Recently a friend asked to explain the difference between a face oil, and an oil serum. “Aren’t they the same?” she asked.

The answer is, no. 

The word ‘serum’ is widely used in skincare and means different things to different people. The confusion arises because serums can be gel based, water based, oil based, or an emulsion of both oil & water. 

For our purposes, we will focus on oil-based serums vs face oils as these are the two that are most commonly mixed up.

So what’s the difference? Let’s clarify the confusion.

Understanding face oils and oil serums

Both face oils and oil based serums are prevalent in today’s skincare. This is because botanical oils quickly and easily penetrate into the top layer of the dermis and help strengthen skin barrier function providing instant moisturization and comfort to skin.

But there is one key difference between the two, and that difference lies ultimately in visible results you get from using one versus the other. Let's dive in.

Face oils

Face oils are made of general purpose carrier oils that moisturize the skin by reinforcing its barrier. This makes them ideal for basic, daily hydration. Many face oils are single ingredient oils, like apricot kernel or jojoba oil, with no additional ingredients. While a few may include a modest percentage of high-performance oils, they generally lack the targeted botanical actives found in a facial serum. 

In a nutshell, face oils are:

• Made predominantly with carrier oils like almond, apricot, jojoba, or macerated oils (carrot, marigold, comfrey).
• Include few, if any, aromaceutical ingredients like essential oils.
• Contain no biologically active compounds aside from tocopherol (vitamin E) as an antioxidant.
• Provide basic daily skin moisturizing. 

Serums

Oil serums, on the other hand, are used as concentrated restorative and revitalizing treatments that deliver visible results. 

They contain high-performance biologically active compounds, precious oils, antioxidants, and aromaceuticals. These specialized ingredients not only moisturize and support skin barrier health, they also include restorative essential fatty acids and other phytonutrients that can be metabolized by the skin. 

High performance seed oils like sea buckthorn oil, rosehip seed oil, moringa, camellia seed oil, and dry oils like meadowfoam are prevalent in serums for their deep-penetrating and fast-absorbing qualities.

Unlike face oils, facial serums target specific concerns like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or enlarged pores by using active ingredients that offer visible benefits beyond hydration.

In summary, facial serums:

• Target specific concerns like; spots, fine lines, reactive skin, acne-prone skin, flaky skin, and more.
• Have marked effects on improving the appearance of skin.
• Absorb quickly and penetrate deeply into the skin.
• Are made with high performance botanical oils like sea buckthorn oil, rosehip seed oil, moringa oil, camellia seed oil, and dry oils like meadowfoam.
• Contain concentrated amounts of antioxidants (polyphenols) like flavanals, flavones, and resveratrol, to name a few.
• Contain biologically active compounds.
• Are rich in essential fatty acids, Omegas 3,6,7, and 9.
• Some even Iinclude mood-boosting aromaceuticals like precious essential oils from rose, neroli, and other rare flower essences.

Anatomy of an oil serum

A facial serum like our Alpine Phytonutrient Serum is crafted to smooth fine lines, restoring vibrancy and radiance to depleted skin. It also contains aromatic compounds that uplift mood and boost relaxation. Results are immediately visibible and long lasting.

Key ingredients and their benefits

The Alpine Phytonutrient Serum is a testament to the efficacy of meticulously selected ingredients. 

This serum features:

• Arnica Montana: Known These blooms target puffiness and dark spots.
• High Altitude Sea Buckthorn and Rosehip: These ingredients are rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids that help restore skin luminosity and tone.
• Nepalese Goji and Acai: promote hydrophilic skin plumping and minimize the appearance of fine lines.

How to use an oil serum

To integrate oil serums into your skincare regime, start with a clean base. For serums like The Alpine, apply one pump or 2-3 drops directly to the face and neck, massaging gently until absorbed. 

Serums can be layered under a moisturizer or sunscreen for daytime use or under a richer cream at night for enhanced benefits.

