While it may sound counterintuitive, especially for those with oily skin, adding oils to your beauty routine can improve the condition of all skin types.
Wait … So, oils don’t make your skin oily?
Fiction: Facial oils will clog your pores and cause breakouts. Fact: Using the right one for your skin is one of the easiest ways to balance your complexion and give you the dermis of your dreams.
Here’s how it works. Essentially, oils in your beauty regime help to supplement and stabilise the natural sebum your skin is (or isn’t) producing. They add moisture to your skin and repair and strengthen the natural barrier that holds that moisture in.
If you have oily skin, the right skincare oil can assist in regulating your skin’s sebum production, while also acting as an astringent to rid your face of excess grease. Alternatively, dry skin types can enjoy several benefits by including oils in their skincare regime – including locking in moisture and reducing irritation from dryness. If your skin is particularly parched, oils can reduce trans-epidermal water loss and bond dehydrated surface cells together which will soften and relieve rough or tight skin texture.
How to include oils in your skincare routine
Whether you opt to include face oils as part of an existing step in your skincare routine (such as swapping your cleanser for an oil-based one) or as a product unto itself, they’re easy to incorporate.
According to Rachael Lupton, Jurlique’s National Sales Manager – Spa & Treatment, introducing a cleansing oil into your skincare ritual is a simple way to start.
“Cleansing oils can help to balance natural oil production and soften impurities [for ease of removal]. We recommend using cleansing oil as the first step in double-cleansing. When double cleansing, the goal is to create a clean slate for optimal skin preparation and superior penetration of products to follow. The first cleanse should be a true cleanse that aids in replenishing the skin but ultimately removes impurities such as excess oil, make-up, pollution, and skin cells. This should be followed by the supporting second cleanse, which should balance the skin and lightly exfoliate.”
If you’ve already perfected the double cleanse, adding a treatment oil at the end of your nightly routine is a great way to lock in the benefits of your existing skincare routine.
Face oils
“Face oils deeply nourish and protect the skin from moisture loss and should be an important step in your skincare ritual. Adding oil to your skincare ritual is a great way to boost, restore and lock in moisture. An oil will also protect the skin barrier from external aggressors,” explains Rachael. “While applying a face oil can often be final step in your regime, it can also be mixed into your moisturiser to further boost hydration and seal the skin barrier.”
Don’t feel you should shy away from face oils if you have oily skin. “The right one for your skin can actually help to rebalance and relax tight, uncomfortable, delicate skin and even address signs of uneven skin tones,” adds Rachael.
Depending on the type used, the oil may also have other purported benefits, like anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties, for a range of specific skin conditions.
For example, the macadamia and avocado oils in Jurlique’s Skin Balancing Face Oil, provide intense nourishment, while almond oil (which is incredibly high in Vitamin A) is gentle enough for treating eczema and dermatitis. Rosehip oil is a perfect treatment for acne-riddled skin, and jojoba (which isn’t technically oil at all, but a botanical extract of liquid wax ester) is a great option for balancing out combination complexions.
Oils for everybody … and hair
To really get the most out of your oil, Rachel recommends pairing your skincare oil with a gentle massage application technique. “Treatment oils are great to detox the skin when applied along with gentle lymphatic drainage massage. This technique is beneficial for clearing toxins and stimulating micro-circulation whilst promoting self-nurturing and general wellbeing,” she adds.
But don’t just stop at your forehead… Take it up to your tresses! “Treatment oils can be taken up into the hair, using deep circular movements to help a dry flaky scalp and release stress tension. You can also add a few drops to your moisturiser or mask for maximum hydration,” says Rachel.
Don’t forget to always give your body some love with beautiful, naturally scented body oils, containing pure essential oils. According to Rachel “these can be applied and massaged all over into damp skin after a shower or bath to create the nourishing hydration effect of a full body massage or professional spa body treatment.” You’ll get the skin-softening benefits as well as the aromatherapeutic benefits of the uplifting, calming one relaxing oils of your choice.
PRODUCTS WE LOVE
Tatcha The Camelia Cleansing Oil
Japanese Camellia Oil (an excellent source of Vitamins A, B, D and E) may be one of the greatest things to come out of the Land of the Rising Sun. Find it in this gentle 2-in-1 makeup remover and cleanser – which gently melts away dirt, oil, sunscreen, and makeup leaving skin balanced and nourished.
Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover
This luxurious, anti-ageing cleansing facial oil effortlessly glides over your skin melting away even long-wear and waterproof make-up. It cleanses skin of impurities, excess sebum, and surface debris, while visibly helps diminish signs of ageing, providing a peachy clean freshness.
With 10 potent plant and nut oils – including sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, macadamia oil, brazil nut oil, apricot kernel oil, evening primrose oil and rosehip oil – Face Hero covers all the essential antis (antioxidants! anti-inflammatory! anti-ageing!) in one cute peachy jar. It deeply hydrates, fights fine lines and dark spots, soothes inflammation, and protects the face against environmental aggressors that can cause premature ageing.
