause irritation.
After applying the serum, wait a few minutes for it to penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and continue with the steps in your daily routine (applying moisturizer, sunscreen SPF).
When is it good to use serum?
Although serums are known especially for their ability to treat specific problems, such as pigment spots, fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, they can also be used for extra hydration and radiance. Therefore, serums are effective anytime.
Frequency of use
Depending on the concentration of active ingredients, serums can be used either daily, in both morning and evening routines, or every few days (at least until the skin gets used to the action of the active ingredients).
After 30, serums become essential
After the age of 30, the process of cell regeneration occurs at a slower pace, and the skin needs additional support to cope with damage caused by free radicals. Therefore, using serums, before creams, contributes to maintaining skin health and preserving a youthful appearance for as long as possible.
Serums with vitamins C and E (which have antioxidant properties) help protect the skin against harmful environmental factors, namely ultraviolet radiation and pollution, reducing inflammation. Also, serums with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and Aquaphyline provide deep skin hydration, thus helping to reduce the risk of developing fine lines and wrinkles.
Rapid absorption. Due to their light formula, serums are quickly absorbed into the skin, providing immediate benefits.
Concentrated ingredients. Serums are formulated with higher concentrations of active ingredients, making them effective for treating skin problems.
Light texture. Serums can be easily used under other skincare products or makeup, without leaving a heavy feeling on the skin.
Add Ivatherm serums to your daily skincare routine
GlykoLift Anti-wrinkle serum with lifting effect helps the skin combat intrinsic and extrinsic aging and regain its firmness and elasticity. Recommended for all sensitive mature, normal, combination, or dry skin types.
UNA Anti-aging serum with plant stem cells visibly reduces the depth and number of wrinkles on the face and neck, increases skin firmness and thickness, and restores facial contour. The skin becomes brighter, more supple, and smoother, visibly rejuvenated in two weeks.
Ivawhite Intensive depigmenting serum evens out and improves facial radiance and brightness. It stimulates the disappearance of hyperpigmentation spots and prevents their reappearance. It has clinically proven efficacy in melasma and is suitable for all sensitive skin types.
Aquafil Hydra Hydrating serum with peptides and hyaluronic acid softens, evens out, improves skin elasticity, and prevents the appearance of wrinkles. The skin regains its radiance. The serum from the Aquafil range has a very fluid, non-sticky texture that penetrates quickly into the skin, providing immediate and long-lasting hydration to the deep layers of the skin.
Ivapur AKNEBIOME is specially formulated for combination or oily skin with an acne tendency, helping to regulate sebum production, reduce imperfections, and restore the skin's microbiome balance.
Cream: what it is and what benefits it has for the skin
Creams, compared to serums, are denser products designed to provide hydration and protection to the skin. They can contain active ingredients but are more focused on maintaining hydration levels and protecting the skin against external factors.
There are several types of creams, but most have a dual role: hydration and protection:
day moisturizer;
night moisturizer;
anti-aging cream;
cream for fading pigment spots;
cream for skin brightening;
cream for acne-prone skin;
cream for reducing redness;
sunscreen cream.
How to apply a cream?
Skin hydration is an essential part of the skincare routine. Thus, after cleansing the skin, a moisturizer can be applied. Depending on the skin type, the cream can have a denser or lighter texture (for people with oily skin). Therefore, applying moisturizer can be the second step in the skincare routine. However, if you also use serum for skincare, the cream will be applied afterward.
Apply a sufficient amount of cream, after the serum, to seal in the active ingredients and keep your skin hydrated. It is good for the hydrating product to be used both in the morning and in the evening, to provide constant protection and hydration.
Although many moisturizers also contain ingredients with antioxidant properties, fighting damage caused by free radicals, they cannot provide adequate protection against ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a sunscreen cream with an SPF of at least 30 and broad-spectrum coverage every morning, in addition to a moisturizer.
It is also important, when choosing a moisturizer and sunscreen, to consider your skin type: oily, dry, normal, combination. For instance, oil-based creams can cause acne breakouts in people with oily skin.
When is it good to use cream?
There's no better time to start applying a moisturizer to your skin than the present. There are moisturizers and sunscreens for every age. The sooner you start using cream in your daily routine, the better the results will be.
What are the benefits of cream?
Among the benefits of cream are:
Intensive hydration. Cream provides the skin with the hydration it needs to stay healthy.
Protection. Creams support the skin's protective barrier, shielding it against pollution, wind, and other external aggressors.
Rich texture. Cream can provide a feeling of comfort and nourish the skin, being suitable for all skin types.
