Serums vs Creams: Which One Should You Choose?
Skincare shelves can feel overwhelming — and during Black Friday, it’s even harder to tell what your skin truly needs versus what just looks tempting. One of the most common dilemmas? Choosing between a serum and a cream.
Both are key steps in a good routine, but they play very different roles. If you’ve ever mixed them up or skipped one, your skin might not be getting the full benefit.
Here’s a quick, easy guide (plus our top Black Friday picks) to help you make the right choice and shop wisely this season.
Serums: Targeted, lightweight, results-driven
Serums are your skincare’s targeted treatments — concentrated with potent actives that penetrate deeply to address specific issues like dullness, dryness, or uneven texture.
Their main job is to treat, not simply hydrate.
When to use: Apply after cleansing and before your moisturiser.
Best for: Anyone looking for quick, visible results.
Our Top 3 Serum Picks:
1. Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum: A lightweight, vitamin-infused formula that deeply hydrates and revitalises dull, dehydrated skin. It leaves your complexion soft, smooth, and comfortably moisturised without any stickiness.
Perfect for: Dry or combination skin in need of a hydration refresh.
2. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops: A hybrid between skincare and glow serum, this formula delivers instant radiance while gradually refining uneven texture. It’s basically “glass skin” bottled up.
Perfect for: Dull or uneven skin craving a natural, luminous glow.
3. Medik8 Crystal Retinal Serum: A modern vitamin A (retinoid) serum that smooths fine lines, refines uneven texture, and restores radiance — all without causing irritation. Clinically proven to reveal softer, more youthful-looking skin.
Perfect for: Those beginning or upgrading their anti-ageing skincare routine.
Creams: Nourishing, protective, barrier-focused
If serums fix specific issues, creams are the protectors that follow. They lock in moisture, seal in the benefits of your serum, and reinforce your skin’s natural barrier.
Beyond hydration, creams soothe and maintain your skin’s long-term health.
When to use: Apply after your serum as the final step in your routine.
Best for: Keeping skin soft, balanced, and well-protected.
Our Top 3 Cream Picks:
1. Augustinus Bader The Cream: A true icon in skincare. Powered by TFC8® technology and backed by science, this rich cream boosts cell renewal, enhances elasticity, and delivers deep nourishment.
Perfect for: Normal, dry, or mature skin in need of intensive rejuvenation.
2. The Inkey List Omega Water Cream: Featherlight, oil-free, and intensely hydrating — this gel-cream provides a refreshing boost of moisture without blocking pores. Perfect for humid climates or oily to combination skin.
Perfect for: Daily hydration that feels cool, clean, and weightless.
3. Byoma Moisturising Rich Cream: Formulated to reinforce your skin barrier and provide immediate relief, this cream blends ceramides, squalane, and shea butter for deep, long-lasting moisture.
Perfect for: Dry, sensitive, or irritated skin in need of soothing hydration and repair.
So… Serum or Cream?
If you’re targeting specific concerns like dark spots, uneven tone, fine lines, or dehydration, start with a serum.
If your focus is on keeping skin nourished, sealing in moisture, and strengthening the barrier, a cream is essential.
For skin that looks radiant, balanced, and healthy — you truly need both.
What to Shop This Black Friday
This Black Friday, avoid the impulse shopping spree and invest in products that deliver real, lasting results — the kind your skin will truly appreciate.
Our curated edit featuring favourites from Drunk Elephant, Glow Recipe, The Inkey List, Augustinus Bader, Byoma, and Medik8 is live — with exclusive, limited-time offers on some of skincare’s most-loved essentials.
✨ Hydrate with purpose.
✨ Repair with intention.
✨ Choose skincare that’s thoughtful, not rushed.
Shop the Black Friday Skincare Edit now on Luxe by Kan — before your favourites disappear.