I’ve played around with serums and face oils for a while, and what helped me make sense of them is paying attention to how my skin reacts rather than what the product is “supposed” to do. For me, serums tend to sink in quickly and feel almost like giving my skin a drink of water, especially when it’s feeling tight or dehydrated. Oils, on the other hand, work better when my skin feels rough or irritated because they help seal everything in and keep it calm overnight.

One thing I learned the hard way is that using too many layers can backfire. I used to pile on a serum and an oil without thinking, and it sometimes made my skin feel heavy or even break out. Now I just use a light serum in the morning and an oil only at night when my skin feels dry. I’ve also started incorporating things like peptide therapy into my routine, which has made my skin feel stronger and more resilient over time.