A guide to Body serums

In the realm of the facial hydrator, there is no shortage of choice.

The Aesop skin care range features plentiful oils, creams, lotions, gels and serums, all enriched with efficacious ingredients to replenish and support a variety of specific skin types and conditions. But beyond texture, colour and aroma, the differences between products are not always apparent.

Having an abundance of potent hydrators to choose from is a pleasant predicament. Better still: understanding precisely what each product is, how it works, and when to apply it.

Beyond speaking directly with our expert consultants—both in-store and through the live assistance on aesop.com—it is ideal to have this information all in one place, so it can be referenced at will. This article is just such a compendium for facial serums, designed to illuminate what they are, explain how they work, and profile the selection available at Aesop.

Serums

The term ‘serum’ usually refers to a low-to-medium viscosity product with an aqueous base—light in texture and finish, but often high in potency. It is this combination that makes a readily absorbed serum so easy to fit into an existing skin care regimen—especially in hot or humid conditions.

Owing to their generous measures of replenishing ingredients in a lightweight format, serums are excellent for hydrating the skin without overburdening it. It is this quality that makes them ideal for layering or blending with other kinds of hydrators, too—a topic covered in greater detail in our article ‘Expert recommendations: consultants on blending’.

Preferred skin feel and finish are two qualities worth bearing in mind at the outset when considering a serum over another type of hydrator. But beyond these aspects of a formulation, a deeper understanding of each serum’s respective benefits is key to determining the most suitable product for different skin types.