Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, or retinal: which serum suits your skin?
- 14 min reading time
You’ve found your cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF, but then comes the serum. Hyaluronic acid for hydration, vitamin C for glow, niacinamide for a more even skin tone, retinal for skin renewal… With so many active ingredients, it’s not always clear which serum your skin actually needs.
You don't choose a good serum because an ingredient is popular, but because it aligns with what your skin needs and what you want to improve. In this selection guide, we explain the most important active ingredients and show you which LA·LO·LA Therapy Drops fit them.
Quick selection
What does a serum do?
A serum is a concentrated skincare product that focuses on a specific skin need. Think of hydration, pigment spots, a dull complexion, fine lines, or an uneven skin texture.
At LA·LO·LA, you will find various targeted formulas within the Therapy Drops. Each formula has a different central active ingredient. Which one you choose therefore depends mainly on the result you want to achieve.
Hyaluronic acid: for dehydrated skin
Does your skin feel tight, look a bit less plump, or are fine dehydration lines more noticeable? Then hyaluronic acid is a logical ingredient to add to your routine.
Hyaluronic acid helps attract and retain moisture. This can make the skin feel more supple, plump, and better hydrated.
LA·LO·LA Fill Me In Moisturising Filler contains four forms of hyaluronic acid and is designed to support the skin's moisture balance and visibly soften fine lines caused by moisture loss.
Choose Fill Me In if: hydration is your primary skin goal.
Vitamin C: for glow and a more even complexion
Is your skin not necessarily dry, but does it look dull or tired? Then vitamin C might be a better match for what you are looking for.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is widely used to support the skin against oxidative stress. In addition, it can contribute to a brighter, more even appearance.
LA·LO·LA Glow Up Revitalising Antioxidant contains 5% stabilized vitamin C, supplemented with ingredients such as Kakadu plum extract. The formula is designed for skin that could use more brightness, a more even tone, and radiance.
Choose Glow Up if: you primarily want more glow and a more even appearance.
Niacinamide: for pores, skin texture, and an uneven complexion
Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a versatile ingredient. It is used to support the skin barrier, but also when visible pores, blemishes, or an uneven complexion play a role.
LA·LO·LA Retex Retexturising Balancer is a serum with niacinamide designed to visibly smooth and refine the skin. The formula focuses on issues such as pigment spots, blemishes, skin irregularities, and enlarged pores.
Choose Retex if: you want to work on pores, skin irregularities, or an uneven complexion.
Retinal: for more intensive skin renewal
Are you primarily looking to work on fine lines, skin structure, and visible signs of skin aging? Then you will quickly arrive at retinoids.
Retinal is a form of vitamin A used in skincare to support natural skin renewal.
LA·LO·LA Midnight Cell Renewer is a night serum with retinal. The formula is aimed at smoother and more even skin and the reduction of visible signs of skin aging.
Because retinal is an active ingredient, you should use Midnight Cell Renewer in the evening. Build up its use gradually and always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50 during the day. According to LA·LO·LA's usage advice, do not combine this product in the same routine with AHA acids, BHA acids, or azelaic acid.
Choose Midnight Cell Renewer if: you want to work specifically on skin renewal, fine lines, and skin texture.
Bakuchiol: for plant-based support of skin renewal
Bakuchiol is often mentioned alongside retinoids, but it is not the same ingredient. It is a plant-based active ingredient that is interesting when you want to work on skin renewal, skin texture, and visible signs of skin aging.
LA·LO·LA Back To Start Cellular Resetter contains 1% bakuchiol in combination with nourishing plant oils. The formula is designed to support skin renewal and contribute to a smoother, more even appearance.
Choose Back To Start if: you want to combine skin renewal with a nourishing, plant-based formula based on bakuchiol.
Vitamin E: for nourishment and skin comfort
Sometimes the skin doesn't need more active exfoliation or skin renewal, but rather nourishment and support.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant and is often used in nourishing formulas to help protect the skin against oxidative stress and to support skin comfort.
LA·LO·LA Rescue Nourishing Regenerator is an intensely nourishing serum with a high concentration of vitamin E. The formula supports skin comfort and the skin's natural recovery process and helps protect against oxidative stress.
Choose Rescue if: your skin is primarily in need of nourishment, suppleness, and comfort.
And what if your skin mainly looks tired?
Not every skin concern fits neatly under hydration, pigment, or fine lines. Sometimes your skin simply looks less vital, and you are looking for a serum that supports multiple aspects of skin quality.
LA·LO·LA Exo-G Intercellular Rejuvenator combines goji-exosomes, bioactive fruit extracts, and hydrating ingredients. The formula is aimed at supporting skin renewal, skin quality, elasticity, hydration, and radiance.
Choose Exo-G if: you are looking for a more complete revitalizing treatment for tired skin and visible signs of skin aging.
Which serum do I need?
Start with your skin goal: do not let trends guide your choice, but rather what your skin needs. Look first at the result that is most important to you, and then choose the active ingredient that matches it.
Can you combine multiple serums?
More active ingredients do not automatically mean a better skincare routine. When you use multiple serums at once, it also becomes harder to determine which product is actually doing something for your skin.
Therefore, it is better to start with one targeted serum that matches your main skin goal. Once your skin has built a good routine with that, you can see if a second product adds anything.
Be careful with retinal: Midnight Cell Renewer is used in the evening. According to the usage advice, you should not combine this product in the same routine with AHA acids, BHA acids, or azelaic acid. Build up usage slowly and use a broad-spectrum SPF 50 during the day.
When do you apply a serum?
You apply a serum after cleansing the skin and before your day or night cream. Apply a few drops to the face, neck, and décolleté and let the product absorb before continuing with the next step of your routine.
Start with cleansed skin so that your serum can be applied directly to the skin.
Apply a few drops to the face, neck, and décolleté and let the product absorb.
Finish with your day or night cream to complete the care.
Use broad-spectrum sun protection during the day, especially with active skincare.
The best serum starts with your skin goal
There is no single serum that is automatically the best choice for every skin. Dehydration? Look at Fill Me In with hyaluronic acid. More glow? Then Glow Up with vitamin C probably fits better. If you want to refine pores and skin texture, Retex with niacinamide is interesting.
For more intensive skin renewal, there is Midnight Cell Renewer with retinal, while Back To Start uses bakuchiol. If your skin especially needs extra nourishment, look at Rescue. And when you want to tackle multiple signs of fatigue and skin aging at the same time, Exo-G is worth looking into.
So, look first at your skin and the result you want to achieve. The active ingredient follows afterwards.
Find your LA·LO·LA serum
Give your skin targeted care with a Therapy Drop that matches your skin goal.