Afternoon beauty fix: What to look for when choosing a serum and face cream

I recently admitted to a friend that I use the same lotion on my body and face. She looked at me like I was nuts and told me I need to buy a proper face cream. Help? Just like a book, you can’t judge a cream by its cover—you need to look inside to see which ingredients will heal, protect, and moisturize your skin, and which ingredients are fillers, like fragrance. The overall composition of a cream or lotion and the requirements of your skin determine which product is correct for you, not the area of your body to which it is applied... but I digress. Your skin may have specific problems, like eczema or rosacea, that require the care of an dermatologist. However, there are some things everyone needs from their face cream: an SPF of at least 30, antioxidant protection, and the ability to maximize hydration. One option is to jump-start your current skin-care regime by applying a serum on your face first. Serums are better at penetrating your dermis than creams, and can deliver nutrients and hydration to cells down below—those that need them the most. A serum that is rich in Vitamin C and various antioxidants, like Le Mieux Vita-C Serum ($65, lemieuxcosmetics.com) will not only hydrate and prevent toxins from inhibiting your skin cells, it will brighten your complexion and minimize damage that has already been done. If you’re ready to try a new lotion on your face post-serum, look for one that cites “broad-spectrum” sun protection, like Elizabeth Arden Prevage Day Cream ($160 at department stores) which shields skin from UVA and UVB damage with SPF 30—the minimum level of protection you should be wearing on a daily basis. So long as you’ve covered those three bases—SPF, antioxidant protection, and moisture amplification—you’re on the road to better skin. However, wanting a deeper understanding of your personal skin-care needs sounds like the perfect excuse to for a facial, don’t you think?

In need of an afternoon beauty pick-me-up? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.