Using Oils in Your Beauty Routine. Do they Work? Plus Our Favorites.

Oils have infiltrated the beauty scene for many reasons. They are extremely versatile and can be used anywhere from acne scars to cracked heels.

Why add oils to your beauty routine?

Oils can improve the appearance of your skin and hair.  Oils can help even out your skin tone and moisturize your lips. They also serve as a moisturizing makeup remover.

Are oils for all skin types?

Yes and no.  The next point will explain this in more detail.

Dry Oil vs. Wet Oil

Dry oils are not exactly dry, what this refers to is the rate at which the of oil absorption on the skin.  Generally speaking dry oils as lightweight and quick-absorbing.  After a few minutes of applying dry oil, you likely won’t even notice it was applied.  On a more scientific level dry oils are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely linoleic, and made of vegetable, seed, and herbal oils.  Examples of these oils are avocado, evening primrose, sunflower, and more. Dry oils work with all skin types, and we got more detail below about adding dry oils to your beauty routine.

Wet oils would be what you generally come to think of as an oil – something like massage oil. These oils often sit on top of the skin and give a “wet” feeling.  Common wet oils would be coconut, castor, or jojoba among others. These oils take a longer time to absorb into the skin and often are great for extreme dryness or itchiness. These oils are often not recommended for oily or acne-prone skin.

Face Oils

Face oils give skin an instantly smooth, soft feeling.  They are full of essential nutrients, fatty acids, and antioxidants.  They tend to sit on the skin thus adding a protective barrier.

High

• UMA Oils Anti Aging Face Oil ($175)
• RODIN Olio Russo ($170)
• Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil ($82)

MID PRICE

• Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil ($67)
• Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil Light ($48)

LOW

• Burt’s Bees Complete Nourishment Facial Oil ($12.41)
• The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil ($9.80)

Cleansing Oils

Cleansing oils cleanse by mixing with oils that are naturally on your face and those from makeup.  Cleansing oils  (aka good oils) remove all the other oils (bad oils) with it leaving your skin radiant and smooth. Cleansing oils bind to surface impurities- dirt, makeup oils, etc.- and pull them out without clogging pores.  Oil cleansers also contain antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients that improves the texture of your skin while they clean.

High

• Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil ($91)
• SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil ($70)

MID PRICE

• Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil ($48)
• Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil ($42)

• Kiehl’s Since 1851 Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil ($32)
• BareMinerals Oil Obsessed Total Cleansing Oil ($30)

LOW

• Burt’s Bees Cleansing Oil ($14.39)

Hair Oils

Hair oils are used to add extra smoothness and shine to all hair types. Hair oils have a variety of purposes; smooth flyaways, improve the texture of hair or add in moisture.

High

• Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil ($55)
• Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oils ($40)

MID PRICE

• MOROCCANOIL Treatment ($34)
• Ouai Rose Hair & Body Oil ($28)

• Form Beauty Polish. Pomade ($26)

LOW

• Verb Ghost Oil ($16)
• Garnier Whole Blends Moroccan Argan $ Camellia Oils ($5.49)

Body Oils

Body oils help to provide extra nourishment for your skin. Some oils even help to repair the skin by healing scars, reducing the appearance of stretch marks, and combating cellulite. These include rosehip, lavender, and geranium oils.

• L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil ($50)
• Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil ($64)

• Kora Organics Luxurious Rosehip Body Oil ($58)
• Fresh Sugar Ultra-Nourishing Body Oil ($48)

• Bio-Oil Specialist Skincare ($15.59)
• Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturizing Body Oil ($9.89)
• Vaseline Intensive Cre Cocoa Radiant Body Gel Oil ($6.49)