Difference between facial oil, serum and moisturizer?

Facial oils?

Facial oils especially natural ones are made from precious natural our pure organic botanical oils. These oils are carefully chosen to nourish and soften the skin. Botanical oils are rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. These oils also enhance the hydration by decreasing the loss of moisture from the skin. Facial oils can also have essential oils in their formula like peppermint oil, rose oil, tea tree oil depending on the need of the skin type.

Facial oils are more suitable for dry to combination skins as well as mature, rosacea or fragile complexions. Different botanical oils can offer different benefits to the skin. For instance avocado oil has calming properties, which would be great for fragile skin.  For calming and antiseptic qualities you can use facial oil with lavender oil. Pomegranate oil and avocado oil has lots of Vitamin C, which would brighten the skin and fight against hyperpigmentation. Oily to normal skins can also use facial oils but you have to choose your ingredients carefully.  For oily or acne prone skin you can combine your facial oil with your moisturizing serum to decrease the oily feeling and prevent clogging of the pores.

Key point: Face oil provides nutrition and hydration with oils.

What is a Serum?

Serums are the workhorse of the skin care routine. Serums consist of high concentration of active ingredients and most of the fluid is eliminated. These high concentrations of active ingredients include a potent dose of antioxidants, moisturizing and anti-aging ingredients as well as skin brighteners and firming agents, oils, floral waters or aloe vera juice. Serums have around 10 to 15 times more active ingredients than facial creams.

Think serums as a luxurious super-effective treatment for the skin. Since active skin ingredients are much more expensive than cream thickeners, emulsifiers or water, serums packed with effective active ingredients are the more costly than other products.

The beauty of serums is the few concentrated drops are super-efficient. When it is applied and stored properly, even a 1 oz serum should be enough for months with routine use. Try to choose serums packed in airless or pump bottles to ensure freshness and to dispense a tiny amount that is enough for your skin.  Active ingredients in the serums are absorbed very quickly and more effective leaving a soft supple skin without the oily finish and sticky feeling. Serums are great for oily skin or people who prefer a light feel with their skin care products. If you have mature or dry skin, you should use serum for effective active ingredients and a rich day or night cream for hydration. You can apply the serum first, wait for 10 minutes and apply your moisturizer. Facial serums have smaller molecules than moisturizers. This makes is possible to deliver the precious and beneficial nutrients to deeper layers of the skin where moisturizers cannot penetrate.

Key point: Serum hydrates, nourishes, brightens, tightens, moisturizes and slow the formation of lines and wrinkles. Due to high concentration of active ingredients, it is more considered as a treatment than a moisturizer.

To read more about serums click here

What is a Moisturizer?

Moisturizers are lotions or creams designed to form a barrier to help the skin to retain its hydration. They also provide nutrients and moisture. They are a combination of fluids (water, aloe vera juice, floral waters), oils and active ingredients. These ingredients are bound together with an emulsifier.   Serums provide nutrients to deeper levels of the skin where as moisturizers deposit moisture and hydration.

A moisturizer will also help to seal the nutrients from serum and cream and prevent the moisture from evaporating.  If you are using a facial oil, moisturizer will also seal the beneficial nutrients on the skin.

Why do we need to use serum or facial oil with moisturizers?

Serums and moisturizers are designed to work in conjunction with each other but not alone. By using only the serum, your skin will receive lots of precious ingredients but it will not be “sealed in”. You need a moisturizer. Using only a moisturizer will protect skin moisture and provide active ingredients but without the serum you will not have a fast and efficient effect on your skin. Same with the facial oil, always combine it with a moisturizer suitable to your skin type.

Invest in a good quality serum to improve the firmness and texture of your skin.  Don’t rely on facial serum alone.  Always finish by layering with a moisturizer to protect skin’s moisture and elasticity.

:)

Dr.Ebru