Why choose TellurideGlow serums?

Our serums are a blend of nature’s best ingredients tailored to nurture and revitalize your skin. They stand out due to their:

• High Concentration of Active Ingredients: Delivering targeted solutions to enhance your skin’s health.
• Rapid Absorption: Ensuring that potent ingredients penetrate deeply without leaving a greasy residue.
• Versatility: Suitable for use in any skincare routine, whether morning or night.

Choosing between a face oil and a serum doesn’t have to be an either/or decision. Depending on your skin’s needs, incorporating both into your skincare routine can provide comprehensive benefits. 

With TellurideGlow’s carefully formulated products, empower your skincare routine with the best of nature and science.

Adaptogens are the new buzzword in skincare but these ingredients that have been used for hundreds, maybe thousands, of years in herbal medicine to restore the body to its natural state.

In skincare, adaptogens work like antioxidants in that their main purpose is to protect the body from external stressors and bring it back to its normal state. They can decrease inflammation, cleanse the skin by killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi, decrease oil production, protect, and hydrate while providing potent antioxidants.

Traditionally, adaptogenic herbs have grown in some of the most inhospitable areas of the planet which likely gives them their stress and fatigue-fighting properties. Some adaptogens are considered extremophiles of the plant kindgom.

Bioavailability is key

Adaptogen plants need to be quality-controlled to have bioavailability and proven ability to reach the targeted skin layer. The best way to do this is to leave them in their natural state, undisturbed by heat and processing as we do with our whole-plant ingredients at Telluride Glow. Care and thoughtfulness must be applied at every step, from harvest to formulation, if the skin is to reap the full benefits. 

Adaptogen plants often grow in stressed environments, bestowing potent nutrients as a survival mechanism. For us, that means delivering better skin nutrition. 

TellurideGlow transports raw plant energy from alpine survivalist plants right to your skin. We source worldwide to provide the highest ratios and greatest variety of cytoprotective high-altitude botanicals on the market. 

Age-old adaptogenic botanicals

Each adaptogenic ingredient in our formulas uniquely supports the skin, bringing overall balance and resilience to the complexion. 

Tremella mushroom (aka snow mushroom)

The polysaccharides (naturally occurring long chains of carbohydrate molecules) found in tremella have immunological properties. They help adjust the immune system to assist the body in fighting off skin stressors. You can find snow mushroom in our Snow Rose Recovery Mask.

Aloe vera

Aloe is known to contain twelve substances that play a role in soothing inflammation. The disinfecting and antimicrobial properties also play a role in fighting harmful bacteria. This wonder plant is perfectly suited to assist the body with defense mechanisms. And it's just one of the many reasons we choose aloe as our first ingredient (as opposed to water) in our best-selling Aspen Dew Illuminating Essence. 

Marchmallow root

Stress has been shown to impair the skin barrier, leaving it prone to water loss and dehydration. Marshmallow root helps to fortify the skin barrier and increase skin hydration. The healing, moisturizing, and soothing qualities of marshmallow root make it highly effective for revitalizing stressed skin.

Goji berry

Lycium barbarum (Goji) contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory carotenoids, and flavonoids. Goji berries can help stimulate collagen, improving your skin's elasticity to keep it looking radiant. Goji reduces irritation and minimizes sun damage that leads to wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin. 

Moringa

Moringa is an Ayurvedic favorite that is ultra-hydrating and boasts a high antioxidant content that helps protect against pollution. Discover the hydrating powers of moringa for yourself in our Alpine Phytonutrient Serum. 

Lavender and chamomile essential oil 

These are aromatic nervines that support the nervous system. They are used to help relieve muscle tension, circular thoughts, wakeful nights, and the occasional worry...or perhaps ongoing worry that many are experiencing during the coronavirus.

Sea buckthorn

A super fruit that contains all of the omegas — not just 3, 6, and 9, but also the ultra-rare 7 — as well as more than 60 antioxidants and at least 20 minerals.

