To use face oil, apply 2 to 3 drops to clean, slightly damp skin after your lighter skincare products. Use it before or after moisturizer, mix a small amount into moisturizer or foundation, or apply it as the final step at night. Start with a few drops and adjust to how your skin feels.
When the weather starts getting cooler, I always notice one thing first: my skincare routine changes without me really planning it.
The lightweight products I was happy using through summer suddenly don't feel quite as comfortable. My skin seems to want something richer, and that's usually when I reach for a face oil.
But here's the thing. A face oil doesn't have to sit on your shelf as that one extra product you use occasionally. There are actually several simple ways to work it into a fall skincare routine, depending on what your skin needs that day. Our Carrier Oils for Skin collection is a good place to start browsing if you don't already have one on hand.
If you're wondering how to use face oil, the easiest approach is to apply a few drops to slightly damp skin after your water based skincare, or layer it over moisturizer to help leave skin feeling soft and comfortable. You can also use it in small amounts with moisturizer, blend a drop into foundation, or press it onto areas that feel particularly dry.
The trick is not using more. It's finding the method that works for your routine.
Face Oil Is More Versatile Than You Think
I used to think of face oil as a very specific step: cleanse, moisturize, add oil, done.
But once I started experimenting with different application methods, I realized how versatile it can be.
A good face oil routine doesn't need to be complicated. In fact, I prefer using the same oil in different ways depending on the season, the rest of my skincare, and how my skin feels that day.
Fall is particularly well suited to this kind of flexibility. Cooler air can make skincare feel less forgiving, especially if you're already using products that leave your skin feeling dry or tight.
That doesn't mean you need to completely replace your existing routine.
Sometimes, one or two drops are enough to make your usual routine feel more comfortable.
And that's what I like about face oils. They're easy to adjust to however your routine is shifting with the weather, without needing an entirely different lineup of products.
7 Ways to Use Face Oil This Fall
1. Layer It Under Moisturizer
This is one of the simplest places to start if you're new to face oils.
After cleansing, apply your usual water based skincare products first. Then press a few drops of face oil onto your skin before finishing with moisturizer.
I like this approach when I want the lightweight feel of an oil without making it the final step of my routine.
The important part is using a small amount. Your face shouldn't feel like it's wearing a layer of oil. You just want enough to leave the skin feeling soft and comfortable.
If you're building a face oil into your skincare routine for the first time, this is an easy method to experiment with because you don't have to change everything else you're already doing.
A simple order can look like this:
Cleanser → serum → face oil → moisturizer
Give each layer a moment to settle before adding the next one.
2. Mix a Drop Into Your Moisturizer
If layering feels like one step too many, try combining a small amount of face oil with your moisturizer in your palm before applying it.
This is particularly handy in fall when your usual moisturizer suddenly feels a little too lightweight.
And yes, can you mix face oil with moisturizer? You can combine a small amount in your hand for application, provided both products are intended for facial use and are compatible with your skin.
I wouldn't mix an entire bottle of oil into your moisturizer, though. Keep the two products separate and combine them only when you're ready to use them.
Start with one drop of oil and see how that feels.
You can always add another drop later. You can't really take one away once you've applied it.
3. Add a Drop to Your Foundation
This is one of my favorite fall tricks when foundation starts looking a little less forgiving.
Put your usual amount of foundation on the back of your hand and add a tiny drop of face oil. Mix them together before applying.
The result can give foundation a more fluid texture and a fresh, dewy looking finish.
This works particularly well with foundations that already have a natural or luminous finish. If you're using a very matte formula, the effect can vary, so I'd experiment with a small amount first.
One of my biggest face oil tips here is to resist the temptation to add several drops. Too much oil can change the way foundation sits on the skin and may make it feel heavier than you intended.
One tiny drop is plenty to start with. If you're exploring different options, our Blue Tansy Face Oil is worth a look — it's a lightweight facial blend built for exactly this kind of use.
4. Press It Onto Dry Looking Areas
You don't always need to apply face oil everywhere.
Sometimes, I use it more selectively.
