The exokiss journal · body · 4 min read
Body serum vs body oil (and where body cream fits)
By the exokiss team ·
In short
- A body serum is a light, water-based layer that hydrates and sinks in fast. Pick it if you want to get dressed straight away.
- A body oil has no water in it. It softens, adds glow, and works best on skin that is still damp.
- A body cream is the richest of the three. Keep it for rough, dry spots such as elbows, knees and heels.
- You can use two together: serum first, then a few drops of oil where skin feels driest.
Body serum vs body oil comes down to water. A serum is mostly water with hydrating ingredients and a little oil, so it feels light and disappears. An oil is all oil, so it leaves skin soft and glowy but brings no water of its own. A body cream sits past both: thicker, richer, and best where skin feels rough.
Body serum vs body oil vs body cream at a glance
| Silk Skin Body Serum | Glow Body Oil | Urea Body Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Creamy, fast-sinking serum. Water is the first ingredient | Seven organic seed oils. No water in the formula | Rich cream with 5% hydroxyethyl urea and 2% panthenol |
| Feel and finish | Creamy, then dewy | Light oil that sinks in fast, with no greasy film | Rich, soft and non-greasy |
| Hydrating ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, betaine, glycerin | None; it is all oils | Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA |
| Softening oils | Jojoba and rosehip | Sunflower, sweet almond, jojoba, argan, rosehip, raspberry seed, pumpkin seed | Sunflower seed oil |
| Best for | Dry and dehydrated skin | All skin types, especially dehydrated skin | Rough, dry patches |
| When | After showering; reapply as needed | Morning and night, ideally right after a bath or shower | Morning and night, every day |
| Scent | Citrus, pink pepper, sandalwood | Green cardamom, rosemary, galbanum | Cucumber, lemon, green thyme |
What a body serum does
A body serum sits between a lotion and an oil: creamy enough to feel cushioned, light enough to disappear. Our Silk Skin Body Serum uses sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), sodium PCA and betaine for a hydrated feel, with jojoba and rosehip oils so skin feels softer.
It replaces a body lotion; it is not an extra step. Massage it over clean skin after the shower, more on dry areas, and you can dress soon after. It is COSMOS Natural certified by Ecocert Greenlife, 99% natural origin, vegan and cruelty-free, at pH 5.0 to 5.3, in a 9.13 fl oz (270 mL) pump bottle.
What a body oil does
An oil softens skin and gives it a glowy look, but it has no water to add. That is why timing matters. The American Academy of Dermatology advises putting moisturizer on while skin is still damp from the bath or shower, and the directions on our oil say the same: a few drops over clean, slightly damp skin, massaged in until absorbed.
Many body oils feel heavy because they lean on one thick oil. Our Glow Body Oil blends seven lighter plant oils, all from organic farming, so it sinks in fast with no greasy film. It is COSMOS Organic certified by Ecocert Greenlife, 86% organic and 99% natural origin, vegan and cruelty-free, in a 5.07 fl oz (150 mL) bottle.
Where body cream fits
The American Academy of Dermatology says creams and ointments are more effective than lotions for dry skin. So when a patch feels rough instead of just thirsty, reach for the cream. Our Urea Body Cream is built around 5% hydroxyethyl urea, which helps rough, dry skin look smoother and feel softer, with 2% panthenol for a comfortable feel.
Use it anywhere skin feels dry, with extra on elbows, knees and heels. Our guide to urea cream for rough, dry skin explains what the percentage means.
Which one should you pick?
- You dress two minutes after the shower: body serum.
- Your skin looks dull and you want glow on legs and shoulders: body oil, on damp skin.
- Your skin feels tight all over: serum for its hydrating ingredients; add oil on top if it still feels dry.
- Elbows, knees or heels feel rough: body cream on those spots, whatever you use elsewhere.
- You want one bottle only: the serum is the closest to an everyday lotion.
How to layer a body serum and a body oil
- Pat skin until it is just damp. Do not rub it bone-dry.
- Serum first. Massage it in all over until absorbed.
- Oil second, and only where needed. Press a few drops onto extra-dry areas for a glowier look.
- Cream on the rough spots. A rich cream for the roughest patches, the oil for an all-over glow.
Honest limits
All three of ours are scented with fragrance and essential oils. None is fragrance-free. The Academy recommends fragrance-free products for very dry, easily irritated skin, so if that is you, choose a fragrance-free moisturizer and read our guide to fragrance-free vs unscented.
The Glow Body Oil contains organic sweet almond oil, which comes from a tree nut. If you have a nut allergy, check with your doctor before using it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for your body, lotion or oil?
They do different jobs. A lotion or serum brings water and hydrating ingredients; an oil softens and adds glow. For dry skin, the American Academy of Dermatology rates creams and ointments as more effective than lotions, applied while skin is still damp.
What is the difference between an oil and a serum?
A body serum is water-based and contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, so it feels light and sinks in fast. A body oil is a blend of oils with no water. It softens skin and leaves a glow.
Can I use both a body serum and a body oil?
Yes. Apply the serum first, all over, then press a few drops of oil onto the driest areas. The serum hydrates and the oil adds softness and glow on top.
Can I use body oil on my face?
Our Glow Body Oil is made for the body, and it is scented. For the face we make a separate Glow Face Oil.
Should body oil go on wet or dry skin?
Slightly damp is best. Our directions say clean, dry or slightly damp skin, ideally straight after a bath or shower, and dermatologists advise moisturizing while skin is still damp.
Sources
American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
Product details are taken from the exokiss product pages. This article is general information, not medical advice.
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