I will never forget the first time I was told that I should try a face oil; I responded with a fast “no, thank you; my skin is oily enough!” Little did I realize how wrong I was! Whether you deal with dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin, or combination skin, your skin can benefit from a face oil. Face oils are amazing at balancing your skin because they help provide your skin with whatever it happens to be missing. However, in order to see the benefits it is important to find the right oil.
I have wanted to write a post on face oil for a long time, however, the task has always seemed overwhelming. Fortunately, I have managed to find some really great information and resources that I am excited share with you. In this post you will find
- Guidance on how to choose the right oil for your skin,
- Information to consider when making or purchasing oil blends,
- Guidance on how to apply oils to ensure maximum benefits,
- Three comprehensive resources providing a rich wealth of information on a variety of facial oils, and
- A brief description of the facial oils I currently use.
Choosing the Best Oil for Your Skin
Choosing the right oil for your skin requires you to both understand your skin type and the concern you are seeking to address. Various oils address various concerns – anti-aging, reducing pore size, fading dark spots, evening skin tone, etc. However, just because an oil addresses the concern you want to tackle does not mean it is right for your skin.
The “Comedogenic” Rating of Oils
When used to describe skincare products, the term “comedogenic” tends to refer to products with ingredients that are likely to promote blocking or clogging of the pores and, thus, cause blackheads. Oils with a “low” comedogenic rating are less likely to block pores and, thus, cause blackheads whereas oils with a “high” comedogenic rating are more likely to block pores and cause blackheads. Based upon personal experience, I have found that heavier or greasier oils tend to have a higher comedogenic rating. Each of the links I am including will describe whether an oil has a high or low comedogenic rating so you can make a decision as to whether it is best for your skin.
One thing to keep in mind – the skin on your face is more sensitive than that on the rest of your body. Meaning, the skin on your face may react to an oil that you have used on your body without any problem. For example, my arms, legs, hands, feet, and chest all love coconut oil. Yet, the moment I apply coconut oil to my face, my whole face breaks out into tiny red bumps.
Linoleic Acid vs Oleic Acid
Now, just because an oil has a low comedogenic rating doesn’t mean it will work for your skin. Each person’s skin is different so each person’s skin will react differently to an oil. One of the most reliable ways to figure out how your skin might react to an oil is to take a look at the linoleic acid vs oleic acid composition of an oil. The resources included at the end of this post already list the linoleic acid vs oleic acid composition in various oils. However, I still want to provide you with the appropriate information just in case you want to try an oil that is not included in any of these resources.
Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid that your body does not naturally produce. Oleic acid is an omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid, which your body does produce. Linoleic acid tends to be lighter and thinner, which enables it to be more easily absorbed by the skin. Individuals with acne prone and oily skin tend to have lower levels of linoleic acid, meaning their skin is primarily composed of oleic acid. Thus, finding oils high in linoleic acid can really help control acne prone and/or oily skin. On the other hand, oleic acid tends to be thicker and richer. As such, oils high in oleic acid can be great for those with dry skin. Whether your skin is lacking in linoleic acid or oleic acid, you will discover healthier and clearer skin by using the right oil to balance the two types of acids.
Making, Purchasing, and Applying Your Face Oil
Essential Oil vs Carrier Oil
Have you ever heard the term “essential oil” or “carrier oil?” Essential oils are a concentrated mixture of natural, volatile, and aromatic compounds derived from plants. Basically, they are the liquid form of a group of plants. Carrier oils, however, are fats taken from plants (usually from plants’ seeds, nuts, or kernels.) They tend to be made up of fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Carrier oils are often used in conjunction with an essential oil. As you may have guessed, their job is to “carry” the essential oil into your skin. I strongly recommend that you always dilute essential oils by mixing them with a carrier oil.
If you decide to make your own carrier oil/essential oil face blend, make sure you choose a cold pressed, unrefined carrier oil. Cold pressed means the oil was created without heat and, as such, continues to retain its beneficial properties. Unrefined means that the oil has retained its richness and strength. I recommend purchasing any oils you plan to use in your homemade face oil blend from Garden of Wisdom. They sell a wide variety of oils, including cold pressed, unrefined carrier oils.
Purchasing Oil Blends
As you may have noticed, a lot of oils sold by most cosmetics companies are essentially oil blends. In other words, one “oil” might be branded as treating a specific skin concern and, as part of that, it might contain 4 or 5 different oils (or even more). When it comes to oil blends, I reocmmend you focus on the top 5 oils listed on the ingredient list. The first five ingredients on the label are usually included in the highest concentrations. As such, if the first five oils in the ingredient list are HIGHER in the acid that you do NOT need (i.e. you have acne prone skin and the first 5 ingredients are all high in oleic acid), then you would want to avoid that blend.
