May 14, 2020

When to Apply Your Facial Oil The Great Debate

At which point in your skincare routine should you apply facial oil? Good question right? You might actually be applying at the wrong point of your routine! I know when I first started using facial oils I was using them all wrong.

In 2010, I purchased a bottle of Kiehl�s Midnight Recovery Concentrate and I almost feel positive it was my first real experience with a facial oil. Kiehl’s and Josie Maran sort of gave birth to the world of facial oils and made them mainstream. Since that time I’ve gone through dozens and dozens of different facial oils. I even went through a period where I felt like facial oil was an extra step I didn’t really need. There is such a thing as too much skincare and sometimes it feels like facial oil is that extra step that’s too much. For me, facial oils are reserved for the really cold weather when my skin needs a good deal more moisture.

I think people get a little confused with the application process and when you should apply them. For a long time, when I first started using one I was applying it completely wrong. I was using it more as a serum. It would be applied after my serum and before my moisturizer.

That’s actually the wrong application method.

It’s debatable I guess but the proper way to apply facial oil is as the very last step of your routine. Yes, even after your moisturizer. I might be alone here but applying oil over my moisturizer sounds so weird. But think about it for a second…! Facial oil is very rich and it seals moisture in. By applying moisturizer on top of it means you’re not really getting the benefits of your moisturizer as the oil is preventing it from absorbing fully into your skin. You need to reverse the application here and apply your moisturizer, allow it to sink in, and follow up with your facial oil to seal everything in nice and tight.

How do you apply your facial oil?

Did you ever do it the wrong way like I did?

Do share!

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • kimkats

    Um, I often mix it with my moisturizer…. seems to work for me! And when I don’t I put it on first, and moisturizer over that; otherwise it feels like the oil it just sitting on top doing nothing….

    May be wrong, but it seems to work for moi!!!

  • Vikki

    Only in the night for my facial oil! I used to work in the beauty industry, for several brands, and they all advised to apply it that way. But because oil is a very specific and hard working product, I apply it after cleansing in the night, without moisturiser – the oil is enough on its own (I have dehydrated cheeks and its enough for that). I apply it in the night because of the skin working hard at repairing during sleep, so the oil works well with that. I hope that all makes sense! Oh and just for info, I’ve used several oils and my current one is Palmers Skin Therapy Oil, which I sometimes use on my body too, after a shower 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      I do the same. Sometimes I’ll just skip my moisturizer and use oil as my last step because it’s rich enough all its own! I haven’t tried the Palmers one but I have to say palmers has been really releasing a lot of good stuff lately ;-D

  • kjh

    I only use it at night, last. I think there’s an unconscious reason to put oil on before the moisturizer. We have it in our heads, thanks to Asian order, that US and others have adopted, to apply thinnest to thickest. So, moisturizer, usually cream, would come after the thinner facial oil. The only reason it was always last for me is because virtually all products i use are essence thick or lighter. What do you think?

    • Isabella Muse

      I agree. I think people always see oil as being a thinner product or even a serum of sorts therefore applying it before moisturizer but I personally feel it creates a barrier around my face and doesn’t allow my moisturizer in. So I tend to apply it last or even use it as my moisturizer.

      • kjh

        Exactly. Oil is the true sealant. You’re bringing up a lot of good points and food for thought this week. I only wish the stress wee on thought. My stress is on food.

        • Isabella Muse

          thanks ;-D <3! ha...! food! That's a big issue in isolation!

  • Charlotte Grubbs

    I only use facial oil at night, as the last step (unless I’m doing a sleeping pack that night, then *that’s* my last step). If the moisturizer in question has a lot of oil already in it (like Youth to the People’s Superberry Dream Mask; third listed ingredient is sunflower seed oil), then I’ll skip the oil. I use facial oil year round, but in the summer I’ll opt for a something lighter.

    A good rule of thumb I heard is that moisturizers should introduce moisture (in the form of water, glycerin, squalane, ceramides, etc.), while facial oils should seal moisture in. That completely changed how I thought about skincare, and what ingredients I look for when I shop for moisturizers.

  • Colleen

    It had not occurred to me to put my oil over my moisturizer. I tried it last night. It’s a bit of a learning curve for me as I put to much on. but my skin looked absolutely lovely this morning. I’m sold! Hope you stay safe and well Muse 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      oh wow that’s great 😀 glad it worked out for you! You as well my dear!

  • s

    i did not know that about facial oil. i usually do serum and then oil. is that a good combination? i don’t often use moisturizer AND oil because i feel like the oil is already moisturizing.

    • Isabella Muse

      you can but I typically wait in between steps. I’ll apply my serum and wait for a bit before following up with other products like face oil!

  • Linda Murphy

    I think Isabella is great! She enjoys life and doesn’t hurt anyone while doing so. Go for it girl…

  • Jennifer Bortolin

    I have been applying Argon oil (thanks to you Muse for putting me onto Physicians Formula Argon oil) straight after my shower at night. But maybe, by reading your comments above, I should do it last. I will give this process a go and see if it works. My skin hasn’t looked back since I started on the oils.

    • Isabella Muse

      yay! ;-D glad you like that one! Let me know how it works out in a different order 😀

  • CatG

    Interesting! I have been applying just an oil at night, after a light cleaning of my face (since I haven’t been wearing makeup or anything). I will have to try it sometime with moisturizer underneath! Thanks for this post, I learned from it!