The easiest way to use a facial oil is at night, as the last step of your routine or pressed over your moisturiser. One pump is plenty: warm it between your fingertips and press it into clean skin rather than rubbing it in. In the UAE this night-time habit suits the climate, because air conditioning dries skin indoors while summer humidity makes heavier textures feel heavy outdoors. By day a facial oil is optional, and sunscreen is always the last step.
Below is the full routine, adjusted for the seasons here, followed by an honest comparison of Gloria's two facial oils and who should skip them.
How to use a facial oil, step by step
- Start with clean skin. Cleanse in the evening to take off the day's sunscreen and make-up, then pat your face dry.
- Apply your usual products first. A serum if you use one, then your moisturiser.
- Dispense one pump, or less. Onto your fingertips or into your palm.
- Warm it for a few seconds. Rub your fingertips together lightly so the oil spreads into a thin film.
- Press it in. Press your fingertips and palms onto your cheeks, forehead, chin and jaw, then finish with a light outward sweep. Keep it away from the eye area.
- Use what is left. Take what remains to your neck or the backs of your hands.
- Give it a few minutes. Let it settle before your face meets the pillow, because any oil can transfer to fabric before it has sunk in.
How much is enough
One pump covers the face for most people, and many find less works better: a facial oil is a thin final layer, not a coating. If your skin still looks shiny after a few minutes, or your pillowcase shows oil in the morning, use less next time.
Press, do not rub
Pressing spreads a thin, even layer without tugging at your skin, and on a face that feels tight after a day in air conditioning, it is more comfortable than hard rubbing.
Where a facial oil goes in your routine
Most skincare routines follow a simple order: watery textures first, then creams, then oils. So in the evening, the facial oil is the last thing you put on.
| Step | Evening (the easy default) | Morning (optional, cooler months) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleanse, removing sunscreen and make-up | Cleanse or rinse |
| 2 | Serum, if you use one | Serum, if you use one |
| 3 | Moisturiser | Moisturiser |
| 4 | Facial oil: one pump, pressed in | Facial oil only if your skin wants it, and very little |
| 5 | Nothing more; let it settle before bed | Sunscreen, always the last step |
Before or after moisturiser?
After. In the evening the oil is the final step: apply your moisturiser, then press the oil over it to seal it in. If an oil on top feels like too much, mix a drop into your moisturiser in your palm instead; which you prefer is personal.
If you use a prescription skincare product, ask the doctor who prescribed it where an oil fits.
Why daytime is optional
By day, sunscreen is the last step, so anything else goes on underneath it, and in humid months a layer of oil under sunscreen can feel heavy once you step outside. That is why night-time use is the easy default. If you want an oil in the morning, use very little after your moisturiser, let it settle for a few minutes, then apply sunscreen as usual.
Why UAE weather changes how you use it
Here your skin can move between dry, air-conditioned rooms and humid heat outside within the same hour, so plan your facial oil around both.
Air conditioning, day and night
Offices, cars, malls and bedrooms run air conditioning for much of the year, and air conditioning dries skin, which is why your face can feel tight by evening even in midsummer. A facial oil over your moisturiser at night suits this, especially if you sleep with the air conditioning on.
Humid heat outdoors
Outdoors in summer, humidity makes heavier textures feel heavy. A layer of oil that feels fine at your desk can feel slick on an evening walk along the Corniche, which is the main reason to keep it for night-time in the hot months, and to keep the amount small.
The cooler months
When the weather cools, many people add a small amount in the morning too, after moisturiser and under sunscreen. It is a preference, not a rule; night-time use alone is still a perfectly good routine.
| Your situation | What usually works |
|---|---|
| Hot summer days, in and out of the heat | Night only; one pump or less |
| Long hours in an air-conditioned office | Night, pressed over your moisturiser |
| Sleeping with the air conditioning on | Night; give it a few minutes to settle before bed |
| Ramadan, with later nights | The last step before you sleep, whenever that is |
| Cooler months | Night, plus a small amount in the morning if you like, with sunscreen last |
| A wedding, Eid or big occasion coming up | Start any new oil well before the day, never the night before |
Is a facial oil right for your skin type?
Skin types are a rough guide. How your own skin responds matters more than any label.
Dry or tight-feeling skin. Often the skin that enjoys a facial oil most, particularly after long days in air conditioning. One pump at night over your moisturiser is a sensible start.
Normal or combination skin. Night-time use is the easy place to start. If your forehead and nose get shiny, press most of the oil onto your cheeks and use only what is left on your fingers elsewhere.
Oily or breakout-prone skin. An oil is not off-limits, but start small: less than a pump, a few nights a week, and watch how your skin reacts before you use more. If it does not suit you, stop.
Sensitive or reactive skin. Both of Gloria's facial oils are scented, which matters here. Patch-test first, and if your skin is very sensitive, skip them and look for an unscented oil.
Broken or irritated skin. Keep facial oils off those areas until they have settled. If you shave, that includes nicks and razor irritation.
If you are unsure, or you are managing a skin condition, ask a dermatologist before adding an oil to your routine.
Scented facial oils: why it matters and how to patch-test
Both Derma Glow oils are scented: the 21 with incense, the 24 with a rose opening and an incense heart. The scent is part of the pleasure for many people, and it is also why a patch test comes first: fragrance is one of the more common reasons skin reacts to a cosmetic, and your face is not the place to find out.
If you already know fragrance bothers your skin, an unscented facial oil is the better choice. Both Derma Glow oils are for external use only, and neither belongs near your eyes.
How to patch-test a facial oil
- Choose the spot. A small patch of clean, unbroken skin on your inner forearm.
- Apply a small amount. A little from the pump is enough.
