There are very few skin care products on the market that most of the population uses every day. However, it’s pretty safe to say that moisturizer, above all others, might be the one product that’s universally used daily. Knowing this, Carrie Underwood’s latest admission to quitting moisturizer is quite surprising—especially because most celebrities tend to vocalize their adoration for luxe anti-aging creams and pricey lotions.
“I’ve switched from using moisturizers more into using oils,” Underwood said in an interview with Well & Good. “Just because I feel like they get absorbed into your skin so much better. I always thought that oils would clog my pores and they don’t.” It turns out, Underwood prefers slathering on either coconut oil or a Decleor skin serum to hydrate her skin rather than moisturizer. But while Underwood’s skin clearly looks incredible, not everyone agrees that cutting out this beauty product is the key to a glowing complexion.
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“It’s not true that facial oils get absorbed better,” says Mt Pleasant, SC dermatologist, Marguerite Germain, MD. “What the oil does is form a thin film on the skin, which feels like it is absorbed because the skin feels softer, but it’s not really absorbed well at all.”
Additionally, Dr. Germain says that only people with a very healthy, intact skin barrier can tolerate using facial oils, which means they won’t benefit people with a problematic skin barrier. “Moisturizers are built around systems that are good for your skin and give it what it needs—proper lipids like ceramides, humectants like hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants like green tea,” says Dr. Germain. “Facial oils can provide a few of these things, but when they do, it is in very low quantities.”
So, as Dr. Germain asserts, it’s important that you don’t throw out your moisturizer just yet. While facial oils may work well for Underwood, they aren’t the answer for everyone, so speak with a board-certified dermatologist to determine which product type is the best way to hydrate your skin before drastically changing your routine.
