Facial oil or serum: which to choose depending on your skin type?

Face oil or serum… The question often arises when building a skincare routine. Two textures, two promises, two bottles that sometimes seem to do the same thing.
In reality, each product has a very specific function. Understanding this difference helps avoid mistakes, listen to your skin, and choose the treatment that's truly suited to your needs, without overloading the epidermis.

This guide helps to see things clearly, simply, with concrete guidelines for choosing between oil and serum or combining them intelligently.

Facial oil and serum: two different treatments, two distinct roles

Before choosing, it's essential to understand what each product actually does for the skin. Oils and serums don't act in the same way or in the same way.

What is a face serum?

A A facial serum is a treatment highly concentrated in active ingredients. Its fluid texture, often aqueous or slightly gel-like, allows it to penetrate the epidermis quickly.

Its role is clear: to address a specific problem .

Hydration, lack of radiance, imperfections, blemishes, wrinkles, loss of firmness… Each serum is formulated to target a specific skin need, thanks to a high concentration of ingredients such as hyaluronic acid , vitamin C , retinol-like or salicylic acid.

The serum works deep down. It penetrates the skin cells, where hydration, collagen production, and sebum regulation take place. Just a few drops, applied morning and evening, are enough to provide targeted relief without weighing down the skin.

What is a facial oil?

A facial oil is a lipid-based treatment, rich in fats and essential fatty acids. It nourishes, protects, and strengthens the skin barrier.

Unlike serum, oil acts more on the surface , although some plant oils have a molecular weight low enough to partially penetrate the epidermis. Its main role remains nourishment and protection.

The oil helps the skin retain moisture, limit dehydration, and defend itself against external aggressors such as cold, wind, and pollution. It provides comfort, suppleness, and a feeling of nourished skin, which is particularly appreciated during periods of fatigue, dryness, or in winter.

Oil or serum: what are the concrete differences?

To better visualize what really distinguishes these two facial treatments, here is a clear comparison table.

This table highlights a key point: oil and serum are not opposed , they fulfill different functions in a facial care routine.

Oil or serum: which to choose according to your skin type?

Each skin type reacts differently to textures and active ingredients. The right choice depends less on trends than on the actual condition of the skin, which changes with time, the seasons, and lifestyle.

Dry skin

Dry skin naturally lacks lipids. It feels tight, loses elasticity and marks more easily.

👉 Oil + serum: the ideal combination

• THE hydrating serum acts deep down to attract water into the epidermis (hyaluronic acid, humectant actives).
• Vegetable oil nourishes , seals in moisture and limits evaporation.

This combination helps to restore comfort, softness and visibly more supple skin, especially during periods of cold or fatigue.

Dehydrated skin

Dehydration is a temporary condition, often linked to stress, climatic variations or overly aggressive cleaning.

👉 Priority serum

• Hydrating serum based on hyaluronic acid or water-binding active ingredients.
• Fluid texture, applied to slightly damp skin to promote absorption.

Oil is not essential here. It can even give a false sense of comfort without correcting the underlying dehydration.

Oily or blemish-prone skin

Shine, visible pores, pimples or persistent imperfections require a targeted and gentle approach.

👉 Serum first and foremost

• Regulating serum with salicylic acid , niacinamide or purifying active ingredients.
• Deep action on excess sebum and imperfections.

An oil is still an option, but only if it's very light and well-chosen (jojoba, for example). In most cases, a serum is enough to balance the skin without overloading it.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin reacts easily: redness, tingling, discomfort.

👉 Oil or serum, depending on tolerance

• Soothing serum, formulated without perfume, to calm and strengthen the skin barrier.
• Gentle, naturally derived oil, without essential oils, to nourish and protect.

The choice is based on personal preference. Sensitive skin may prefer the simplicity of a single, well-tolerated product, rather than an overly complex routine.

Mature skin

With age, the skin loses collagen, elasticity, and density. Wrinkles and fine lines gradually appear.

👉 Anti-aging serum + oil as a complement

• THE Anti-aging serum targets the signs of skin aging: wrinkles, loss of firmness, less radiant complexion.
• The oil provides nourishment and comfort, especially in the evening when the skin regenerates.

This combination supports both correction and protection, for skin that is plumper and visibly brighter.

Oil or serum: which to choose depending on your skin problem?

Beyond skin type, certain concerns appear occasionally or persist over time. This is often where the choice between oil and serum becomes clearer.

Wrinkles and fine lines

When the first wrinkles appear or lines become more pronounced, the skin needs targeted active ingredients capable of acting in depth.

👉 Anti-aging serum

• High concentration of active ingredients (retinol-like, peptides, antioxidants).
• Direct action on skin aging and loss of firmness.

