Why serums are a must in your daily skincare regimen

Learn how to layer and be your own serum apothecary

As I approach my mid 40s, I can't help but begin to worry about my skin. A lot of how you age has to do with genes - and, luckily, my mom has the most amazing skin, and the best thing is she does not really do much. I, on the other hand, am a bit of a beauty junkie. With serums being seen as the new miracle product, I have been trying out a variety of them. I thought of serums as being booster shots for the skin, but it seems my approach to this wonder product is wrong.
You need to layer them. Layering has never been my thing even though I work in fashion. I like things simple, mainly because when I layer, I can look like a jigsaw puzzle gone wrong. So I am sure if I layer serums, they will end up making my skin break out.
For anything to do with beauty, I go on the recommendation of UK-based Newby Hands. She's the former beauty director of Harper's Bazaar (she was with the magazine for 18 years), and, currently, beauty director at Net-A-Porter; I have to say this luxury e-tailer's curation of independent beauty labels with the best of the super beauty brands is spot on. Says Newby, who has fabulous skin, "I have an extensive wardrobe of serums - I love them! But while I mix up five or six each morning and night, I do focus much more on what my skin really needs. I always use Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair AM and PM; I add in Vitamin C for the morning. In the evenings, I often opt for a Retinol, followed by an oil or something hydrating depending on where I am and the climate."
A serum, by the way, is used after you tone and before you moisturise. My current go-to serum is Vintner's Daughter, with its mix of 22 botanical ingredients; it is light and easy, and it's one I would recommend - but it seems one may not be enough.
You need to really be your own serum apothecary, and choose the serums for your concern of that moment: travelling, for instance, may need a hydrating serum, and if you have clogged skin, you may want to mix in a clearing serum.
Here is Newby's list of must haves: one that hydrates (such as the Dr Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Hydration Booster), one with Vitamin C to brighten and boost collagen (like Sunday Riley's C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum), one with antioxidants to protect the skin (such as the Kypris Beauty Antioxidant Dew) and possibly one for pollution if you live in a city (such as Dr Barbara Sturm's Anti-Pollution Drops). It sounds complicated but it's not: you can layer serums with ease by mixing them all up, making your own potions and then applying them. But the important point to remember is: serums are not replacements for moisturisers, so you need to seal them in with a light cream.
It's time I finally learn the art of layering.