Face serums are powerful skincare products designed to address specific concerns like acne, fine lines, redness, and dark spots, but their effectiveness depends heavily on how they are applied.
To maximize the benefits of your face serum, it’s essential to understand the correct application techniques, product order, and timing within your skincare routine.
Serums can be unstable when exposed to air and light, may evaporate quickly, and often react with other products if applied in the wrong sequence, diminishing their effectiveness.
As a dermatologist, I guide my patients to ensure they apply their serums correctly—helping them get the most out of every drop and avoid product waste or irritation.
Before diving into application steps, it’s critical to ensure that the serum you’re using matches your unique skin type and needs, especially since there are 16 Baumann Skin Types, each requiring specific formulations.
The term “serum” doesn’t have a strict definition, but it typically refers to a liquid product—often water-based—formulated to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients to the skin.
Serums may be hydrophilic, extracted from plants or other natural sources, and are either water-soluble or oil-based, influencing how and when they should be stored and used.
Water-based serums often benefit from refrigeration to preserve stability, while oil-based serums only need refrigeration if stored in excessively hot environments.
In a standard skincare routine, serums are applied during the third step of both your morning and nighttime regimen for optimal absorption and effectiveness.
The typical product order for most skin types is as follows: cleanser, eye cream or eye serum, face serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen during the day or retinoid at night.
While moisturizers with humectants like hyaluronic acid can sometimes be applied before a serum, the safest and most effective approach is to apply serum first in most cases.
Two key exceptions exist: oil-based serums or those rich in fatty acids, which can be applied before or after moisturizer, and retinoid serums, which should be applied after moisturizer.
Traditional water-based serums must be followed with an appropriate moisturizer to lock in the ingredients and support absorption into the deeper layers of the skin.
Oil serums already contain occlusive ingredients and don’t necessarily require a moisturizer afterward since they help seal moisture and act as a barrier on their own.
Water-based serums, lacking fats and oils, may evaporate quickly without a moisturizer, reducing their ability to penetrate the skin and deliver active benefits.
Moisturizers with occlusive ingredients help prevent water loss and push serum ingredients deeper into the skin for improved efficacy.
To enhance absorption, especially when using water-based serums, apply an occlusive moisturizer immediately afterward to “slug” the serum into your skin.
Choosing, applying, and layering serums doesn’t have to be confusing—our dermatologists have created over 40,000 custom skincare regimens tailored to different skin types.
Just take the personalized skincare quiz to receive a detailed, step-by-step routine that includes product recommendations and exact usage instructions.
To apply face serum properly, measure out 1/8 teaspoon of product onto the back of your hand and use your fingertips to dab and gently massage it into your cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead.
Applying your serum in the correct order and at the right time—while your skin is slightly damp—maximizes its penetration and effectiveness.
Morning serums should focus on protection with antioxidants like Vitamin C, while nighttime serums should include reparative ingredients like niacinamide or coenzyme Q10.
Yes, you can use different serums in the morning and evening, and this is often necessary when addressing multiple skin concerns at once.
However, avoid mixing two serums in your hand before application because active ingredients can interact, reducing their potency or even causing irritation.
If using two serums in a single routine, apply them one at a time and allow each to absorb fully before proceeding to the next step in your regimen.
Most people benefit from using one or two serums depending on their specific skin needs, which is determined by the number of barriers to skin health they’re dealing with.
Using the wrong serum for your skin type can waste money and potentially worsen your skin, creating additional barriers to healthy, glowing skin.
Taking our scientifically backed Baumann Skin Type Quiz will help you identify which serums and brands are right for you and provide a clear routine to follow.
We’ll show you whether you need any serums, which ones to use, and whether to use the same serum both morning and night or different ones for each time of day.
Before applying serum, make sure to cleanse your face thoroughly using a cleanser formulated for your specific skin type and the needs of your routine.
Cleansers affect your skin’s pH, fatty acid balance, and the permeability of the outermost skin layer, all of which impact how well your serum penetrates.
The wrong cleanser can either strip essential oils or deposit excess residue, both of which interfere with how effectively serums perform.
Every product in your regimen should be selected to support and enhance the function of the others, which is why we base product choices on detailed scientific research.
After cleansing, apply your serum while your skin is still damp—this enhances absorption and prevents unnecessary evaporation of active ingredients.
Warm water leaves the skin damp and slightly heated, which is ideal for applying serums—just gently pat off excess water and apply serum immediately.
You don’t need to wait after applying serum if your regimen is properly designed—the moisturizer applied next should be formulated to complement your serum.
In fact, applying moisturizer immediately helps trap hydration and increase the delivery of actives into the skin for optimal results.
Never mix two different serums together in your hand before applying—they can chemically interact and alter the formulas, potentially creating skin irritation.
To apply serum from a dropper, dispense 3–5 drops (or 1/8 teaspoon) onto the back of your hand or your fingertips and apply using small, circular tapping motions.
Cover your entire face, including cheeks, forehead, nose, chin, and under-eye area, but avoid getting too close to your eyes, especially if the serum contains alcohol.
To apply serum from a pump bottle, first measure how much one pump dispenses and calculate how many pumps equal 1/8 teaspoon—usually 1 to 3 pumps total.
Use the same gentle fingertip application method and evenly distribute the serum across your face, following up with the next step in your skincare routine.
If you’re unsure how much serum your pump or dropper dispenses, use a measuring spoon to confirm that you’re applying the recommended 1/8 teaspoon amount.
This small but consistent dosage ensures that your entire face receives the right amount of active ingredients without wasting product or overloading the skin.
You might see recommendations suggesting a pea-sized amount or two pumps, but those measurements vary by packaging, so it’s best to rely on volume when possible.
Proper product layering is crucial—your serum works best when followed immediately by a moisturizer that complements its ingredients and locks in hydration.
Waiting five minutes after applying serum is unnecessary if your regimen is professionally designed—our routines allow you to move directly to the next product.
Delaying moisturizer application could allow key ingredients in the serum to evaporate, which reduces the treatment’s benefits and slows down your entire routine.
Serums are most effective when used with the correct water, cleanser, moisturizer, and timing—all customized to suit your skin’s unique characteristics.
To find the best serum for your skin and ensure each product works together seamlessly, shop by your Baumann Skin Type for expert-guided skincare solutions.
