obsessive tester
By Chinea Rodriguez, a shopping writer for the Cut who covers fashion and beauty. She writes the Cut Shop column "Where Did You Get That?" Her work has also appeared in Byrdie, HuffPost, Brides, and Allure.
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Chinea Rodriguez, Retailer
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I have combination skin, but one constant of my skin-care routine (besides hyaluronic-acid serums) is a facial oil. No matter how glowy (or oily) my skin gets, it could always be glowier and oilier. No shame in a shiny forehead! Plus, face oils have benefits beyond just making your skin extra shiny. Some oils absorb without the extra sheen on your skin if you’re not into the dew but still want a healthy skin barrier.
To break down how to get the most out of face oils, we’ve reached out to Dr. Ashley Magovern, Dermstore Medical Advisory Board member, for her best tips, tricks, and recommendations. And, of course, I’ve included the top three that are always in my skin-care routine.
So you need a face oil?
➼ FAQs
➼ Our top picks
➼ More tried-and-true options
➼ Our experts
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Our top picks
The Best Soothing Face Oil
Ingredients: safflower and neem seed oils, prickly pear, and buriti oils | Size: 30ml
This is my go-to for irritation, breakouts, and flare-ups. It’s a blend of soothing oils like prickly pear and buriti that also nourish the skin. It’s pretty lightweight, but I like layering on extra.
The Best Daytime Face Oil
$30
Ingredients: squalane, jojoba, grapeseed, and rosehip oils | Size: 30ml
Featuring ingredients like squalane, rosehip, and jojoba, this isn’t just an oil, it’s a serum and highlighter too. So while it’s moisturizing your skin, it adds a glow worthy of your favorite highlighter. It’s a little heavy, so I go in with a pump all over or just on the points of my face where I’d apply highlighter.
The Best Luxe Face Oil
$180
Ingredients: phytosqualane, moringa and camellia oils | Size: 50ml
From the brand’s “Harmonie” range, this oil is meant to keep your skin calm. It’s a heavier oil, but I love it for a quick facial massage at the end of the day. It’s also ideal for redness and dryness. I usually follow it up with the serum to keep the formula from feeling too heavy on my skin.
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More tried-and-true options
The Most Affordable Face Oil
Photo: Retailer
Ingredients: rosehip oil | Size: 30ml
The Ordinary has a great selection of oils under $15. I’ve gone through a few bottles of this rosehip oil. The ingredient is also one of Dr. Magovern’s favorites since “it’s packed with vitamin A (a natural retinol alternative) and helps brighten skin while improving texture.”
The Best for Your Skin Barrier
Ingredients: goat milk, niacinamide, vitamin C | Size: 26ml
This milky formula imparts a serious glow almost instantly and comes highly recommended by the Cut’s beauty editor, Asia Milia Ware. It’s a mix of goat milk, fatty acids, and plant oils that absorb into the skin repairing your skin barrier over time.
The Best Daytime Oil
Ingredients: moringa, rosehip, and argan oils, SPF 30, vitamin C | Size: 30ml
Another of Ware’s favorites is an oil you can actually use in the daytime. This brightening oil is boosted with vitamin C and SPF to protect your skin.
The Best Lightweight Oil
Ingredients: squalane | Size: 30ml
“I lovesqualane oil — it’s lightweight, noncomedogenic, and mimics your skin’s natural moisture barrier,” Dr. Magovern says. “It works for all skin types, even acne-prone skin.” This oil from Indie Lee is 100 percent plant-derived squalane.
The Best 2-in-1 Face Oil
From $125
Ingredients: olive oil, olive-leaf water, vitamin C, calendula | Size: from 15ml
When you shake this formula, the oils mix and become an almost serumlike formula that melts into the skin. It has a form of vitamin C to brighten and protect while it adds a dewy glow. I love using this as a last step in my nightly routine.
The Best for Mature Skin
$72
Ingredients: marula oil | Size: 30ml
The marula oil is as luxurious as its name implies. The formula, though pricey, is silky and lightweight. It instantly makes my skin feel softer and more moisturized. Dr. Magovern recommends marula oil for mature or very dry skin because “it’s rich in antioxidants and fatty acids that deeply nourish without feeling greasy.”
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FAQs
What are the benefits of facial oils?
What are the benefits of facial oils?
Besides the shine and added moisture of some formulas, every oil has a different benefit. Some are soothing, some are brightening, but most are going to provide an extra layer of moisture to help seal in hydration.
What ingredients should I avoid?
What ingredients should I avoid?
You can use oils regardless of your skin type (yes, even oily and acne-prone skin), but you’ll want to be careful that the oils you use don’t clog pores or irritate your skin. “If you have acne-prone skin, steer clear ofcoconut oil — it’s notorious for being comedogenic (meaning it clogs pores),” Dr. Magovern says. “Mineral oil, while super gentle, can create a heavy, occlusive layer that traps bacteria and sweat, making it a no-go for breakout-prone skin.”
How do you avoid irritation?
How do you avoid irritation?
Avoid essential oils and heavy fragrances. “Essential oils like peppermint, citrus, and eucalyptusmay be too harsh and irritating, especially for sensitive skin,” Dr. Magovern explains. “If you’re prone to redness or rosacea,fragrance-heavy oilscan be a recipe for inflammation.”
How and when should I apply facial oils?
How and when should I apply facial oils?
“The best way to use oils is as a finishing touch to your skin-care routine at night to seal everything in,” Dr. Magovern says. “Think of it as the final layer that locks in hydration while you sleep.” However, it doesn’t have to be a lot. She recommends warming up two to three drops in your palm and pressing it into the skin for the best absorption.
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Our experts
- Dr. Ashley Magovern, Dermstore Medical Advisory Board member
- Chinea Rodriguez, shopping writer at the Cut
- Asia Milia Ware, the Cut’s beauty editor
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