Need to + verb & Need to be + verb-ing

Solution 1:

They are both correct. It depends on what you are trying to say.

You really need to be using argan oil on your face.

This says that, at this moment, you need to be in the process of using argan oil on your face. It's the same thing as saying I wish I were having a massage right now.

You really need to use argan oil on your face.

This is a general statement. It either means that you need to use the oil in order to accomplish some purpose or it's talking about a need to use it in a habitual way. (Or possibly both.) It's the same thing as saying A massage would make me feel better or I wish I could afford to have massages on a regular basis.


In short, the -ing form of the verb is talking about something that is currently in the process of taking place, while the bare infinitive form is more of a general statement. People will often, and idiomatically, use the -ing form when they aren't really talking about something being in the process of happening at the moment. But, in terms of the syntax, that's what the verb form means. ((In other words, they use the -ing form when they should really be using the bare infinitive. But, despite that, their meaning is still clear because we're used to hearing it used in this way.)