Known as “Holy Fruit” in the Himalayan Mountains where it is grown, it is often used to improve skin health, as it has been linked to healing psoriasis and to slowing aging. Sea Buckthorn is recognized for its outstanding cellular regeneration properties for skin, you can find it in our Purist Delicate Skin Serum.

Do you know what damages skincare nutrients? 

Heat, light, and air.

To keep your products at top efficacy, look for dark containers to keep out light, and avoid products in clear glass, especially those with fragile antioxidants.

Seek out treatment pumps over droppers to keep out air, and choose companies that use cold processing and cold formulating.

Effective recovery skincare starts with premium ingredients that go well beyond average. Our science-backed secret at TellurideGlow is integrating high-performance and high-grade extremophiles, with minimal processing, into every TellurideGlow formula. 

Extreme-O what?!?

An extremophile is an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth. Extremophiles hail from the harshest environments on the planet, including mountainous regions. In the plant kingdom, botanical extremophiles are also known as  extremophytes.

Not all antioxidants are alike. It is the very nature of extremophiles to thrive where other organisms cannot, doing so by producing potent secondary metabolites that manufacture an abundance of phytonutrients, the real workhorses of antioxidants that encourage regeneration, discourage inflammation and defend against aggression.

Palpable botanical benefits are the phytoceramides, essential fatty acids, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals in abundance that help keep both plants and skin healthy and vitalized.

Think of extremophiles as the Olympic athletes of plants. They continually train harder and perform better than the average plant, and the results are more profound.

How it all started

Our founder, Mary Alice, had a mission to not let the unforgiving climate of Telluride, Colorado win the battle over healthy skin. Depleted skin became the norm from living about 9,000 feet above sea level with low oxygen and humidity, intense UV radiation, and extreme wind, snowfall, and temperatures. Nothing worked, at any price. 

Her research led right outside of her window in the 13,000 to 14,000 majestic peaks surrounding Telluride. The most brutal growing conditions in the world also produce the most powerful, high-performance plants in the world, and those plants became integral to TellurideGlow’s Recovery Skincare.

TellurideGlow delivers results with some of the industry’s highest concentrations of powerful nutrients from 13 fortifying alpine survivalist plants to transport the energy of nature right to your skin.

We harness the power of over 50 of the highest-grade botanical ingredients for complete skin-beautifying nutrition. Every product is 100% natural with actives that help to accelerate regeneration, way beyond average.

Alpine plant power is at the heart of every TellurideGlow creation, formulated with the highest ratios and the greatest variety of cytoprotective alpine botanicals on the market for unsurpassed skin revival.

 “I love this oil! It's the best moisturizer for this dry, rotten climate I live in!” ~Cynthia 

Hardworking alpine recovery botanicals restore skin health 

We step beyond the boundaries of Telluride to find extremophile plants with the most active, skin-boosting whole-plant ingredients that can only be found in exotic higher elevations, and make them the foundation for elevated recovery skincare.

Antioxidant-rich Cloudberries withstanding temperatures of 40 below zero in Arctic Scandinavia

Rare and protected Edelweiss from the Swiss Alps with more free radical fighting ability than vitamin C

Himalayan Sea Buckthorn Berries with over 190 micronutrients that feed your skin

Rare, mineral-rich Glacial Clay from the Southern Alps of New Zealand

Skin-smoothing Aspen Bark plus mountain meadow Arnica to boost circulation

Actives from these survivalist plants keep your skin feeling so nourished that you can walk out of the house without giving it a second thought.

“You have a beautiful product! Yesterday I went to physical therapy, so no makeup. Everyone kept telling me how beautiful my skin is!!” ~G. Johnson

Vibrant skin to withstand urban agression

Harsh weather. Pollutants. Stress. Aging. Sensitivities. Outdoor lifestyles. They all contribute to skin aging faster than normal. And while we know we can’t stop aging, we know we can slow down its effects. 

