Moisturizers and face oils are not interchangeable. You cannot use oil in place of moisturizer because oils are too heavy for the skin. They will make your face oily and greasy, which is something you definitely want to avoid as it will make your skin look worse than ever.
Your facial oil will help keep that hydration in and protect your skin from outside irritants. While face oils should not be used in place of moisturizers, they can help supplement them and improve the effectiveness of your skincare routine to boost skin hydration and give you healthy-looking skin.
Main Takeaways: Generally speaking, moisturizers hydrate the skin while face oils lock the moisture in. Face oils feel slick while moisturizers are generally creamy. Good to Know: There's no reason you can't use both a face oil and a moisturizer to help restore and lock moisture into the skin.
"Oils are part of the moisturizing process," says cosmetic chemist Vince Spinatto. "So while oils can condition the skin and hair, they only retain water content — not add it — which means they are moisturizing but not hydrating."
“Instead of being hydrating, oils can have the opposite effect and dry out your skin,” says celebrity aesthetician Dr Barbara Sturm whose clients include Hailey Bieber. It all comes down to the size of the fatty acid molecules that make up the oil.
When it comes to skin care products, it's always best to follow the directions of the product you're using. With that said, there is a general rule about whether to apply oil before or after moisturizer — and it might not be what you think. Generally, you'll want to apply oil as the last step in your routine.
When it comes to facial oils, they should be applied as the last step in your skin care routine at night, and right before SPF in the morning.
Oils are the ideal antidote to dry, flaky skin and rough, rosy cheeks — and they can be much more effective at moisturizing than your standard over-the-counter lotions and creams. For softer skin and hair, Dr. Hanlon recommends applying a pea-sized amount of coconut oil to your driest areas.
Oils of any kind are actually not very good at clogging pores (they are too big to fit into the pore, like a baseball into a keyhole), but if you have oily skin, using a pure oil just adds to the excess your skin already produces, thus exacerbating the conditions that can lead to more blemishes.
5. Use face oil twice daily, or as needed. Facial oils can take pride of place in your skincare routine in the morning or the evening (or both!), but they can also be used as and when they're needed.
Both Williams and Louise recommend using face oil both morning and night, the way you would any other moisturizer, while Rouleau cautions against daytime use. "Face oils are not ideal to use in the morning [because they may interfere] with the daytime protection you need from your sunscreen," she explains.
She adds, “This makes the oil highly comedogenic. If you leave coconut oil on your face all night long, there is a good chance you might wake up to blackheads or whiteheads due to sebum and impurities getting trapped in your pores. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, coconut oil may even contribute to breakouts.
How do you use face oils? You can always mix oils in with your moisturizer, but if you're going to give them their own spot of honor in your skin-care routine, derms say there are two ways you can do it, depending on the type of face oil you use.
Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which means it can clog pores. Consequently, it may actually make acne worse for some people (22). When applied to the skin, coconut oil may clog pores and make acne worse. It is not recommended for those with very oily skin.
One to three drops of your choice of oil is enough to cover your whole face and deliver the benefits your skin needs.
Yes, you can use coconut oil as a moisturizer depending on your skin type. It is comedogenic, meaning it can potentially clog pores, so if you have oily or combination skin it's best to avoid using pure coconut oil as a moisturizer.
You can leave the oil on overnight or wipe it off with a warm cloth after one to five minutes.
As a rule of thumb, we typically recommend applying products in order from lightest to heaviest. For oils and serums, that usually means applying serums (which are often water-based) first. After the serum absorbs into your skin, you can apply facial oil, and then moisturizer and sunscreen.
If you have oily skin or are prone to blemishes, the best way to avoid potential issues is by sticking to face oils labeled “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic,” which means they won't clog your pores.
“Typically, applying too much oil on your skin may create an oil film that prevents the skin from breathing, and may even clog pores and result in breakouts.