Improve your skin with 8 of the best face oils, according to reviews
Get glowing skin with options from The Ordinary, Kiehl's, and more.
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Reviewed / The Ordinary / Kiehl's / Youth to the People
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Sometimes, you may want to add an extra pampering step to your skincare routine, and that's where a face oil can come into your regimen. Though it may seem like an unnecessary luxury, using a face oil has its benefits. Oils "lock in hydration," says Dr. Jeannette Graf, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "[Plus, they can make] the hydration on your skin less likely to evaporate by sealing it in." Keeping your skin moisturized isn't the only thing they can do: Depending on the ingredients they include, "face oils can also calm irritated skin with their anti-inflammatory properties, and their antioxidants can combat signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles by boosting skin collagen," Graf adds.
While an oil’s role sounds similar to a moisturizer's, that doesn't mean you should swap one for the other. Instead, think of a face oil as a supplement to your moisturizer. "Moisturizers add hydration to the skin while facial oils lock in the moisture and provide protection for the skin’s lipid barrier," Graf explains. Therefore, you should apply face oil after moisturizer. "This is because facial oils sit on top of the skin as an impenetrable layer to lock in moisture and the ingredients you’ve applied beforehand," she says. All you need to do is gently pat a few drops of oil into the skin, and you're set!
Now, keep reading to discover 10 of the best face oils, per glowing reviews.
1. The Ordinary Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Maintain your skin's moisture levels with The Ordinary Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil.
You can get hydrated, supple skin without breaking the bank by picking up The Ordinary Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. Designed with all skin types in mind, this oil uses rose canina seed oil, which purports to hydrate skin and minimize "signs of photo-aging" (i.e., damage the sun causes). The brand recommends using this product once a day either at night or in the morning. In general, if you apply an oil in the morning, use it after moisturizer and then follow up with your sunscreen.
"I just finished my first bottle of this and absolutely will be repurchasing," one satisfied Sephora customer exclaims. "It’s so hydrating and helps when my skin is irritated, dehydrated, or just overly sensitized. [The] best part is it doesn’t even make me break out!"
2. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Get glowing skin overnight with the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.
If your skincare intentions are to wake up with glowing skin like a glazed donut, the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate may be able to help you achieve your goal. It promises to make skin look "radiant" and "younger" come morning. Hero ingredients include lavender essential oil and evening primrose oil, which placate and hydrate the skin, respectively. Kiehl’s recommends patting two to three drops of this oil onto your skin after cleansing your face at night. It can either be used on its own or with a moisturizer.
"Love this oil," gushes one Sephora reviewer. "You can feel your skin drinking it in and I look so glowy the next morning! It's not overly sticky, more so just slick, which I like! I don't love the goopy oils. The smell is really nice and natural too! I have definitely noticed a difference in my skin!"
3. Biossance 100% Squalane Oil
Lock in hydration within minutes with the Biossance 100% Squalane Oil.
A face oil that hydrates is great, but one that "rapidly hydrates" is even better, and the Biossance 100% Squalane Oil claims to do exactly that. Made with all skin types in mind, the formula leans on sugarcane-derived squalane to minimize redness, leave skin feeling soft, and keep skin hydrated. Start by warming up the product in between your hands, then tap it into the skin. You can also use it on the neck and décolletage.
"This has changed my face in the best way possible," one Sephora customer writes. "I usually always have a breakout, and I haven’t in weeks since I started this. Buy!"
4. Elemis Superfood Facial Oil
Attain luminous skin with the Elemis Superfood Facial Oil.
Tired, dull skin can theoretically be turned around to look glowy and smooth with a few drops of the Elemis Superfood Facial Oil. It calls on a variety of so-called "superfood oils," such as broccoli seed oil, flax seed oil, and daikon radish oil. Broccoli seed oil is responsible for making the skin feel soft while flax seed and daikon radish oils hydrate. Rub three to four drops into the skin on both the face and neck each morning post-cleanse.
"Saw this recommended several times on TikTok and Instagram… I held out for a long time because of the price," reveals one Ulta reviewer. "Finally bought it and don't know how I lived without it! My skin loves it, and it preps my maturing under eyes for beautiful concealer application! The smell is heavenly too! This will never leave my rotation!" $65 at Ulta
5. Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil
Combat blemishes with the Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil.
Need help with getting rid of clogged pores? The Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil can be your skincare sidekick in not only eliminating blemishes but also minimizing discoloration and attaining a radiant complexion. Per the brand, this oil is compatible with all skin types. Rosehip oil, the formula's hero ingredient, aims to calm the skin. You can use this either in the morning or at night and use as many drops of the oil as you wish.
"I have oily skin, and this has quickly become a staple in my nighttime skincare routine," reveals one satisfied Sephora customer. "I apply this after moisturizer at night and wake up with glowy, hydrated skin. Never going back to not using an oil!" Starting at $28 at Sephora
6. Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil
Minimize the look of fine lines with the Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil.
If your skin concerns involve reducing the look of dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles, consider trying the Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil. It promises to bring "intense hydration" to the skin while diminishing "the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles." Honey supplies the skin with moisture and sea buckthorn oil intends to safeguard the skin from "free radical damage and anti-aging."
"The best facial oil for sensitive skin," touts one happy Sephora reviewer. "My skin was dull and got some dark spots, but after [a] few days using this oil, my skin was brightened, clearing, and super hydrated. Definitely recommend if you don’t like serums."
7. Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate Glow Dream Oil
Achieve, bouncy plump skin with the Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil.
Think of the Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate Glow Dream Oil as a tall glass of water for your skin. Why, may you ask? The brand says it delivers "rapid hydration and velvety -soft skin with a healthy-looking glow." This instant hydration can be credited to prickly pear oil, an ingredient that intends to placate redness and add moisture to the skin. You can use this oil in the morning and at night post-cleanse. Apply two to five drops to the skin.
"I really like this face oil," exclaims one content Sephora customer. "I give it a little pat on my skin after I moisturize (or even after sunscreen), and it give[s] me a pretty glow. A little goes a long way, and it has a delicate smell that is perfect for summer." $48at Sephora
8. Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil
Brighten the skin and target signs of aging with the Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil.
Unlike most of the options on this list, the Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil avows to be a one-stop shop for brightening the skin, reducing the appearance of dark spots, placating fine lines and wrinkles, and boosting the skin's hydration levels. The formula intends to fare best on sensitive, dry, and combination skin types. It consists of vitamin C to brighten, retinol to minimize signs of aging, and cocoa butter to moisturize the skin. It's also formulated with the "cetesomate complex," a proprietary blend of essential oils—including hydrating coconut oil—that supply the skin with vitamins and nutrients. Err on the side of caution by applying this at nighttime, as retinol makes skin sensitive to the sun. And don’t forget SPF in the morning.
"This oil is very nice," writes one Amazon reviewer. "As someone who has extremely dry skin, this oil is very moisturizing and feels good on your face. Two single drops go a long way so this definitely does last a while." $11 at Amazon
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
