Water-Based vs. Oil-Based Skincare: Do You Need Both?

Diet and skincare have a lot in common. Just as health experts advise that every diet be filled with lots of vitamins to improve bodily functions and efficiency, the skin needs a lot of these vitamins as well to be healthy and keep up.

However, the practice is not that simple or black and white, because you cannot simply fill your skin with vitamins C, B3, and A; there’s a way to go about it.

First of all, it is pertinent to understand that all skin needs the same nutrient to survive, which explains why many skin issues have the same causes. The solution for all then lies in the ability to give your skin proper and adequate nutrition to correct the imbalance and relieve inflammation.

As we try to give our skin the right nutrients and vitamins, one primary consideration is how soluble these things are, and what effects they have on the skin’s barrier.

Vitamins have two general classifications: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in your body while water-soluble ones don’t get stored in your body, thereby needing replenishment.

Going further from solubility, we also need to face the issue of absorption into the skin. The barrier of our skin is both water-based and fat-based. However, your skin’s thickness, the numbers of hair glands and follicles, as well as the size of the molecules all come to play in the area of absorption. Molecules can go in through the water-soluble skin cells or the fat-soluble cells.

To ensure that your skin gets its version of a healthy diet, and absorbs it too, it is pertinent to ensure that your skincare regimen comprises both water and fat (oil) soluble vitamins. 

The water-soluble vitamins include the entire group of B vitamins alongside vitamin C, while the oil-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K, alongside calcium, magnesium, and the Omega fatty acid family (3, 6, 9, and 7). All the vitamins, whether fat or water-soluble have their benefits. For instance, vitamin C works on collagen stimulation, while vitamin A works on cell cycle and cell turnover regulation.

Your skin has a way of showing you when it is not adequately fed. The signs include extreme reactions, redness in some instances, dryness, or extreme oiliness in other areas. In most cases, malnourishment can happen as a result of using too many skincare products. 

These signs imply that your skin’s biome is not balanced, and the skin’s barrier cannot offer protection from environmental stress and other factors due to compromise. The good news is, you can rebuild your skin’s barrier and balance with the right products and routine. 

Tips for Layering Oil- and Water-Based Skincare Products 

Here are some simple steps to layering skincare products that offer your skin the nutrients it needs to be healthy and happy. Bear them in mind when using oils and serums.

Step 1: Follow your cleansing and exfoliation process with water-based products 

Step 2: After water-based products, use an oil-based product. Oil products supplement the natural oils on your skin and set up a barrier that protects your skin surface. Facial oils after water-based serums help your skin retain nutrients, moisture, and water. So, your skin enjoys benefits from both products.

RELATED: Are You Layering Your Skin Care Routine In The Correct Order?

Acne-Prone Skin Also Needs Oil- and Water-Based products

Many persons with acne-prone skin might think twice or even thrice about using oil-based serums and facial oils despite their benefits to the skin. However, staying away from oil-based products can cause dehydrated skin and lead to breakouts.

Water and oil work hand in hand to improve skin moisture and stop water evaporation from your skin. So, instead of foregoing the hydration that they offer and suffer for it, you can use a lightweight face oil or lightweight serums with facial oil layering to protect, nourish, and keep your skin glowing.

RELATED: Can You Use a Facial Oil Instead of a Cream or Lotion?

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