Argan oil on your face: a day and night routine

Putting oil on your face still makes a lot of people nervous, especially with combination or oil-prone skin. Adding oil to something that already shines sounds like a contradiction.

But argan oil is one of the few that works well on almost every skin type, precisely because it is light and non-comedogenic: it doesn't clog pores. What matters is when you apply it and where it sits in your routine.

The right order: oil always goes last

This is the rule broken most often. Products go on from lightest to heaviest texture, and oil is the heaviest thing in a normal routine.

Apply oil before your cream or serum and you create a layer that stops everything else from getting through. The order that works is:

1. Cleanser
2. Toner or thermal water (optional)
3. Serum (optional)
4. Moisturiser
5. Argan oil
6. Sunscreen — mornings only

The oil acts as the final step: it seals in everything underneath and slows water loss through the day or night.

Morning routine

Two drops are enough. Warm them between your fingertips and press them gently onto your face — press, don't rub or drag the skin.

One trick makes a real difference: apply it to slightly damp skin, right after your moisturiser. The oil then holds that moisture in rather than sealing skin that has already dried out.

Wait two or three minutes before sunscreen and make-up. If you're in a hurry, keep the oil for the evening only.

Night routine

At night you can go up to three drops, which is when argan does its best work: skin loses more water during sleep, and a light occlusive layer helps limit that loss.

Focus on the areas where skin is thinner or dries out first: around the eyes (without going too close to the moving eyelid), the corners of the mouth and the sides of the nose.

Two drops in the morning, three at night. If your skin looks shiny an hour later, it isn't the oil — it's the amount.

Adapting it to your skin type

• Dry skin: 3 drops morning and night. You can mix it straight into your moisturiser in your palm.
• Combination or oily skin: 1–2 drops, at night only to begin with. Avoid the T-zone for the first few weeks, then extend if your skin responds well.
• Sensitive skin: start with 2 drops at night, twice a week, and build up slowly.
• Mature skin: 3 drops at night, including the neck and décolleté, which are almost always forgotten.

Always patch test first

Before applying any new product to your whole face, try a drop on the inside of your forearm and wait 24 hours. It's a basic precaution that applies to any cosmetic, including single-ingredient ones.

If you notice redness, itching or any reaction, stop using the product and consult a healthcare professional.

The three most common mistakes

1. Applying it before your cream. It blocks the rest of your routine. Always last.

2. Using too much. More oil doesn't hydrate more; it just leaves shine and can mark your bedding. Two or three drops cover the whole face.

3. Rubbing instead of pressing. Dragging facial skin doesn't help. Press with your fingertips and let it absorb on its own.

How to tell if your oil is pure

Pure 100% cosmetic argan oil has a light golden colour, a fluid texture and a mild nutty scent that fades within minutes of application. The label should list a single ingredient: Argania spinosa kernel oil.

If it smells strongly of fragrance, or of nothing at all, it has probably been refined or blended with cheaper oils.

This article is informational and cosmetic in nature. For any skin condition, please consult a healthcare professional.