If building a new skincare routine left you wondering which order to apply face oil and moisturizer, and how layering affects your results, you’re not alone. Rather than relying on trial and error to decide whether you use face oil before or after moisturizer, let us do the demystifying for you. 

We’re proponents of simplicity, but to establish an effective, streamlined process, you’ll want to know how to layer moisturizers. Whether you use face oils, serums, or other hydrators, understanding the proper sequence for your skincare regimen is crucial for maximizing the benefits of each product.

Read on to learn the answer to the common question of whether face oil or moisturizer is applied first, then find helpful tips for perfecting your hydrating skincare routine.

Why Is Moisturizing So Important?

Moisturizing is truly fundamental to your skin’s health. The skin’s moisture barrier is a dynamic layer that retains hydration and defends against environmental aggressors such as pollutants, UV rays, and harsh weather conditions. 

When this barrier is compromised, the skin can become more vulnerable, appear dry and irritated, and more easily show signs of aging. This is where the magic of layering moisturizers comes into play.

Moisturizing skincare often contains a combination of humectants, emollients, and occlusives to help nourish the skin with essential hydration and nutrients. Each of these elements performs a key role in helping to hydrate your skin: 

• Humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, draw water into the skin, hydrating it from within. 

• Emollients, such as squalane and ceramides, fill in the gaps between skin cells, smoothing the skin’s surface.

• Occlusives create a seal over the skin to lock in moisture and protect it from external elements. 

This trifecta of ingredients works synergistically to enhance your skin’s visible hydration, suppleness, and resilience.

Just like the ingredients, a consistent routine plays a key part in sustaining your skin’s hydration. Regularly moisturizing helps to maintain the skin’s natural balance, especially when it is getting a dose of all these elements. 

When the skin is dehydrated, it can overproduce oil to compensate, leading to an undesirable cycle of extreme dryness and excessive oiliness. Keeping the skin adequately hydrated normalizes sebum production, which supports its balance and promotes an even-looking texture. 

Additionally, hydrated skin is more receptive to other skincare products, so you can layer moisturizers and other applications to maximize your results. Moisturized skin is more permeable, allowing active ingredients in serums, treatments, and oils to penetrate the skin’s surface. This amplifies the benefits of your entire skincare regimen.

Why Use Face Oil and Moisturizer?

Incorporating both face oil and moisturizer into your morning skincare routine or evening reset creates a comprehensive approach to hydration and nourishment. While moisturizers bring hydratants to the skin, face oils offer qualities that complement and enhance this process.

Face oils are rich in nutrients, offering the skin a concentrated dose of nourishment. Supporting the skin’s health, promoting a radiant-looking complexion, and addressing various skin concerns, such as dryness and the visible signs of aging, are benefits of these face oil ingredients: 

• Essential fatty acids reinforce the skin’s lipid barrier to support natural elasticity and softness. 

• Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, support the skin’s natural defense against environmental damage and contribute to an even-looking tone and texture.

The diversity of moisturizing face oils also means there’s a formulation for every skin type and concern. From lightweight options for acne-prone or oily skin to richer, more nourishing oils for dry or mature skin, the right face oil will enhance the skin’s overall appearance. By selecting an oil that complements your skin type, you can more effectively address specific concerns.

But the most straightforward reason face oils are so great in combination with your regular moisturizer is that they help to lock in any other products you use in your skincare routine, maximizing hydration.

Which Comes First, Face Oil Or Moisturizer?

Applying moisturizer before face oil maximizes the benefits of each product. Using face oil second respects the general rule of skincare application: from lightest to heaviest. Moisturizing first also supports optimal product interactions with the skin and other applications.

Since oils are generally heavier and denser, they are best applied after lighter, water-based products like moisturizers. This order ensures that each product is absorbed properly and that oils won’t block or inhibit the moisturizer’s performance.

Once the skin is properly nourished with a moisturizer, you can follow up with a face oil, which will act as a sealant to lock in hydration. Applying face oil last allows you to benefit from its occlusive nature, preventing water from evaporating from the skin—a great benefit in dry environments or during colder months. 

What’s the Best Routine for Optimal Hydration?

Optimal hydration begins with a well-thought-out skincare routine addressing each aspect of skin health. The effectiveness of this routine relies on using quality products and the sequence in which you apply them. When you follow a carefully curated regimen, your skin receives the moisture it needs for a natural, luminous-looking glow. 

Cleanse

 The MANTLE Skin Conditioning Wash is an excellent starting point for your hydrating routine. This cleanser is a testament to how a product can effectively cleanse while maintaining the skin’s natural balance. The gentle transformation from oil balm to cleansing milk leaves you feeling clean—but not dry or dehydrated. 

Resurface

Following cleansing, apply our Resurfacing Compound. This multifunctional serum does more than just support the skin’s appearance. By replacing up to eight products, it streamlines your skincare routine without reducing its benefits. A blend of antioxidants and vitamins works to support the skin’s fight against environmental stressors, while stable retinol and multi-hydroxy acids address skin texture and visible signs of aging. 

Our multi-patent pending SIREN Capsule Technology™ exemplifies the advancement in skincare science. It delivers active ingredients precisely where they are most needed, enhancing effectiveness and reducing the potential for irritation.

Moisturize

This is where people question whether they should use face oil first or moisturizer. Always begin with a quality moisturizer. The SUPER Hydrator uses five unique sizes of hyaluronic acid to help moisture penetrate the skin. Its innovative formula creates a multidimensional shield that locks in moisture and supports your skin. Combining nourishing botanicals like avocado oil, shea butter, and organic argan oil with advanced ingredients like peptides, The SUPER Hydrator supports dry and dehydrated skin.

Defend

As we’ve already suggested, use The SUPER Intensive Face Oil after moisturizing. This breakthrough product adds an occlusive layer and mimics the skin’s natural composition, actively replenishing the lipid barrier. Additionally, our face oil includes hyaluronic acids—a novel approach that offers even more assurance that hydration is locked in. Acting as a powerful shield against dehydration, it treats visible signs of age, stress, and oxidative damage for unprecedented defense.

This routine embodies a holistic approach to skincare. Each product plays a pivotal role in providing hydration and supporting overall skin health. By understanding when to apply face oil—moisturizer comes first!—you can visibly boost the look of your skin’s texture, tone, and vitality. 

Glowing Forward

Understanding the proper order of applying face oil and moisturizer is more than just a cosmetic concern. It’s vital to achieving properly nourished, hydrated skin. 

Embrace this routine with confidence, knowing you’re providing your face with the best possible care. Explore our skincare hydrators and create a tailored collection for your routine.

Your journey toward more radiant-looking, hydrated skin begins today.

Sources:

The Hype on Hyaluronic Acid | Harvard Health Publishing

Exploring Ingredients – Occlusives & Emollients | Center for Research on Ingredient Safety

Essential Fatty Acids and Skin Health | Oregon State University