Looking great doesn’t seem to be so much of a mystery anymore, with so many products and treatments to try you’re sure to find something that works for you. But that’s just thing, you need to find a product that works for you and your skin. While many will opt for those synthetically produced products that are packed full of chemicles with names that me, you and the majority of people just can’t pronounce. But then there are people who are going back to the basics of beauty remedies, with naturally made, organic ingredients.
One of the most common questions when it comes to skin care products is what is the difference between face oil and serum? Are the two products the same or is the first just a variation of the second? Today I’ll discuss the differences between facial oil and facial serums in some detail, and you might find that you need to use both!
Differences Between Facial Oil and Facial Serum
One usually confuses face oil as a serum, but the two are quite different skin care products with different uses. If one is to differentiate face oil vs. serum, the most obvious answer would be that facial serums are water-based while facial oils are obviously oil-based.
Facial serums usually contain antioxidants and vitamins, while facial oils are a combination of several essential oils. If facial serums are chemically formulated, then facial oils are mostly naturally made.
At its molecular level, facial serums are made up of a small number of different molecules that can penetrate the skin deeply while facial oils are usually made up at least 200 different types of molecules that are attracted to the epidermis, or the surface of the skin.
Furthermore, facial serums are usually in a container with a dropper or pump, while facial oils can be in the form of liquid or cream. Finally, while facial oils are used to give the face a smooth and soft feel, facial serums are often chosen to counter skin conditions or problems thanks to their ability to penetrate all the layers of the skin.
Facial Serums, Facial Oils, and Moisturizers
Aside from the fact that face oil and serums are usually interchanged or mistaken for one another, facial serums and facial oils are often mistakenly thought to be replacements to moisturizers – and one could not be more wrong. Although facial serums and facial oils can provide additional moisture to the skin, they cannot be used as a substitute for moisturizers; instead, they should be made as a compliment to moisturizers.
Moisturizers are made for the surface of the skin because of their large molecules, while facial oils and facial serums are designed to go deeper into the skin because of their smaller molecules. And while the two are different from each other, moisturizers work to enhance the beneficial effects of facial oil and facial serum.
How to Use Facial Serums & Facial Oils
Whether it is facial oil or facial serum, the rule in applying the either of the two is to cleanse or tone the face first so that the skin is free from dirt or unwanted oil. It should also be remembered that everything should be applied in moderation because even a small amount of serum or oil is enough to penetrate deeply into the skin and to make its effects felt.
For facial serum, it can be applied before applying the moisturizer but not before cleansing and toning the skin. Therefore, facial serum can be applied before the moisturizer so that the nutrients found in the moisturizer can be preserved and locked in to give the skin a glowing complexion.
As for the facial oil, a different skin care routine should be followed depending on the skin type of the user. If the skin is dry or normal, then facial oil can be mixed together with the moisturizer or it can be applied on top of the moisturizer. At least three to six drops of facial oil can be dropped into the container of the moisturizer to create a mixture that can be applied to the face.
Facial oil can also be applied after the moisturizer has been applied – but never before the moisturizer – so that the nutrients found in the moisturizer can still penetrate the surface of the skin. It is a different thing when the skin is oily or acne prone because the routine cleaning regimen should be done first before applying the facial oil – the skin should be cleansed, toned, applied with serum (if applicable) and moisturized first.