Your skin is crying out to you, but what does it need? Everyone has heard the terms facial serum, facial oil, cream, and moisturizer. But what's the difference between them, and how and when should you use them?

Your skin is crying out to you, but what does it need? Everyone has heard the terms facial serum, facial oil, cream, and moisturizer. But what's the difference between them, and how and when should you use them?

Definitions can vary slightly, but some primary characteristics stand out and can help you decide which product will work for you. After all, who doesn't want to be confident in their skincare routine?

Facial Moisturizers

Think of your skin as a plant - facial moisturizers are the hydration it needs.

We’re going to start this lovely learning session with the most recognizable product on the skin care aisle: the facial moisturizer. This one is the key to the success of your epidural and dermis layers, because everyone needs some form of moisture for their skin. If you don’t use a moisturizer, I would guess that your friends and relatives have warned you about the dangers of ultra dry skin. Dry skin exposed frequently to the sun's UV rays has an even harder time. If that sounds like you, a moisturizer is a perfect place to start.

Good moisturizers provide necessary hydration and critical conditioning as they simultaneously create a barrier for retaining that moisture. When regularly applying a facial moisturizer, you are increasing your blood circulation when you massage it into your skin. This blood flow helps your skin quickly regenerate its own cells, which is what we want - with new skin cells our skin feels more elastic and is less prone to wrinkles and signs of aging.

When looking for the right product, skin type plays a big role. If you know your skin type, you should also know that not just any moisturizer will fill the role. That’s why many of us are very particular about ingredients, consistency, and absorbency rates when it comes to choosing the right moisturizer. For instance, if your skin is mostly oily around your T-zone, but dry everywhere else, that area might prefer a lightweight moisturizer that’s going to balance out those areas while protecting it from the elements. PurO3’s Ozonated Jojoba Oil is an excellent example of a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that has nearly the exact same consistency of the skin’s sebum. This silky moisturizer is oxygen-rich and completely natural with fungicidal and antibacterial properties that help impede the cycle of microbial reproduction.

Facial Serums

Like a plant, your skin craves nutrient-dense food, which facial serums can provide.

A serum is usually considered to be one of the most effective topical products that targets signs of aging and addresses the skin’s condition and texture. Because of the higher concentration of ingredients and smaller molecules, most facial serums are able to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, delivering a concentrated mix of vitamins and nutrients. They tend to be lighter, fast-absorbing liquids that in some cases can be used in place of a facial cream or moisturizer, depending upon your skin type. Generally speaking, a facial serum should be a lightweight liquid moisturizer that can deliver a potent mix of nutrient-packed ingredients to the deeper layers of the skin. Because your typical facial serum packs a big punch, a few droplets are all you need to apply each time. Specific problem areas such as age spots, wrinkles, sun damage, and hyperpigmentation are just some of the issues that the average facial serum should attempt to target and improve for you.

What type of facial serum is better? Water-based or oil-based?

Not all facial serums are good for all skin types. Anyone dealing with chronic skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis will typically have a thinner skin barrier that can be penetrated all too quickly by thin water-based serums, resulting in irritation and inflammation. An all natural oil-based serum would be preferable in this case, since the natural ingredients can be absorbed at a slower rate due to the thicker lubricating base. This can also help moisturize and seal the skin’s top layer.

A good example is PurO3’s Full Spectrum Hemp Facial Serum. This contains a high dose of full spectrum hemp, an antioxidant, that helps repair skin cells and fight free radicals. This improves the condition of the skin. In addition, Full Spectrum Hemp Facial Serum is an oil-based serum composed of all-natural ingredients, so your skin will absorb it at a slower rate, allowing the serum to help reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier.

The healing properties of full spectrum hemp don't stop there. They include reducing inflammation and reducing the skin’s sebum production. Our bodies’ endocannabinoid system regulates sebaceous gland function, which is why a full spectrum hemp serum makes so much sense for treating acne. Acne is characterized by a combination of bacteria, an overproduction of the skin’s sebum, and inflammation. Thus, both oral and topical forms of full spectrum hemp have been considered very effective in the prevention of acne as well as possessing the ability to help heal acne-related scarring.

Facial Oils

Your all-in-one approach to skincare.

As we age (and gain wisdom), the production of the skin’s natural oils begins to decline, which gives way to those fine lines and wrinkles. We begin to notice around age 28-35, and this is the perfect time to incorporate oil-based products in our skincare regime to supplement the skin and protect its lipid barrier.

If you have oily skin already, it may seem backwards to apply a facial oil to your skin, especially if you’re prone to breakouts. However, your skin could be attempting to equalize the imbalance by overproducing sebum to compensate for that dryness. In this case, consistently applying a facial oil or moisturizer can actually help reduce the excess sebum that’s being produced because it has addressed the dryness issue.

But I’m trying to avoid breakouts!

For those of you who don’t want to experience that regulation period with repeated breakouts before your skin finally balances out, one solution is to consistently use an ozonated oil or cream after cleansing your face in place of your usual moisturizer. This alternative can help you through this period, providing you with the moisture your skin needs plus the added benefit of ozone, which can help mitigate acne-causing bacteria while reducing inflammation.

PurO3’s Beauty Oil is an excellent choice for this particular issue because it contains some partially ozonated jojoba oil, which is famous for eliminating bacteria that clogs pores and causes acne, as well as free radicals which are responsible for signs of aging. The ingredients are completely natural, potent, and targeted to reduce inflammation. This is a perfect example of a facial oil that can cover all of your needs and be used in place of your toner, serum, and moisturizer combined.

Wrap It Up!

Go forth with your new found knowledge.

Now that you’re an expert in the differences between a facial serum, a facial oil, and a facial moisturizer, you can get out there in the world and make educated decisions about what your skin really needs. It may be that your skin benefits the most from choosing one type of skin product to use routinely, or it may be that your skin prefers a combination of products. Whatever the case, just remember that your skin is unique, beautiful, and deserves your careful consideration when it comes to shopping for skincare products. Now get out there and make that beautiful skin happy!

​​​​​​​Written by Danielle Cole

Nomenclature
Vocab to Glow on...

Many people use the terms emollient and moisturizer interchangeably but they are different. Emollients are considered to be the part of a moisturizer that soothes and smoothes out rough dry parts of the skin, making it softer and more supple.

A moisturizer is a lubricating substance created to mimic the skin’s naturally produced oil so that it can provide a protective barrier to prevent the skin from becoming dry.

Occlusive emollients work to prevent water loss and dehydration by providing a heavy physical barrier that traps moisture. The more oil an occlusive emollient has, the better its ability to form an effective protective barrier for the skin.

Humectants draw in and retain moisture from the environment and fight against dehydration.

Comedones are pores in the skin that are clogged with sebum, keratin squamae, and bacteria. When something is comedogenic, it is likely to clog pores and cause acne because it’s blocking the pore’s ability to shed dead skin cells. A blackhead is simply a closed comedone or clogged pore without a layer of overlying skin. A whitehead is a closed comedone or clogged pore that does have a thin overlying layer of skin.

Sebum is the skin’s natural oil produced to create a waterproof barrier over the skin.

Keratin squamae is another way to describe skin debris or dead skin and hair cells that can clog a pore.

When a product is non-comedogenic, it’s unlikely to clog pores and cause acne.