How To Apply Face Serum
Discover how to apply face serum for the most magical skincare results that you can see and believe and learn how to use serum in your skincare routine.
- 24th August 2023
- By Charlotte Tilbury
6 minute read
Darlings, face serum is an essential step in your skincare routine that helps your skin to look and feel its best. Discover how to apply face serum and the best ways to use serum to unlock a silky-smooth complexion that’s flooded with supercharged, skin-loving ingredients.
1. Apply your cleanser, face mist and toner
Before you apply your face serum, it’s important to begin your skincare routine with a cleanser, face mist and toner. Applying face serum to freshly cleansed skin that feels healthy and hydrated will help to maximise the absorption of your serum into the skin, allowing you to reap the most benefit from its ingredients.
2. Choose the right serum for your skin
Be sure to choose a serum that is beneficial for your skin type and skin concerns. For example, if your skin is prone to dryness, it’s best to reach for a deeply hydrating formula that’s rich in moisture-boosting ingredients like hyaluronic acid or polyglutamic acid; or if your skin looks dull and uneven in tone, a vitamin C serum will help to brighten the look of your complexion.
3. Release 4-6 drops into your hands
Once you’ve selected your face serum, apply 4-6 drops into the palm of your hand. Face serums contain powerful skincare ingredients and are generally more concentrated than moisturisers, so you only need to apply a few drops to feel their benefits.
A lot of face serums including Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir feature a pipette-style dropper. Before removing your dropper from the serum, squeeze the top to fill it with serum, then twist to remove it from the bottle. Squeeze the dropper again – this time into the palm of your hand – to release the product into your cupped hand ready to apply.
4. Warm up serum between your fingers
Gently rub your hands together to help activate the ingredients in your serum before you apply. Warming up your face serum between your hands will help to distribute the product more evenly when applying it onto the face, as well as helping denser face serums to feel lightweight on the skin.
5. Lightly press serum into the skin
When applying your face serum, lightly press the product into the skin and let it absorb naturally. Gently press your face serum evenly across all areas of your face including the forehead, cheeks, nose and neck. This pressing technique will provide subtle lymphatic drainage that helps to flush toxins from the skin while your superpowered serum works on reviving and revitalising the look of your complexion.
Tilbury Tip: The skin on your face is delicate, darlings, so avoid any harsh, rubbing motions.
6. Massage serum into the face using wave motions
After applying face serum, perform a gentle facial massage to help work the product into your skin. The key to a successful facial massage is using light pressure and upward motions that help to lift the look of your face. Keep your hands in a cupped formation and follow the natural contours of your face, softly gliding along the face to massage your serum into your skin.
When applying both serum and moisturiser to your face, I recommend following my easy 5-minute ‘Tilbury Tap’ massage technique. Click here to learn how to perform my facial massage technique like a pro.
7. Gently tap the face with your fingertips
Now that you’ve massaged your face serum into the skin, you can use gentle tapping motions to help your product to absorb even further. Lightly tapping your face serum into the complexion is an easy way to help boost microcirculation, which in turn can promote refreshed, healthy-looking skin.
8. Wait 60 seconds before applying your moisturiser
Moisturiser is best applied after your face serum, but before you apply your face cream, it’s important to give your serum some time to absorb. Take a moment to let your face serum naturally sink into the skin, letting all the supercharged skincare ingredients nourish your complexion. I suggest waiting 60 seconds after applying your face serum before reaching for your moisturiser; this will help to avoid overloading your skin and lets each individual product fully absorb.
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How To Apply Face Serum FAQs: More Ways To Use Serum
Where Do You Put Face Serum?
You can put serum on your face, ears and neck for overall skin benefits, or focus on concern-specific areas such as over dry patches, blemishes, areas of redness or fine lines and wrinkles. When applying face serum, lightly press your product into the skin and then massage evenly onto the face.
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Author Details
Charlotte Tilbury
Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.
