When it comes to skincare, oils used to get a bad rep. We were told that the key to great skin is to scrub your face to within an inch of its life, use astringent toners, and avoid all kinds of oil-based moisturisers. But times have changed, and so do skincare trends. In recent years, it’s become increasingly trendy to incorporate facial oils into skincare routines.
The best way to use facial oils is in the last step of your skincare routine, after applying moisturiser. Some people can even skip moisturiser and move straight on to facial oils – feel free to tweak your routine and see what your skin likes best.
Good facial oils should absorb into the skin and leave a light occlusive layer. They shouldn’t be all sticky and slip about on your face, even if you’re someone with extremely dry skin and live in a cold and arid climate.
With that criteria in mind, we set off in search for the perfect facial oils to target every skin concern we could think off. Read on to find out what we found.
You can use facial oils, even if you have blemish-prone skin. Contrary to popular belief, not all oils are comedogenic. This azulene-infused facial oil from Herbivore Botanicals is great for soothing red and irritated skin, fighting bacteria and clarifying the complexion.
Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Oil Balancing Azulene Infused Facial Oil, $41 for 8ml from Sephora
Anti-pollution skincare is pretty big these days, especially as people become increasingly savvy about the effects of city living. This cold-pressed raw marula oil from Drunk Elephant contains more polyphenols and antioxidants than dark chocolate or tea, helping you combat pollution and free radicals.
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, $56 for 15ml from Sephora
Brighten dull skin with this beautifully-scented face oil from UMA Oils. It contains a mixture of sandalwood, rose, frankincense, lavender, ylang ylang, geranium, pomegranate orange and neroli to hydrate, rejuvenate and balance your skin all in one go.
UMA Oils Ultimate Brightening Face Oil, US$165 (approx S$227) for 30ml from Net-A-Porter
This facial oil from Laneige does double time by combining the hydrating properties of water and the moisturising properties of oil in one product. It contains squalene and various botanical oils to intensely nourish dry skin without being sticky and heavy.
Laneige Water Bank Double Layering Oil, $50 for 50ml from Sephora
Slow down signs of ageing and plump up skin prone to fine lines with this squalene oil from Peter Thomas Roth. It deeply hydrates and stops your skin from losing water to the environment. It’s also quickly absorbed into the skin and leaves your face soft and silky to the touch, so you can use it even in hot and humid weather.
Peter Thomas Roth Oilless Oil 100 Percent Purified Squalene, $68 for 30ml from Sephora
When it comes to dealing with ageing, hyperpigmentation, dullness and pollution, vitamin C pretty much does it all. Target the bulk of your skin concerns with this Sunday Riley facial oil infused with vitamin C and turmeric. Use it before moisturiser, not the other way round, to ensure maximum efficacy.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil, $56 for 15ml from Sephora
Retinol products are great for combating the signs of ageing. You’ll get that, and much more, with the Luna Sleeping Night Oil from Sunday Riley. It contains retinol to reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines, uneven texture, hyperpigmentation, dryness and dullness. Blue tansy and chamomile works in tandem to soothe the skin and get rid of redness. There’s a reason why it’s a cult favourite amongst editors and beauty gurus, after all.
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, $78 for 15ml from Sephora
This incredibly indulgent oil from Chantecaille is made with the rare Rose de Mai, a flower that only blooms for three weeks in May. The facial oil also contains a nourishing blend of pure botanical ingredients to leave skin supple and dewy looking. It’s lightweight, dries to a matte finish and can even be mixed in with your foundation to create a glowy finish.
Chantecaille Rose de Mai Face Oil, US$232 (approx S$319) for 30ml from Net-A-Porter