Applying Your Oil
Once you have made or purchased your oil, you want to ensure you get the most from your investment. As such, you want to take care to incorporate your oil into your skincare routine appropriately.
When it comes to applying oil, you only need to use 3-5 drops for your entire face, neck, and décolletage. You do not want to slather it on, rubbing it all over your face. Instead, use the dropper to place a few drops onto your fingers and then slowly and carefully pat the oil into your skin. Do not rub just pat. Once you have finished patting the product into your skin, I recommend waiting at least 1-2 minutes so that the oils have time to soak into your skin. Remember, heavier oil will take longer for your skin to absorb, which is why it is important to start with only a few drops. If you find your skin needs more oil, feel free to add a several additional drops to your fingers and pat the oil into your skin. Give your skin an additional 1-2 minutes to fully absorb the oil.
Oil should either be applied directly before or directly after your moisturizer. Knowing when to apply your oil will vary depending upon your individual skincare needs. I recommend referring to my post on “Layering Your Skincare and Makeup” to know when you should apply your oil in your daily skincare routine.
Face Oil Resources
As I stated at the beginning, there are already a lot of great resources available on oils. Below are three of my favorite sources on oils.
The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils by the Holistic Health Herbalist.
As you can tell from the title, this is the most comprehensive list that I’ve found on the comedogenic rating of various oils. The author provides the following information with respect to each oil:
- the comedogenic rating for a variety of oils,
- the oleic acid and linoleic acid composition of each oil, and
- a brief description of each oil’s benefits.
Check out the article on The Comple List of Comedogenic Oils by clicking the link!
20 Best Non-Comedogenic Organic Skin Care Oils for All Skin by the SkincareOx
This is a great list because it focuses on the top 20 oils that you might encounter. The author provides the following information with respect to each oil:
- the comedogenic rating for each oil,
- the oleic acid and linoleic acid composition of each oil,
- the skin types that will benefit from the oil best,
- the types of skin conditions that will benefit from the oil,
- whether the oil is pregnancy safe,
- a description of each oil, and
- other details such as smell, color, consistency, shelf life
Check out the article on 20 Best Non-Comedogenic Organic Skincare Oils by clicking the link!
Oils Specifically for Acne Prone Skin by Minimalist Beauty
Even though this article is geared towards individuals with acne prone / oily skin, it provides detailed information on the linoleic vs oleic acid composition of a variety of oils. It also does a great job at explaining the differences between linoleic and oleic acid. The author provides the following with respect to each oil:
- detailed information on the oleic vs linoleic acid composition of a variety of oils,
- the oils certain skin types can use to balance out their skin; and
- lots of great information for oily / acne prone skin.
Check out the article on the Oils Specifically for Acne Prone Skin by clicking the link!
My Preferred Oils
I have combination-oily skin in the spring/summer and combination-dry skin in the winter. As such, I tend to adjust the oils I use by season. I also use certain oils intermittently to prevent the formation of any blemishes or eliminate breakouts at the beginning.
If you want to see a comprehensive list and review of every oil (and natural skincare product) I have tried, take a look at this post! Below you will find a list of my favorite and most frequently used face oils.
Safflower Oil
I purchased my safflower oil from Garden of Wisdom and my skin absolutely loves it. It has done wonders for balancing out my combination skin and minimizing excess oil production during the summer months.
Uma’s Anti-Aging Oil
This is one of my favorite oil blends and I use it year round in the daytime. The oils included in this blend are meant to provide the same long-term benefits of products like retinol without any of the potential side effects. I really see a difference with consistent use!
Odacite’s Black Cumin + Cajeput Serum
This product is wonderful at clearing out clogged pores. I apply this oil serum once a week to keep acne away. And, when I notice a breakout or pimple, I always apply this serum at night so I can wake up to clearer skin! If you choose to pick up this oil, I would definitely suggest that you limit your use to only once or twice a week. When I first discovered this product, I was using it every day and my skin ended up a little dry.
Odacite’s Grapeseed + Grapefruit Serum Concentrate
This product has the same effect as the Black Cumin + Cajeput Serum described above except it can be used every day. In my opinion, it is a bit gentler, which can be great if you want to use it daily. On the flip side, it does not work as well as a spot treatment as the Black Cumin + Cajeput Serum.
Conclusion
Thank you so much for reading this post. Please feel free to share any comments or queries to share via the comment box!