Ever applied a face oil only to find that it just sits on your skin, leaving it looking shiny and feeling greasy?
If so, you might be tempted to give up on face oils altogether. But before you do, there are a few simple things worth trying.
As someone who’s used face oils for over 10 years, I’ve found that how you apply them makes a big difference in how they feel on your skin.
So, whether you’re new to facial oils or you’ve been using them for a while, here are five ways to get more out of them.
1. Apply Your Face Oil to Damp Skin…Like, Really Damp
If there’s one thing I’d recommend trying before giving up on face oils, it’s this: make sure your skin is damp before applying your oil.
And when I say damp, I don’t mean slightly damp. I mean your skin should still feel noticeably moist, almost wet, but not dripping wet.
Now, why does this matter?
Well, face oils are great for sealing moisture.
But the oils themselves don’t have water. So, we have to make sure that the skin has moisture before we apply the oil.
For me, applying oil to damp skin has made all the difference in how moisturized and soft my face feels.
Here’s how I do it.
- Wash my face
- Dry it
- Use a spray bottle to mist my face with water (you can also just towel dry your face very lightly, leaving some water on your face).
- While my face is still damp, I apply oil.
That’s it!
A quick note that during colder months, or when I’m in a particularly dry climate, I will add glycerin to my spray bottle.
Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it helps attract and hold water. I find that adding a little to my facial mist can be especially nice when the air is dry.
I’ve shared how I make the blend in my homemade glycerin and water spray recipe, along with more details about how I use it.
2. Find the Right Number of Drops for Your Skin
You’ve probably seen recommendations to use just two or three drops of face oil.
And while that might be enough for some people, it’s not a universal rule.
Personally, I tend to use about five to seven drops, depending on the oil.
For me, that’s usually enough to cover my face comfortably without feeling like I’ve poured half the bottle onto my skin!
But the amount you need will depend on several things, including the consistency of the oil and how much oil you personally prefer to use.
If you’re brand new to face oils, start with 2 to 3 drops and add more as needed. The goal is to find that sweet spot where your skin feels soft and comfortable rather than excessively oily.
3. Choose an Oil That Feels Good on Your Skin
One of the things I love about face oils is how different they can be.
Even though they’re all oils, they don’t necessarily have the same consistency, absorption rate, scent or feel when you apply them.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with quite a few, including rosehip, sweet almond, sea buckthorn, jojoba, apricot kernel, meadowfoam seed and evening primrose oil.
Rosehip, sweet almond and sea buckthorn are three that I’ve used most often.
But I’ve also enjoyed discovering oils like meadowfoam seed, which looks thick like castor oil, but actually goes on silky smooth (no stickiness!). It is also odorless.
And rosehip oil has a light consistency and absorbs well. On the flip side, it has a distinct earthy, slightly musky scent that may or may not be to your liking.
The point is, if you’ve tried one face oil and didn’t enjoy it, don’t assume they’re all the same.
You might simply prefer a different texture, scent or blend.
Learn more about oils in this guide on carrier oils by skin type.
4. Decide Whether You Want to Use Face Oil Alone or With a Moisturizer
One thing I don’t have in my skincare routine is a moisturizer. As in a store-bought product labeled “moisturizer.”
This is a personal decision that resulted from me realizing that water is the source of moisture. And as I mentioned earlier, I always make sure my skin is damp before I apply oil…which then locks in the moisture.
For me, that’s been enough to keep my skin feeling moisturized and comfortable. Plus, I like simplicity, so the less products I have to wrangle the better!
That said, you don’t have to throw away your moisturizer in order to use face oils.
If you have a moisturizer you really love, keep using it and then apply the oil afterwards.
The important thing with all this is finding an approach that works for your skin and your lifestyle.
5. Pay Attention to How Your Skin Feels
This might sound obvious, but sometimes we get so caught up in following skincare advice that we forget to pay attention to our own skin.
And your skin doesn’t necessarily feel the same every day.
For example, I mentioned earlier that in the winter, I need extra help keeping my skin hydrated. That’s when glycerin-and-water mix comes in handy.
In warmer, more humid weather, plain water is all I need.
You might also notice that a particular oil feels wonderful in the winter but a little too rich during summer. That’s the case for my body: it loves coconut oil in the winter but prefers almond oil – which is lighter – in the summer.
There’s no need to make your routine complicated. Just notice how your skin feels and make small adjustments.
Before You Give Up On Face Oils…
Face oils can be a wonderful addition to your skincare routine, as long as you understand the basics of what they can – and cannot – do.
And the most important thing to remember is that oils don’t provide moisture; they act as an occlusive, creating a barrier that reduces moisture loss.
That alone will save you tons of stress with face oils and gives you the confidence to layer them with other products.
