A good face oil and face serum are the building blocks of your skincare routine: From brightening to smoothing to sealing in moisture, they do it all. But while both are liquid formulas with targeted benefits, their usage and benefits aren’t the same. While all skin types can benefit from both an oil and a serum, knowing exactly what each one does will help you narrow down which one you want to use in your morning or night skincare routine. (And yes, you can definitely use them both.)
Read on for the ultimate guide to the difference between face oils and face serums, and what to look for in each to suit your specific skin type.
What does a face oil do?
Face oils are oil-based formulas that often include antioxidant ingredients and plant extracts. If you’re worried they’ll make you break out, look for “non-comedogenic” labels, which means the oils won’t clog your pores. These healing concoctions can help add moisture to your skin, alleviate dryness, and care for your skin barrier.
Our best face oil, Milk Makeup Sunshine Oil, is a superstar for brightening and moisturizing. It’s formulated with vitamin C and plant-derived squalane to care for your complexion. (It’s also great for allover use on your body, cuticles, and hair.) Apply a lightweight layer before your sunscreen and makeup in the morning, or as the last step in your nighttime skincare routine to keep your skin moisturized all night.
What does a face serum do?Face serums are concentrated formulas designed to address and improve targeted skin concerns. While they usually come in the form of lightweight liquids, they can also appear as sticks or gels. Serums are typically water-based, which allows them to absorb easily into your skin instead of sealing from the surface like an oil. At Milk HQ, we love pressing the benefits of serums into twist-up sticks that are easy to incorporate into any routine. Our Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum helps refresh your skin, even out tone, and deliver a bright glow. It’s made with a ton of clean ingredients like Swiss garden cress sprout, watermelon fruit extract, and vitamins A, C, and E—and perfect for applying both morning and night. |
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Which Face Oils and Face Serums to Choose for Your Skin TypeEvery skin type can benefit from both face oils and face serums, but knowing what to look for in each is key to acing your skincare routine. Just remember to apply your serums after cleansing and oils as your last step; other products can’t penetrate oils, so you should always save them for your final skincare step. ACNE-PRONE AND OILY SKIN Acne-prone skin still needs hydration; dehydrated skin actually causes your skin to produce even more oil to compensate. Try a lightweight formula that wears comfortably while soothing inflammation. We designed our Milk Makeup Cooling Water stick as an under eye treatment, but it pulls double duty as a serum that calms and hydrates with natural seawater. It also contains caffeine, which helps reduce the appearance of puffiness for a refreshed complexion. |
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FOR DRY SKIN Dry skin can always benefit from a replenishing, hydrating serum. Use your sleeping hours as a time to restore what your skin needs most with our Milk Makeup Melatonin Overnight Serum. It’s made with topical melatonin and hyaluronic acid to rejuvenate, hydrate, and calm, so you wake up to visibly bouncier, smoother, more refreshed-looking skin. FOR DULL SKIN Aging, dehydration, and pollution can leave your skin looking lackluster. We recommend a one-two punch boost: Start with our Watermelon Brightening Serum to deliver glow and antioxidant benefits, then add our Sunshine Oil for extra dew. Two lightweight layers, all the benefits. |
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