More recently – thanks to science-backed research – it is now widely accepted that a face oil should go on AFTER moisturizer. That's right: that oily essence that doesn't play well with water can actually penetrate moisturizers. The reasoning is in its makeup.
You might be surprised to learn that unlike a serum, your face oil should go after your moisturizer. Meaning, it should be the very last step in your skincare routine. Check this out. Face oil acts as a magic sealer if you will, that locks in all of the amazing benefits from your skincare routine.
If you're wondering how to layer your skin care, start with the thinnest formulas first to give skincare products a chance to absorb into the skin. After cleansing your face, follow up with toner, water-based serums (think: hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serums) and creams (an emulsion of water and oil).
How to Layer Moisturizer and Oil. As a rule of thumb, all skincare should be applied thinnest to thickest, so, moisturizer first, facial oil second. The one exception to the rule is our Antioxidant Oil-Serum; because it has both oil and serum properties, it can be applied before, after, or in place of your moisturizer.
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.
“Around 30 secs to 1 min is a sufficient gap between layers in the skincare step. The exception is post serum / spot treatment and retinol. You should allow 3 – 5 mins before applying the next layer to allow surface skin penetration. Apply sunscreen only after there are no traces of moisturiser on the face.
“In general, face oil should be applied as the last step in a skincare routine (after serum and/or moisturiser if they are being used), but before sunscreen and make-up in the morning, and as the last step at night.” However, when using an oil during the day, you do need to be careful about how it interferes with your ...
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, you can apply your moisturizer, then top it off by patting a few drops of facial oil onto your skin.
But a handy rule (and this applies to all skincare layering), we generally recommend applying the most concentrated products first. This allows for maximum absorption, with no barrier from other product formulations. So, apply rosehip seed oil after cleansing, exfoliating and toning, but before moisturising.
So, after cleansing, spritz some toner on your face, followed by a serum (water based) and then a moisturiser Cream (emulsion of water and oil). If you need extra moisture, then layer with a facial oil (pure oil).
Here's a handy little trick for applying the oil: we always recommend applying the oil to skin that is still damp or wet. In other words, right after you get out of the shower after blotting off any excess water with a towel, or even while you are still in the shower.
“Skin oils [that your face naturally produces] are critical to maintaining the barrier and minimizing water loss, which is essential for healthy, hydrated skin—and for preventing outside chemicals and irritants from entering the skin.”
Apply Face Oil Before Foundation
Applying facial oil before your foundation can help boost your skin's hydration and leave you with bright and healthy-looking skin. If you have oily skin, this could make you look greasy rather than glowy, but for dry skin types, it works wonders.
Sunscreen should always be applied after your facial oil. The purpose of sunscreen is to protect your skin against damaging UV light. It can only shield effectively when it's in the very top layers of your skin.
In general, it is best to apply serum before moisturizer. This gives the active ingredients in the serum the best chance of working. Otherwise, the best order and time of day for a skin care routine depends on the products' ingredients and the person's goals.
Yes. You can use hair serum after towel-drying your hair and can then add a little oil as a finisher. However, it's essential to keep oil away from the roots. On the days you don't wash your hair, you can either use a few drops of oil or serum to rehydrate your strands.
Then, if an oil is needed — [like] if you're in a dry climate — [you should] rub it into your hands first and then pat it onto the face over the lotion. This acts as a top coat without getting directly into the pores. If you have dry skin, you can massage a few drops over your moisturizer into the skin."
Almost all skin types benefit from using both moisturizer and facial oils together. When you pair a water-based moisturizer with a nourishing, non-comedogenic facial oil (such as our sugarcane-derived squalane), you're ensuring that your skin stays hydrated and nourished all day long.
Moisturizers are great for sealing serums on your skin, which can make them more efficient at keeping skin hydrated. On the flip side, oils can penetrate moisturizer, but not the other way around. Using a face oil last allows the more impenetrable "oil" layer to trap hydration from your moisturizer within your skin.
Always give your moisturizer time (as long as 15 minutes) to absorb into your skin before applying foundation. Otherwise, you can end up with a streaky mess.
Applying a facial oil like Jojoba should be done before you apply a moisturiser, but after cleansing, toning and applying a serum. You'll want to apply your skincare products lightest to heaviest, and because Jojoba has a heavier, oil-like consistency, it should be left toward the end of your routine.