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Serum:everything you need to know #2

If I combine a serum with my anti-aging, the effect is twice as fast (and more pronounced)?

No, the serum is not so powerful that it doubles the results and transforms you in a week (that's a fantasy, not a cosmetic). But, on the very activity of long-term care, the serum can improve the effects of the cream by up to 30%. "It's already a lot and very visible," insists Nadine Leconte, Formulation Director at Nuxe. In addition, most formulas have immediate-effect active ingredients that blur imperfections or lift.

At what age do I start?

"As soon as we no longer sleep 8 hours a night, when we are subjected to pollution and stress, when the skin shows signs of weakness", answers Nathalie Chassain, director of Estée Lauder training. So around age 30, when cell activity experiences its first slowdown.

Do I apply it in the morning or in the evening? And how do I put it?

It depends on its action:we reserve the antioxidant serum in the morning, because it helps the skin to protect itself from external aggressions; the stain repellent is applied in the evening to avoid exposing yourself to the sun afterwards. Regarding anti-wrinkles, moisturizers and skin perfectors, we can multiply the applications (=morning and evening) to amplify their effectiveness. Given its ultra-fluid texture, its serum is not used as a cream. First, a few drops are enough. “Put in a lot believing it will be more effective

causes a "pilling" effect (and waste of the product), explains Françoise Cabanne, director of the L'Oréal consumer division skincare laboratory. In addition, the serum does not massage, it arises delicately, by gentle smoothing or tapping. The best moment ? Just after the shower, when the skin, warm and still moist, has open pores, which promotes penetration. Namely:we do not hesitate to stretch it on the neck and décolleté. Finally, we wait a few moments for it to penetrate well and find a “bare skin” sensation before moving on to the cream. Above all, you don't do your little cooking by mixing serum and cream in the palm of your hand. The active ingredients would no longer have the same effects and the formulas might even not agree.