Face Oils And Moisturizers - Why Do I Need An Oil?
If you’re interested in skincare you’ve probably noticed that face oils have become a popular product over the past few years. Have you tried a face oil? Do you know when to use a face oil? Should you use both a face oil and a moisturizer?! Here’s the scoop on face oils and moisturizers in your routine:
What is a face oil?
Face oils are essentially an oil (plant based), or blend of oils, that you apply to your skin. Professional skincare formulators use cosmetic grade oils (don’t eat them!) but many are very similar to the oils that you may use to cook with in your kitchen such as almond, grape seed, sunflower, olive, etc. These are called by many names including fatty oils, fixed oils, carrier oils, etc.
Carrier oils are emollient, meaning they soften and smooth skin. They also provide lubrication, and supply skin with important constituents including: essential fatty acids, vitamins, phytosterols, carotenoids, squalane, and more. They can also be occlusives, meaning that they form a thin layer on the surface of the skin which prevents moisture from evaporating.
Plant oils penetrate the upper layers of the skin and help its function, thereby improving its condition and appearance. Other components of oils called “unsaponifiables” can protect from moisture loss, soften the skin, or even have a rejuvenating effect on it. Cold pressed and raw oils will still contain these valuable constituents.
When a face oil is applied to your skin, it fills up the small spaces between the epidermal cells and makes skin feel smoother, healthier and softer.
What is a moisturizer?
A moisturizer is made with a mixture of water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients. Therefore it can hydrate and moisturize the skin and strengthen its barrier.
Facial moisturizers are comprised of a very large percentage of water. So you are generally getting a large amount of water with a smaller amount of plant oils, other emollients, and actives. The addition of water in the product adds to the moisturizing and hydrating effectiveness of a moisturizer. Moisturizers (usually called creams) with higher quantities of emollients (oils and butters) are more hydrating and moisturizing. Moisturizers with less emollients and more water are generally thinner, like a lotion.
How to use a face oil?
While face oils can be used in place of moisturizers, they are best used in combination with them.
They can be used as a moisture “booster” that’s added to your moisturizer, or as an extra layer to help lock in your moisturizer’s ingredients. An oil helps supplement the emollient ingredients in your moisturizer. It improves the effectiveness of your skincare routine boosting skin hydration and giving you healthy-looking skin.
Applying a moisturizer before your facial oil allows skin to soak up the nourishing ingredients in the cream emulsion. Your facial oil will help lock that hydration in and protect your skin from outside irritants. If you like the “glazed donut” look you can apply your oil following your moisturizer and obtain a nice dewy look.
You can also put your oil on directly after a toner, use it alone to gua sha or jade roll or use it before applying your moisturizer. Many formulators recommend following specific steps for oils and moisturizers in your routine. The most common is to apply a face oil after a moisturizer. What’s your favourite way to apply a face oil?