Skincare has changed immensely over the past decade, with new products, formulations and ways to use them. This can sometimes make skincare feel more complicated and tedious for people to keep up with. As a brand, it is not only our duty to be transparent about what we do and how we do it, but it is also essential to be information providers. Skincare can feel confusing, considering how similar some names are and their use cases, take for example, facial oils and facial serums. These words are used interchangeably, but they are vastly different in composition and uses. Let's explore the difference between them here.
What are facial oils?
Facial oils are oil-based skincare products with specialized benefits like
nourishment, hydration, acne prevention and pigmentation. They are generally of a thicker consistency due to their ingredients which is mainly composed of oils extracted from plants, flowers and other sources. Facial oils help by protecting our skin barrier and keep loss of skin elasticity at bay.
What are facial serums?
On the other hand, facial serums can be water-based and lightweight used for
similar specialized benefits that boost the collagen of your skin to keep it firm and reduce the effect of maturity in your skin. They contain well-researched and developed ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, etc., as their primary ingredients.
What is the main difference between them?
Facial oils, by definition, are formulated with oil, whose irregularly sized molecules are much larger than that of water. This makes it insoluble in water and thus difficult to transport to the skin's inner layers and works only on the outermost layers. This gives them the ability to target surface-level issues like moisturization and acne healing.
Serums are formulated with smaller molecules that easily penetrate and reach deep within the skin. They are, therefore, more helpful in targeting skin issues like dullness, aging, hyperpigmentation, and skin damage. This means that it cannot be used as a moisturizer alone but can be used along with another product to increase efficiency.
Because of this significant difference in their structural composition, they cannot be used interchangeably or replaced by one another.
Are they necessary?
If you have skin that does not require too much upkeep and is mostly not a hassle during different seasons, it may not be necessary for you. You may, however, opt to use preventative products for anti-aging and skin firming.
If you don’t relate to the above and do have a few issues with your skin, it would
be recommended to use a product to help you deal with the condition at hand. You can opt for these products in addition to a basic skincare routine (ideally consisting of a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen)
Which is better?
Depending on what skin issue you want to address, you can choose between an oil and a serum accordingly. Make sure to look at the ingredients used to avoid possible allergens, artificial fragrances or harsh chemicals like surfactants.
How to use them?
As a general instruction for both of them, it is best advised to use them towards the end of a routine. An easy rule of thumb for skincare order is to apply from the lightest to the heaviest. This is followed to allow the lightweight products to seep into the skin and the heavier products to settle above and act as sealants with their emollient properties.
● For facial oils:
As they are thicker and more nourishing, you can use them as the last step of your routine, preferably at night. This is so that the ingredients have a good chance of working their magic without the intervention of harmful sun rays and other environmental factors. You can use a small amount of these daily for best results.
If you want to try a facial oil to help with acne prevention, healing, and scarring, you can check out our Vedaearth Anti-Acne Facial Oil. It is infused with ingredients like juniper berry and lemongrass that are anti-inflammatory and thus help heal acne.
● For facial serums:
The fundamental purpose of a serum is to help penetrate active ingredients deep within the skin; hence using them every day is not recommended. Based on the ingredients in the product, you can vary the usage anywhere from a few times a week to once every two weeks.
Facial oils and serums are both excellent additions to your routine as they're designed to help improve skin texture to achieve desired skincare goals. Never hesitate to seek help from a dermatologist and make an informed decision so you can choose appropriately and use the products diligently.
