Facial Oils The Complete Guide
If you’re new to facial oils, it can be pretty overwhelming choosing one to go with - they seem to have so many different benefits. Plus, if you have oily or acne prone skin, it can be especially nerve-wracking trying to choose one - for years, the advice for acne prone skin is to stay as far away from facial oils as possible.
Luckily, we have a better understanding these days of how beneficial oils are for skin and that they’re nothing to be afraid of - in fact, a facial oil might be exactly what your skincare routine needs to take your skin to the next level!
We know just how daunting it can be to wade through all the different facial oil options, though - and that’s where this post comes in. Here’s our guide to choosing your new go to skincare oil for your skin type!
How to Choose the Right Facial Oil for You
A great place to start when choosing a facial oil is being sure of your skin type plus any other concerns you have with your skin. Depending on your skin type, you’ll want to go with a dry oil or a wet oil. If you’re sitting there thinking, what on earth does that mean? Don’t worry - here's an explanation.
Oils can be split into two categories - dry oils and wet oils. Dry oils are the kind that sink into skin super quickly, without leaving a greasy residue. Wet oils leave a beautiful glossy sheen on the skin, adding a visible glow. I think you can see where I’m going with this - dry oils work best with oily and combination skin, while wet oils are best for dry skin.
Great examples of dry oils include squalane and rosehip, while oils that add a noticeable shine include jojoba and argan oil.
However, this doesn’t mean that if you have a certain skin type, you can only use a certain kind of oil. It’s just a characteristic of an oil that you might want to be aware of - especially if this is your first foray into facial oils.
The Best Facial Oil for You, According to Your Skin Type
So, now that we know part of the criteria for choosing a skin care oil for your skin type, here’s a guide to some of the most common face oils and which skin type they’re best for!
If You Have Oily or Acne-Prone Skin: Rosehip Oil
I know, it sounds pretty unusual to recommend a facial oil for acne-prone skin, but hear me out. Rosehip oil is one of the most recommended oils for acne prone skin due to a unique kind of fatty acid found in rosehip oil - linoleic acid.
Studies that looked into the natural sebum makeup of those with acne-prone skin noticed a crucial different from their clear-skinned counterparts - those with acne-prone skin had lower levels of linoleic acid naturally present. It’s thought that these lower amounts of linoleic acid made sebum naturally more sticky at a microscopic level, and therefore more likely to clog pores.
The solution?
Well, adding more linoleic acid of course. Rosehip has naturally high levels of linoleic acid which could help balance sebum, reducing the likelihood of breakouts and improving skin overall. And that’s not all that rosehip oil can do - rosehip oil can help fade the dark marks left behind by acne, evening out skin tone over time.
INIKA Organic Certified Organic Enriched Rosehip Oil | $39
This skincare oil blend is fortified with kakadu plum oil and other natural extracts to boost the power of rosehip oil.
If You Have Combination or Sensitive Skin: Squalane Oil
One of the hardest things to balance when it comes to using a facial oil is not feeling greasy, but still getting all the benefits of a skin care oil. If you’re looking for an oil that doesn’t feel like an oil, squalane is probably the best choice for you.
If you have combination skin, you’ll often find that skincare feels to heavy for some parts of your face, yet doesn’t feel nourishing enough for other parts - trying to find a balance between the two often feels like you’re Goldilocks looking for porridge that’s just right. That’s where squalane comes in - it’s a more stable version of a lipid naturally found in our skin, making it an ideal choice to reach for.
Squalane rapidly sinks into the skin, sealing in hydration and improving barrier function for balanced, healthy skin. It’s also scentless and has natural anti-inflammatory benefits, making it the perfect facial oil for reactive, sensitive skin.
L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Youth Oil | $142
Squalane oil makes the perfect base for this nourishing facial oil to moisturise skin and reduce the signs of ageing.
If You Have Normal Skin: Jojoba Oil
You lucky thing! Technically, you could go for any of the oils on this list - however, jojoba oil is always a neutral, safe bet for most skin types. Since having a normal skin type means your skin is already perfectly balanced, an equally balanced skin care oil like jojoba is one that you should reach for to maintain that.
How? Jojoba is famously compared as being the closest to our skin’s natural oils. As a skin mimicking ingredient, it’s never going to feel too heavy or too lightweight for skin - it’ll always feel just right.
Like all oils, jojoba is great for locking hydration into skin and maintaining a healthy moisture barrier. It also brings anti-aging and antimicrobial benefits to the table - it’s a well-rounded oil that helps to keep normal skin looking, well, normal!
GA-DE CB2 Botanic Cannabis Seed Facial Oil | $115
A blend of neutral oils work to moisturise and balance the skin for a radiant glow.
If You Have Dry or Mature Skin: Argan Oil
When it comes to dry or mature skin, your needs are slightly different - your skin has a harder time holding on to moisture, which leaves it prone to looking and feeling dry. As a knock-on effect, this can mean it’s harder for your skin to maintain a healthy moisture barrier - so you’ll need to reach for an oil that’s moisturising enough to compensate.
The solution? Argan oil. This golden-coloured, intensely moisturising oil from Morocco packs a two for one moisturising and anti-ageing boost for skin, thanks to a blend of fatty acids. Remember how we talked rosehip oil having high levels of linoleic acid? In contrast, argan oil has higher levels of oleic acid - a lipid molecule that gives the oil a heavier, richer moisturising ability and texture.
This means it’s able to more effectively lock hydration into skin, preventing dehydrating and ensuring that your skin looks smooth and amazing - all day long.
However, moisturising skin isn’t all that argan oil is good for - it’s also packed with antioxidants! It’s even a natural source of Vitamin E, making Argan Oil an effective source of this anti-aging ingredient.
Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Oil | $450
This luxurious facial oil takes advantage of the benefits of argan oil combined with more than 10 other potent botanicals.
And these are just some of the amazing oils that you’ll find out there - there’s a go to skincare oil for every need and skin type! Which oil is right for you, according to your skin type?
If you’re still trying to create your perfect skincare routine, try our skincare quiz - it gives you completely customised results based on your individual skin type and goals.
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