Oil alone does not treat wrinkles. It can be used in conjunction with serum to provide comfort and suppleness, but it does not replace targeted treatment.

Dull complexion and lack of radiance

Fatigue, stress, pollution… the complexion loses its radiance and uniformity.

👉 Radiance Serum

• Vitamin C, antioxidant actives, radiance-boosting ingredients.
• Improves the appearance of the skin and revives the complexion.

An oil can give an immediate "glowy" effect, but a serum has a more lasting effect on the quality of the complexion and skin regeneration.

Discomfort and tightness

When the skin feels tight, lacks elasticity or becomes uncomfortable, the skin barrier is often weakened.

👉 Nourishing oil

• Rich in essential fatty acids.
• Strengthens the protective barrier and limits water loss.

In this specific case, the oil provides quick relief. A hydrating serum can be added if the skin is also dehydrated.

Loss of firmness

The oval shape sags, the skin becomes less toned, sometimes even before the appearance of deep wrinkles.

👉 Targeted firming serum

• Active ingredients that stimulate collagen and skin structure.
• Lightweight texture that absorbs quickly.

An oil alone is not enough to restore firmness. Rather, it acts as a support, to preserve comfort and elasticity.

Fragile or damaged skin

Hormonal changes, cold weather, treatments, stress… the skin becomes more vulnerable.

👉 Protective oil or soothing serum

• The oil protects, nourishes and limits external aggressions.
• The serum soothes and helps the skin to repair itself.

The choice depends on the level of sensitivity and the feeling at the time of application.

Can an oil and a serum be used together?

Yes. And in many cases, it's actually a very good idea.

These two treatments do not have the same role:

• The serum treats a specific problem.
• The oil protects and nourishes the skin.

Used together, they form a coherent duo, capable of acting in depth while strengthening the skin barrier.

In what order should they be applied?

The rule remains simple:

👉 From lightest to richest

1. Serum
2. Cream (if used)
3. Oil

The serum penetrates the skin. The oil then seals in the moisture and protects the skin's surface.

How to properly incorporate oil and serum into your facial routine?

An effective routine relies less on the number of products than on their order and consistency. Oils and serums easily find their place when used correctly.

Simple and effective routine

1. Cleaning
   Clean skin promotes better absorption of skincare products.

2. Exfoliation if needed
   Garancia's Magic Pschitt can be used every day.
   This is an exception among exfoliants, which are usually limited to 1 or 2 uses per week.
   It smooths the skin's surface and improves serum penetration, without being harsh.

3. Serum
   Applied to clean skin, it targets a specific problem: hydration, radiance, wrinkles, imperfections.

4. Cream (if used)
   It provides comfort and helps maintain hydration.

5. Oil (if needed)
   As a final step, to nourish and strengthen the skin barrier.

Key points to remember

• A light oil can sometimes be used before the cream.
• A richer oil is always applied last.

Oil or serum: do you really have to choose?

Not necessarily.

The choice depends on several factors:

• skin type,
• the current skin condition,
• the season,
• the sensations felt.

Some periods call for a targeted serum, others for a protective oil. A flexible routine is often the most beneficial for the skin.

The right approach: Observe your skin, adjust textures, and don't hesitate to combine treatments when it makes sense.

FAQ:

Can you use oil on oily skin?

Yes, a facial oil can be suitable for oily skin , provided you opt for a suitable vegetable oil that is non-comedogenic and has a light texture .
Jojoba oil , for example, mimics the skin's natural sebum and helps regulate oil production , reducing shine, enlarged pores, and blemishes. Used sparingly, it nourishes without clogging pores and contributes to skin balance.

Can a serum replace a moisturizer?

No, serum and moisturizer do not have the same role in a skincare routine .
The serum, highly concentrated in active ingredients (hyaluronic acid, vitamin, retinol…), works deep down to treat a specific problem : wrinkles, dehydration, spots, imperfections.
The cream seals in moisture , strengthens the skin barrier , and protects the skin's surface. The two products are therefore complementary and benefit from being used together.

Facial oil: morning or evening?

Evening remains the most comfortable time to apply a skincare oil , especially if it is nourishing or rich in lipids. The skin then benefits from its restorative properties overnight.
In the morning , a light oil can also be incorporated into the routine, depending on the skin type and the season, provided that it absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy film under makeup or sunscreen.

Serum or oil: which should you apply first?

In an effective beauty routine , the order of application makes all the difference.
The serum is always applied before the oil : its fluid texture penetrates more easily and delivers its active ingredients to the heart of the epidermis.
The oil then comes into play to nourish , protect , and form a barrier that helps retain moisture and maximize the effectiveness of the treatment. This is the key to getting the most out of the serum and oil duo .