Applying serums to damp skin instead of dry? It may sound strange, but it makes sense.
According to Daniel Jiménez, cosmetologist and technical director of Skin Generics and CEO of BeLab Services, freshly cleansed and damp skin tends to be more permeable. This means that a serum applied at this time could penetrate better and be more effective. However, keep in mind that this technique isn't suitable for all types of serums, but your skincare routine could definitely benefit from it as well.
The key to success lies in water- based serums . If you use an oily serum on wet skin, you may not achieve the desired results, since water and oil, as we all know, repel each other. Additionally, oil-based serums can strengthen the skin barrier, making it difficult for other water-based products to penetrate. Therefore, choose when to use this technique based on the type of serum you have.
And now, how do we differentiate water-based serums? Well, it's easy: all those that don't contain oils or butters and lipid compounds that serve to nourish, but not so much to hydrate. Whenever we see the terms "oil" or "butter" in the ingredient list, we should be clear that the effect won't be the desired one. In general, "it's usually used for cosmetics formulated with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, urea, or glycerin ," the expert comments.
This approach is fantastic for serums rich in hyaluronic acid. "This molecule has the ability to absorb more than 100 times its weight in water. If we apply it to damp skin, it will hydrate itself, but it will also help retain the water that was previously on the skin ," Jiménez argues.