Simply dab a few drops of facial oil onto your skin and smooth over your face and neck. Give it two to three minutes to absorb before following up with foundation. If you apply foundation on skin that's ultra-oily, it may slip and slide around.
After exiting your makeshift steam room, give your skin 10-15 minutes to fully absorb the water and facial oil.
Yes, you can use coconut oil on your face every day and night. All you need to wash your face, dry it, and apply a small amount of coconut oil on your face at night and every morning.
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.
To do that, apply a warm, damp washcloth to your face for about 20 seconds. Then, wash your hands if necessary and massage the oil into your skin to help dissolve the grit and grime. After that, gently wipe the oil off with a warm, wet washcloth (either a new one or the clean back of the one you used before).
Because oil is the heaviest — or most dense — product in your routine, it's able to penetrate your moisturizer, allowing it to reach your skin, but the reverse isn't true. If you want to really amp up the moisture, apply your oil after applying moisturizer onto damp skin.
Myth #2: Facial oils clog pores.
Let's cut to the chase right away – facial oils will not clog your pores. Oil (or sebum) occurs naturally in your skin and your sebaceous glands are constantly working to pump it out. Acne is a result of hair follicles that become clogged with oil and dead skin cells.
Products that clog pores are known as comedogenic; and, you guessed it, facial oils fit the description. "Many [topical] oils have the potential to clog pores and cause breakouts," says Dr. Love. "So, using oils on acne-prone skin is akin to adding gas to a fire."
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.
"The skin needs oil to maintain a healthy balance, otherwise, it gets too dry which can cause breakouts, fine lines, and wrinkles. Using a facial oil helps keep moisture in the skin while protecting it from the environmental damage," she explains.
Face oils are considered a type of emollient, which means they help strengthen the outer layer of your skin — the stratum corneum — by softening and sealing it, preventing water loss," González said.
Sebum is the waxy, oily substance that protects and hydrates the skin. Sebum is vital for keeping the skin healthy. However, too much sebum can lead to oily skin, clogged pores, and acne.
Oil cleansing can include products that lather, but it often simply involves pure oils, rinsed away with a damp washcloth. Some people, particularly those who follow a K-beauty skin care routine, might follow the oil cleanse step with a gentle, water-based face wash to remove any oil residue.
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.
In general, a purge from oil cleansing would cause pimples, whiteheads, and pustules to come to the surface; and not cause any redness, itchy skin, raised bumps, or texture.
And face oils aren't just desirable for dry skin types either. As counterintuitive as it sounds, using oil on oily skin can actually be beneficial. “For oily skin, if the skin is stripped of natural oils, it will go into overproduction mode and cause more sebum buildup,” Engelman explains.
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.
Vaseline is a moisturizing product that is safe for most people to put on their face. People can apply Vaseline to help with short-term skin concerns, such as temporary skin dryness or irritation. Vaseline is also suitable as a long-term moisturizer.
It's possible to use olive oil as a moisturizer without any added ingredients by applying it directly onto your skin. From there, you can blot off any excess oil with a towel or cloth. It may be especially helpful to use olive oil as a moisturizer after you've been exposed to the sun or suffered a sunburn.
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 think about it, it totally makes sense. "You use oil to take makeup off," says Carmindy. "So, you definitely shouldn't be using it to set your makeup." Instead, opt for a light moisturizer that still has hydrating properties and let it dry into skin before applying your foundation.