But their most compelling advantage? They hydrate the skin in different ways.
See what sets the two apart, and the ingredients to look for.
Moisturizers and oils offer many skin-friendly benefits.
A moisturizer is simply a product that helps retain or add moisture to the skin, says Dr. Nina Naidu, a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Oils are heavier and provide more of a conditioning effect. Unlike moisturizers, oils do not add or draw water to the skin.
To provide hydration, it must contain a humectant (like aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin) to draw in water and an occlusive (like petrolatum, jojoba oil, or silicones) to hold in that moisture.
Vitamin-rich jojoba and marula oils, as well as squalene, will not clog the pores given their small molecular size.