Face oils can be one of the simplest ways to add emollient support to a skincare routine, especially when skin feels dry, tight or lacking in softness. But questions such as when to use face oil, whether it goes before or after moisturiser, and how a vitamin C face oil differs from a serum can make the category confusing.
This guide explains how facial oils fit into a modern skincare routine and how to choose one according to texture, ingredients and skin needs.
What Is Face Oil?
A face oil or facial oil is an oil-based skincare product designed primarily to condition and soften the skin. Unlike water-based serums, facial oils are built around oil-soluble ingredients and emollients. They can help reduce the feeling of dryness and support a softer, more supple-looking finish.
Some face oils are simple single-ingredient oils. Others combine several botanical oils with ingredients such as squalane, vitamin E, bisabolol or oil-soluble vitamin C.
What Are the Benefits of Face Oil?
Face oil is most useful as an emollient step. Depending on the formula, it can help soften rough or dry-feeling skin, improve the feeling of suppleness, reduce a tight or stripped sensation and add a more nourished finish to the routine.
For customers searching for a face oil for dry skin, the overall formula matters more than any single botanical. Lightweight emollients such as squalane can help make an oil blend feel less heavy, while oils such as rosehip, jojoba and borage add complementary fatty-acid profiles and skin-conditioning properties.
Face Oil vs Serum: What Is the Difference?
A serum is usually a lightweight treatment product and is often water-based, although not every serum follows that format. A facial oil is lipid-based and is generally used later in the routine.
If your priority is a concentrated water-soluble active such as L-ascorbic acid, niacinamide or hyaluronic acid, a water-based serum may be the more natural fit. If your skin benefits from additional emollient support, a facial oil can complement those steps rather than replace them.
Explore both formats in Bubble Clinic’s Serums & Face Oils collection.
When Should You Apply Face Oil?
As a general rule, apply skincare from lighter, water-based textures toward richer, more emollient textures. That usually means cleanser first, followed by toner if used, water-based serum, moisturiser and then face oil as a finishing step.
Some people prefer to press a few drops of oil onto skin before moisturiser, particularly when the individual product directions recommend it. There is no single rule that overrides the instructions for a specific formula.
How to Use Face Oil
Start with a small amount. Two to three drops is often enough for the face and neck. Warm the oil lightly between fingertips, then press or smooth it over the skin rather than applying a large amount at once.
If you are new to facial oils, begin in the evening and adjust according to skin feel. More product does not necessarily mean better results.
Face Oil for Dry and Dehydrated-Feeling Skin
Dry and dehydrated skin are not exactly the same. Dry skin lacks sufficient oil, while dehydrated skin describes a lack of water. Many people experience both sensations at the same time.
A hydrating serum or moisturiser can supply water-binding ingredients, while an emollient face oil can be layered afterward to help support softness and reduce the feeling of dryness. Browse the Dry & Dehydrated Skin collection for compatible hydration-focused formulas.
What Is a Vitamin C Face Oil?
Not every form of vitamin C is suitable for an oil formula. L-ascorbic acid is water-soluble, while derivatives such as Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate are oil-soluble and can be incorporated into lipid-based skincare.
A vitamin C facial oil therefore offers a different format from a traditional water-based vitamin C serum. It can combine an oil-soluble vitamin C derivative with emollients and botanical oils in one step.
Vitamin C Face Oil vs Vitamin C Serum
The better choice depends on the formula and the texture you prefer. Bubble Clinic’s 10% L-ascorbic acid serum is the store’s concentrated water-based vitamin C option. The Vitamin C Radiance Face Oil – Squalane + Bisabolol + Prickly Pear is the oil-based alternative for customers who want vitamin C within a nourishing facial-oil format.
The face oil combines Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate with olive squalane, bisabolol, prickly pear extract, rosehip, jojoba, sweet almond, borage, cherry, blueberry and evening primrose oils. It is designed for dry, dull or dehydrated-feeling skin and a softer, more radiant-looking finish.
Why Squalane Is Popular in Face Oils
Squalane is a lightweight emollient valued for its smooth skin feel. In a blended facial oil it can help soften the skin without relying entirely on richer plant oils. This makes a squalane face oil a useful option for customers who want nourishment but dislike a very heavy finish.
What About Prickly Pear, Rosehip and Jojoba?
Botanical oils and extracts can add different sensory and conditioning qualities to a face-oil blend. Rosehip, jojoba and prickly pear are commonly used in facial oils because they fit well into nourishing, radiance-focused formulas. The complete ingredient list remains more important than treating any one botanical as a cure-all.
Who May Prefer a Face Oil?
Face oil can be especially useful for people whose skin feels dry, tight or less supple, or for those who simply prefer an oil-based final step. People with oily or blemish-prone skin can also use facial oils, but texture, formula and individual tolerance matter, so patch testing and gradual introduction are sensible.
Can Face Oil Be Used in a Brightening Routine?
Yes. A facial oil can complement a tone-focused routine when the formula and other products are compatible. For example, an oil-soluble vitamin C derivative can sit within a brightening routine while the oil base provides emollient support.
For tone-focused products across different formats, browse Brightening Skincare & Dark Spots.
Face Oil FAQs
Do you put face oil before or after moisturiser?
Face oil is commonly used after moisturiser as a final emollient step, although some formulas are directed for use before moisturiser. Follow the individual product instructions and choose the order that works best with the textures in your routine.
Can I use face oil every day?
Many facial oils can be used daily if the formula suits your skin. If you are introducing a new product, start gradually and monitor how your skin responds.
Can I use face oil under sunscreen?
Yes, but allow skincare layers to settle before applying sunscreen, and avoid using so much oil that the sunscreen cannot form an even layer. Sunscreen should remain the final skincare step in the morning.
How many drops of face oil should I use?
Two to three drops is a practical starting point for many facial oils. Adjust according to the product directions, your skin and the richness of the formula.
Is vitamin C face oil the same as vitamin C serum?
No. An oil-based vitamin C product uses an oil-compatible vitamin C form and an emollient base, whereas many vitamin C serums are water-based. The texture, vitamin C derivative and complete formula can therefore be quite different.
Shop Face Oils and Serums
Explore Bubble Clinic’s Serums & Face Oils, including the Vitamin C Radiance Face Oil, or browse Dry & Dehydrated Skin for hydration and barrier-support options.
This article provides general cosmetic skincare information and is not medical advice. Patch test new skincare before first use.
