Should you be applying your serums to damp skin?

Short answer - Yes.

Long answer - It can depend what's in your serum.

So, for the most part, you’re going to get the best out of your serum if you apply it to damp skin (think slightly dewy; having just washed your face and patted the excess off - not soaking wet). Whilst damp, your skin is going to absorb all the goodness so much more effectively than if it were bone dry. Think of a beauty blender - it works better when it's slightly damp!

Here's an example routine:

1. Cleanse
2. Rinse
3. Pat excess water off - leave skin damp
4. Press serum in gently
5. Immediately press moisturiser in
6. Done!

If you wait for your skin to dry between skincare steps, you are missing out on vital 'free' hydration that can be nicely sandwiched within your layers. All that hydrating goodness in your serum will be soaked up, and we all know that hydration is KEY when it comes to healthy and calm skin! 

Now for the slightly more complicated bit... the times where you won’t want to have a damp face when applying your serum, is if it contains certain actives such as Retinol or AHA/BHA’S. You want them to be uninterrupted so they can do their job, but, also - your skin can be more susceptible to irritation when its damp - so best to pat dry prior to applying.

Stay dewy, people!

M+M