The ancient Egyptians swore by it.
Facial oil isn’t a new concept or a fad trend—just ask the ancient Egyptians. Not only the inventors of makeup (spectacular eyeliner, anyone?), Cleopatra and company were also keen enthusiasts of facial oils in their never-ending quest to preserve the appearance of their youth.
Facial oils have come a long way since 50 B.C.E., but their properties and benefits are as adored as ever.
Oil is an emollient, which means it soothes, hydrates, and rejuvenates the appearance of skin cells and strengthens the skin’s natural barrier to retain moisture. Plant oils are particularly rich in antioxidants, which help reduce the appearance of sun damage.
When you combine the attributes of oil with the superpowers of botanicals, you have one knockout product.
The Crème de la Crème of Skincare
Spoiler alert: if you’ve never used a facial oil before, you’ll be delighted you’ve finally discovered all its skin-loving benefits. Because facial oil can do nothing wrong and everything right.
It deeply nurtures skin to:
- Minimize the appearance of blemishes
- Reduce and the appearance of large pores and aging
- Support the skin’s natural elasticity and resilience
- Soothe and hydrate the skin
- Even the complexion’s appearance
- Promote smooth makeup application
The secret to facial oil is it works alongside your skin’s natural oils, creating a virtually custom skin experience.
Choosing the Right Oils for Success
From oily to dry to combination to the seemingly less complicated “normal” skin, everyone’s skin is unique. Your skin type determines your skincare needs—and it doesn’t always make sense.
For example, if you have oily skin, you may be tempted to use drying products. But this can cause it to be even oilier. Why? Products that dry can send your oil glands into overdrive. You simply need to reassure your skin that it’s optimally hydrated by choosing the best oils for your skin type.
Oily skin
If your face is typically shiny or appears greasy, your pores are visibly enlarged, and/or your makeup slides off no matter how much you spend on primer or a foundation, you likely have oily skin. And despite any reservations, facial oil can work wonders for you because it helps balance your natural oil production.
Look for facial oils that contain:
- Jojoba oil
- Tea tree oil
- Marula oil
- Squalane oil
Dry skin
If your skin looks flaky, scaly, or feels rough, you likely have dry skin. Sure, everyone experiences dry skin at some point when it’s dehydrated or sunburned, but your skin is considered dry if you continuously need to add moisture. Unsurprisingly, facial oil is ideal for dry skin because it absorbs deeper and faster than moisturizing cream and seals the skin’s outer layer, preventing further moisture loss.
Look for facial oils containing:
- Argan oil
- Rosehip oil
- Grape seed oil
- Squalane oil
Combination skin
Combination skin means you have both oily and dry skin. Those with combination skin typically have dry cheeks but an oily T-zone—your forehead, nose, and chin. Facial oil is ideal for this skin type because it hydrates the skin while cleansing to unclog pores and reduce oil production.
Look for facial oils with:
- Jojoba oil
- Grape seed oil
- Tea tree oil
- Marula oil
Acne-prone skin
Acne stays with some of us long into adulthood. And even people who previously never had to worry about acne may be experiencing the joys of “mask”-ne. Facial oils can cleanse the skin of toxins and bacteria to help reduce the appearance of acne.
Look for facial oils containing:
- Jojoba oil
- Evening primrose oil
- Tea tree oil
- Squalane oil
Never apply concentrated essential oil directly to your skin. They are safer to use when blended into a complete facial oil product, which will have a carrier base.
Introducing Facial Oil into Your Skincare Regimen
If anything more complicated than cleansing, toning, and moisturizing terrifies you, have no fear—introducing facial oil into your routine is easier than you may think. And for you skincare enthusiasts—those with your daily self-care routine down to a tee—you’ll still be amazed how facial oil will enhance your skin’s glow.
The key to skin care is to start with your lightest products and finish with your heaviest. Facial oil is a middle-of-the-road product, so use it after serum (or toner if you don’t use serum) and before your moisturizer. If you’re familiar with facial oil, you know it only takes a drop or two to feel the benefits, a little goes a long way. Using it morning and evening is recommended, but if your skin does better applying only once a day, the evening will reveal the best results.
But don’t stop there. After you’ve applied facial oil to your face and neck, run the remaining product into the ends of your hair for extra smoothing action or massage it into your cuticles. A few drops in your favorite body moisturizer will give you a boost of silky hydration. Get creative! You’re sure to find countless ways to add luxurious oil to your day.
Facial oil may not change your life, but it can most certainly transform your skin—and who wouldn’t want that!
About the Writer
Kirsty left the bright lights of London to make the jump across the pond in 2016. A city girl at heart, she spent four glorious years in NYC before swapping skyscrapers for the equally imposing mountains of Utah. She’s obsessed with European cities, true crime, and podcasts.
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a36318/face-oils-benefits/
- https://askthescientists.com/qa/radiant-facial-oil/
- https://intothegloss.com/2015/08/history-of-face-oil/
- https://medium.com/quick-fit-beauty/try-facial-oils-for-glowing-skin-7128ca0c1844
- https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/news/a14366/beauty-makeup-secrets-ancient-egypt/