Body Serums Are Skin Care’s Next Frontier

If you consider yourself a skin-care aficionado, it’s likely you already have a lineup of facial serums that you use on the daily. These extra steps in our beauty routines offer a plethora of benefits that our regular moisturizers don’t, which explains why they’ve exploded in popularity over the past couple of years. But what about serums for your body, too?

With the rise of targeted serums, we’re beginning to see a growing number of products formulated specifically for use beyond our faces—but is it actually beneficial to add an extra step to our daily body-care routines? According to the experts, the answer is yes.

Body serums boast the same skin health benefits as their facial counterparts: multi-tasking formulas and the ability to target specific skin concerns. “Body serums are higher-performing than a simple moisturizer, and they’re easy to add to your routine,” says Dr. Michelle Henry, Mount Sinai and Harvard-trained dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. “They’re lightweight, absorb quickly, and depending on which one you choose, they can hydrate, tighten, nourish, brighten, or exfoliate your skin.”

Much like facial serums, body serums are a great way to deliver active ingredients to the skin that our usual moisturizers can’t. “Some body creams and lotions contain actives, but body serums have higher concentrations of these ingredients,” explains Dr. Hadley King, NYC-based board-certified dermatologist. “The lighter texture of serums may better accommodate water-soluble vitamins and antioxidants, which are often poorly absorbed from oil-based moisturizers. Many formulas also contain hyaluronic acid, which is a humectant, so it hydrates the skin by drawing moisture to it—which is great if you’re looking for a lightweight moisturizer and you’re not in particularly dry conditions.”

Beyond moisture and antioxidant boosts, these serums are also better suited for full-body exfoliation without having to reach for a physical scrub. “Chemical exfoliators, such as glycol and lactic acid, require a lower pH for optimal performance than is generally found in body creams and lotions,” says King. “However, these lower pH levels can be found in body serums.” Additionally, there are plenty of products formulated with skin-improving ingredients like vitamin C and retinol that boost radiance, elasticity, and even minimize signs of premature aging.

With many of us facing end-of-summer scorching temperatures and unbearable humidity, body serums make the perfect moisturizing option for when it’s just too hot to slather on heavier products thanks to their light, fast-absorbing nature. “The lighter texture of serums can work well alone in a body-care routine in more humid environments,” says Caroline Robinson, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Tone Dermatology. Plus, many serums are formulated with ingredients that are ideal for increased sun exposure, such as antioxidants that protect the skin from free-radical damage, adds King.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s time to break up with your favorite lotion altogether. As we head into fall and winter, serums are quite beneficial, but should be treated as only one part of your moisturizing routine. “In colder and drier climates, they’re not a suitable replacement for standard moisturizers,” says Robinson. While they’re considered a powerful boost in improving skin health, she stresses that they still need to be followed up by a hydrating lotion or cream that will lock in moisture and protect the skin’s barrier from the elements.

If the idea of another multi-step beauty regimen stresses you out, we promise—it’s worth it, and your skin will thank you for it.