Can you use sunscreen and facial oil together?

By Ria Bhatia
20 October, 2022

Can you use sunscreen and facial oil together?

By Ria Bhatia
20 October, 2022

Oils are meant to rid the skin of make-up and SPF. Can the two then really be a part of the same skincare routine?

The universe of skincare has its unique ways to surprise you. The moment you think you’ve aced your skincare game there enters a plot twist: A new concept, new trend, or perhaps, an unheard-of fact that proves to be game-changing. The smorgasbord of information and accessibility can quickly result in an influx of mayhem, spurring many questions pertaining to your everyday AM and PM routines. One rather unusual question: Can sunscreen and facial oil be used together? This is a tricky one, almost dilemmatic. If oil is emollient enough to break down make-up and sunscreen, isn’t the two sharing space in the same routine counterintuitive? We turn to the experts who decipher the phenomenon for us.

How different is facial oil from cleansing oil?

In an ideal world, any oil would be an oil but the skincare universe clearly has its own rules. Facial oil and cleansing oil are two different products–albeit with many overlapping ingredients–created for two very distinct purposes. As the names suggest, the former is a leave-on oil that boosts nourishment and glow while the latter is a wash-off oil whose only job is to melt away the most stubborn make-up and sunscreen. “There are no proper studies or evaluations done that can actually show how facial oil interacts with sunscreen or behaves differently than cleansing oils,” shares Dr Madhuri Agarwal, celebrity dermatologist and founder, Yavana Aesthetics.

Elaborating on the baseline difference between both oils, Dr Niketa Sonavane, celebrity dermatologist and founder, Ambrosia Aesthetics, says, “Facial oils are made primarily or entirely of natural oils. They are marketed as skin emollients. Cleansing oils and balms, on the other hand, are primarily composed of natural oils, with the addition of ingredients that aid in emulsification, or the ability to mix with water and rinse off.” Furthermore, Agarwal informs, “Facial oils contain only plant oils with other actives at times, whereas cleansing oils also contain other surfactants that emulsify the make-up and other products applied on the face.” Sonavane summarises it by saying, “While natural oils can be used in double cleansing (followed by a foaming cleanser), cleansing oils cannot be used as emollients (or facial oils).”

fashion

The 24K Gold Radiance Face Elixir from RAS Luxury Oils is a powerhouse that lends moisture, glow and radiance, leaving the skin luminous and healthy. The rich oil complex combined with 24k gold flakes is to be thanked

fashion

The 24K Gold Radiance Face Elixir from RAS Luxury Oils is a powerhouse that lends moisture, glow and radiance, leaving the skin luminous and healthy. The rich oil complex combined with 24k gold flakes is to be thanked

How different is facial oil from cleansing oil?

In an ideal world, any oil would be an oil but the skincare universe clearly has its own rules. Facial oil and cleansing oil are two different products–albeit with many overlapping ingredients–created for two very distinct purposes. As the names suggest, the former is a leave-on oil that boosts nourishment and glow while the latter is a wash-off oil whose only job is to melt away the most stubborn make-up and sunscreen. “There are no proper studies or evaluations done that can actually show how facial oil interacts with sunscreen or behaves differently than cleansing oils,” shares Dr Madhuri Agarwal, celebrity dermatologist and founder, Yavana Aesthetics.

Elaborating on the baseline difference between both oils, Dr Niketa Sonavane, celebrity dermatologist and founder, Ambrosia Aesthetics, says, “Facial oils are made primarily or entirely of natural oils. They are marketed as skin emollients. Cleansing oils and balms, on the other hand, are primarily composed of natural oils, with the addition of ingredients that aid in emulsification, or the ability to mix with water and rinse off.” Furthermore, Agarwal informs, “Facial oils contain only plant oils with other actives at times, whereas cleansing oils also contain other surfactants that emulsify the make-up and other products applied on the face.” Sonavane summarises it by saying, “While natural oils can be used in double cleansing (followed by a foaming cleanser), cleansing oils cannot be used as emollients (or facial oils).”

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