How To Use a Face Oil in your Skin Care Routine?

Facial oils can be magical for all skin types when used correctly. We'll explain the importance of knowing how and when to use facial oils to get the maximum benefits and protection.

What is a face oil?

Facial oils are oil-based liquid face care products that mimic the skin's natural sebum. They reduce water loss from the skin, as they act as a barrier to prevent the evaporation of water from the skin.

They are typically formulated with non-comedogenic botanical and essential oils (non-comedogenic means they do not clog pores) and many are rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

What does a facial oil do?

Facial oils are one of the most effective ways to moisturize the skin and impart an ethereal glow to even the most fatigue-looking skin.

Typically formulated with a blend of plant oils, this nourishing oils come in handy for softening, nourishing, and balancing the skin for a healthy looking glow.

Is face oil good for oily skin?

While everyone, even those with oily skin, can benefit from a facial oil, it can be especially nourishing for dry and dull skin. This is a common misconception; after all, we know that oily skin tends to be more prone to breakouts, so it seems logical to conclude that facial oils for oily skin would aggravate these problems.

In reality, oils can be a great addition to your skin care regimen as some oils can help speed up healing and balance oil production, such as tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary, jojoba, squalane, grape seed, and rosehip seed oil.  

Please note that if you have acne, dandruff or rosacea prone skin and want to try a facial oil, it is especially important that you pay attention to its ingredients and watch out for any reactions or irritations.

Should I face oil be used every day?

You can use a facial oil twice daily, or as needed — Can be used both in the morning and evening, especially if you have dry skin; however, it's usually best used as part of your nighttime skincare routine.

Do I put face oil on before or after moisturizer?

It is now widely accepted that facial oil should be applied AFTER the moisturizer. Because if you apply a moisturizer after a facial oil, it cannot penetrate the skin well and is therefore less effective.

As you can imagine, moisturizers contain water but oils contains just oils. This means that water cannot penetrate through oil, so a moisturizer cannot completely absorb into the skin if there is oil underneath. Oils, on the flip side, can penetrate moisturizers, but not the other way around.

Can I use face oil instead of moisturizer?

Moisturizers and facial oils can be interchangeable, especially if you have extremely dry and aging skin. However, you can't simply substitute a skin oil for a moisturizer because they have different functions.

For any other skin type, it's best to use a moisturizer rather than a facial oil alone. If your skin is very thirsty or looking to boost your barrier defenses during the winter months, we recommend using both.

Can I mix face oil with moisturizer?

Face oil can be added to your moisturizer, as it gives the skin an extra layer of protection and allows you to combine two steps of your face routine into one. All skin types can benefit from the blend, however, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, I would recommend using an oil every other day rather than every day.

Do I put face oil on before or after makeup?

In general, apply facial oil as the last step in your skin care routine, i.e. before applying sunscreen or makeup base. The benefits of using facial oil before makeup are that, especially for those with dull, dry skin, the oil will be fully absorbed into your skin and give you a dewy, luminous glow.

Can you mix face oil with foundation?

Mixing a facial oil with your foundation is a great way to provide your skin with extra moisture, and it also works wonders for creating a natural, dewy finish. Makeup artists use this magic trick to improve the texture of your foundation, allowing it to absorb better.

There are two ways to mix foundation and facial oil. Pour some liquid foundation on a clean hand and add 2-3 drops of oil, mix well and apply as you normally would. You can also apply the oil directly to the skin before applying the foundation. However, if you use the second method, avoid applying the oil to the T-zone.

Here's a helpful tip: Be careful when mixing a water-based foundation. There's a small chance you won't get the best results because the makeup could separate during the day. (Remember, oil and water don't mix!) You can mix your water-based foundation with a moisturizing primer to get a smooth finish.

How do I apply facial oil?

As the final step of your face care routine, apply facial oils to lock in moisture as generally, oils are the most occlusive ingredient—the heaviest—or most dense— in your cosmetics.

What is the difference between face oil and body oil?

Facial oils should be lighter than the heavy-duty oils used on your body, and their formula is more concentrated than body oils. They are designed to be used on the delicate skin of the face.

Can face oil be used on body?

You can use the face and body oils interchangeably as your heart desires. However, if you have particularly sensitive skin, I recommend doing a patch small test on your skin first to make sure there is no allergy or negative reaction to a new oil.