It’s official—face oils have gone mainstream.No longer hidden behind the dated logic that adding oil to your skin will make you break out, American ladies have finally embraced what Europeans have known for ages: that adding the right face oil to your beauty routine can transform your skin from irritated and dull to dewy-as-a-milkmaid.
Whether you’ve already got a favorite or are still debating whether or not oil is right for you, here are five tidbits of beauty info that will make your face oil experience even better.
1) You Don’t Have to Put It All Over Your Face
There’s no rule that says you have to use face oil as a stand-alone product. Facialist to the stars and longtime cheerleader of face oils Sonya Dakar recommends mixing 1-3 drops of oil into your moisturizer as a way to ease into using them. She swears that eventually everyone becomes hooked—both she and her clients use her Organic Omega Booster all year round.
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2) It Can Offset Retin-A Irritation
Every derm under the sun recommends prescription Retin-A or OTC retinol to undo sun damage and skin aging, but results sometimes come with a price—aka ruddy, flaky skin. Oils layered under (yes, under) your retinoid can reduce negative side effects, and research shows you don’t sacrifice results when choosing this savvy layering technique.
3) It Does More Than Moisturize
Many people think oils are primo moisturizers and not much else, so they’re hesitant to give up their traditional anti-aging creams. But so many plant extracts are naturally packed with skin-loving ingredients that those unassuming bottles of oil are actually excellent anti-agers. Just a few examples: passion fruit seed oil is high in vitamin C, sea buckthorn has tons of fatty acids, and argan has vitamin E. “Most oils contain a unique blend of essential vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients. When used daily, they will deliver a healthy, glowing, and youthful complexion,” explains Dakar.
4) One Bottles Lasts Forever
Because oils are so concentrated and rarely have filler ingredients in them, they’re often pricey. Ignore the sticker shock because since you only have to use one to three drops for your entire face, it takes a really long time to get through one bottle. No joke—it took me a full year to get through a bottle that I used every day. Face oils don’t have water in them, so they don’t get rancid or spoil as quickly as regular creams and lotions
5) Applying to a Damp Face = Gorgeous Skin
Here’s an application tip that will change your life: If you lightly mist your face before applying your oil (I like ) it will spread easily and seal hydration into your skin. Dewy glow for everyone!
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And here are seven new oils to work into your rotation:
L’Occitane Divine Youth Oil, $96 [available 9/10], seven plant oils leave a velevety finish and smell incredible.
Lather Chia Seed & Passion Fruit Facial Oil, $32, nourishes skin at a great price point.
Sonya Dakar Hoya Nourishing Eye Treatment, $78, delivers lightweight plant oils to the delicate eye area.
Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil, $235, a spinoff of the French luxury brand’s cult-favorite Black Rose Cream Mask, this dry oil anti-ages skin without a hint of residue.
Immunocologie Face Serum, $300, backed by science based in human immune health, the vitamin-packed oil-serum helps skin regenerate itself and stimulates collagen production.
Olay Regenerist Luminous Facial Oil, $26, targets dull skin and smoothes texture.
NIA 24 Treatment Catalyst, $71, with ingredients to help keep the skin’s barrier healthy, this unique oil is meant to accelerate the results of other skincare products.
