The procedure of taking care of your skin becomes quite complicated as you begin using other products. The question most frequently raised is how to use the face oil and the serum correctly. They offer their benefits, but when used in the wrong order, they are not as effective.
Understanding the Difference Between Face Oil and Serum
One type of skincare product is the serum. These products have a light weight and are composed of concentrated active ingredients such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. They help resolve various skincare problems such as pigmentation, lack of hydration or wrinkles. Another type of skin care product is face oil. Unlike serums, face oils have a thicker consistency that provides moisture to the skin and helps create a protective layer.
Why Product Consistency Matters in Layering
It is a basic principle of skincare to use products from thinnest to thickest consistency. This facilitates absorption of thinner formulas into skin, followed by the locking of nutrients in the skin with thicker products.
Face Oil vs Serum: The Correct Order
In usual procedures, serum is typically applied prior to the application of face oil. The formula of serum is created in a way to penetrate deep into the skin hence distributing various active ingredients exactly to where they have the maximum effect. If face oil is applied first, it will prevent serum from being absorbed properly due to the layer of oil.
When Might the Order Change?
Although serum-first application is the preferred method, there are exceptions to this. In case you are using a thick oil-based serum, you can treat it like a facial oil instead. Moreover, if you are in an extremely dry climate, few people might opt for mixing some drops of oil with their moisturizer than applying separately. Always consider various factors such as your skin type and the formulation of the product in use.
Building a Complete Routine Around Face Oil and Serum
It is as easy as the following:
- Cleanser
- Toner (optional)
- Serum
- Moisturizer
- Oil (optional, mostly for dry and aging skin)
- SPF (morning only)
Not everyone needs both products every day. People with oily skin might find serum alone beneficial, while dry skin may benefit more from using both.
Conclusion
It is crucial to correctly gauge the order between face oil and serum, since this is likely to affect how efficiently your skin care will work. Apply serum first since it contains active substances that need time to penetrate into the skin. After the application of serum, use face oil to prevent moisture from evaporating from your skin.
FAQs
1. Can face oil and serum be used together daily?
Yes, many people apply the serum first followed by the face oil.
2. Is face oil the same as moisturizer?
Not necessarily; while face oil can be used in combination with moisturizer, it does not always replace it especially in case of dry skin.
3. Is serum mandatory before using oil if one has oily skin?
Oily skin can do away with both face oil and face serum while using light-weight serum and moisturizer only.
4. Should mixing oil in serum be used as an alternative?
While some people mix their serum with a few drops of oil or apply them together, it is known as less effective than layering them separately.
5. Should sunscreen be applied before or after face oil?
Sunscreen is the final step of the morning routine and has to be applied after face oil