- Wait a day or two. Carry on as normal and try not to wash that patch.
- Check it. Redness, itching, stinging, bumps or swelling mean stop: wash the area gently and do not use the oil on your face.
- Start small on your face. If nothing happens, use a small amount for the first few nights before building up to a full pump.
A patch test lowers the risk; it is not a guarantee. The skin on your face can be more sensitive than your forearm, so if your face reacts later, stop using the oil. If a reaction is strong or does not settle, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
Introduce one new product at a time, so you know which one caused any reaction. And before a wedding, Eid or any occasion you care about, patch-test well ahead, never the night before.
Derma Glow 21 or 24: which one suits you
Gloria sells two facial oils, both in 50 ml pump bottles, both scented, and both on the hair and body page. Their boxes describe a scented blend for skin, hair and body; here is how they differ, based on their listings.
| Gloria Derma Glow 21 | Gloria Derma Glow 24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | AED 90 | AED 115 |
| Size | 50 ml, pump bottle | 50 ml, pump bottle |
| Scent | Incense | Rose opening, incense heart |
| What the listing says | An everyday night-time facial oil; lightweight, absorbs quickly without leaving a heavy, greasy layer | The formula includes rosehip oil and pro-vitamin B5 |
| Where to use it | A small amount on clean skin, as a night-time step | A small amount on clean skin: face, hands, arms, neck and décolletage, avoiding the eye area |
| Suits you if | You want one simple night-time step for your face and you like incense | You want one bottle for your face, neck and hands, and you like rose that settles into incense |
| Skip it if | You do not enjoy incense, or you want an unscented oil | You do not like rose, or you only want a face oil and would rather spend less |
Which one for you
Your skin feels tight after a day in air conditioning, and you want one simple step at night. Gloria Derma Glow 21, AED 90. Sold as a moisturising facial oil that adds glow; the listing calls it lightweight and quick to absorb, without a heavy, greasy layer. Skip it if incense is not a scent you want close to your face at night.
You want one oil for your face and also your neck, décolletage, hands and arms. Gloria Derma Glow 24, AED 115. Its listing names rosehip oil and pro-vitamin B5 in the formula and suggests a small amount on clean skin across all of those areas, avoiding the eye area. If you use it on your neck during the day, give it a few minutes before an abaya, sheila or kandura goes on. Skip it if you do not like rose, or if you only want a face oil and would rather spend less.
Your skin reacts easily to fragrance, or it is broken, irritated or very sensitive right now. Skip both: they are scented, so an unscented oil suits you better, and broken or irritated skin is best left alone until it settles.
You want an answer to a specific skin concern. Neither is the right tool. These are cosmetic facial oils that moisturise, soften and add glow; a specific concern is a question for a dermatologist.
What you really want is a scented oil for your hair. The boxes mention hair, but the mukhamaria oils on the same page are made for hair and skin, and our mukhamaria guide explains what they are and how to use them.
How to store a facial oil in UAE heat
The rule for both Derma Glow oils is simple: keep the bottle closed, away from heat and direct sun. In a UAE summer, that takes a little thought.
- Close it and keep it out of the sun. Close it after every use, and keep it off sunny windowsills and dressing tables the sun reaches.
- Keep it out of the car. A parked car in summer gets far hotter than any room, so do not leave the bottle in the glovebox or in a bag on the back seat.
- Think twice about the bathroom. It gets warm and steamy with every shower; a drawer or cupboard in an air-conditioned bedroom is usually a better home.
- Trust your nose. If the oil's smell, colour or texture changes noticeably from when you bought it, stop using it.
The same heat rules apply to perfume, and our guide to storing perfume in UAE heat goes through them.
Delivered across all seven emirates
Gloria Naturals ships from its own stock in Ajman and Sharjah to every emirate: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Delivery is free on every order with no minimum spend, orders typically arrive one to three days after dispatch, and you can pay cash on delivery or by Visa or Mastercard.
Questions people ask
Do you put face oil before or after moisturiser?
After. Moisturiser first, then one pump of oil pressed over it as the last step of your evening routine.
Can I use face oil in summer?
Yes, at night. Summer humidity makes heavier textures feel heavy outdoors, so keep the oil for the evening, use a little less than in the cooler months, and let sunscreen be the last step by day.
How many pumps of facial oil should I use?
One pump for your face is enough, and many people use less. Start small, and if your skin still looks shiny after a few minutes, cut back next time.
Can I use a facial oil if my skin is oily or breaks out easily?
Yes, carefully: less than a pump a few nights a week, and stop if it does not suit you. If you are unsure, ask a dermatologist.
Can a facial oil replace my moisturiser?
Some people with drier skin are happy with an oil alone at night; others prefer it over a moisturiser, especially in air-conditioned bedrooms. Try both and see how your skin feels in the morning.
Can a facial oil replace sunscreen?
No. Neither Derma Glow oil is sold as a sunscreen, so do not rely on one for sun protection. By day, sunscreen goes on last, over everything else.
Are the Derma Glow oils scented?
Yes, both: the 21 smells of incense, and the 24 opens with rose and settles into incense. Patch-test first, and choose an unscented oil if fragrance tends to bother you.
Can I use Derma Glow on my neck and hands?
With the 24, yes: its listing names hands, arms, neck and décolletage as well as the face, avoiding the eye area. The 21 is listed as a night-time facial oil, though both boxes mention skin, hair and body.
In short
Use a facial oil at night as the last step, one pump or less, pressed in; keep daytime use optional in humid months; patch-test anything scented; and store the bottle closed, out of the heat. Both Derma Glow oils are on the hair and body page, with free delivery on every order across all seven emirates, cash on delivery available, and orders usually arriving in 1–3 days.
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