If you've ever stood in a skincare aisle wondering whether to buy a facial oil or a moisturiser — or whether you need both — you're not alone. It's one of the most common points of confusion in skincare, and most brands don't make it clearer.
The short answer is that they do different things, work in different ways, and for many skin types, work best together. Here's what you actually need to know.
What a moisturiser does
A moisturiser is a multi-function product designed to maintain the skin's water content and support barrier function.
Most moisturisers contain three types of ingredient working together. Humectants — like Hyaluronic Acid or glycerin — draw water into the skin from the environment and the deeper skin layers. Emollients smooth and soften the skin's surface by filling gaps between skin cells. Occlusives create a light seal over the skin to slow water loss and lock in what's been applied.
The result is skin that feels hydrated, looks smoother, and has a supported barrier — better able to defend against environmental stressors and less prone to dehydration throughout the day.
Moisturisers are water-based, which means they absorb quickly, sit lightly on the skin, and work well as a base for SPF. They're the daytime workhorse of most routines.
What a facial oil does
A facial oil does something more specific: it nourishes and strengthens the skin barrier by replenishing the lipids — natural fats — that it's made of.
Your skin barrier is largely composed of fatty acids, ceramides, and cholesterol. Environmental exposure, harsh cleansing, ageing, and certain active ingredients can deplete these lipids over time, leaving the barrier compromised — more prone to water loss, irritation, and sensitivity.
Facial oils, particularly those rich in essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and oleic acid, mimic the skin's natural lipid composition. Applied regularly, they help restore what's been depleted, strengthen the barrier, and improve the skin's ability to retain moisture long term.
They also deliver fat-soluble nutrients — vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds — that water-based products can't carry. Argan oil delivers Vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Sea Buckthorn is one of the richest plant sources of Vitamin C. Evening Primrose Oil is high in gamma-linolenic acid, which has documented anti-inflammatory effects.
Oils are richer and slower to absorb than moisturisers, which makes them better suited to evening use when your skin has time to absorb them fully.
The key difference
A moisturiser hydrates. A facial oil nourishes and seals.
They work at different levels and address different aspects of skin health. A moisturiser brings water into the skin and keeps it there short term. A facial oil strengthens the barrier that determines how well the skin holds onto moisture long term.
This is why they complement each other rather than replace each other. Using a moisturiser without an oil means you're hydrating well but potentially missing the barrier support that makes that hydration last. Using an oil without a moisturiser means you're nourishing the barrier but possibly not delivering enough direct hydration to the skin cells.
Which one do you need?
It depends on your skin type, your concerns, and the time of day.
If your skin is oily or acne-prone, a well-formulated moisturiser is usually sufficient for daily use. Look for lightweight, non-comedogenic formulations that hydrate without adding oil to already oily skin. A facial oil can still be useful in the evening, particularly if your barrier is compromised, but choose one high in linoleic acid — research suggests this is better tolerated by oily and breakout-prone skin than oleic-acid-dominant oils.
If your skin is dry or dehydrated, both products are genuinely useful. A moisturiser for daytime hydration and a facial oil in the evening to nourish and lock in moisture while you sleep is a particularly effective combination.
If your skin is sensitive or reactive, a gentle facial oil can be one of the most effective things you use — the fatty acids calm inflammation, support barrier repair, and unlike some active-heavy moisturisers, are unlikely to cause irritation.
How to layer them
If you use both, apply your moisturiser first and your facial oil second.
Moisturisers are water-based and need direct contact with the skin to deliver hydration effectively. An oil applied first creates a barrier that prevents the moisturiser from penetrating properly. Oil always goes on top.
In the morning: cleanser, treatment serum, moisturiser, SPF. The oil stays in the evening.
In the evening: cleanser, treatment serum, moisturiser if needed, facial oil to seal everything in.
A few drops of facial oil is enough — you're supplementing the barrier, not coating the skin. Warm it between your palms and press it gently into the skin rather than rubbing, which helps it absorb evenly without dragging.
The F+A approach
Our Moisturising Day Cream is formulated for daytime use — lightweight barrier support, hydration, and a smooth base for SPF. Our All-In-One Facial Oil is an evening product, rich in essential fatty acids from Jojoba, Avocado, and Evening Primrose oils, designed to nourish the barrier and support overnight repair.
Used together in the right order at the right time of day, they cover both functions completely — hydration and nourishment, morning and night.
You don't need a complicated routine. You just need to understand what each product is doing and give it the right conditions to do it well.