Are you on the face oil fad yet? I remember having dinner with Allison Mcnamara a few years ago in London. She was chatting about a face oil she was developing and I was like huh what the hell is a face oil? They hadn’t taken off yet and she was clearly
I used to think that oily skin people don’t really NEED a face oil.
The usual thought process behind a face oil is to add more oil to your skin that lacks it. Or to lock in moisture and create a barrier. So it’s ideal for people with dry skin, or normal to oily people when they find themselves in drier climates or after doing a ton of flying or being in dry climates. But there’s tons of different oils and they all have different uses and benefits. Some help to pull out oils if you’re oily, while others help to build barriers and help to keep moisture in.
I have quite a bit of oil production with my skin on its own and the thought of adding MORE of it to my skin terrified me. However, some oils act more as astringents or are much lighter. Then there are others that are insanely hydrating. If you don’t choose the right one, the extra oil may clog pores if you’re naturally oily. If you choose correctly, they can help strengthen your dry skin if your skin is parched or help remove excess oil if you’re super oily. There’s definitely an oil for everyone and today we’ll break it down.
*PS I only have photos of the Beautycounter face oil because I tossed one a brand sent me (it was awful, more on that below) and Mara’s oil is on my
The Ingredient Test
While getting a facial with my aesthetician, I was picking his brain about face oils. His first response was basically along the lines of “ugh people are just putting regular ‘
After our conversation, I went home and checked out the ingredients on my face oil that was recently sent to me by Goop. Guess what the first ingredient was? Sunflower seed oil. I laughed. I couldn’t believe how spot on my aesthetician was. Mind you, Goop’s face oil is $100. WHAT? I went ahead and sent my aesthetician the ingredient list to Goop, Beautycounter
The results? Well, I was shocked!
Goop is a big waste of money. You’re better off with high-quality seed oils from the grocery store on your face. The better option was Beautycounter which I’ve personally used and like because it doesn’t make me super oily. And the most amazing, best ingredient list I sent to my aesthetician was MARA’s Universal Face Oil.
I wasn’t surprised by that at all. Allison has strived to create an incredible product. So much so that it’s the ONLY product she offers. I personally haven’t tried it but I follow her religiously and her skin is FLAWLESS. She also just launched MARA Algae Retinol Face Oil which is on my list of things to buy.
So let’s chat face oils now that we know which one NOT to buy….
The Best Face Oils + Their Uses & Benefits
Moringa Oil
Morgina oil can help reduce oxidative damage linked to aging. This oil is packed with vitamin A, B
BENEFITS
Moringa oil can help plump the skin and improve texture and smoothness. This will help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and bring back some bounce to your skin.
SKIN TYPES
For those of you with sensitive skin, moringa oil can be great since it’s fairly lightweight. It will help with skin that’s on the dryer side and that is in need of smoothing and improved texture. If you’re combination skin and looking to ease into oils, this is a great ingredient to look for. MARA’s Universal Face Oil has lots of moringa oil in it which is why it’s such a great “universal” oil.
Argan Oil
We’ve all heard of argan oils, right? They’re in a lot of hair masks and hair products and one of the common ones I keep seeing everywhere (hello Moroccanoil). Argan oil is great because it’s kind of middle of the road in terms of oil production. It doesn’t pull out oils, and it doesn’t add a ton, it’s a good in between. Argan oil has a TON of vitamin E in it which is ideal for moisture and anti-aging.
BENEFITS & SKIN TYPES
Rosehip Oil
USES
Rosehip is a powerful antioxidant and fatty acid which makes it useful for scars and fine lines. This helps to keep cell walls strong so that they don’t lose moisture. People have claimed that this oil can also help to treat old acne scars!
BENEFITS
This oil will help to condition and hydrate the skin. It can help to add moisture or prevent loss of moisture over time. Rosehip is also high in Vitamin A and C which we know can help rejuvenate skin with
SKIN TYPES
It’s recommended to use rosehip oil when you have acne prone skin. Or if you’re currently dealing with an awful awful breakout and irritated skin, rosehip can be great to clear it all up.
Almond Oil & Marula Oil
Both of these oils are ideal for those of you with super dry skin. Almond oil is high in vitamin A (we love vitamin A since it’s what retinol is made of to help cellular turnover and reveal younger skin). Marula oil is packed with fatty acids which is perfect for hydration and improve skin texture.
BENEFITS
Both of these oils will definitely help with dry skin, improve skin texture and reduce fine lines. All things to love, right?
SKIN TYPES
These two oils are perfect for super dry skin. If you’re normal, you can add this in maybe in the winter time when your skin needs a boost.
Grape Seed Oil & Jojoba Oil
All my oily friends, where you at?! These two oils are for US! Both of these are natural astringents and will help to REDUCE the oil and shine in your skin. Jojoba oil can help to breakdown sebum (that’s the oil your glands produce) to help reduce shine.
BENEFITS
Reduce oil and shine as well as help to mattify the skin.
SKIN TYPES
Oily! Use either of those to help reduce all that excess oil.
Photos by Hannah Michelle
PS Check out my everyday skincare routine here!
