Our Best Facial Oils (And Finding The Right One For You)
May 19 | 3 minute read
Words by The MECCA Memo
While creams work to seal in hydration and create a protective barrier, face oils go one step further - delivering concentrated nutrients and powerful antioxidants deeper into the skin to nourish, repair and boost your skin’s natural radiance.
We know what you’re thinking and yes; you still need to use a moisturiser, especially if your skin feels dry or needs extra support. But adding a face oil can be beneficial to help soothe, balance and give your complexion that plump, dewy finish. And that’s even before we mention all the other benefits. Some have antibacterial or anti-inflammatory properties, act as carriers for potent active ingredients, or even help to balance oily, acne-prone skin.
Whatever the reason, and whatever your skin type, here’s a round-up of the most transformative on our shelves.
Best face oil for dehydrated skin
kit: Skinkind Face Oil
If your skin feels tight, flaky or depleted, try pressing a few drops of the Skinkind Face Oil into your skin after your moisturiser and watch your complexion glow instantly. With cold-pressed macadamia oil (rich in hydrating fatty acids), grape seed oil (purifying and anti-inflammatory), holy basil oil (to soothe irritation) and jojoba oil (to mimic the skin’s natural oils and rebalance skin), this helps to restore moisture and calm that dehydrated, parched feeling without clogging pores or feeling greasy.
Best face oil for breakout-prone skin
Dr. Barbara Sturm Ceraide Drops Face Oil
Congested? Battling breakouts? A little on the oily side? Don’t be deterred. Contrary to what you may think, there is such a thing as face oils for oily skin (and yes, even for acne-prone skin). In fact, the moisturising ingredients in Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Ceramide Drops Face Oil actually helps to balance skin’s natural oil production. It’s lightweight and features a clinically developed blend of ceramides, nourishing oils and lipids to restore and protect the skin’s natural barrier. Instead of clogging pores, it soothes inflammation and helps to boost hydration (which is often needed to counteract over-cleansing or drying acne treatments).
Best face oil for sensitised skin
REN Clean Skincare Evercalm™ Barrier Support Elixir
For skin that flares up at the slightest change in weather, skincare or stress levels, use the REN Clean Skincare Evercalm™ Barrier Support Elixir as a preventative or as soon as you notice your skin reacting. Designed to support sensitised skin, this ultra-soothing formula cocktails barrier-strengthening fatty acids with a trio of oils to calm and reduce the appearance of redness. It also helps replenish what compromised skin is missing, which is most often hydration. The texture is not what you’d imagine from a nourishing oil - it’s light, non-greasy and fragrance free (essential if you’re on the sensitive side).
Best face oil for ageing
Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil
As skin ages, it naturally produces less oil, leading to dryness and dehydration which can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles. If this is you, and you also like a little indulgence in your routine (who doesn’t?!), Omorovicza’s Miracle Facial Oil is a luxe way to bring back hydration, radiance and a youthful plumpness. It’s formulated with bakuchiol, a gentle, plant-derived alternative to retinol, which helps to firm, smooth and soften lines without the irritation that often accompanies traditional anti-ageing ingredients. It’s also blended with plum, almond and apricot kernel oils for deeper hydration and barrier support.
Best face oil for pigmentation
Sunday Riley C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Oil
Turmeric probably doesn’t come to mind when you think of skincare, though with a whole host of benefits, it’s an ingredient to keep on your radar. It works to improve the appearance of uneven skin tone thanks to its antioxidant-rich and calming compounds. When combined with powerhouse ingredient vitamin C, it also helps to give some glow back to dull skin and dark spots over time. And fret not: while the raw root tends to leave a nasty stain on hands after contact, this glow is completely stain-free. This oil combines the best of both worlds, working to boost the skin’s radiance and tackle pigmentation. Brighter days ahead!
Best face oil for uneven texture
Drunk Elephant A-Gloei™ Maretinol Oil
The marula tree is responsible for Drunk Elephant’s very memorable brand name: traditionally, elephants love to eat the fruit that has fallen from marula trees, and it was once thought that the natural alcohol content from the fermented marula fruit would make them drunk. While the myth may not quite be true, the legend of this face oil’s hero ingredient – marula oil - lives on – for good reason. It’s highly absorbable, rich in antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9, and works perfectly alongside the 0.5% vegan retinol in this formula. Together, these nourishing ingredients work to smooth texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone, while counteracting the usual dryness associated with retinol. Try this if you’re starting off your retinol journey with baby steps.