If certain areas of my face look or feel drier than the rest, I'll warm one or two drops of a lightweight carrier oil between my fingertips and gently press it onto those areas. Our guide to choosing the right carrier oil for your skin type is a good place to start if you're not sure which one fits your skin.
This is particularly useful during fall because different parts of your face don't necessarily need the same amount of product.
For example, you might prefer a lighter application around the forehead and nose while giving the cheeks a little more attention.
This is also where a face oil for dry skin can become a useful part of a simple seasonal routine. Rather than adding more product everywhere, concentrate a small amount where you actually want extra softness.
5. Use It as the Final Step at Night
If you enjoy a richer nighttime routine, face oil can work beautifully as the final step.
Cleanse your face, apply your usual skincare, and finish with a few drops of oil.
I think of this as my "keep it simple" method.
There are nights when I don't want to think about whether I'm using five different products in the correct order. I just want to cleanse, moisturize, add a little oil and go to bed.
The oil acts as the finishing touch to the routine, leaving the skin feeling soft and conditioned by morning.
You don't need a large amount. In fact, using too much is one of the easiest ways to make a nighttime oil routine feel uncomfortable.
6. Use It on Slightly Damp Skin
Here's another small change that can make a big difference to how a face oil feels.
Instead of waiting until your skin is completely dry after cleansing, apply your oil while the skin is still slightly damp.
Not dripping wet. Just lightly damp.
I find that this makes the oil easier to spread, so I don't feel the need to use as much.
It can also make the application feel more comfortable because you're not dragging your fingertips across completely dry skin.
This is especially easy to incorporate into a morning or evening routine. Cleanse, gently pat your face, leave a little moisture behind and then apply a few drops of your face oil.
7. Extend the Routine Beyond Your Face
Face oils don't necessarily have to stop at your jawline.
If the oil you're using is suitable for body application, you can also use a small amount on areas such as your hands, elbows, cuticles or other spots that tend to feel dry during cooler weather.
I particularly like this approach when I'm already using oil and don't want to add another product to my bathroom shelf.
Just remember that facial products aren't automatically suitable for every part of the body, especially if they contain concentrated essential oils. Always check the product's intended use and dilution instructions before applying it elsewhere.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A good face oil routine is less about adding more products and more about using the right amount in the right way.
It can be easy to overload your routine with oil or apply it in the wrong way, which can leave your routine feeling a lot denser than it needs to. I've written about some of these mistakes elsewhere on the blog, but here are a few habits to watch out for daily.
Using Too Much
More oil doesn't mean more benefit.
Start with a couple of drops and see how your skin feels. If you need more, add it gradually.
Applying It Without Considering the Rest of Your Routine
Think about what you're already using.
If you have several rich products in your routine, you may only need a very small amount of oil. On the other hand, if your routine is lightweight, you may prefer using the oil as the finishing step.
Rubbing Too Aggressively
There's no need to massage face oil into your skin for several minutes.
Warm it between your fingertips and gently press or smooth it over the face.
Using Essential Oils Directly on the Face
This one is particularly important.
A concentrated essential oil is not the same thing as a ready to use facial oil. Do not use essential oils on your face without first diluting them properly. Our skin care with carrier oils guide walks through how to select a base for your routine, and our step by step guide to diluting essential oils covers ratios if you want to go further. Our Essential Oils for Skin Care Rituals collection is also worth a browse for facial-safe essential oils once you've got a carrier oil sorted.
Changing Everything at Once
When I try a new skincare product, I prefer changing one thing at a time.
That way, I actually know how my routine feels with the new addition instead of introducing three products and wondering which one made the difference.
Making Face Oil Part of Your Fall Routine
The biggest lesson I've learned with face oils is that they don't need to become another complicated step.
You can use a few drops under moisturizer, mix one into your foundation, apply it selectively to dry looking areas, or simply make it your final step at night.
That's the beauty of a flexible face oil routine.
You can adjust it depending on the season, the products you're already using and how your skin feels that day.
And when fall arrives and your usual skincare starts feeling a little different, you don't necessarily need an entirely new routine.
Sometimes, all you need is a small bottle of face oil and a few different ways to use it.
