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For a while, serums were known to be exactly what the skin needs, but in recent years they sure have received tough competition from facial oils. And if you don't know where to begin, finding the right oil can be a bit daunting. You may be asking; what are facial oils, how do they differ from serums and, should you be replacing your serum with a facial oil? Let’s find out.

Facial oils are oil-based solutions that are formulated to be applied on the skin. They are created using botanical and essential oils and are stacked with antioxidant-rich plant extracts. These oils are usually non-comedogenic, a term used to refer to beauty products that don’t clog skin, and will hydrate and soften skin, and strengthen its barrier.

Serums are water-based, lightweight products with a high concentration of active ingredients. They take care of several skin issues like hydration, texture, and clarity. Serums can be liquid or gel-based, and they quickly soak into the skin.

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Incorporating facial oils and serums into your skincare routine

Oils and serums can be used together in the same regimen, but how you layer your skincare products is important. You also don’t have to use both products at the same time, but that depends on your skin’s needs. You can use your serum for your morning routine and the facial oil for the evening routine. Oily skin tends to have combination skin traits in winter, and so using an oil may be beneficial. A person with dry skin might use face oils all year long, perhaps switching from a lighter to a thicker formula in the winter. 

Oils naturally benefit dry skin, but strangely, they can also benefit oily skin. How can skin that is already oily need additional oil? This may not seem right. According to celebrity aesthetician Renee Rouleau, oily skin craves moisture more than it does oil so that it can maintain a balance. "I believe the focus should not be on good or bad oils, but rather how they are used," Rouleau says for byrdie.com. You should prioritise water-based hydration because oily skin needs it to balance out its oiliness.

Sian Jones, co-founder of Balance Me, says for cosmopolitan.com, "Many people try and combat congested skin by using harsh, stripping products that remove all oils from the skin. This causes the skin to over-compensate for the reduction of oils by producing even more, which in turn worsens the congestion.

Rouleau suggests that you should seek oils that are in high antioxidants and vitamin A and C content, especially if you have oily skin. These have numerous skin-related advantages that will support your skin goals. Additionally, they replenish the skin's barrier, allowing the skin to function properly and produce less oil. 

What about cleansing oils?

How, therefore, do oil cleaners function? Surfactants are also present in oils, although they are not the primary component that performs the task. Oils are lipophilic, which merely means they are a unique kind of solvent that draws other oils to them. This includes the sebum that the skin produces and some of the oils used in cosmetics.

The cleansing oil draws in and dissolves sebum and makeup. Following that, the oils are combined by the surfactants and an additional component known as an emulsifier to enable their removal with water. Surfactants, which are present in conventional cleansers, help to remove makeup, oil, and other impurities from the skin. All skin types can use cleansing oils to remove makeup, and if need be, they can be followed by a conventional face wash.

Some micellar water washing products include oil to successfully remove all traces of makeup. Micelles eliminate pollutants, and the oil aids in dissolving makeup.

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