Face Oils v/s Serums: Know the Difference

The modern world has made skincare the new normal, with people all around the world suddenly realizing how important and necessary it is. 

It is wonderful to see this positive shift in people’s attitudes towards skincare. People who earlier had a prejudice that skincare is only meant for women have also started to include it in their lives, all thanks to social media, but as it is said, any popular shift brings loads of confusion and misinformation.

Due to the fact that individuals are posting anything without providing a rational and realistic explanation, the skincare trend has given rise to a lot of these myths and uncertainties. 

Out of many of those doubts, one doubt that often arises in our mind is which one we should include in our routine, face oils or serums?

Well, the answer to this question is simple, but let me not give you an answer over here; let's dive in together and find the answer yourself.

What are Face Oils?

Face oil, which is one of the most popular skincare products, is a “fountainhead and reservoir” of hydration. They can be emollients—the moisture provider—and the occlusives—an ingredient that locks in the moisture.

This definition sheds ample light on the utility of face oil, but wait, there’s more to it. The face oils are also known for repairing the lipid barriers, which are known as the bricks and mortar of the skin, in the outermost layer.

What Face Oils should we use?

This is the question where all the confusion starts, but it's not that hard to understand. Let's understand this through an example.

So, you must have ridden or owned bikes and cars. Once you visit the service center or any mechanic, you must have seen the mechanics using different engine oils for the different cars and bikes.This is because the different bikes and cars have different types of engines, and they require distinctive lubrication.

Well, just like engines, skin too is different and needs different kinds of oils to maintain its health.

Come and let's understand the different skin types and the kind of oil it requires for an effective result.

Different face oils are also available for different skin conditions like acne, pigmentation, rosacea, and aging.

How to use Face Oils?

The technique of applying facial oil is simple.Simply put a few drops of face oil into your palm, rub it about for a minute with both hands, and then gently massage it onto your face. 

You can apply face oil in the morning or evening, after rinsing and toning your face.It is used as a primer as well.

Since we understood the know-how of face oil, now it's time to delve into the utility and effectiveness of serums to get our required answer.

What is Serum?

Serum is a light and thin skincare solution that addresses specific skin concerns.Among the many ingredients in this skincare product are hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and vitamin C.

Generally speaking, serums are used to address specific skin issues like wrinkles, fine lines, brown and black spots, and general dullness.

Is it an oil or a cream?

The response is neither.Serums are extremely thin solutions based on water or oil that work to address problems at their source by penetrating the skin's deepest layers.

What are Serums used for?

Aside from treating several signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and black spots, the serum plays a crucial role in improving the overall look and health of our skin as well.

• The serums are also a hydrating agent that helps in providing us with plump skin.

• It treats acne by unclogging the pores.

• It removes the dead skin cells and provides us with bright skin as well.

• The serums are known for soothing irritation and repairing skin barriers as well.

Types of Serums

So few stanzas back, we had taken example of engine and skin.Well the same logic applies here as well.Just like face oils, serums are also not “one size that fits all”.It is quite obvious from the outset itself that “serum addresses specific skin concerns.” These specific concerns require specific ingredients, for which the different types of serums are made. 

Primarily, there are 3 serums that are widely used by common people for the purpose of moisturizing, anti-aging and exfoliating skin.

1. Hydrating serum: As the name implies, hydrating serums are fountainheads that provide hydration to our skin.They are the ones that contain hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, which help to hydrate the skin and give you a plumper appearance. People with dry skin are advised to use such serum.

2. Anti-aging serum: Nobody wants to age.Therefore, a skincare product that is immensely popular in the masse is “anti-aging serums”.The anti-aging serums are often used  to prevent or lessen the obvious indications of aging, such as wrinkles, dark spots, and fine lines.It contains retinol and niacinamide that are trusted and widely used compounds for aging skin.

3. Exfoliating serums: Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells. AHAs and BHAs included in exfoliating serums aid in the removal of dead skin cells and promote clear, radiant skin. 

How to use serum?

Serums are very easy to use.A few drops of serum can be applied to your palm after cleansing and toning; knead it for a minute to warm it up, then gently apply it to your face and neck. The serum will be able to reach deeper layers of skin if you gently massage your face as well. 

After applying serum, you should apply moisturizer as well. In case you're following a morning routine, do not forget to put a thick layer of sunscreen on your face and neck.

What should we not do?

There are a number of things that we should be avoiding while we are applying serums. They are:

• Do not press too hard while applying serum to your face, as it may cause irritation.

• Never forget to perform a patch test first

• Just to check whether your skin goes hand in hand with the product or not.

• Don’t store serum in a warm place.Instead, store it in a cool and dark place to retain its efficacy.

• Just to get a faster result, do not start applying a thicker layer of serum.Remember, less is always more.

• Serums can make your skin sensitive to the sun. Therefore, you must apply a thicker layer of sunscreen before going out in the sun.

Now we learned about both face oils and serums, and you must have seen what sets these both apart. Just to have a clearer picture, let's see the fundamental difference between these two.

Can both Face oils and Serums be used simultaneously?

Yes, you can use both these products to capitalize on both the benefits; all you need to do is follow the correct order.

The correct order is:

Cleanser-toner-serum-moisturiser-face oils-sunscreen

Summation

The advent of social media and the new craze for skincare have sowed many doubts and confusion in the minds of commoners. One such confusion is the conflict of choice arising between face oils and serums.

Face oils that are made of fatty acids and vitamins are the known skincare products used to provide and lock moisture in the skin. As mentioned, it is both the fountainhead and reservoir of our skin. Apart from providing hydration, the face oils play a key role in repairing the lipid barriers in our outermost skin as well. There are different types of oils used for different skin types.

Conversely, the serums are thin and lightweight solutions used for treating specific skin concerns.  Active ingredients that are present in thin serums and skincare products are based on water or oil that are essential for reducing the appearance of aging. These include retinol, niacinamide, and other substances that are used to address particular skin issues. 

There are different types of serums, like hydrating, anti-aging, and exfoliating, available in the market that are meant for addressing different concerns.

 As both the face oils and serums have distinctive properties, therefore the conflict of choice should not arise.They could both be used simultaneously as well; all we need to do is follow the right order of layering.

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar:

Ayurvedic Face Oils

Ayurvedic Face Serums

Related Articles:

What importance does Face oil play in skincare routine?

How Kumkumadi Face Glowing Oil Would Help to Brighten Your Face

Guide to choose the best face serum for your skin

References:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/skin-serum-what-it-can-and-cant-do-2018061214029

https://www.byrdie.com/face-oil-vs-serum-6362642