Sunday Riley, Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil
Good for your Insta feed – even better for your skin. For a great intro to skin oils try this one by the beauty-ed-approved brand. Powered by several organic, cold-pressed botanical oils (including blackberry, blueberry, and red raspberry), this vegan facial oil is bursting with antioxidants. It instantly replenishes the skin’s natural moisture barrier and provides sustained hydration whilst strengthening elasticity and repairing existing signs of ageing.
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
Featuring emollient-rich squalane oil (which is known to mimic your skin’s natural oils) Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil proves that sometimes imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery! Featuring Vitamin C, Damascus rose petal extract and Bioassance’s signature 100% plant-derived squalane, this oil weightlessly hydrates and locks in moisture and absorbs in a flash, for a soft, smooth, and healthy-looking glow.
Don’t get mad. Get Even. With your skincare at least. Get Even Rose Facial Oil is a blend of 15 exceptional oils chosen for their potent, skin-enhancing benefits. In addition to the Damascus Rose Oils that give the product its name, Get Even is made with jojoba oil (which helps your skin fight oxidative stress caused by everyday exposure to pollutants), carrot seed oil (known to moisturise and tighten skin while evening skin texture and tone) and baobab seed oil (rich in vitamins, omegas 3, 6 and other fatty acids that nourish and rejuvenate the skin).
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil
Fun fact: When African elephants eat the fruit from marula trees, they do in fact appear to be drunk (hence the inspiration behind DE’s memorable name!). Fortunately, DE have found a way to harness the benefits of this ingredient in their skincare – minus the hangover! That’s why you’ll find it raw and cold-pressed straight from the pip in this luxe oil. A powerful antioxidant that nourishes and protects the skin from free radicals and environmental aggressors, DE’s Marula Face Oil will help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, redness, and any skin unevenness whilst imparting a youthful glow.
Susie Sierra Sierra Gold Deep Evening Face Oil
The crème de la crème of face oils. This luxurious night-time formula is infused with 24-carat gold for healthy, glowing skin. A rich blend of eight potent plant and flower oils, relax skin for night-time repair. Included is the oil of the sacred blue lotus flower which helps repair proteins in the skin’s structure, softening fine lines, restoring strength and elasticity while you sleep.
Essano Vitamin C Super Glow Facial Oil
Skin oil but make it budget. For under $30, this super glow facial oil harnesses the power of 5 percent Vitamin C and combines it with seven super oils (including purified turmeric and jojoba) to give you the kind of glow that you’d expect from a much pricier version.
Recreation Bondi Beach This Love Of Mine Luxury Body + Hair Serum Oil
Sweetly scented with gardenia, jasmine and tuberose, this natural oil could almost double as a perfume. And while it may be tempting to stash it with your fragrances, it’s a triple threat – shining just as brightly as a face and hair oil. Use it as a skin smoother to leave a lasting, glowy lustre and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, diminish pore size, increase hydration levels, smooth the texture, and regenerate new skin cells. Or apply it to your mane for a soft, silky sheen.
Created by Australia’s leading Skin Scientist Terri Vinson, this multi-active facial treatment contains zero filler oils and eight potent active lipids (including marula, squalane, argan and bakuchiol oil – aka nature’s retinol) to prevent water loss, address pigmentation and reduce fine lines.
Retreatment Botanics Restore Serum
Part serum, part oil, but a completely potent powerhouse when it comes to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Made with natural and organic ingredients – such as Amazonian buriti fruit, native sandalwood seed, wild rosella flower and Kakadu plum, developed by timeless beauty icon Olivia Newtown John and her team of beauty experts at Byron Bay’s Gaia Retreat & Spa, this product offers you the opportunity to indulge in a blissful escape at home.
Medi SkinSaver Face Age Defying COQ10 Facial Oil
In addition to traditional face-loving favourites (including Rosehip Oil and Vitamins A, C and E), the addition of CO Enzyme Q10 in this oil protects and hydrates the skin. Use it alone or add a couple of drops to your moisturiser if your skin is feeling dry and needs a boost.
Saarinen Organics Nourishing Serum Oil
Unlike facial oils which suggest you avoid the delicate eye area; this one actively encourages it! Packed with raw sebum-like oils including jojoba, olive, macadamia, apricot, and almond, as well as Vitamin E. Plus, it features a stainless-steel ball-bearing-roll-on dispenser. This pampering combination makes it perfect for treating the signs of premature ageing around the delicate eye area. We recommended rolling in circles around the temple area, gliding under eyes and applying right where needed – without wasting a precious drop!
Made with sweet almond oil, pomegranate, and Australian macadamia, this luxuriously rich and conditioning balm is lick-lipping good and almost tasty enough to eat. And given that Ipsum only uses certified organic, pure, and natural native plant oils, esters and waxes you practically can!
No need for perfume, this delicately rose-scented body oil will have you receiving compliments everywhere you go. Rich in pure organic botanicals this body oil will intensely hydrate, replenish and nurture the skin as well as the senses. It can also be used as a massage oil, formulated with a beautiful blend of safflower, macadamia, and jojoba oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids to help nourish, hydrate, and soften the skin.
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