Add Ivatherm creams to your daily skincare routine
Aquafil Range: The creams from the Aquafil range help maintain an optimal level of skin hydration. Aquafil is Ivatherm's range for immediate and long-term hydration of dehydrated skin, with Aquaphyline being the star ingredient of the range.
Ivahidra+ Range: If your skin is dry, dehydrated, and you have red spots, the creams from the Ivahidra+ range are for you. Try the products from the Ivahidra+ range, Ivatherm's innovation for dry and very dry skin with atopic dermatitis, and you will notice that the skin becomes supple, smooth, and elastic.
ivaRG Range: is a regenerating range that prevents and corrects signs of aging. The creams in this range are intended for mature skin, formulated with 95% natural ingredients, paraben-free. With an extremely pleasant texture and an immediate hydrating effect, the creams from the ivaRG range help the skin become firm, elastic, hydrated, wrinkles are faded, and spots are diminished.
Ivawhite Range: ideal for combating pigment spots and uneven skin tone.
Ivapur Range: for oily, combination, or acne-prone skin. The Ivapur range offers a complete care ritual that cleanses, purifies, and controls imperfections – without harming the skin.
UNA Range: To improve wrinkles, add the face cream and eye cream from the UNA range to your daily skincare routine.
In conclusion, cream and serum can and should be used together. The two products are not in competition but are complementary in the daily skincare routine. A potent serum, with active ingredients, can target specific problems, while a cream provides hydration and protection throughout the day and/or night, while enhancing the beneficial effects of the serum. A balanced combination of the two products can lead to faster visible results.
Echipa Ivatherm
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.
Serum versus cream: what's the difference and how you can integrate each product into your skincare routine
When to use serum and when to use cream? Can you use both in your daily routine? What benefits does serum have for your skin, and how can cream help maintain your skin health? We will discuss the differences between cream and serum, as well as the benefits of each product in the following lines.
It is important to know that serums have a lighter texture and, therefore, ensure rapid absorption. On the other hand, cream is a more concentrated product and requires a longer time to be fully absorbed.
Table of Contents
Serum: what it is and what benefits it has for the skin
Serums are skincare products that are usually lighter in texture and consistency, easily absorbed by the skin, and formulated to target specific problems. Most serums have higher concentrations of active ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, peptides, and retinol.
Due to their light consistency and ability to penetrate deeper into the skin, serums are designed to address specific skin concerns: wrinkles, pigment spots, dry skin.
Types of serums
Vitamin C serums – for brightness and youthful appearance
Vitamin C-based serums work to smooth the skin, providing a softer and more youthful appearance after a few weeks of use. You can use a serum as a treatment for pigment spots. Being a concentrated product, it will act faster on brown spots than a cream for skin brightening.
Anti-aging serums – for fine lines and wrinkles
Serums are also recommended for preventing and fading fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol, bakuchiol, and Granactive Retinoid are among the active ingredients found in anti-aging serums.
Hydrating serums – for dry and dehydrated skin
Serums with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and Aquaphyline provide deep skin hydration, penetrating into deeper layers to restore moisture levels and prevent the appearance of aging signs.
Serums for oily skin – for sebum regulation and acne prevention
Serums with niacinamide, salicylic acid, or bakuchiol are ideal for oily skin, helping to regulate sebum production, reduce dilated pores, and prevent the appearance of imperfections. Their light texture does not weigh down the skin and absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy film.
How to apply a serum?
Immediately after cleansing the skin, serum can be applied. The application of cosmetic products takes into account their density. Therefore, serum, being more fluid than cream, is applied first. Because it is highly concentrated, the amount applied should be small: just a few drops. Massage gently and allow 1-2 minutes for it to penetrate the skin well. Afterwards, other cosmetic products can be applied. As a rule, a moisturizing cream is applied after serum to seal in the active ingredients found in the serum.
Steps for applying serum:
When is it good to use serum?
Although serums are known especially for their ability to treat specific problems, such as pigment spots, fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, they can also be used for extra hydration and radiance. Therefore, serums are effective anytime.
Frequency of use
Depending on the concentration of active ingredients, serums can be used either daily, in both morning and evening routines, or every few days (at least until the skin gets used to the action of the active ingredients).
After 30, serums become essential
After the age of 30, the process of cell regeneration occurs at a slower pace, and the skin needs additional support to cope with damage caused by free radicals. Therefore, using serums, before creams, contributes to maintaining skin health and preserving a youthful appearance for as long as possible.
Serums with vitamins C and E (which have antioxidant properties) help protect the skin against harmful environmental factors, namely ultraviolet radiation and pollution, reducing inflammation. Also, serums with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and Aquaphyline provide deep skin hydration, thus helping to reduce the risk of developing fine lines and wrinkles.
