Do you cringe or get goosebumps on hearing oil for your skin, especially on your face? Sometimes, you may think your facial skincare routine already has enough products and oil will most likely ruin everything. And this is a common dread for people with oily skin.
You need face oil in your skincare routine. Yes, you do. Face oils are just as important as any other product in your routine. Those little bottles you see contain so many nutrients you may have been depriving your skin of.
I’ll like you to find out why you need facial oil, for your particular skin type and various cosmetic needs. There’s only one way for you to do that- read on.
Is Face Oil Necessary?
Yes, face oil is very necessary (emphasis on very). Face oils are natural oils that contain essential fatty acids and essential oils that are loaded with vitamins. Every ingredient in your facial oils synergizes to improve the overall health and appearance of your skin.
Moreover, some of the essential oils in your facial oil can mimic sebum, your skin’s natural oil. This mimicry helps to regulate your natural oil production. And this natural oil balance is necessary to tame certain skin conditions like acne and dryness.
Most importantly, facial oil acts as a skin protector. Facial skin is very thin and delicate, and as such, you need all the natural protection you can get.
Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician and founder of Renée Rouleau Skincare says, “I like to refer to face oils as your skin’s bodyguard for your skin or a topcoat that seals all the products that are underneath, deep into your skin.”
Do You Need Face Oil for Oily Skin?
As awry and counterintuitive as it sounds, you should use face oil on your oily skin. Yes, you read right, you should use face oil in your oily skin routine.
If you’re using the correct formula, you should not have to worry about anything. For instance, facial oils that contain jojoba oil and/or argan oil are safe for oily skin. They are non-comedogenic oils, which means, they will not clog your pores.
Also, jojoba oil has a molecular structure that is very close to sebum. Therefore, it can help regulate oil production. These oils are moisturizing and contain essential fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acid that aid skin moisture and oil level balance.
These lightweight oils will not weigh down your skin. Additionally, they contain antioxidants like vitamin E that protect your skin from sun damage and other environmental irritants.
These benefits make facial oils helpful in controlling and treating acne breakouts. The linoleic acid in these oils replenishes the depleted linoleic acid which is characteristic of acne skin.
Do You Need Face Oil for Dry Skin?
Face oils are very hydrating. The oil mimicry gives your skin the impression that it has produced enough oil. So, it does not overcompensate with excess oil or dryness. It retains moisture and improves your skin’s glow.
Oils like argan oil, marula oil, moringa oil, and even jojoba oil are hydrating oils that help to retain and replenish skin moisture levels.
Dry skin can be natural or caused by harsh weather conditions. Whichever is the reason why you have dry skin; it is not beyond the remedy and care of face oils. The oil absorbs into your skin and repairs parched skin.
Moreover, sometimes, dryness comes with fine lines, facial wrinkles, limp skin, and a dull complexion. Marula oil over a hydrating serum will lock in the moisture boost and help to smoothen out the fine lines and wrinkles, giving you plump, youthful skin again.
Do You Need Face Oil for Combination Skin?
Managing combination skin can be quite daunting a task. And this is because of the presence of more than one skin type on your face; oily T-zone (nose, forehead, and chin) and dry cheeks. Also, it could be a combination of oily/dry and normal skin.
Regardless, you need facial oil in your routine. Be aware however that some oils may be too heavy or light for your skin. So, what you need is a face oil on the midrange of the consistency spectrum.
You need oils that take care of moisture, acne, signs of aging, and skin clarification. Examples of such oils include the very versatile jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, rose geranium oil, and aloe oil.
These oils are lightweight, skin-soothing oils that have antibacterial and anti-microbial properties. They hydrate and nourish your skin, maintaining moisture and oil levels balance across your face. Moreover, they do not make your face greasy.
Do You Need Face Oil for Sensitive Skin?
If you have sensitive skin, you must be very wary of what comes on your skin. Skin experts say that facial oils are very soothing for people with sensitive skin types.
The oil calms the skin and reduces the occurrence of skin flares, which is a characteristic of sensitive skin.
A face oil in your sensitive skin routine will provide ultra-hydration and calm your skin. If your facial oil contains primrose and argan oil, good for you.
These oils are lightweight and very comfortable for topical application. Furthermore, moringa, avocado, and lavender essential oils also build a protective layer over your skin and protect against environmental irritants.
However, essential oils can be too sensitive for your skin. Therefore, before use, you should dilute it with carrier oil.
Do You Need Face Oil for Normal Skin?
Yes, you do. Your skin does not produce excess oil or get too dry, yet you need face oil to protect your skin. It will help to prevent the treatment of skin conditions.
