Serum vs. Oil: What's the Difference and Which One Should You Use?

Most people are familiar with cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreen. But in recent years, as the skincare market has exploded, more product categories have come to the forefront—namely, facial serum and face oils.

If you'd like to incorporate additional steps into your skincare routine or want to address a specific skin concern—like dehydrated skin, dull skin, or uneven skin tone—it's worth exploring these products.

We'll go over face serum vs. oil, including what each is for, how they're used (and in what order), and how they can support healthy skin for all skin types.

What are Face Serums?

Face serums are lightweight liquids that usually come in a small dropper bottle or an airtight pump container. Containing a higher concentration of active ingredients than moisturizers, they can address various skin concerns.

Serums can be water-based or oil-based. You typically only need a small amount, such as a few drops or one pump, and can spread serum around your entire face, neck, and décolletage area.

If you ask us, the best facial serums are non-comedogenic, like those from CLEARSTEM.

Key Benefits of Non-Comedogenic Serums

Why non-comedogenic? A non-comedogenic skincare product won't clog your pores. Many products contain pore-clogging ingredients, which is why it's crucial to stay vigilant and choose your skincare products carefully. This can help reduce breakouts while balancing hydration without greasiness.

• Preventing clogged pores: The main benefit of non-comedogenic serum is that you don't have to worry about it clogging or blocking your pores. So it won't contribute to blackheads or a congested complexion.
• Reducing breakouts: By not clogging your pores, this type of serum is unlikely to lead to breakouts and may result in fewer pimples overall.
• Balancing hydration without greasiness: The right non-comedogenic serum can also help hydrate your skin without making it feel greasy or causing it to produce more oil.
• Suitable for all skin types: Since they don't contribute to breakouts and are less likely to irritate, non-comedogenic serums are generally suitable for all skin types. This includes acne-prone skin and sensitive skin.

What is Face Oil?

Face oil is a skincare product containing a blend of skin-friendly oils or a single oil. This may include jojoba oil, olive oil, squalane, rosehip oil, or argan oil.

As with our lightweight, fast-absorbing watermelon seed oil GOLDENHOUR, the best facial oils deliver not only moisture but also rich nourishment to replenish and strengthen a healthy skin barrier. 

How Face Oils Help Restore Skin's Natural Barrier

So, how do you use facial oil to achieve glowing skin? Face oils do wonders for the skin barrier by locking in moisture and supporting elasticity. And they can be great for multiple skin types.

• Locking in moisture: The essential fatty acids and natural lipids in plant oils hydrate the skin and prevent water loss to keep it moisturized and dewy.
• Supporting skin elasticity: The plumping, hydrating, skin barrier-supporting effects of natural oils can also address the loss of elasticity and other signs of photoaging (sun damage), such as fine lines and uneven skin texture.
• Perfect for dry and combination skin types: Skincare oils can be ideal for dry skin and combination skin that may lack moisture but also overproduce oil. What's more, by balancing sebum production, some botanical oils can help oily skin produce less oil.

One thing to note is that, like synthetic fragrances, certain essential oils might irritate reactive skin. But many plant-derived oils can actually help calm inflammation.

Face Oil vs. Serum: Which One Should You Choose?

When considering serum versus oil for your skincare routine, you'll want to think about your skin type, any specific skin concerns you have, and what your goals are.

Do you want to treat hyperpigmentation (dark spots), fine lines, and wrinkles? The potent active ingredients in a facial serum can help. If you're prone to acne or want to avoid congested pores, a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula is your best bet.

Are you looking to address dull, dehydrated skin, make your skin more elastic, or replenish a compromised skin barrier? A face oil might be the way to go.

When to Use a Face Serum

Face serum is generally meant to be used after cleansing and toning the skin and before moisturizing.

This skincare product can be used for:

• Light exfoliation to address dull, dry skin
• Brightening your complexion and correcting an uneven skin tone (such as vitamin C serum)
• Targeting fine lines and wrinkles
• Adding lightweight hydration
• Balancing oil production
• Preventing acne breakouts
• Calming sensitive skin or preventing inflammation
• Plumping and hydrating before applying makeup (especially formulas containing hyaluronic acid)

Face serums can be used morning and night. But since they contain potent ingredients, some should be applied just once a day or even every other day—at least until your skin acclimates to the formula.

When to Use a Face Oil

Though it depends on the exact formula, the general rule of thumb is to apply facial oil after moisturizer. The idea is that oils help lock in hydration, so they're used as the final step of a skincare routine. (If you use oil in the morning, the last step should be sunscreen.)

This skincare product can be used for:

• Enhanced moisture to address very dry skin
• Sealing in the hydrating properties of serum and moisturizer
• Balancing sebum and preventing the overproduction of oil
• Treating skin with overnight nourishment
• Replenishing a compromised skin barrier
• Creating a dewy glow and restoring the skin's natural radiance

One thing to note is that some face oils are meant to be used as serums—these might be called "oil serums" or simply be an oil-based formula. In that case, you can apply them after washing your face and before moisturizing.

How to Use Face Oil and Serum Together for Maximum Benefits

Instead of looking at it as face oil versus serum, you might consider adding oil and serum to your skincare routine. Whether you use both twice a day or one in the morning and the other before bed, these products can complement each other and contribute to healthy, beautiful skin.

When layering skincare products, some folks use the lightest-to-heaviest theory. This means applying lightweight products with the thinnest consistency first and finishing with the thickest formulas. This can give each product a chance to fully absorb while preventing pilling.

(Pilling is when skincare products sit on top of the skin without properly absorbing, rolling up, or forming little balls on the surface. It can be the result of inadequate absorption, which might happen when you apply heavier or oil-based formulas first.)

For instance, after cleansing your skin, you might apply a watery toner, followed by a light, non-comedogenic serum. Next, you'd moisturize with a lotion or cream and finish with a few drops of face oil.

Our super-light, quick-absorbing, non-greasy watermelon seed oil offers many benefits and is particularly perfect for layering.

Find the Right Balance for Glowing, Healthy Skin

If you're compiling products for a multi-step skincare routine, the non-comedogenic skincare products from CLEARSTEM are a prime place to start. Not only will they not clog your pores or contribute to acne, but they're suitable for all skin types.

Our non-comedogenic serums can address numerous skin concerns like breakouts and blackheads while promoting collagen production and healing the skin barrier.

Interested in adding facial oil to your routine? You can't go wrong with our GOLDENHOUR Watermelon Barrier Oil. The light, non-pore-clogging, antioxidant-rich formula absorbs fast and leaves you with a strong skin barrier and a healthy-looking complexion.

Sources:

Purnamawati S, et al. (2017). The Role of Moisturizers in Addressing Various Kinds of Dermatitis: A Review. Clinical medicine & research, 15(3-4), 75–87. doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2017.1363

Waranuch N, et al. (2021). Safety assessment on comedogenicity of dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate in Asian subjects: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Contemporary clinical trials communications, 23, 100834. doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100834

Wei J, et al. (2023). In vitro and in vivo study of the efficacy of a new sebum control essence. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. doi.org/10.1111/jocd.15764

Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. (2017). Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. ;19(1):70. doi:10.2147/CCID.S144180

Bos JD & Meinardi MM. 2000). The 500 Dalton rule for the skin penetration of chemical compounds and drugs. Experimental dermatology, 9(3), 165–169. doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0625.2000.009003165.x