This post was reviewed and updated by Sarah Otto, Dermatology Nurse Practitioner and Founder of Otto Skin Goods on August 31, 2026.
Cleansing, moisturizing, and SPF likely anchor your daily skincare routine—but where do serums and face oils fit in? These two categories alone raise a host of questions: What distinguishes a high-quality serum? How should face oil be applied for maximum efficacy? And what, fundamentally, separates a serum from a face oil?
The answer: serums and face oils are among the most potent and efficient tools in skincare. Understanding how to use them well is essential. Let's explore each in depth.
What’s a face serum?
The Overview: A well-formulated serum uses high concentrations of active ingredients and targets specific skin concerns. In other words, it gives you results. However, the tricky part of active ingredients is when they should be used. A quality serum will specify whether to use it in the morning or at night.
Texture: water-based, lightweight, absorbs quickly
Formulation: a potent blend of active ingredients, targets specific skin concerns, smaller molecules absorbs into the deep layers of the skin more rapidly
How to Use: Serum should be the first product you apply to your skin after cleansing. Specific active ingredients are dependent on time of day and how they help the skin—so, the serum should be formulated specifically for day or night. This way, your skin will get exactly what it needs, when it needs it. A serum should be applied and pressed firmly into slightly damp skin. Allow to dry before applying face oil or moisturizer.
What’s a face oil?
The Overview: Face oils, on the other hand, can be a simple blend of botanical oils that help to effectively hydrate your complexion. They can also be a hybrid of serum + moisturizer if they contain active ingredients. Depending on your skin type, a face oil may be hydrating enough to skip your traditional moisturizer altogether. However, if your skin is on the drier side, you can add a few drops of oil to your moisturizer for an extra boost your complexion will love.
Texture: oil-based, heavier, absorbs slowly
Formulation: hydrating, may contain actives, works well as a moisturizer for normal or oily skin types, larger molecules mainly work on the top layer of the skin
How to Use: Apply your face oil after using your serum, similar to how you would apply your moisturizer. For normal to oily skin types, face oil may replace your moisturizer. Those with dry skin may add a few drops of face oil to their moisturizer or apply your moisturizer after using face oil to lock in hydration. Gently massage it into your skin. Apply serum first and allow to dry before using your face oil.
Your Daily Skincare Routine, Explained
Feeling overwhelmed? We put together a low-maintenance skincare routine that’s easy to follow:
Your Morning Skincare Routine
- Step One: Wash your face with warm water or your favorite cleanser.
- Step Two: Apply a day serum. Your day serum should hydrate, plump, provide pollution defense and improve the effectiveness of your SPF.
- Step Three: Follow it up with SPF and moisturizer, if needed.
Look for These Ingredients in Your Day Serum:
- Hyaluronic Acid: For deep hydration, look for a day serum that’s low-molecular weight (this will absorb quicker and deeper into the skin)
- Peptides: For a plump complexion, tripeptide-5 is a tried-and-true peptide that helps stimulate collagen synthesis, while improving skin firming and moisturizing capacity
- Antioxidants: For pollution defense, vitamin C and plant-based antioxidants help to fight free radical damage that can age skin and cause dullness (plus, they help your sunscreen work better)
Product Recommendation: The Go-Getter Day Serum
Your Nighttime Skincare Routine
- Step One: Wash your face with your favorite cleanser.
- Step Two: Apply a night serum. Look for one that lightly exfoliates, evens skin tone, brightens and helps with any skin concerns like blocked pores, mild breakouts, redness or pigmentation issues. Many of the ingredients that help with these issues (think: acids and retinol) can cause sun sensitivity.
- Step Three: Follow it up with a face oil and/or moisturizer. Find a face oil that brightens, hydrates and boosts a superstar active like Vitamin C.
Look for These Ingredients in Your Night Serum:
- Fruit Acids/Glycolic Acid/Salicylic Acid/Retinol: These exfoliating ingredients increase cell turnover and unclog pores to prevent aged, dull and breakout-prone skin. Fruit acids are best for daily use or sensitive skin types, while glycolic and salicylic acids are best for oily skin types or those that are acne prone. Use retinol intermittently to help with breakouts and aged skin.
- Niacinamide: This ingredient helps to reduce the appearance of aged, hyperpigmented and photodamaged skin. It also calms redness and breakouts caused by inflammation.
- Licorice Root/Bearberry/Vitamin C: These ingredients inhibit skin hyperpigmentation and improve cell regeneration to brighten and even tone.
Product Recommendation: The Multitasker Night Serum
Ingredient Considerations for Your Face Oil:
- Beware of cheap filler oils such as safflower, sunflower and apricot kernel oil.
- Grapeseed oil is lightweight, making it perfect for both oily and sensitive skin types. Plus, it helps with breakout-prone skin.
- Marula and Jojoba are great ultra-hydrating oils.
- Rosehip is a reparative oil that is perfect for all skin types.
- Cranberry or Pomegranate oils are excellent blends of Omegas 6 & 9.
- Active ingredients in face oils are limited. You need to use an oil-soluble active, and most are water-soluble.
- Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and oil-soluble forms of vitamin C or retinol are good actives to find in face oils. Don’t overdo it with a retinol face oil and a nightly serum.
- Vitamin C in your face oil is the best bet if you’re also going to use exfoliating acids in a night serum.
Product Recommendation: The Fresh Start Face Oil
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both a serum and a face oil?
Not necessarily. Serums and face oils serve different purposes. Serums deliver active, targeted ingredients, while face oils primarily hydrate and seal in moisture. Many people benefit from using both, but those with normal to oily skin may find that a face oil replaces their moisturizer altogether.
What's the main difference between a serum and a face oil?
Serums are water-based, lightweight, and formulated with a high concentration of active ingredients designed to penetrate deeply and target specific concerns. Face oils are oil-based, heavier, and absorb more slowly, working primarily to hydrate the skin's surface layer.
In what order should I apply serum and face oil?
Serum always comes first. Apply it to slightly damp skin after cleansing, press it in, and allow it to fully absorb before layering on face oil or moisturizer.
Should I use the same serum morning and night?
No. Morning and evening serums serve different functions. A day serum should hydrate, support pollution defense, and enhance SPF performance. A night serum typically focuses on gentle exfoliation, tone correction, and addressing concerns like breakouts or pigmentation.
Can face oil replace my moisturizer?
It depends on your skin type. Normal to oily skin types may find face oil hydrating enough on its own. Drier skin types often benefit from combining the two—either mixing a few drops of oil into moisturizer or layering moisturizer on top of oil to lock in hydration.
What ingredients should I look for in a day serum?
Look for hyaluronic acid for hydration, peptides like tripeptide-5 for firmness and collagen support, and antioxidants such as vitamin C to defend against free radical damage and boost SPF effectiveness.
What ingredients should I look for in a night serum?
Exfoliating ingredients like fruit acids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or retinol help with cell turnover and clogged pores. Niacinamide calms redness and reduces the look of photodamage, while licorice root, bearberry, and vitamin C help brighten and even skin tone.
What should I avoid in a face oil?
Steer clear of inexpensive filler oils like safflower, sunflower, and apricot kernel oil. Look instead for grapeseed, marula, jojoba, rosehip, or cranberry and pomegranate oils, depending on your skin's needs.
Can I use active ingredients in a face oil?
Yes, but options are limited since most actives are water-soluble rather than oil-soluble. Oil-soluble forms of vitamin C (like tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) or retinol are good choices. Just avoid combining a retinol face oil with a retinol night serum, as this can be too intensive for the skin.
