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Serums & ampoules: your questions answered

How do I layer serums?
Apply serums after cleansing and toning, before moisturiser. If you use more than one, go from the thinnest, most watery texture to the thickest, and allow a minute between layers. Two serums in a routine is plenty for most people. A common approach is a vitamin C serum in the morning under sunscreen, and a retinol or exfoliating serum on alternate evenings.
What's the difference between a serum and an ampoule?
Both are concentrated, lightweight products applied before moisturiser. In Korean skincare an ampoule is usually the more concentrated of the two, often sold in smaller bottles and used for a short period or as an extra step. Serums are designed for everyday use. In practice the names overlap a lot, so the ingredient list and texture tell you more than the label.
Which serum ingredients go well together?
Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are easy to pair with most things and suit nearly every routine. Vitamin C is usually worn in the morning, with sunscreen on top. Retinol and exfoliating acids such as glycolic acid are best kept to evenings and, at first, not used on the same night. If you're unsure, start with a single serum from a range such as CeraVe or COSRX and build from there.