Got wintertime dryness? Not anymore, thanks to these conditioning formulas.
Name a more decadent, luxurious skin-care product than a facial oil — we’ll wait. Whether it’s concocted from a base of rosehip, argan, marula, or blue tansy oils (among many others), nothing feels more moisturizing and restorative than one of the best face oils on the market. Rich facial oils are suitable for most skin types — yes, even if you have combination, oily, and/or acne-prone skin — and incorporating them into your daily skin-care routine is one of the best things you can do for your complexion. In the short term, you can expect an off-the-charts level of glow. And with continued use? Healthy, plump, and happier skin.
Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD loves a good facial oil and has a few opinions on them. “The key when using pure facial oil is to use a little bit. That bottle should last you months because a little really goes a long way,” she says. A pure facial oil means that there are no added ingredients like fragrance, however, there are other oils on the market that have added active ingredients like acids to help with acne, fine lines, and other concerns.
And remember: Face oils aren’t like other types of moisturizers, like creams and lotions. Despite how they’re sometimes named or marketed, they don’t hydrate — but because they stay on the surface of the skin, they help seal in the hydration and ingredients of anything else you’ve already applied. Cosmetic chemist Nick Dindio previously explained to Allure that the skin’s lipids can be stripped away and cause dryness. “Oils can help replenish this lipid layer that is stripped away to moisturize the skin,” he says. “A strong skin barrier will prevent water from escaping, therefore keeping the skin hydrated.”
This leads us to a world of options when it comes to facial oils, meaning there’s something for every skin type: acne-prone, oily, dry, and even sensitive skin. Just like oil, we have you covered — below, check out the best face oils.
Josie Maran Argan Oil
We get it — some face oils can clog pores, especially if you’re acne-prone. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid all oils, because Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, says pure argan oil is a lightweight option that’s actually known to decrease oil production and reduce shine. Josie Maran’s Argan Oil contains absolutely nothing else but this gold-standard oil so you can have glowing skin without the risk of blemishes.
Guerlain Abeille Royale Advanced Youth Watery Oil
Those who love luxury skin care — like Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein — will fall head-over-heels for Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Advanced Youth Watery Oil. Its ultra-light formula is packed with moisture-replenishing honey and antioxidant-rich royal jelly to plump skin and brighten your complexion. “I’m halfway through my second bottle of this oil already, and considering the fact that my skin looks more radiant than ever, I already plan on grabbing my third very soon,” says Hussein.
Saje Jojoba Oil
Another oil Dr. King gives her seal of approval is jojoba oil, which she describes as lighter and less greasy than other oil bases. “Jojoba oil is technically a wax ester, rather than a triglyceride like most oils are,” she says. “It’s rich in vitamins B and E, as well as minerals like copper and zinc.”
If you’re on the hunt for no-frills jojoba oil, check out Saje’s Jojoba Oil. This fragrance-free, versatile oil can be used to soften and moisturize your skin and you can apply it to the ends of your hair for a sleeker, glossier finish.
Gisou Honey Face Oil
If there’s one oil that currently has a chokehold on the entire Allure staff, it’s the Gisou Honey Face Oil. As its name suggests, this Best of Beauty winner is infused with moisture-retaining honey, but it also features other conditioning heavy-hitters like grapeseed, rosehip, and jojoba oils. Contrary to its intensive moisturizing powers, this oil is surprisingly lightweight and absorbs instantly to create a softer, velvety-smooth complexion.
Ole Henriksen HydraBarrier Nourishing Face Oil
Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann is a major fan of Ole Henriksen’s new HydraBarrier Nourishing Face Oil. Its conditioning properties are derived from a powerhouse mix of ceramides and Scandinavian berry oils while peptides improve skin elasticity for a firmer, more youthful look.
Milk Makeup Sunshine Oil
Milk Makeup’s Sunshine Oil features a rollerball format that makes application easy and mess-free, but that’s not the only reason why this oil won an Allure Best of Beauty award back in 2021. This beloved elixir is infused with vitamin C to boost radiance and squalane to intensively condition your skin.
SBJ Esntls Papaya Glow Oil
Get your glow on with the SBJ Esntls Papaya Glow Oil, which is a radiance-boosting essential for Allure associate social media manager Bianca Richards. This rich, fast-absorbing oil features a moisture-locking trifecta of vitamin E, jojoba, and papaya seed oils to reveal your dewiest, brightest complexion yet.
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Retinoid Night Oil
Nicola Dall’Asen, Allure’s news editor, says she always has the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Retinoid Night Oil in her nighttime skin-care line-up. The star ingredient in this oil is, you guessed it, fine line-targeting retinol, but you’ll also spot soothing chamomile oil and anti-inflammatory blue tansy oil in the mix. When combined, these three ingredient work overnight to diminish the look of wrinkles while keeping irritation and redness at bay.
Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil
Who doesn’t want the smoother, plumper, firmer skin Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil’s avocado, evening primrose, and raspberry seed oils encourage? According to Charlotte’s makeup-artist niece, Sofia, who used the oil on models for Christian Siriano’s Fall/Winter 2022 show, it’s a fantastic radiance-boosting makeup primer for dry skin; for oily skin types, she recommends making it the last step in your nighttime routine “to balance, protect and calm the feel of skin.”
