Best Face Oils For Summer Vs Winter: How To Switch Your Routine Seasonally?

Posted By Vriksha Veda on July 2026

Noticed any of the oil which gave you radiant, nourished, and healthy skin look recently making skin feel greasy and oily? This is because the skin changes its needs based on the climatic change throughout the year.

When factors like temperature, humidity, sun exposure, etc influence skin’s moisture levels, oil production, and also the skin barrier function. Yet, most of us do not seem satisfied to try a new oil based on the season. Just like clothing style varying, skincare routines also do deserve the seasonal adaptations.

No matter what skin type you have, from being dry, oily, sensitive, or combinational, this blog will help you understand the right oil better for your skin, why switching matters, along with other essential needs for keeping your skin healthy throughout the year.

Why Does Your Skin Behave Differently in Every Season?

The biggest myth people believe is that skin type remains constant and will never change. Even though the genetic Skintype remains the same, the skin condition and needs vary continuously depending on the environment.

In summer, the temperature gets increased which obviously stimulates sweat glands and also the sebaceous glands making skin more shiny and clogged. In either case, during winter the low humidity and indoor heating makes skin weaker and leads to increase in moisture loss.

This is why you will experience skin differences when using oils in different climatic conditions. Here is a simple table to explain about seasonal changes:

Is Your Face Oil Still Working? Here's How to Tell

Rather than directly jumping into cleansers and moisturisers, ensure to check your facial oil. Sometimes, the skin will just tell that they need something different instead of this skin. Some of the signs that indicate a switch are:

Skin gets greasy within hours after application.
You will notice makeup gets off more quickly.
Experience tighter skin / greasy skin post oil-application.
Your skin looks dull or dehydrated.
The oil takes much longer to absorb than it used to.

Choosing the Right Face Oil for Summer

In the summer season, the option is not to avoid facial oil, but to opt for the right one which is best in terms of texture and fatty acid profile. Most people use skin oils in hot weather conditions, as they tend to make skin greasy. But in the best case, opting for light-weight oils is a better choice since they do not leave heavy leaves behind.

5 Best Face Oils for Summer

Face Oil	Texture	Best For	Why It Works Well in Summer?
Grapeseed Oil	Very Lightweight	Oily & Combination Skin	Fast-absorbing and non-greasy.
Jojoba Oil	Lightweight	All Skin Types	Resembles the same as the natural oils/sebum, making it best for combinational skin.
Hemp Seed Oil	Light	Acne-Prone Skin	Rich in linoleic acid and supports the skin barrier without feeling heavy.
Rosehip Oil	Lightweight	Dull & Pigmented Skin	Contains antioxidants and essential fatty acids while remaining comfortable in warm weather.
Squalane	Ultra-Light	Sensitive & Dehydrated Skin	Provides hydration without leaving an oily finish.

Choosing the Right Face Oil for Winter

In the winter season, the skin often gets dry, flaky, and rough, even when you have never experienced it. This happens because the cold weather, low humidity, etc tends to increase transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Compared to the summer season, the winter focuses on preventing moisture loss while reinforcing the skin barrier.

5 Best Face Oils for Winter

Face Oil	Texture	Best For	Why It Works Well in Winter?
Sweet Almond Oil	Medium	Dry & Sensitive Skin	Rich in vitamins and fatty acids, which obviously helps in softening and nourishing skin.
Sesame Oil	Medium-Rich	Dry to Normal Skin	Used in Ayurvedic practices for its warming and deeply nourishing properties.
Avocado Oil	Rich	Mature & Very Dry Skin	Has oleic acid and antioxidants which helps in supporting the skin barrier.
Walnut Oil	Medium	Dull & Dehydrated Skin	Rich in omega fatty acids that condition the skin.
Argan Oil	Medium	Combination & Mature Skin	Balances nourishment without leaving an overly greasy finish.

How to Switch Your Face Oil - In Summer & Winter

Here are simple 3 steps which help in making your facial oil perfect for climatic conditions.

Check whether your skin feels greasy, has dry patches, or they are feeling ineffective?
In such a case, change the current oil in the morning. Include a new oil based on your needs for a week, and check how skin works.
In summer use 2 to 3 drops, and in winter, go with 3 - 5 drops for better results.

Summer Oils vs Winter Oils: What's the Difference?

Feature	Summer Face Oils	Winter Face Oils
Texture	Lightweight	Rich and nourishing
Absorption	Very fast	Moderate
Main Purpose	Balance excess oil while maintaining hydration	Prevent moisture loss and dryness
Best Time to Use	Morning & Night	Mostly Night (Morning for dry skin)
Typical Ingredients	Grapeseed, Jojoba, Hemp Seed, Rosehip	Almond, Sesame, Walnut, Avocado
Finish	Fresh and non-greasy	Soft, nourished, and comfortable

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Face Oils

Do not use too much oil. They are just a waste of product or you are making your skin too oily.
Using the same oil everyday in the AM and PM routine so that they do not do anything on skin.
Using heavy oils on oily skin and vice versa;
Skipping Sunscreen as they will make skin greasy or oily.

Choosing High-Quality Face Oils Matters

Even if you are planning to go with the right products, the quality matters the most. Only when the quality of the oil is better, the performance will show you better results.

Wondering where to buy the purest version, which works on your skin? Get your hands on Vriksha Veda’s cold pressed oil collections as they are sourced carefully through botanical ingredients directed from the farmers in different parts of India.

Conclusion

As skin goes through a lot of changes due to environmental factors, keeping them healthy is vital since they need the right dose of essential treatments that will help in delivering the right results.

For warmer months of the year, ensure to go with oils like grapeseed, jojoba, hemp seed, etc so that the skin is balanced without being heavy. In either case, when temperature drops, the oils like almond, avocado, etc will give better results.