Body serum might be the answer to your dry skin woes 

There's a reason "body serum" has over 124 million views on TikTok: it can take your body care routine to the next level (think: ultra-hydrated, glowing skin) with little extra effort. 

It’s no secret that these days, there’s a skincare and body care product for everything. Elbows, knees, toes — you name it, there’s a sauce to make it smoother. But before you start thinking “what’s the point in using a body serum and a body moisturiser?” hear us out, because you might end up falling in love with it. 

 Body serum is the hard-working predecessor to body moisturiser, but does body serum actually work? We sought out the help from Spirithoula Koukoufikis, Senior Medical Aesthetician at London-based clinic Skinfluencer to find out everything you need to know about this growing market of products.

How does the skin on our body differ from the skin on our face?

Before diving into what body serum is and which are our faves, let’s look into how the body and face skin differ. Essentially, the skin on our body is much thicker than our face, with the exception of the décolleté. “In addition to the varying thickness, the number and size of hair follicles, sweat and oil glands varies too,” says Koukoufikis. “These skin appendages are reservoirs of skin cells and oil that help protect and heal your skin. Areas with more appendage concentration (such as the face) heal more quickly and are better at tolerating injury than sites with fewer appendages, such as the neck and chest.”

What is body serum?

Body serum essentially goes beyond basic moisturising with a cream. Just like a serum for your face, a body serum is packed with high-performance actives and ingredients that deeply hydrate skin. “Depending on which serum you use, its formulation can include plant extracts, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants. With the right choice of active ingredients, a body serum can address and help target various skin concerns,” says Koukoufikis. “They can help with anti-ageing, reducing wrinkles, healing wounds, repairing damage, hydrating the skin, and preventing acne and scars,” she adds. Think of the serum as addressing any concerns and the moisturiser as locking it in and simply hydrating. 

What ingredients are typically used in a body serum?

You can get a body serum to address all kinds of things, so it really does depend on what concern you’re hoping to tackle. “A moisturising body serum containing AHAs will work with the skin to naturally exfoliate, leaving skin radiant with a natural glow,” Koukoufikis explains. “A serum packed with antioxidants will protect your skin from damaging free radicals and minimise the signs of ageing.” And a serum that aims to intensely hydrate the skin will be packed with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

Is it a good idea to layer a serum with a moisturiser on the body?

Definitely! Koukoufikis says that a serum isn’t a replacement for skincare and must be combined with a routine, including a moisturiser for optimum results.

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What time of the year is a body serum best for? 

Since body serums are much lighter in texture, they are great additions in the summer especially. “Usually, they are immediately absorbed into the skin and leave no residue,” says Koukoufikis. “If you choose a formulation that includes actives and a humectant such as hyaluronic acid, then the potent blend of active ingredients will improve any skin issues, while providing much-needed hydration to the skin.” But there aren’t any hard and fast rules, you can use body serum whenever you fancy.