Face Oils vs Moisturisers: What Mature Skin Really Needs
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One of the most common questions I hear as a skin therapist is:
“Do I still need a moisturiser if I use a facial oil?”
The answer is simple: most mature skin benefits from both.
Facial oils and moisturisers serve different roles in skincare. When used together correctly, they can dramatically improve hydration, strengthen the skin barrier, and support healthier, more resilient skin.
Understanding how they work allows you to build a routine that truly supports your skin as it changes with age.
The Difference Between Oils and Moisturisers
Although they may feel similar on the skin, facial oils and moisturisers perform very different functions.
Moisturisers focus on hydration.
They typically contain water and humectants that help attract and hold moisture in the skin.
Facial oils provide nourishment and barrier support.
They deliver essential lipids and fatty acids that strengthen the skin barrier and help prevent moisture loss.
Think of moisturisers as bringing hydration into the skin, while facial oils help restore the protective lipid layer that keeps that hydration locked in.
Both are essential for healthy skin.
Why Mature Skin Needs Lipids
As we age, the skin naturally produces fewer lipids.
Lipids are natural fats that form part of the skin barrier. They help maintain softness, elasticity and the skin’s ability to retain moisture.
When lipid levels decline, the skin can become:
• drier
• more sensitive
• prone to dehydration
• more prone to visible fine lines
This is why many people notice their usual moisturiser no longer feels like enough as they get older.
Often the skin isn’t just lacking hydration it’s lacking lipids that help maintain a strong barrier.
The Role of Omega Fatty Acids in Skincare
Many botanical oils are naturally rich in omega fatty acids, which play an important role in maintaining the skin barrier.
These include:
Omega-3 – helps calm and repair the skin
Omega-6 – strengthens the skin barrier and reduces moisture loss
Omega-9 – deeply nourishes and softens the skin
Plant oils such as camellia, safflower, macadamia, walnut and sea buckthorn are naturally rich in these essential fatty acids.
Together, these lipids help support a stronger, more resilient skin barrier.
Lipid-Rich Botanical Oils
Tide & Glow formulations feature plant oils naturally rich in Omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, including camellia, safflower, macadamia and sea buckthorn.
These nutrient-rich oils help support the skin’s natural lipid barrier, reduce moisture loss and keep skin soft, resilient and radiant.
The Best Way to Layer Oils and Moisturisers
There is a common belief that facial oils should always be applied last.
However, when oils are rich in skin-supporting lipids and fatty acids, they can absorb beautifully into the skin and work well before moisturiser.
A simple routine looks like this:
1. Hydrating mist or serum
This introduces water and hydration to the skin.
2. Facial oil rich in lipids and omegas
The oil delivers nourishment and supports the skin barrier.
3. Moisturiser
The moisturiser helps seal everything in while adding additional hydration and comfort.
This approach provides the skin with both hydration and lipid support, which is particularly beneficial for mature or dry skin.
The Glowe Co Philosophy
At The Glowe Co, our formulations are designed around barrier-supportive botanical oils rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants.
Ingredients such as camellia oil, safflower oil, macadamia oil and sea buckthorn provide a natural source of omega fatty acids that help strengthen the skin’s lipid barrier.
Products like Rewind Elixir and Dew Drops are designed to work alongside moisturising products, helping the skin retain hydration while improving softness, resilience and glow.
When hydration and lipids work together, the skin simply functions better.
A Balanced Ritual for Healthy Skin
Skincare isn’t about choosing oils or moisturisers.
It’s about understanding how different ingredients support the skin.
Moisturisers deliver hydration.
Facial oils restore essential lipids and strengthen the barrier.
When used together, they create the ideal environment for healthy, radiant skin.
Because beautiful skin isn’t just about what you apply it’s about creating a ritual that truly supports your skin’s needs.