Why One Face Cream Will Never Meet All Your Skin’s Needs

Many people search for the 'best face cream' hoping to find one product that hydrates, repairs, firms and future-proofs their skin.

But according to Dr Sebagh, the idea that one cream can meet all your skin’s needs — every day, in every condition, is one of the biggest myths in skincare. This belief is what led Dr Sebagh to create the Serum Bar, a personalised approach to daily skin customisation.

That’s because skin is constantly changing.

In this article, we explore why one face cream will never be enough, and how understanding your skin’s daily needs leads to more effective, long-term skin health.

Why Your Skin’s Needs Change Every Day

Skin is a living organ that responds to both internal and external factors. Its condition can shift daily due to:

• Stress and cortisol levels
• Hormonal fluctuations
• Climate, temperature and humidity
• Air-conditioning, heating and pollution
• Travel and disrupted sleep

This is why your skin may feel hydrated and balanced one day, then dry, dull, oily or sensitive the next.

Using the same face cream every day assumes your skin never changes, but biologically, that simply isn’t true.

Why One Face Cream Cannot Do Everything

Traditional face creams are formulated to be stable, convenient and easy to use. They typically contain:

• Water
• Oil
• A fixed blend of active ingredients
• Emulsifiers, preservatives and fragrance

While modern creams are effective for basic skincare, they are limited in how much they can adapt.

Because all ingredients must coexist in one formula:

• Active ingredient concentrations are restricted
• Potent actives must be diluted for stability
• The balance of oil and water never changes

This makes most creams one-size-fits-all, rather than responsive to your skin’s daily needs.

What Is the Difference Between a Serum and a Cream?

One of the most searched skincare questions is:
“What is the difference between a serum and a cream?”

The key difference lies in concentration and flexibility.

Face creams

• Contain both oil and water in fixed ratios
• Deliver broad, general benefits
• Cannot be adjusted day to day

Serums

• Contain higher concentrations of active ingredients
• Are often water-based or oil-based (not both)
• Can be layered or blended according to skin needs

This flexibility allows serums to target hydration, nourishment, repair or protection precisely, rather than all at once.

Hydration vs Moisturisation: Why It Matters

Another common skincare misconception is that hydration and moisturisation are the same thing.

They are not.

• Hydration refers to water in the skin
• Moisturisation refers to oil that seals and nourishes

Your skin may be:

• Oily but dehydrated
• Dry but well hydrated
• Dehydrated due to travel or air-conditioning

A single cream cannot adjust this balance, but tailored skincare can.

When skin lacks hydration, adding a water-based serum such as Serum Repair can replenish moisture levels without heaviness. When skin feels dry or depleted, a few drops of a nourishing oil like Rose de Vie Serum can restore comfort and barrier strength.

How Stress Affects Your Skin

Stress has a measurable effect on skin appearance and function.

According to Dr Sebagh:

“Stress inhibits blood circulation, so the complexion looks grey and loses its glow. Some days skin needs more water, some days more nourishing oil.”

Stress can trigger:

• Dullness and uneven tone
• Redness and sensitivity
• Breakouts and dehydration

This is why responsive, daily-adjusted skincare is essential for maintaining healthy-looking skin long term.

Ready-to-Wear vs Customised Skincare

Dr Sebagh describes traditional face creams as “ready-to-wear skincare.”

They are designed to suit most people, most of the time.

Customised skincare, on the other hand, works like couture:

• Hydration can be increased or reduced
• Oil can be added only where needed
• Active ingredients can be selected based on skin condition

This approach allows skincare to evolve alongside your skin, rather than working against it. This philosophy underpins Dr Sebagh’s concept of Ageing-Maintenance, a long-term, intelligent approach to skin health rather than aggressive correction

Why Customised Skincare Supports Healthy Ageing

Healthy skin depends on a strong skin barrier.

When your skin receives:

• Too much oil, pores can clog
• Too little hydration, the barrier weakens
• Too many actives, sensitivity increases

By adjusting skincare daily, you support:

• Barrier strength
• Even hydration
• Reduced inflammation
• Improved luminosity and texture

This is the foundation of Dr Sebagh’s philosophy of Ageing-Maintenance, supporting skin intelligently rather than aggressively.

Why One Cream Will Never Be Enough

Skin does not need more products. It needs the right balance, adjusted daily.

A single face cream cannot:

• Respond to stress
• Adjust to climate changes
• Adapt to hormonal shifts
• Deliver optimal hydration and nourishment every day

Understanding this is the first step towards truly effective skincare.

Discover how to tailor your skincare daily

Once you understand why one cream will never be enough, the next step is learning how to tailor your skincare daily. Discover the Dr Sebagh Guide to the Serum Bar, explore the serums, and learn how to create your own bespoke crème-de-serum.