Here at Albert Review, it’s no secret that we love a good facial serum. Ditto facial oil. So, naturally, we’re intrigued at what the new wave of serum oil hybrid products can do. These serum-oils (or oil-serums) are a new category of skincare products that combine serums with oils. When it comes to the benefits of serum-oil hybrids, it’s essential to understand how both serums and oils work on their own.
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The most potent part of any good skincare routine, serums contain a high concentration of active ingredients like botanicals, exfoliating or hydrating acids, vitamins, and nutrients. Serums are lightweight and possess a lower molecule size, allowing them to penetrate the skin more deeply than other skincare formulas. Meanwhile, oils are generally formulated from botanical ingredients and have a larger molecule size, working to seal moisture into the skin without penetrating into the deeper layers of the dermis.
When combined, a good serum-oil works to provide active ingredients as well as moisture and hydration in one dose. Serum-oil hybrids provide the skin with the benefits of a serum, in the consistency of a lightweight oil. A serum-oil hybrid can be particularly beneficial during the winter months, as they deliver targeted actives into the skin while nourishing the outer layers and strengthening the skin barrier with moisturising fatty acids.
How to incorporate a serum-oil hybrid into your skincare routine
Serum oils should be used after cleansing and toning, and before moisturising.
The best serum-oil hybrid products
1. L’Occitane Immortelle Overnight Reset Serum
This oil-in-serum formula from heritage French beauty label L’Occitane works overnight to help skin recover from environmental aggressors (think sun exposure, pollution). Combining marjoram and acmella oleracea botanical extracts with L’Occitane’s antioxidant-rich imortelle essential oil, this serum-oil hybrid hydrates the skin while reducing the appearance of signs of ageing.
2. Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum
A bi-phase treatment, this Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum glides on with the consistency of a lightweight serum, while providing the moisturising benefits of an oil. Combining squalane and camelina oil with rosewater and damask rose extract, it works to soothe and hydrate to give skin that often elusive dewy glow.
3. Glossier Futuredew
Designed to give you that signature dewy Glossier skin, this oil-serum hybrid blends four plant oils with squalane, evodia rutaecarpa fruit extract, and light-reflecting minerals to moisturise the skin while providing a brightening effect. Unlike other formulas, Glossier Futuredew is designed to be applied over your moisturiser and sunscreen, and before makeup.
4. Korres Wild Rose 15% Vitamin C Spotless Serum
A bi-phase serum, the Korres Wild Rose 15% Vitamin C Spotless Serum uses a vitamin C enriched oil phase to brighten and even out skin tone, and a water phase which works to minimise the appearance of hyperpigmentation and skin discolouration.
5. Sand & Sky Australian Emu Apple Dreamy Glow Drops
Multi-level hyaluronic acid and vitamin C work to hydrate and plump skin while providing a brightening effect. Meanwhile, an oil and hemisqualane blend provide nourishment and smoothen skin while locking in active ingredients.
6. The Jojoba Company Youth Potion
Providing the benefits of a serum within a nourishing oil formula, The Jojoba Company Youth Potion combines the brand’s signature jojoba oil with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids. Enriched with antioxidant CoQ10, L22 (an oil blend designed to mimic the lipid barrier of a healthy 22-year-old), and vitamin C, this formula works to help your skin heal itself, resulting in a firmer, brighter complexion.
7. Clarins Double Serum
Formulated with over twenty active oil and water-based plant extracts, Clarins Double Serum is a multitasking serum that works to reduce key signs of ageing by smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines while promoting a more radiant complexion. The bottle houses two serums which are released together, providing a high dose of antioxidants which protect from external aggressors like UV exposure, pollution, and extreme weather conditions.
8. The Jojoba Company Skin Balancing Oil
Technically an infused oil, The Jojoba Company Skin Balancing Oil utilises natural anti-ageing plant extract bakuchiol in conjunction with jojoba, parsley seed, grapeseed, and juniper berry oil to firm skin, regulate oil production, and improve the appearance of pores.
9. Dior Prestige La Micro-Huile De Rose Advanced Serum
With the richness of an oil and the penetrative benefits of a serum, the Dior Prestige La Micro-Huile De Rose Advanced Serum utilises the entirety of the micronutrient-rich Rose de Granville flower to plump skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. A definitively luxury buy, this serum houses thousands of micro-pearls in rose sap, striking the perfect balance between a serum and an oil.
Words by Arabella Johnson
