Should You Use Moisturizing Oil Instead of Lotion on Your Face?
Oprah.com |
February 21, 2011
You've got questions? Our Beauty Director, Valerie Monroe, has answers.
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.