You can use any oil that will hurt your skin. The topical application of face oil will help to maintain steady oil and moisture levels.
The vitamins, essential fatty acids, and oils lay over your skin and form a protective layer against harsh temperatures and weather conditions. Most importantly, you’ll need sparing quantities at a time and according to the needs of your skin.
Do You Need Face Oil With Moisturizer?
Yes, you do. Under certain conditions and with different skin types, a moisturizer or face oil alone may be enough to moisturize your skin. However, you do need to use your face oil with a moisturizer.
This is because you may find a face oil moisturizing enough yet, it is not a moisturizer.
Jessica Berto, an esthetician, says that face oils nourish, lubricate, protect your skin, and help keep water in, but they do not contain water to make them moisturizers. Instead, they support moisturizers.
You should use your facial oil with a moisturizer to seal the moisturizing ingredients in your lotion or cream. According to the order of application of skincare products, face oil is the last product to be applied, just before SPF and makeup.
Do You Need Face Oil With Serum?
Treating certain skin conditions requires that you layer two products. And one such pair is serums and face oils. To effectively address certain skin concerns like signs of aging, acne, and skin dryness.
Actives like retinol can make your skin photosensitive and the best way to use it to treat your skin is via oils. Although it is found in serums too.
Before you create a special skincare routine of face oil and serum, know what you’re looking to treat. Afterward, get a serum formula that is best suited for the skin concern and a lightweight oil.
If it’s for your everyday skincare routine, you may still need both. Some skincare experts say you may alternate your facial oil with serum. However, you must use a lightweight oil with penetrable molecules.
But if you’re using both products, apply the serum before the face oil. Serums are applied after cleansing your face. Moreover, its molecules cannot penetrate other products.
Do You Need Face Oil With Gua Sha?
Your gua sha tool will glide smoothly and work effectively if you apply face oil before the massage. Also, the oil helps to stimulate and activate your acupressure points as you roll the gua sha over your face.
Face massages are essential to help relax your facial muscles and stimulate blood circulation, which is important for healthy, glowing skin.
Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and squalene oil are great oils perfect for an indoor gua sha. They do not leave residue on your skin or clog your pores. More so, if you do not lubricate your face with oil before using a gua sha stone, you expose your skin to wear and tear.
How to Use Face Oil
1. For gua sha
To use face oil for gua sha, you must pick a product that contains oils best suited for your skin type and concerns. And you can mix oils at home to make a facial oil. All you need to do is gather oils that won’t harm your skin and mix them in a bottle.
- Start with cleansing your face with a mild facial cleanser
- Then, apply drops of the oil to your face and gently tap it all over your face so it spreads
- Thereafter, take your gua sha tool and gently use it on your face in sweeping motions
- Go from your chin up to your jaw and work your way up to your ear lobes and the side of your face
- While on the side of your face, sweep across your cheekbone and towards your eyebrow
- Move on to your forehead and make sure your sweep along your hairline too
- Afterward, repeat the above steps on the other side of your face
- Go over the steps at least twice
- You can perform a gua sha once a day at home. You’ll find it very relaxing and soothing in your evening routine
2. In your makeup routine
Face oils make your makeup routine easy and give you a perfect finish. There are different ways to use face oils in your makeup routine.
One such way is to use it as a foundation primer. The oil makes your face sleeky and allows you to apply foundation effortlessly. You can also mix your foundation with face oil before application.
While you’re creating a seamless finish, you can keep your skin hydrated. Using facial oil in your makeup routine keeps your makeup from looking cakey or falling apart.
FAQs
Will oil clog your pores?
Some oils clog your pores and others do not. Therefore, you should know the comedogenicity of an oil before you apply it to your face. In addition, applying too much oil can clog your pores and block your skin from breathing.
Can you replace face oil with moisturizer?
Face oil is not a moisturizer, and a moisturizer is not a face oil. You need the barrier-strengthening property of face oil and you need the oil to seal in the hydrating benefit of a moisturizer.
When should you use face oils?
Use face oils in your morning and evening routine. Face oil comes at the last step of your skincare routine, before sunscreen and makeup in the morning and the last thing in the evening.
Conclusion
Do you need facial oil? You’ll agree with me that you do. Neglecting facial oil will be depriving your facial skin of a pack load of nutrients and moisture.
Paired with serums and/or moisturizers, face oils put your skin on its way to glory days. The best way to tap into these benefits is to make the right pick of oils.
Find out your skin type, and what you’re looking to address, and buy the appropriate oil. I bet you’ll be glad you didn’t ditch the oils.
Thanks for reading.
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