The Difference Between Moisturizing Oil and Moisturizing Cream

Should You Use Moisturizing Oil Instead of Lotion on Your Face?

You've got questions? Our Beauty Director, Valerie Monroe, has answers.

By Val Monroe

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Photo: Robert Trachtenberg

Q: Is it better to use a moisturizing oil rather than a cream or lotion on my face?

A: Oils are generally occlusives, which means they help seal in moisture already in the skin, but they don't penetrate well, says Heidi Waldorf, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Creams and lotions, on the other hand, contain humectants that pull moisture from the environment and penetrate the skin's outer layer, plumping it; they also contain skin-softening emollients and occlusives.

Val Monroe Answers All Your Beauty Questions

Published on February 21, 2011

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