 “Harsh weather conditions disrupt the skin surface barrier affecting the skin’s ability to retain moisture.” ~ Dr. Hextall, dermatologist, The Harley Medical Group    

Thanks to Mother Nature and her extremophiles, your skin can reclaim strength and resiliency, withstanding any modern-day stresses, anywhere. 

Sea buckthorn is a super-nutrient oil revered in skincare for its unparalleled ability to enhance skin radiance, boost hydration, and combat premature aging. 

This "liquid gold" is not an oceanic extract but a precious yield from the Sea buckthorn shrub, thriving in the lofty realms of the Himalayas. 

Meticulously extracted via mechanical cold pressing from Sea buckthorn berries ensures a potent blend of omegas essential for skin health.

A jewel in traditional medicine

Rooted in centuries-old wisdom, Sea buckthorn has been a cornerstone in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.), cherished for its holistic health benefits. 

Its Latin name, Hippophae rhamnoides, meaning 'shiny horse,' hints at its historical use for enhancing the vitality and coat health of horses, a testament to its nourishing properties.

Omega-rich rejuvenation

The secret behind Sea buckthorn oil's remarkable skin benefits lies in its comprehensive fatty acid profile, encompassing omega-3, 6, 7, and 9, making it a unique botanical source of all four essential omegas. 

These lipids are pivotal in moderating the skin's inflammatory response, which is crucial since chronic inflammation is a precursor to premature aging and DNA damage. 

The anti-inflammatory properties of Sea buckthorn oil not only soothe the skin but also protect it against the ravages of time, promoting a youthful, vibrant complexion.

Beyond inflammation control, these fatty acids facilitate deep skin penetration, promoting regeneration, collagen production, and renewal. This action is critical for epidermal recovery and helps minimize the look of scars. 

Omega-9, for instance, enhances the skin's absorption of other beneficial compounds, whereas omega-6, converted into prostaglandins, plays a vital role in skin recovery and nutrient transport.

A standout feature of Sea buckthorn oil is its omega-7 content, a rarity in the plant kingdom, known for boosting keratinization, telomerase activity, and collagen formation. 

These processes are essential for slowing aging and reducing hyperpigmentation.

Strengthening the skin barrier

The integrity of the skin barrier is fundamental to overall skin health, serving as a defense against microbial invasion and moisture loss. It is also easily compromised as we age, due to a reduction in our skin’s natural oil production.

Sea buckthorn oil's rich phytoceramide and lipid content fortifies this barrier, effectively reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and shielding the skin from inflammation-induced aging and structural damage. 

Its barrier-strengthening properties also offer support for inflammatory skin conditions, such as dermatitis and rosacea, comforting sensitive reactive-prone skin.

Antioxidant power for smoother firmer skin

Environmental stressors like UV radiation, pollution, and psychological stress contribute to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, accelerating skin aging through oxidative stress. 

Sea buckthorn oil is a powerhouse of antioxidants, including polyphenols and vitamins A, E, and C—boasting a vitamin C content 15 times higher than that of oranges!

These antioxidants mitigate ROS damage, support collagen synthesis, and provide regenerative benefits, crucial for preventing premature aging and facilitating skin recovery.

Moreover, the oil's phytonutrients can help curb the activity of sun-induced MMP enzymes responsible for collagen degradation, offering further protection against aging and inflammation.

Enhanced radiance

Sea buckthorn oil may help support skin detoxification and oxygenation, culminating in a more radiant and glowing complexion. 

This improvement boosts skin barrier health and resilience, something that is especially beneficial for those who spend time in extreme climatic conditions, like skiing in Telluride!

Sea buckthorn oil stands out as a multifaceted elixir in skin care, offering a spectrum of benefits from anti-inflammatory and barrier-strengthening actions to antioxidant protection and radiance enhancement. 

You can find Sea buckthorn in our best-selling Alpine Phytonutrient Serum and Purist Delicate Skin Serum.