How To Apply Face Serum
Discover how to apply face serum for the most magical skincare results that you can see and believe and learn how to use serum in your skincare routine.
- 24th August 2023
- By Charlotte Tilbury
6 minute read
Darlings, face serum is an essential step in your skincare routine that helps your skin to look and feel its best. Discover how to apply face serum and the best ways to use serum to unlock a silky-smooth complexion that’s flooded with supercharged, skin-loving ingredients.
1. Apply your cleanser, face mist and toner
Before you apply your face serum, it’s important to begin your skincare routine with a cleanser, face mist and toner. Applying face serum to freshly cleansed skin that feels healthy and hydrated will help to maximise the absorption of your serum into the skin, allowing you to reap the most benefit from its ingredients.
2. Choose the right serum for your skin
Be sure to choose a serum that is beneficial for your skin type and skin concerns. For example, if your skin is prone to dryness, it’s best to reach for a deeply hydrating formula that’s rich in moisture-boosting ingredients like hyaluronic acid or polyglutamic acid; or if your skin looks dull and uneven in tone, a vitamin C serum will help to brighten the look of your complexion.
3. Release 4-6 drops into your hands
Once you’ve selected your face serum, apply 4-6 drops into the palm of your hand. Face serums contain powerful skincare ingredients and are generally more concentrated than moisturisers, so you only need to apply a few drops to feel their benefits.
A lot of face serums including Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir feature a pipette-style dropper. Before removing your dropper from the serum, squeeze the top to fill it with serum, then twist to remove it from the bottle. Squeeze the dropper again – this time into the palm of your hand – to release the product into your cupped hand ready to apply.
4. Warm up serum between your fingers
Gently rub your hands together to help activate the ingredients in your serum before you apply. Warming up your face serum between your hands will help to distribute the product more evenly when applying it onto the face, as well as helping denser face serums to feel lightweight on the skin.
5. Lightly press serum into the skin
When applying your face serum, lightly press the product into the skin and let it absorb naturally. Gently press your face serum evenly across all areas of your face including the forehead, cheeks, nose and neck. This pressing technique will provide subtle lymphatic drainage that helps to flush toxins from the skin while your superpowered serum works on reviving and revitalising the look of your complexion.
Tilbury Tip: The skin on your face is delicate, darlings, so avoid any harsh, rubbing motions.
6. Massage serum into the face using wave motions
After applying face serum, perform a gentle facial massage to help work the product into your skin. The key to a successful facial massage is using light pressure and upward motions that help to lift the look of your face. Keep your hands in a cupped formation and follow the natural contours of your face, softly gliding along the face to massage your serum into your skin.
When applying both serum and moisturiser to your face, I recommend following my easy 5-minute ‘Tilbury Tap’ massage technique. Click here to learn how to perform my facial massage technique like a pro.
7. Gently tap the face with your fingertips
Now that you’ve massaged your face serum into the skin, you can use gentle tapping motions to help your product to absorb even further. Lightly tapping your face serum into the complexion is an easy way to help boost microcirculation, which in turn can promote refreshed, healthy-looking skin.
8. Wait 60 seconds before applying your moisturiser
Moisturiser is best applied after your face serum, but before you apply your face cream, it’s important to give your serum some time to absorb. Take a moment to let your face serum naturally sink into the skin, letting all the supercharged skincare ingredients nourish your complexion. I suggest waiting 60 seconds after applying your face serum before reaching for your moisturiser; this will help to avoid overloading your skin and lets each individual product fully absorb.
Shop Skincare
Item 1 of 90
Item 2 of 90
Item 3 of 90
Item 4 of 90
Item 5 of 90
Item 6 of 90
Item 7 of 90
Item 8 of 90
Item 9 of 90
Item 10 of 90
Item 11 of 90
Item 12 of 90
Item 13 of 90
Item 14 of 90
Item 15 of 90
Item 16 of 90
Item 17 of 90
Item 18 of 90
Item 19 of 90
Item 20 of 90
GLOW TONER150 ML
£40.00
Item 21 of 90
Item 22 of 90
Item 23 of 90
Item 24 of 90
Item 25 of 90
Item 26 of 90
Item 27 of 90
Item 28 of 90
Item 29 of 90
Item 30 of 90
Item 31 of 90
Item 32 of 90
Item 33 of 90
Item 34 of 90
TAKE IT ALL OFF120 ML
£24.00
Item 35 of 90
Item 36 of 90
Item 37 of 90
Item 38 of 90
Item 39 of 90
Item 40 of 90
Item 41 of 90
Item 42 of 90
Item 43 of 90
Item 44 of 90
Item 45 of 90
Item 46 of 90
Item 47 of 90
Item 48 of 90
Item 49 of 90
Item 50 of 90
Item 51 of 90
Item 52 of 90
Item 53 of 90
Item 54 of 90
Item 55 of 90
Item 56 of 90
Item 57 of 90
Item 58 of 90
Item 59 of 90
Item 60 of 90
Item 61 of 90
Item 62 of 90
Item 63 of 90
Item 64 of 90
Item 65 of 90
Item 66 of 90
Item 67 of 90
SAVE 10%HYDRATION & RADIANCE SKIN DUOSKINCARE KIT
£101.00£90.90Item 68 of 90
Item 69 of 90
Item 70 of 90
Item 71 of 90
Item 72 of 90
Item 73 of 90
Item 74 of 90
Item 75 of 90
Item 76 of 90
Item 77 of 90
Item 78 of 90
Item 79 of 90
Item 80 of 90
VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONSRESEARCH-POWERED SKINCARE SECRETS FOR YOUR BEST SKINmins
£25.00 redeemable against products
Item 81 of 90
Item 82 of 90
Item 83 of 90
Item 84 of 90
Item 85 of 90
Item 86 of 90
Item 87 of 90
Item 88 of 90
Item 89 of 90
Item 90 of 90
How To Apply Face Serum FAQs: More Ways To Use Serum
Where Do You Put Face Serum?
You can put serum on your face, ears and neck for overall skin benefits, or focus on concern-specific areas such as over dry patches, blemishes, areas of redness or fine lines and wrinkles. When applying face serum, lightly press your product into the skin and then massage evenly onto the face.
Shop Skincare Kits
Item 1 of 41
Item 2 of 41
Item 3 of 41
Item 4 of 41
Item 5 of 41
Item 6 of 41
Item 7 of 41
Item 8 of 41
Item 9 of 41
Item 10 of 41
Item 11 of 41
Item 12 of 41
Item 13 of 41
Item 14 of 41
Item 15 of 41
Item 16 of 41
Item 17 of 41
Item 18 of 41
Item 19 of 41
Item 20 of 41
Item 21 of 41
Item 22 of 41
Item 23 of 41
Item 24 of 41
Item 25 of 41
Item 26 of 41
Item 27 of 41
Item 28 of 41
Item 29 of 41
SAVE 10%HYDRATION & RADIANCE SKIN DUOSKINCARE KIT
£101.00£90.90Item 30 of 41
Item 31 of 41
Item 32 of 41
Item 33 of 41
Item 34 of 41
Item 35 of 41
Item 36 of 41
Item 37 of 41
Item 38 of 41
Item 39 of 41
Item 40 of 41
VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONSRESEARCH-POWERED SKINCARE SECRETS FOR YOUR BEST SKINmins
£25.00 redeemable against products
Item 41 of 41
Share article
Author Details
Charlotte Tilbury
Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.