Kinship Kinskin Oat Ceramide Relief Face Oil
Allure contributor Devon Abelman was as surprised as anyone when Kinship Kinskin Oat Ceramide Relief Face Oil simultaneously addressed a one-two punch of acne and dehydration. But minutes after applying it, she says, “the irritation and dryness I’ve been experiencing due to my antique radiator, staying inside for days at a time, and a hormonal breakout seemed to disappear. My complexion instantly seemed plumper, calmer, and, overall, happier.” Calming and barrier-strengthening oat ceramides are one of the keys to this facial oil’s impressiveness, as is the base of skin-loving oils like sesame seed oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil.
Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil
You may have seen Le Prunier’s Plum Beauty Oil all over your For You Page, and here’s why this buzzy oil is getting so many wonderful reviews. Allure associate features director Dianna Mazzone previously said that this oil is the last step in her nighttime routine to seal in the rest of her nourishing regimen while treating her pores with an added dose of moisture-boosting vitamins A (also known as retinol) and E. “Le Prunier’s Plum Beauty Oil smells like an almond cookie and has a dewy — not greasy — finish,” she said.
SheaMoisture 100% Pure Argan Oil
New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, is a fan of SheaMoisture 100% Pure Argan Oil because your skin can share it with your hair — the nut-derived oil is a fantastic moisturizer for both. Rich in oleic and linoleic acids, argan oil, in general, is a must-have for strengthening skin’s barrier. “The vitamin E in argan oil helps maintain skin’s youthfulness and scavenge free radicals,” Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Stacy Chimento, MD, has told Allure. “Argan oil also heals the skin’s outer layer by stopping transepidermal water loss.”
The Inkey List Rosehip Oil
There’s a reason The Inkey List Rosehip Oil won a Best of Beauty award in 2019: It’s made of 100 percent pure rosehip oil, which promotes softer and smoother skin with its omega-6 fatty acids. Apply a couple of drops of this stuff before you go to sleep, and you’ll wake up with glowy, moisturized skin.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
The Ordinary’s 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil is so wildly popular, it rules Reddit threads and best-seller lists due to its high omega fatty acids. Plus, the rosehip in the formula helps reduce the appearance of acne scars. Oh, and did we mention it costs about the same as a burrito?
Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil
Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil is another favorite for Dr. Garshick. “This facial oil combines sea buckthorn oil with rosehip oil and bakuchiol, making it a great option for someone looking to improve the signs of aging,” she says. The irritation-minimizing blend provides antioxidant protection and encourages skin-cell turnover — you can especially thank the “retinol alternative” bakuchiol for that — to lessen the look of fine lines and boost elasticity.
Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil
Dr. Garshick likes Farmacy’s Honey Grail Ultra-Hydrating Face Oil on its own or mixed into a favorite moisturizer — especially for dry skin in need that could stand to calm down a bit. “This face oil is lightweight and easy to apply, and it uses sea buckthorn in combination with buckwheat honey to simultaneously moisturize and soothe the skin,” she tells Allure. Aside from being noncomedogenic, it won’t leave skin looking greasy, making it an equally perfect pick for oily skin.
True Botanicals Renew Pure Radiance Oil
Jeffrey Fromowitz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boca Raton, Florida, favors True Botanicals Renew Pure Radiance Oil for a “pure oil play.” This luxurious option includes seemingly every beneficial botanical oil in the book — we lost count at two dozen — to ensure that skin enjoys an amazing array of perks, including smoothed lines, intense moisture, and even an intoxicating natural scent. It’s a brand best-seller for good reason.
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
Marula oil is touted for its nourishing, skin-conditioning properties, and Drunk Elephant’s take, Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil, is among our all-time favorites. What’s in the bottle is nearly as pure as it gets (save from extracting the marula fruit yourself), and it’s totally fragrance-free.
Mara Algae + Moringa Universal Face Oil
This facial oil is a little bit of splurge, but it’s totally worth it. Here’s why: Mara’s Algae + Moringa Universal Face Oil is formulated with a blend that’s high in omegas that nourish tired skin and turn a dry complexion into a moisturized one. Plus, a little goes a long way with this bottle, so it will last you a long time, too.
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
While squalane may feel slick and rich like an oil, it’s actually a plant-derived fatty acid that does wonders for protecting the skin barrier. Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil is infused with it, and it’s a game-changer for firming and brightening the skin.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
There’s a reason this tiny, indigo bottle consistently tops best-seller lists. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate contains a supercharged blend of oils (lavender, evening primrose, and jojoba, among others) and delivers a serious dose of nighttime moisture. Apply a few drops before hitting the pillow, wake up, glow, repeat.
Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil
The superfoods packed into Youth to the People’s Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil — maqui, açaí, and goji — read like the beginning of a delicious smoothie, but when applied topically, the antioxidant-packed ingredients also leave skin feeling soft, radiant, and moisturized. No wonder Dall’Assen says it’s a major staple in her skin-care routine.
Peach & Lily Pure Beam Luxe Oil
Korean beauty brand Peach & Lily’s Pure Beam Luxe Oil features an impressive blend of squalane, jojoba, camellia, grapeseed, and sea buckthorn oils, yet it still feels barely-there on the skin. No wonder they can’t keep the stuff in stock.
