Face Oils 101: Why They Should Be a Part of Your Skin Care Routine

One of the most refreshing ways to give your skin a little tender loving care is by applying a hydrating oil. If you’ve always been curious about incorporating face oils into your personal care routine, here’s all that you need to know about what they are and how they work for that glow up. 

What Is Face Oil?

Face oil is a blend of botanical or essential oils used to moisturize skin. In addition to hydrating the face, it also features many extra benefits. It can, for example, help reduce wrinkles and the appearance of pores. Face oil can also act as a barrier against pollutants and work as a makeup primer that offers a healthy glow. 

So, what’s inside of face oil? Ingredients such as evening primrose and marula oil moisturize the skin while argan oil soothes it. Some face oils also balance moisture levels in the skin — jojoba oil, in particular, does this without feeling greasy or clogging up pores. With deeply cleansing and clarifying properties, tea tree oil is another standout ingredient that helps soothe blemishes and other skin irritations. 

Do You Use Face Oil Before or After Moisturizer?

In most skin care routines, you typically start with your thinnest moisturizers and serums, then progress to your thickest ones. As oils are thicker than most serums and creams, apply face oil as the last step in your skincare regimen. This can mean using your oil after you moisturize or adding a few drops of it into your moisturizer. To avoid pilling, wait for other skin care products to absorb into your skin before using face oil. 

How Are Face Oils Used?

Face oil application can look different for everybody. You can, of course, use face oil all over your face. Some people use face oil as a skin spot treatment for extra dry areas. In either case, gently pat one to three drops onto your skin in circular motions. 

Can I Use Face Oil Every Day? 

You can use face oil as part of your nighttime or morning skin care routine — or both. How often you should use face oil depends on your skin’s specific needs and reactions. In cooler, drier months, your skin may appreciate extra moisturizing benefits from face oils. As such, you may find yourself using face oil during both the day and night. In warmer months when sweat and skin buildup are more common, you may hold off from using face oil every day. 

Which Is the Best Face Oil for Me? 

With many face oils you can choose from, here’s a brief rundown on how to find the right face oil for your skin type. 

• Balancing Face Oil for Oily or Combination Skin: Balancing Face Oil blends organic jojoba, pomegranate and lavender oils to deliver lightweight moisture. Jojoba oil specifically balances the skin while pomegranate oil protects it from environmental stressors and lavender oil calms it. Wondering how to use jojoba oil for the face? You can use it as a solo face oil directly on your skin — here's how. 

• Restorative Face Oil for Dry or Mature Skin: Restorative Face Oil offers a surge of hydration, delivering radiance with a blend of organic evening primrose, marula and jojoba oil. In addition to balancing jojoba oil, evening primrose and marula oils feature fatty acid profiles that help you get moisturized and radiant skin. 

• Tea Tree Oil for Blemishes and Other Skin Irritations: Because tea tree oil is deeply cleansing, it can help soothe sensitive skin problems. But can you put tea tree oil on your face? You should always dilute pure tea tree oil with water before applying it to your skin. Our Kinder to Skin Tea Tree Oil, however, can be used directly on the skin.

Shop Desert Essence face oils to help your skin achieve a healthy and hydrated glow.