Juliet Williams, Gem Luxe Beauty Founder
You may know that using a nourishing moisturizer should be a super-important step in your morning and evening skin care routine. But who says you can only use a cream to get the job done? If you haven’t learned how to use a facial oil yet, you’re missing out. Oils sometimes get a bad rap, as you might assume that using one will leave your face looking overly shiny and cause you to break out—but it’s all about applying one the right way. Here, I'm giving you the 411 on how I apply facial oil as part of my skin care routine and how to use facial oil with makeup so that you can elevate your overall beauty look.
WHAT ARE FACIAL OILS?
As the name suggests, facial oils are a skin care product that works to provide your skin with moisture. Typically made with a mixture of plant oils, facial oils offer your skin various benefits ranging from locking the skin with moisture to softening and balancing skin. Depending on the facial oil used, you can also take advantage of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Basically, it’s a skin care must-have!
HOW TO USE A FACIAL OIL
Keep reading for my step-by-step routine!
NOTE: I'm 62 and I have normal to dry skin that can sometimes get oily due to hormonal fluctuations.
STEP #1: CLEANSE YOUR SKIN
The first step in my a.m. and p.m. routines is cleansing. I use a hydrating or firming cleanser. I also use a peel 1-2 times per week to help slough off dead skin cells that have built up on the surface of my skin. Using a toner is my last step achieving the cleanest skin I possibly can. Some say this step isn't necessary but I find that toners can not only treat your skin with beneficial ingredients but at the end of the day, they remove the last bits of makeup, sunscreen and everyday grime just washing alone can miss. My current favorite is here.
STEP #2: POWER UP WITH A SERUM
The right serum can boosts the efficiency of everything else that you do to take care of your skin. Finding the right one for you can be complicated and the trial/error method can surely dent your wallet. They range in price from economical to "holy cow!" but I've found that you don't necessarily need to break the bank to find a good one. I absolutely swear by the combination of this one for fine lines and puffiness, this one to help my skin tone and soften my expression lines for day and night and add this one before bed for extra smoothing and softening benefits. Gently pat them into your skin and be sure to allow them to dry completely before moving on to the next step. Please read the labels of any products you choose for possible skin irritants.
STEP #3: LAYER ON YOUR MOISTURIZER
The debate over whether to apply facial oil before or after moisturizer is almost as discussed as that age-old question. Well, I have the answer. No, not about the egg—the other one. While it can vary from product to product, in general, facial oil should be used on top of creams and lotions. This is because once you apply an oil it's tricky for other products to penetrate its formula.
With that said, go ahead and smooth on your moisturizer of choice over your face and neck (yes, your neck needs moisture too for suppleness and tone!) Of course, in the morning, broad-spectrum sunscreen is also a must. To keep things simple, use a moisturizer formulated with SPF. I love this one for daytime. At night, this one is my go-to.
STEP #4: APPLY YOUR OIL
Once you’re slathered in moisturizer, it’s time to get your facial oil ready. Depending on your skin type, morning and night, apply three to five drops of either Peridot, Amethyst (my favorite!) or Citrine Luxe Facial Oil onto the palm of your hand. With your finger, dab the oil in small dots onto cleansed skin, avoiding your eye area. Then gently smooth and press the oil onto your face and neck, using the whole surface of your hands. Smooth the oil from nose to ears, eyebrows to hairline, and neck to jawline. Less is definitely more—so no need to go overboard!
Beauty Gems Tip: Don’t want your face to have an all-over glow? I find that hard to relate to, but in that case, you can apply your facial oil in the same spots you’d put highlighter. Dab the oil onto your cheekbones, the center of your forehead, and your chin to give your visage a balanced glow that’s just dewy enough.
HOW TO USE FACIAL OIL WITH MAKEUP
Now that I’ve talked about skin care, it’s time to switch gears to your makeup routine. Below, I'm sharing tips on how I incorporate facial oil into my makeup routine for more radiant-looking skin.
TIP # 1: MIX A FEW DROPS WITH YOUR PRIMER
Makeup primer helps create an even base for your makeup products to apply evenly and last throughout the day. And when you add a few drops of your facial oil into the mix, things only get better from there. Since facial oils provide an extra touch of hydration, I mix one with my favorite primer as the perfect way to keep my skin moisturized, which helps my radiance level all day long.
TIP #2: APPLY FACIAL OIL BEFORE FOUNDATION
Another way I add facial oil into my makeup routine? I apply my facial oil before my foundation. A great tip for dry skin types, applying facial oil before your foundation can help boost your skin with nourishment and leave you with bright and healthy-looking skin. Simply dab a few drops onto your skin and smooth over your face and neck. Give the facial oil 2-3 minutes to absorb, then buff a lightweight foundation onto your skin.
TIP #3: MIX FACIAL OIL WITH FOUNDATION
If you have a fear of using too much foundation in your makeup routine, this tip will save the day. I mix a few drops with my foundation. A great way to provide your skin with extra moisture, it also works wonders to give your skin a healthy-looking finish. Not to mention, if you like dewy skin, this step makes it oh-so-easy to achieve.
I hope you love the products I recommend! This blog post contains affiliate links and I participate in the Amazon Associate program, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to bring you beauty commentary like this. You can find more about our site, privacy, and disclosure policies here. Thank you for your continued support!
