Face oils and moisturisers are often treated as interchangeable skincare products, but they don't necessarily perform the same job. A conventional moisturiser is typically an emulsion containing both water and oil-based ingredients, allowing it to combine humectants, emollients and occlusives within a single formulation. A face oil, by contrast, is usually an anhydrous blend of oils and other oil-soluble ingredients, meaning its primary role is generally emollience and lipid

Every effective moisturiser is built around the same goal: helping the skin stay hydrated and maintain a healthy barrier. To achieve this, formulators typically combine three different types of ingredients - humectants, emollients and occlusives. Each plays a distinct role in supporting the skin, and together they help improve hydration, reduce excessive moisture loss and maintain skin comfort. Understanding these ingredient categories makes it easier to choose products based

Moisturisers are among the most widely used skincare products, yet they're also one of the most misunderstood. Many people assume that moisturisers simply "add moisture" to the skin. In reality, healthy skin already contains water. The primary role of a moisturiser is to help the skin retain that water, support the skin barrier and reduce excessive moisture loss. Not all moisturisers work in the same way. Different formulations use different combinations of ingredients to sup