When it came to a skincare routine, I used to only know the bare minimum. My routine included washing my face every day and following it up with a moisturizer. Then came the internet and I started to learn about all sorts of terms and products that I didn’t know. You may have heard the products too like serum, toners, and cleansers. 

With all that information, it was super easy to get overwhelmed, but now I know the difference. Mostly. If you’re feeling the same way, then no fear! This article will walk you through the different terms, specifically moisturizer vs serum.

We’ll start with the definitions, similarities, and differences, how to use a moisturizer vs serum, and some of Genie Supply’s favorite moisturizer and serum products. 

The Basic Definition of a Moisturizer & Serum

Moisturizer

Let’s start with something familiar.

A moisturizer is thick and creamy because it aims to hydrate the skin.

By being so heavy, the moisturizer prevents water loss by sealing in your skin’s natural moisture. 

Serum

Now for a serum:

A serum is thinner and lighter than a moisturizer with a variety of functions.

Though lightweight, serums are intensive on the skin and help repair skin at a cellular level. Its active ingredients will penetrate deeply into your skin. The type of ingredient depends on the serum’s purpose. 

Moisturizer vs Serum: Similarities & Differences

A similarity between a serum and a moisturizer is obvious, they’re good for the skin, but the differences are a little more complicated. The difference between a serum and a moisturizer comes down to their formulas.

The particles in serums are smaller because they try to deeply penetrate the skin. Serums also don’t include any sealing ingredients (e.g. occlusives, ceramides) used in moisturizers to keep water evaporating from the skin.

These items are usually heavier molecules, so they sit on top of the skin, being too large to pass through it. in fact, that’s why they’re called occlusives. They’re too big to go through, so they sit on top of the skin and occlude moisture from leaving. Duh duh duh!

An Interesting Tidbit on The Difference From the Chemist (We’re a Lab, just FYI):

Formulating-wise - aka in the lab - serums are often single phase, which results in one homogeneous (typically thin) viscosity. They can be 2 phase, but even then the 2 phases are often less viscous.

However, most moisturizers are 2 phase - and often hot-process - emulsions, where one phase (e.g. oil) makes tiny droplets inside another (e.g. water) in order to keep the droplets forever* suspended to keep them away from each other, thus making a fluffy cream-like matrix.

This “cloud” like matrix then is fluffy, puffy or whatever other adjective you’d like to use to describe a cream. If the emulsion crashes, the liquid becomes very thin again, because the droplets all find each other and stick together, making a layer of water and one of oil, separated from one another.

You can actually see the little droplets staying perfectly in place and perfectly separated by the medium, if you take a cream and smudge it on a glass plate and look at it understand a microscope. It’s also a great way to judge your formulation’s performance.

*Unfortunately, no emulsion is forever. Stability testing can help determine how long it can potentially last.

Using a Moisturizer and/or a Serum

Typically, a serum will help with anti-aging, acne prevention, and brightening the skin. It is NOT a replacement for moisturizer. Whether you have dry or oily skin, you may want to use both a serum and a moisturizer. It all depends on what you’re looking for. 

Bottom line: Everyone should use a moisturizer. Serums are for people who are looking for an anti-aging product or a healthy addition to a skincare routine. 

The Right Way to Layer Serums & Moisturizers Together:

Start with a fresh, clean face that’s just been washed. Next, use your serum and then a moisturizer. With this kind of layering, the serum will come into direct contact with the skin and penetrate your pores while the moisturizer will lock in the serum and moisturizer. 

Moisturizers & Serums at Genie Supply

After a thorough discussion of serums and moisturizers, allow me to introduce you a sneak peek of some of our favorite products. 

Serum 

Since you should apply a serum before a moisturizer, serums are up first!

1. Clean Retinol Drops

As mentioned before, serums are light but intensive. These Clean Retinol Drops are perfect examples of serums for they’re heavy-lifting and do an amazing anti-aging job. Also, looking for an anti-wrinkle and anti-inflammatory serum? Look no further! Simply warm the product on your fingertips and press the serum into your target spots.

Here’s a bonus for you: unlike other retinol products, you can use this serum daily at night after cleansing. 

2. Luxury Vitamin C Face Serum

Usually, vitamin C products use L-ascorbic acid. Our serum uses tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate which has increased skin viability of up to 30% in comparison. This serum will brighten and tone your skin and can be made with or without a light scent. Such flavor or essential oil ideas include coconut, cucumber, jasmine, eucalyptus, lemon, and more.

Make sure you only use this face serum at night!

3. Unicorn Serum

Don’t worry, no unicorns were harmed in the making of this serum. Instead, hyaluronic acid and alpha-hydroxy acid fall into a mix with the power of CBD to give you this super magical serum. You won’t have anything to fear with this serum by your side as it hydrates and exfoliates your skin for a smooth finish.

Use our Unicorn Serum 1-3 times a week at night after cleansing. 

Moisturizers

Normally, moisturizers are heavy and they leave a thick feeling behind. Not our moisturizers! You’ll find they’ll all leave a light, clean touch after application.

1.  Water Cream

There’s a reason this moisturizer is a K-beauty classic and you can find a CBD (or non-CBD) version with Genie Supply. Our water cream moisturizer protects and soothes the skin from stress. Hyaluronic acid makes another appearance along with fun extracts like algae, white tea, and rose flower. This moisturizer is great for all skin types (especially sensitive) and allows a light (but effective) sealing layer on the skin.

Apply the moisturizer day and/or night for immediate and perfect hydration. 

2. Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer

This oil-free moisturizer is also good for any skin type including mature, sensitive, and acne-prone. The skin quickly absorbs this moisturizer and leaves a refreshed touch on the skin. You’ll find hyaluronic acid (again), aloe vera, and many other beneficial ingredients to keep your skin moisturized and protected.

This moisturizer has versatile daily use whether it’s morning or night. 

3. Hydration Bomb Moisturizer

Not a bath bomb, but a beautiful facial bomb of strong, clean ingredients designed to provide all the moisture you need. You’ll find the cooling feel of ginger, mint, and cucumber extracts in this moisturizer bringing a gentle coolness to the skin while squalane ensures proper hydration.

Feel free to apply the moisturizer in the morning or night for the most wonderful skin. 

Understand the difference between a moisturizer and a serum?

Great! Next question, do you understand the difference between retinol and vitamin C?

Check out our article to help you slay beauty terminology, or look at more samples from our Green + Clean catalog!