What Does Face Oil Do for Your Skin? Without it, You Might Be Missing Out on Your Best Skin
Are you missing out on a vital step in your skincare routine? If you aren’t using a face oil, you might be welcoming skin that’s dull, flat, and far from its best. But if you don’t know what face oil does for your skin, choosing a product can feel so overwhelming. Well, get ready to become a face oil expert! We're about to take you from confused to confident in all things related to face oils.
Simply put, nature does it best. Face oils have a higher concentration of botanical ingredients, meaning you’re getting more of what nature has to offer. Why risk synthetic, manufactured ingredients that come from who-knows-where when you can rely on incredible plants we’ve used for millennia?
Misconception alert: Many people think that if they have oily skin, they can’t use face oils, but this isn’t true. Oily skin can absolutely benefit from face oils. Be sure to look for oils that are quick-drying and mimic the natural oils in our skin, like jojoba.
Still confused? Don't worry. We'll go over the different types of face oils in the next section.
Lightweight Oils
Who’s it for: Oily/combination skin likes these oils best.
What does it do: Lightweight oils balance sebum production and absorb quickly, giving you softer, regulated skin without clogging pores.
Look for these oils: Jojoba, apricot kernel, and grapeseed oil are great lightweight oil options.
Nourishing Oils
Who’s it for: Dry skin loves these oils.
What does it do: Nourishing oils are often rich in fatty acids that moisturize and can soften flaky, textured skin.
Look for these oils: Argan and avocado oil fit into this category.
Glow-boosting Oils
Who’s it for: Those looking to improve dull skin will enjoy these oils.
What does it do: Glow-boosting oils are concentrated with nutrients that improve skin radiance. They’re rich in antioxidants and vitamins that provide your skin with everything it needs to be healthy.
Look for these oils: Cloudberry and sea buckthorn oil are great options.
Calming Oils
Who’s it for: Use these oils if you have sensitive or compromised skin.
What does it do: Calming oils will reduce redness and irritation while supporting compromised skin barriers.
Look for these oils: Rosehip and calendula oil are great calming oils.
First, determine your skin type and concerns. This one’s a no-brainer. Oily skin is different from dry skin, which is different from compromised skin. Knowing your skin type and other concerns (like hyperpigmentation or fine lines) is the first step to finding your perfect face oil.
Second, adjustments might need to be made depending on the season and other life factors. Are you experiencing the cold winter months? Are you currently pregnant? Colder months may require a thicker, longer-lasting oil to combat the dry air. And pregnancy may have you needing a face oil that’s geared toward sensitive skin. Don’t be afraid to tailor your face oil to your current situation.
Finally, you’ll need to decide if you want a single oil or blended oil. There are pros and cons to each, so let’s break them down:
Blended Oils
Blended oils are comprised of multiple oils in one bottle. The best part of using blended oils is that they take the guesswork out of a face oil. When you select a blended oil, you’re leaving it to the experts to craft a balanced oil with ingredients that have synergy with one another and are made to fit into a skincare routine. Makers will categorize their oils based on skin concern, making it even easier to find a face oil that’s made for your skin. As a bonus, blended oils can offer multiple benefits and improve overall skin health in one step. However, if you’re looking for a super customizable experience, it’ll be harder to achieve with blended oils.
Single Oils
Single oils are exactly that: only one specific oil in a bottle. They offer a more targeted approach to a specific issue (such as hyperpigmentation). They also offer a more customizable skincare experience, so you can select which specific oils to use in your regimen. Be wary, however, because choosing individual oils requires a bit more knowledge to put together a routine that works for you. That’s because some oils don’t work well with one another or can worsen other skin concerns.
Why Use Face Oil?
Yes, face oil makes your skin look nice, but there are plenty of not-so-obvious perks to using it as well. Have sensitive skin? Face oils are generally safer for finicky skin because they usually contain fewer ingredients (especially if you buy organic, which you should be doing). Organic face oils use fewer (or no) synthetic ingredients and preservatives, keeping your skin unbothered and healthy.Simply put, nature does it best. Face oils have a higher concentration of botanical ingredients, meaning you’re getting more of what nature has to offer. Why risk synthetic, manufactured ingredients that come from who-knows-where when you can rely on incredible plants we’ve used for millennia?
Misconception alert: Many people think that if they have oily skin, they can’t use face oils, but this isn’t true. Oily skin can absolutely benefit from face oils. Be sure to look for oils that are quick-drying and mimic the natural oils in our skin, like jojoba.
Still confused? Don't worry. We'll go over the different types of face oils in the next section.
Different Oils, Different Purposes
Not all oils are created equally. Know the purposes of your oils with this guide.Lightweight Oils
Who’s it for: Oily/combination skin likes these oils best.
What does it do: Lightweight oils balance sebum production and absorb quickly, giving you softer, regulated skin without clogging pores.
Look for these oils: Jojoba, apricot kernel, and grapeseed oil are great lightweight oil options.
Nourishing Oils
Who’s it for: Dry skin loves these oils.
What does it do: Nourishing oils are often rich in fatty acids that moisturize and can soften flaky, textured skin.
Look for these oils: Argan and avocado oil fit into this category.
Glow-boosting Oils
Who’s it for: Those looking to improve dull skin will enjoy these oils.
What does it do: Glow-boosting oils are concentrated with nutrients that improve skin radiance. They’re rich in antioxidants and vitamins that provide your skin with everything it needs to be healthy.
Look for these oils: Cloudberry and sea buckthorn oil are great options.
Calming Oils
Who’s it for: Use these oils if you have sensitive or compromised skin.
What does it do: Calming oils will reduce redness and irritation while supporting compromised skin barriers.
Look for these oils: Rosehip and calendula oil are great calming oils.
Picking the Oil for You
Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of the different types of face oils, let's begin the next step to getting you closer to your best skin yet: picking the oil that’s right for you. The guide above gives you insight into the different types of oils and what they do, but there are a few more factors to consider.First, determine your skin type and concerns. This one’s a no-brainer. Oily skin is different from dry skin, which is different from compromised skin. Knowing your skin type and other concerns (like hyperpigmentation or fine lines) is the first step to finding your perfect face oil.
Second, adjustments might need to be made depending on the season and other life factors. Are you experiencing the cold winter months? Are you currently pregnant? Colder months may require a thicker, longer-lasting oil to combat the dry air. And pregnancy may have you needing a face oil that’s geared toward sensitive skin. Don’t be afraid to tailor your face oil to your current situation.
Finally, you’ll need to decide if you want a single oil or blended oil. There are pros and cons to each, so let’s break them down:
Blended Oils
Blended oils are comprised of multiple oils in one bottle. The best part of using blended oils is that they take the guesswork out of a face oil. When you select a blended oil, you’re leaving it to the experts to craft a balanced oil with ingredients that have synergy with one another and are made to fit into a skincare routine. Makers will categorize their oils based on skin concern, making it even easier to find a face oil that’s made for your skin. As a bonus, blended oils can offer multiple benefits and improve overall skin health in one step. However, if you’re looking for a super customizable experience, it’ll be harder to achieve with blended oils.
Single Oils
Single oils are exactly that: only one specific oil in a bottle. They offer a more targeted approach to a specific issue (such as hyperpigmentation). They also offer a more customizable skincare experience, so you can select which specific oils to use in your regimen. Be wary, however, because choosing individual oils requires a bit more knowledge to put together a routine that works for you. That’s because some oils don’t work well with one another or can worsen other skin concerns.
