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Help Your Skin Flourish by Using the Right Oil, Serum or Moisturizer

Michelle Green
By: Senior Editor & Skincare Expert  |  Michelle Green
Replenish your skin with natural oils.

Oil and skin are two words that you might not like hearing together. So many people make the connection between having oily skin and acne. In truth, oil is a great option for some skin types. Others might find that a serum or moisturizer is a better option. How do you know which option is right for your skin type?

Know the Difference

It’s important to note that there’s a big difference between oils, serums and facial moisturizers. They all have pros and cons, and picking the right one depends heavily on your skin type and what you need.

Serums

Most serums are water-based products that contain skin-nourishing ingredients, such as antioxidants and vitamins. The great thing about them is that they’re highly potent and designed to fix specific problems, including dark spots, wrinkles or fine lines.

In most cases, serums are designed to enhance the texture of your skin from within by penetrating deep into your skin. In general, serums are known for giving you radiant and healthier-looking skin.

Facial Oils

Oils are products that typically come from natural sources such as seeds, nuts and fruits. While oil has a bad rap about being bad for your face, facial oils help your skin in a number of ways. Most of them are restorative and nourishing. They also supply the skin with mega helpings of hydration.

Remember that the oil you put on your face should be specially chosen for skin care. The best facial oils are those that are small in molecular size. Two examples are jojoba oil and argan oil. They absorb easily and don’t clog your pores, which is the main problem with using other oils.

Moisturizers

Moisturizers are probably the most common products that people use on facial skin. Usually, moisturizers offer a combination of oils and water. They are generally only designed to hydrate the top layer of skin. While some might penetrate deeper, few of them offer as much penetrating hydration as a serum.

If you have normal skin, moisturizers might be enough to keep it from becoming dry. If you have extremely dry skin or experience seasonal dryness, moisturizers might not do enough to hydrate your skin. However, they do a great job of sealing in moisture. In order to do that, your skin has to be moisturized already.

Moisturizers do a great job at sealing in already moisturized skin.

Choosing the Right Product for Your Skin Type

Choosing between oils, moisturizers and serums really depends on your individual needs. For example, moisturizers are a great option if you have normal to dry skin. Serums are a better option if you want to target specific problems, such as wrinkles and dark spots. On the other hand, oils are typically best if you suffer from extreme dryness because of external factors.

In most cases, you want to use a combination of products. For example, using a serum to help prevent wrinkles is a great idea. However, you should use a moisturizer as a protective barrier to hold in the moisture. This is because serums do not:

  • Protect against sun damage
  • Form a protective barrier over the skin to hold in moisture
  • Deeply hydrate the skin

If you need even greater moisture protection, you can use facial oils. They provide an even stronger protective barrier than moisturizers. This option is best if you have extremely dry skin.

Protect Your Skin With Moisturizers, Oils and Serums

Keep in mind that there’s no one product that’s right for everyone. When you need lightweight moisturizing protection, a facial moisturizer is a great option. If you have extremely dry skin, facial oil works better. When you want to fix certain problems, stick with a serum. Just remember to use a moisturizer or oil over the serum for a protective barrier.

Learn more about keeping your skin healthy by reading our additional articles.

Michelle Green
Senior Editor & Skincare Expert
Michelle Green is a well-established aesthetician with over 20 years experience in skincare. She has researched over 5,000 products over the past decade, striving to help her readers fine-tune their skincare routine so they can get the results they want.

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