Natural oils have always been popular for their natural therapeutic and cosmetic benefits. Despite the many advanced and innovative skincare products, they are prominent in the skincare and beauty market. Beauty and skincare experts and devotees vouch for their effectiveness. In the captivating and vast realm of natural oils, there are countless superheroes known for their incredible skin benefits.
In this article, we’ll look into what face oils are, how you can add them to your skincare routine, what are the benefits, which oils are suitable for different skin types, and what are some of the best oils to help you achieve healthy, youthful, and glowing skin. So, let’s get to it!
What are Face Oils?
Face oils are hydrating, moisturizing, protecting, and repairing substances that provide intense and long-lasting effects. When choosing a face oil, you should consider the properties of different face oils and their potential side effects to avoid any unwanted outcomes.
What Do Face Oils Do?
Face oils are packed with essential micronutrients, which help improve the skin’s appearance and health, making it soft, elastic, and smooth. In addition, face oils contain vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, and antioxidants, which reduce signs of aging, dehydration, blemishes, acne, inflammation, and scars.¹
They also form a protective film on the outer layer of the skin, acting as a shield against environmental aggressors to neutralize their damaging effects on the skin cells.
Skincare enthusiasts have long been experimenting with different face oils and ways of using them as a part of their regular skincare routine. As a result, face oils are ranked at the top among potent and effective skincare products recommended for numerous skin concerns.
What are the Benefits of Using Face Oil?
Face oils have become an integral part of the skincare routine for most people worldwide, and for the right reasons. Face oils are rich in natural active compounds which offer different skin benefits. Here are some of the commonly known advantages when using different face oils for your skin:
Strengthens the Skin Barrier - We all know the role of the skin barrier in keeping our skin in its best appearance and health. However, various harmful factors can have adverse effects on it and compromise the integrity of our skin.
Face oils are particularly well-known for their barrier-strengthening power that supports the functions and structure of the skin barrier. A healthy skin barrier helps protect the skin from harmful elements, which pave the way to various skin problems.²
Retains Moisture in the Skin - Face oils act as an excellent sealant. They form a coating on the epidermal layer of the skin, creating a barrier to prevent moisture loss and preserve moisture in the skin cells longer.
Without a moisture-retaining product, water and oils can evaporate from the skin, leaving it dry, dehydrated, and irritated. Face oils can help to prevent the problem by keeping the skin moisturized and hydrated.
Fights Wrinkles and Fine Lines - Our skin loses elasticity due to the natural process of aging or cell damage caused by certain outside and internal agents. As the skin becomes less firm, wrinkles and fine lines start to appear and make the skin look dull, saggy, and tired. The problem with these changes in the skin is that it can be pretty uncomfortable for most of us. Natural face oils contain amazing anti-aging and antioxidant ingredients that can prevent and reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Natural Makeup Remover - We are constantly told by skincare and beauty experts to take off our makeup completely before bed to avoid many skin issues that can arise due to clogged pores. However, if you’re not a fan of synthetic makeup removers, which can be drying and irritating to sensitive skin, face oils are your natural alternative. Face oils are very effective at removing makeup, especially oil-based products.
They Smell Good - Face oils are an ideal way of adding natural fragrances to your skincare routine. For example, suppose your skin is allergic to synthetic fragrances added to mainstream skincare products. In that case, many face oils have a natural scent that comes from natural sources, like pear, raspberry, and strawberry, to name a few.
Shields against Oxidative Stress - Natural face oils are a great reservoir of potent antioxidant compounds. Certain fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals in face oils are rich sources of antioxidants.
In addition, the abundance of polyphenols, flavonoids, and other antioxidants in face oils can help to protect the skin against the detrimental UV rays, free radicals, and other external factors that can damage the cells, leading to premature aging, acne breakouts, and irritation.³
Which Face Oils are Best for Different Skin Types?
There are countless face oils out there to choose from. Each face oil has specific properties and works well for different skin types and problems.
Selecting a good face oil may seem challenging, especially if you’re a newbie in the never-ending world of face oils. But, on the contrary, selecting face oils isn’t that hard. It would help to keep a few factors in mind while choosing your face oil.
For instance, if you have oily skin that starts to breakout easily, your best options are lightweight, non-greasy, and non-comedogenic face oils with soothing and antibacterial properties. Some face oils to look for include tea tree oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil, bergamot oil, and grapeseed oil.
If your skin tends to get dry, itchy, and flaky, deeply moisturizing face oils will work the best for you, such as olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, rosehip oil, marula oil, and almond oil.
Finally, suppose you are suffering from an inflammatory skin problem or have sensitive and irritated skin. In that case, you’ll find plenty of face oils with healing, calming, and protective abilities that will treat your skin and prevent future skin problems. Some oils include argan oil, olive oil, coconut oil, rosehip oil, and marula oil are great for sensitive and inflamed skin.
Some of the Best Face Oils to Choose From
Now that you know how to find the right face oil for your specific skin, let’s explore some of the best options available. Below are some effective and gentle oils to opt from to get smoother, firmer, brighter, and plumper skin:
Argan Oil - A lightweight face oil mainly composed of vitamin E and linoleic acid gives it its characteristic skin-softening, smoothing, and moisturizing properties.
Rosehip Oil - Abundant in phytonutrients, this face oil is hailed for the radiant glow it brings to the skin and soothing properties that help calm inflammation.
Jojoba Oil - This is an ultra-soothing and repairing natural oil. Since jojoba oil is famous for balancing sebum production, you can use it as a treatment for clearing acne and preventing future breakouts.
Marula Oil - The key secret ingredient in marula oil is amino acids, which help to keep the skin amply moisturized by preventing trans-epidermal moisture loss.
Coconut Oil - This face oil is well-known for adding glow and suppleness to dull and dry complexion. However, it’s comedogenic and should be used mindfully, especially if you have oily skin.
Tea Tree Oil - This antiseptic and sebum-regulating oil is particularly beneficial for those with oily and acne-prone skin. It also works well for itchy, dry, and irritated skin.
How to Add Face Oils to Your Skincare Routine?
Now that you have discovered what face oils should be chosen for oily, dry, and sensitive skin types, let’s dive into how they fit into your skincare routine.
Like any other skincare product, face oils should be layered in order of consistency, beginning with the lightest and ending with the thickest. If you’re confused about what should go first between face serum and face oil, face oil is denser and should be applied afterward. If you want to maximize the benefits of your skincare routine, apply your face oil and moisturizer combined together. Also, a face oil is best used during your nighttime routine.
Final Thoughts
Face oils have been around since ancient times. Skincare and beauty enthusiasts seem to be obsessed with natural oils. They have been using them for various health, skin, and hair care purposes through topical application and oral intake.
Face oils can help maintain clear, radiant, and supple skin by preventing discoloration, inflammation, dryness, and various skin conditions. However, to reap the optimal benefits of face oils, it’s essential that you find the right kind of face oil that suits your skin type and addresses your skin concerns.
Citations:
- Cherney, Kristeen. (2018). ‘Is My Skin Dehydrated’, Healthline. Accessed July 7, 2022. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/dehydrated-skin#:~:text=Dehydrated%20skin%20means%20that%20your,with%20the%20right%20lifestyle%20changes.
- Calaor, Jesa. (2021). ‘What Is My Skin Barrier and Why Does it Matter’, Cosmopolitan. Accessed July 8, 2022. Available at: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a36685356/what-is-skin-barrier/
- Newman, Tim. (2021). ‘Skin: How it works’, Medical News Today. Accessed July 8, 2022. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320435
