The Difference Between Serums + Face Oils

Photo credit: Alex Klen

With so many products on the market selling us beauty and eternal youth, it can be tricky to navigate which products are worth investing in (as in, actually doing something beneficial) and which are not (i.e; the hype train which rolls around every year).  Let’s take a look at one of the most confusing areas of skincare, Serums and Face Oils, what they each do, and whether they might be of genuine benefit to your skin.

Serums

A ‘true’ serum is water or aloe based and feels lightweight on the skin. Like a veil of silk. The role of a serum is to hydrate as well as provide beneficial properties to improve skin concerns, whether that be fine lines and wrinkles, oily skin and acne, dry skin or sun damage, via the active botanicals and extracts within the formulation.

Who should use a serum

Anyone, irrespective of your age or skin concern.

How to use a serum

Apply your serum directly after cleansing when your skin is clean.  Follow with a face oil and / or moisturiser.

Find the right serum for your skin concern HERE.

Face oils

Never has there been a time where we are so spoilt for choice, when it comes to choosing a face oil. Trying to decide can often times feel like walking through a rainforest nursery and only being allowed to take one seedling home for planting in the garden. Or if gardening isn’t your thing, being given the keys to the fashion office at Vogue HQ after Paris Fashion Week and only being allowed to choose just one pair of shoes to take home. Nigh on impossible to choose just one! But when it comes to face oils, what if I told you it is possible to narrow down the picking. And even more possible to get to the bull’s-eye when you know the skin concern that you’re wanting to target.

The job of a face oil is to deliver nourishment to the skin, to improve the look and feel of the skin, and address the concern. So, it makes perfect sense, that the better quality the oils, (i.e. the more nature-intact that they are) the better the results will be.

Ingredient tip

Please stay away from any face oil that contains mineral oil, or any of it’s derivatives. This petroleum by-product interferes with your skin’s natural function, clogging pores, exacerbating acne, and is highly likely to be contaminated with hormone disruptors and carcinogens that are linked to breast cancer and more. Instead, choose a product that contains organic plant oils.

Who should use a face oil

Anyone, irrespective of your age or skin concern.

How to use a face oil

Apply a face oil, after you have cleansed your skin and followed with a serum (if you are using one).

Alternatively, apply a face oil after you have cleansed your skin and followed with a spritz of face mist.

In the evening, a face oil might be all that your skin requires, and be the final step in your skin care sequence.

In the morning, however, you might want to follow with a moisturiser, if you’re going to be out and about exposed to the elements, as a moisturiser will provide that final layer of protection, sealing in all the beneficial properties from the products applied before.

Find the right face oil for your skin concern HERE.

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