➡️ Read also The best vitamins and minerals for healthy skin.
What are the benefits of serum?
Among the benefits of serum are:
Add Ivatherm serums to your daily skincare routine
GlykoLift Anti-wrinkle serum with lifting effect helps the skin combat intrinsic and extrinsic aging and regain its firmness and elasticity. Recommended for all sensitive mature, normal, combination, or dry skin types.
UNA Anti-aging serum with plant stem cells visibly reduces the depth and number of wrinkles on the face and neck, increases skin firmness and thickness, and restores facial contour. The skin becomes brighter, more supple, and smoother, visibly rejuvenated in two weeks.
Ivawhite Intensive depigmenting serum evens out and improves facial radiance and brightness. It stimulates the disappearance of hyperpigmentation spots and prevents their reappearance. It has clinically proven efficacy in melasma and is suitable for all sensitive skin types.
Aquafil Hydra Hydrating serum with peptides and hyaluronic acid softens, evens out, improves skin elasticity, and prevents the appearance of wrinkles. The skin regains its radiance. The serum from the Aquafil range has a very fluid, non-sticky texture that penetrates quickly into the skin, providing immediate and long-lasting hydration to the deep layers of the skin.
Ivapur AKNEBIOME is specially formulated for combination or oily skin with an acne tendency, helping to regulate sebum production, reduce imperfections, and restore the skin's microbiome balance.
Cream: what it is and what benefits it has for the skin
Creams, compared to serums, are denser products designed to provide hydration and protection to the skin. They can contain active ingredients but are more focused on maintaining hydration levels and protecting the skin against external factors.
There are several types of creams, but most have a dual role: hydration and protection:
How to apply a cream?
Skin hydration is an essential part of the skincare routine. Thus, after cleansing the skin, a moisturizer can be applied. Depending on the skin type, the cream can have a denser or lighter texture (for people with oily skin). Therefore, applying moisturizer can be the second step in the skincare routine. However, if you also use serum for skincare, the cream will be applied afterward.
Apply a sufficient amount of cream, after the serum, to seal in the active ingredients and keep your skin hydrated. It is good for the hydrating product to be used both in the morning and in the evening, to provide constant protection and hydration.
Although many moisturizers also contain ingredients with antioxidant properties, fighting damage caused by free radicals, they cannot provide adequate protection against ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a sunscreen cream with an SPF of at least 30 and broad-spectrum coverage every morning, in addition to a moisturizer.
It is also important, when choosing a moisturizer and sunscreen, to consider your skin type: oily, dry, normal, combination. For instance, oil-based creams can cause acne breakouts in people with oily skin.
When is it good to use cream?
There's no better time to start applying a moisturizer to your skin than the present. There are moisturizers and sunscreens for every age. The sooner you start using cream in your daily routine, the better the results will be.
What are the benefits of cream?
Among the benefits of cream are:
Add Ivatherm creams to your daily skincare routine
Aquafil Range: The creams from the Aquafil range help maintain an optimal level of skin hydration. Aquafil is Ivatherm's range for immediate and long-term hydration of dehydrated skin, with Aquaphyline being the star ingredient of the range.
Ivahidra+ Range: If your skin is dry, dehydrated, and you have red spots, the creams from the Ivahidra+ range are for you. Try the products from the Ivahidra+ range, Ivatherm's innovation for dry and very dry skin with atopic dermatitis, and you will notice that the skin becomes supple, smooth, and elastic.
ivaRG Range: is a regenerating range that prevents and corrects signs of aging. The creams in this range are intended for mature skin, formulated with 95% natural ingredients, paraben-free. With an extremely pleasant texture and an immediate hydrating effect, the creams from the ivaRG range help the skin become firm, elastic, hydrated, wrinkles are faded, and spots are diminished.
Ivawhite Range: ideal for combating pigment spots and uneven skin tone.
Ivapur Range: for oily, combination, or acne-prone skin. The Ivapur range offers a complete care ritual that cleanses, purifies, and controls imperfections – without harming the skin.
UNA Range: To improve wrinkles, add the face cream and eye cream from the UNA range to your daily skincare routine.
In conclusion, cream and serum can and should be used together. The two products are not in competition but are complementary in the daily skincare routine. A potent serum, with active ingredients, can target specific problems, while a cream provides hydration and protection throughout the day and/or night, while enhancing the beneficial effects of the serum. A balanced combination of the two products can lead to faster visible results.
Echipa Ivatherm
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.