I will be honest: when I first heard about face oils, my reaction was “yikes!” Since excess oil is known to cause large pores and acne, I couldn’t understand why you would want to put more on it on your skin. It sounded like a recipe for disaster.

As it turns out, it’s all about the type of oil you use. Like so many aspects of skin care, oil is nuanced. The right face oil can actually help to balance your skin and regulate sebum production. It can also help to strengthen your skin barrier, boost hydration and keep you looking young. 

It’s important to use the right kind of face oil for your specific skin type, so I’ve created this list of the best luxury face oils so that you can reap maximum rewards from your skincare regimen.

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Layering

Your skincare routine isn’t just about the products you use. It’s also about the order in which you use them. Applying a serum after your sunblock, for example, is a bad idea because it reduces the efficacy of both.

Face oil is the heaviest step in a skincare routine, so it should be applied after serums and moisturiser. Face oil can penetrate through moisturiser, but the reverse is not true. 

After application, you should wait for your face oil to absorb completely before applying your SPF lotion. Remember not to overuse oil; 2-3 drops should be sufficient! 

The Best Face Oils for Dry Skin

Dry skin types benefit the most from face oils. If your skin is dry, you will benefit from a heavier oil. On top of a hyaluronic acid serum and a rich moisturiser, a good facial oil will lock all of that hydration in and leave your skin healthy and radiant. For more on caring for dry skin, check out my article on the controversial practice of ‘slugging.’

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil 

Marula oil is a true skin care hero, particularly for drier skin types. This luxurious oil is packed with amino acids and antioxidants to leave your skin stronger and more supple than ever. Best of all, Drunk Elephant is a clean beauty brand committed to creating ethical, non-irritating products. 

Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum 

In my clean beauty guide I talked about my love for Vintner’s Daughter and their amazing botanical products. This serum in particular is a true superhero for dry skin. Although it’s technically a serum, when you use it you’ll find that it’s more of an oil in consistency and I use it as such in my routine when my skin feels dry. It contains 22 active ingredients to detox, balance and nourish your skin. 

Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil 

I am a huge fan of Sisley (in fact, expect to see the brand crop up again before this post is over). Their Black Rose line is fast becoming a cult favorite amongst luxury skincare lovers and this Precious Face Oil is the perfect solution for those suffering from dryness. It contains squalene which is one of the very best oils for dry or dehydrated skin, as well as algae, rose and plum extracts to leave your skin looking and feeling beautiful.  

The Best Face Oils for Oily Skin

Lancer Omega Hydrating Oil with Ferment Complex

This lightweight oil has a formula specially designed to hydrate and nourish oily skin without blocking pores and triggering breakouts. It also contains turmeric which is one of my favorite ingredients for overall health and wellbeing – I make sure to eat or drink some every day. 

Votary Blemish Rescue Oil 

When it comes to acne prone skin, Votary just gets it. The Blemish Rescue Oil contains salicylic acid, one of the best acne-fighting ingredients, to gently exfoliate the skin. At the same time, Tamanu oil hydrates and heals the skin, soothing irritation and helping to balance sebum production. It’s a total rescue remedy. 

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil 

Lightweight and gentle, this facial oil is great for all skin types but especially perfect for anyone with oily or acne-prone skin. Vitamin C is an amazing ingredient to improve the appearance of acne scars, as well as brightening your complexion and improving skin texture. Squalane, as mentioned, is a hydration powerhouse and helps to protect your skin against environmental damage. This formula feels more akin to water than oil, so it’s a great product to start with if you’re nervous about introducing face oil into your beauty routine.

The Best Face Oils for Combination Skin

Combination skin can be tricky to manage because you really need products that offer the best of both worlds. You can’t tolerate anything too harsh, too heavy or too stripping, either. Fortunately, there are lots of great face oils out there that can work wonders for a combination complexion.

Sunday Riley C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil 

There are three things I love in life: vitamin C, turmeric and being a CEO. This face oil is perfection in a bottle! This product is a light oil which nonetheless packs a hefty punch. It contains vitamin C to brighten the skin, promote firmness, improve the appearance of dark spots and treat fine lines and wrinkles. Turmeric oil, meanwhile, boosts the skin barrier, calms redness and keeps skin healthy all year round. This is a clean, natural formula which works for pretty much every skin type, and this makes it perfect for anyone struggling to find the right product for their combination skin. 

Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra Hydrating Face Oil 

For those who love natural products, Farmacy’s Honey Grail is the perfect face oil. It contains buckwheat honey and floral oils to simultaneously nourish and balance the skin. This product will leave your skin feeling supple and nourished, with nary a blemish in a sight.

For more on skincare, check out my article on how to banish mask acne or these 7 life-changing skin hacks.