How to Apply Face Serum the Right Way: Amount, Order and Tips

Serums are concentrated products designed to deliver ingredients in a light texture. Because they come in small bottles and are often the most costly step in a routine, it helps to apply them well. Here is a simple guide.

Where serum goes in your routine

  1. Cleanse.
  2. Serum.
  3. Moisturiser or night cream.
  4. Sunscreen in the morning.

A simple rule is thinnest to thickest. Serums go on clean skin, before creams.

How much to use

A few drops is usually enough for the face, and a little more if you include the neck. Using more does not make it work faster, and too much can leave skin sticky.

Damp or dry skin?

Follow the directions for your serum.

  • The Theraglow Glutathione Serum is applied to damp skin. It is a 30ml serum with glutathione, guava, papaya, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and saxifraga.
  • The Brightfix C-Serum uses orange and lemon extracts with essential oils. A few drops are massaged in, and it is used daily.
  • The Time Rewind Gel is a lightweight gel with Swiss apple cell extract, pro retinol and hyaluronic acid, applied to face and neck with upward massage.

How to apply

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Put a few drops on your fingertips or palm.
  3. Dot it on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.
  4. Spread gently, then press it in with your palms.
  5. Massage in upward strokes: from chin to ears, from nose to temples, from brows to hairline, and from collarbone to jaw on the neck.
  6. Wait a minute before moisturiser.

Using more than one serum

  • Keep it simple. One or two serums is plenty.
  • Split by time of day if you like, for example one in the morning and one at night.
  • Introduce one new serum at a time and give it about 4 weeks.
  • Use pro retinol products at night and wear sunscreen every morning.

Storing your serum

  • Close the cap tightly after use.
  • Keep it away from heat and direct sun.
  • Do not touch the dropper to your skin.

Common mistakes

  • Applying serum after a thick cream.
  • Rubbing hard or tugging the skin.
  • Using several new serums at once.
  • Skipping sunscreen with brightening or pro retinol products.
  • Forgetting the neck.

Quick question

Can I use serum without moisturiser? Many people still like a moisturiser on top, especially in dry weather or air conditioning. It helps your skin feel comfortable.

Morning and night at a glance

Time Steps
Morning Cleanse, serum, moisturiser, sunscreen
Night Cleanse, serum, moisturiser or night cream

Should I apply serum with a face tool? Clean fingertips are enough. If you use a massage tool, apply the serum first and keep strokes light and upward.

How long does a bottle last? It depends on how many drops you use and how often. Using the recommended amount helps it last.

Not sure which products suit your skin? The Theraglam Glow Scan builds a personal skincare routine from 3 photos and a short quiz. Rs 599, one time.

Patch-test any new product on your inner arm for 24 hours first. Stop using it if you notice irritation. This article is general skincare guidance, not medical advice.

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