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Face oils are usually the last resort when your skin starts to feel extra dry. That’s why we usually remember these under-appreciated products only in colder months. But these plant-derived emollients are brimming with powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. So you’ll be surprised how much you can benefit from face oils even in summer.
By default, they are natural moisturizers for the skin. Their emollience works as a protective shield on the skin. This protection repairs your damaged skin barrier by preventing water loss. For that, you don’t even need to be picky. Any face oil that’s suitable for your skin type will do the job.
Additionally, face oils are the perfect treatment for any skin issue. Once you find the right oil, you can utilize it to tackle acne, excess oil, hyperpigmentation, and even wrinkles.
The Best Face Oils
Whether you have oily skin or dry skin, find below the best face oils for your skin type.
1. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate Face Oil
When you think of face oils, you think of thick-textured liquids. But this one is so light, it’s basically a face serum! And I don’t see any reason why we can’t use it during the day as well! The lavender oil, which gives the oil its addictive scent, is anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory, and it’s jam-packed with antioxidants. In addition, the concentrate has evening primrose oil, which is incredibly soothing, replenishing, and moisturizing for the skin.
The face oil boosts radiance, makes the skin plump and bouncy, and is also great for mixing with foundation. It’s even better for pairing with a Jade roller. It’s suitable for all skin types and the combination of non-comedogenic oils makes it all the more amazing for oily skin types. But keep in mind that lavender can be irritating as it’s a common allergen. Other than that, slather on!
Key Ingredients: Lavender oil, evening primrose oil, squalane
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
2. Edible Beauty Snowflower Illuminating Face Oil
This one is great for using as a treatment besides as a moisture-enhancer. It’s high in vitamin C, which is going to brighten your complexion, reduce hyperpigmentation, boost collagen, and treat free radical damage.
These are all thanks to Kakadu plum and snow flower oil. In addition, it’s an amazing face oil for glowing skin and also contains camellia oil and jojoba oil to provide the skin with a good amount of emollience to seal moisture in.
Key Ingredients: Kakadu plum oil, jojoba seed oil
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
3. True Botanicals Renew Pure Radiance Oil
This is life-saving for dry and dehydrated skin. And it’s all-natural! It’s packed with avocado oil, marula oil, chia seed oil, and argan oil. These are all incredibly rich in antioxidants that nourish dry skin. And they’re equally restorative to repair the damaged skin barrier.
The face oil is going to banish flaky skin and is a great moisture-enhancer for your winter skincare routine. Layering this over dry skin is like putting a lid on your face to trap water in and keep skin stressors out.
Key Ingredients: Avocad oil, marula oil
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan
4. Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
Marula oil is one of the best anti-aging oils because it contains high levels of vitamin E. This makes it a powerful free radical scavenger to tackle fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.
Besides that, it’s also a great moisturizer for the skin to prevent dehydration. For dry and aging skin, lay it on! But keep in mind that marula oil is somewhat comedogenic. So if you have oily skin, you might want to sit this one out.
Key Ingredients: Marula oil
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
5. Dermadoctor Kakadu C High Potency Evening Oil
If you’re not a fan of the daily use of facial oils, you can always use them in your evening routine. Or you can try one that’s made for your evening routine. This one has vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea, and Kakadu plum, which are hardworking antioxidants that nourish the skin at night.
They’re brightening, restorative, and regenerating for the skin. Plus, marula oil and grapeseed oil are great additions to layer over your moisturizer to replenish your skin all night.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Kakadu plum extract
Size: 1.01 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free
6. Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil
Squalane is one of the few ingredients that all skin types, including oily skin, can comfortably use. It’s because it’s already found in your skin, which makes it a familiar ingredient and easy to tolerate. Additionally, squalane is emollient enough to provide the skin with a protective layer but still not occlusive.
It means that it’s non-comedogenic and won’t clog your pores. That’s why squalane oil is the best one to use on oily and acne-prone skin to lock moisture in, especially in winter weather. It won’t be a treatment for acne, but it’ll definitely eliminate dehydration. This one contains oil-derived squalane and is a super light oil to pat on oily skin without worrying about greasiness.
Key Ingredients: Squalane
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free
RELATED: The Best Squalane Products
7. Honest Beauty Organic Beauty Facial Oil
This one is made with some of the most occlusive oils out there. As much as it’s scary for oily and acne-prone skin types, dry skin is going to love the long-lasting moisture. It’s made with avocado oil, apricot oil, macadamia oil, and olive oil.
The formulation leans more towards oils that are high in oleic acid, which is what you want if you have dry skin. The facial oil will improve the look of dryness, dehydration, flakiness, and dullness. And it’ll plump up the skin for a more radiant and luminous complexion.
Key Ingredients: Olive oil, avocado oil
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Organic, cruelty-free, vegan
8. The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Known for being rich in vitamin A, rosehip oil is considered the safest alternative to retinol. And where there’s vitamin A, there are fewer wrinkles and fewer scars. Plus, rosehip oil is non-comedogenic and is suitable for all skin types.
So if you’re dealing with a lackluster complexion or aging skin or wrinkles, this budget-friendly face oil will infuse the skin with fatty acids and vitamins without causing congestion.
Key Ingredients: Rosehip seed oil
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
9. Peach & Lily Pure Beam Luxe Oil
This one is a light oil made with non-comedogenic oils to help restore the skin barrier. It has jojoba oil, squalane, and grapeseed oil to care for the skin.
These are thinner oils that combination and acne-prone skin types can comfortably use on their skin. They’re great for moisturizing dehydrated skin without aggravating oiliness or acne.
Key Ingredients: Squalane, jojoba oil
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan
10. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oat & Hemp Seed Dry Oil
Sensitivity is not exclusive to dry skin. But it’s certainly more common in dry skin types. When that’s the case, a blend of anti-inflammatory goodies like this one can give your skin the care it needs without causing irritation. It’s made with hemp seed oil, which is a non-greasy oil that’s rich in omega fatty acids.
It’s soothing, anti-inflammatory, and replenishing for your skin. FAB’s signature soother oatmeal reduces redness and sensitivity and is great for people with rosacea. The light formulation absorbs easily and even if you have oily and sensitive skin, you can still comfortably use it without stimulating acne.
Key Ingredients: Hemp seed oil, colloidal oatmeal
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
How To Use Face Oils
Generally speaking, you should apply your products in accordance with consistency. You apply water-based stuff first and then you move on to the oil-based products. However, in the case of facial oils, keep these 2 things in mind.
If you’re using your face oil mostly for moisturizing benefits, apply it last. It’ll work as a seal and stay on the surface of the skin to prevent moisture loss. But if you’re using it for specific benefits like acne or anti-aging, you might want to apply it before your moisturizer.
Because if you’re using an oil-based moisturizer and you top it off with your face oil, the oil won’t be able to penetrate much. So it all comes down to a bit of personal preference and a bit of trial and error.
You can use face oils day & night. You can also try mixing it with your foundation to make it dewy and radiant.
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