There is a simple solution to luminous complexion and hydrated skin in winters – a good face oil which locks the moisture in your skin. There are a ton of options in the market, deciding on which oil suits your skin needs can be tricky – we’ve spoken to the experts and done the ground work to pick out the multi-tasking beauty staples in the market – all you have to do is swipe your credit card and dab, dab…
How Do Oils Work?
Extracted from fruits and different parts of plants, oils are rich in fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants. More importantly, they contain linoleic and oleic acids, which not only (at least in the case of the former) help to prevent acne in oily complexions, but also lock in moisture to curb the ravages of dry skin. Softening the epidermis and penetrating deep into the layers of the dermis, they maximise the benefits of your other beauty products and boost hydration.
Best Facial Oils for Plump Skin
Pretti5: Miracle Glow Facial Oil
For those with sensitive skin or prone to eczema and acne breakouts, it’s important to choose face oils that are light in texture and eschew fragrance, paraben, alcohol and sodium lauryl sulphate, all of which may cause irritation and redness. Natural Japanese skincare brand Botanic Pretti5 infuses traditional Chinese medicine remedies such as snow mushroom, gold flower root and liquorice root extract into its products. Its Miracle Glow Facial Oil is a case in point, liberating the epidermis by soothing irritation and locking in moisture. Suitable for vegans and all skin types, it is rich in anti-inflammatory jojoba oil and squalene – a natural emollient found in olives, delivers a healthy bloom and protective shield to the complexion.
Drunk Elephant: A-Golei Maretinol
Another vegan-friendly option is American clean skincare brand Drunk Elephant’s A-Golei Maretinol. A blend of vegan oil, virgin marula oil, ceramides and retinol, this cruelty-free face oil treats hyperpigmentation, blemishes and sun damage while sealing in moisture with its linoleic- and oleic-rich virgin marula to benefit both dry and oily skin. While some beauty enthusiasts have reservations about retinol due to irritations it can cause under the sun, the brand’s balanced formulation claims to guard against these effects during the day, so you can apply it early morning or late at night as you prefer.
Kiehl’s: Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Kiehl’s has been around for a while – 1851 to be precise – its skincare formulations are night time essentials for beauty cabinets and loyalists swear by the transformative wonders of its primrose oil, lavender, and squalane-infused Midnight Recovery Concentrate. The oil promises to reduce fine lines, moisturise tired skin and leave it radiant with just one night’s use. One night, we can’t say, but with just one week of regular application, it’s lightweight, magical formula made the skin lively supple and happy, almost negating the use of makeup altogether (big win!).
Cubed: Soothing Body (and face) Oil
For a product that works overtime, even in Cubed has put out an intriguing alternative product, simply called Soothing Body Oil. Catching the wave of the CBD boom, this topical hemp seed-based oil doubles as a face oil and is said to curb swelling, itchy, red and flaky skin, thus offering the eczema-prone a quirky yet welcome salve. Mix a couple of drops in with your favourite body butter and face moisturiser, then massage it onto the body, neck, décolletage and face for an evening pampering routine, so you wake up feeling refreshed.
Caudalíe: Premier Cru The Precious Oil
Popular French skincare brand, Caudalíe‘s luxurious, multi-purpose Premier Cru The Precious Oil is a winter staple for dry skin. It’s jojoba wax and grapeseed oil absorb in the skin to smoothen, nourish and reduce dark spots. We love that 99.5% of the ingredients here are of natural origin. Free of parabens, phthalates, SLS, mineral oils & animal ingredients, the oil is infused with resveratrol, coriander oil and polyphenols that work on fine lines to unveil a clear, radiant and plump complexion.
Also Read: Winter Skincare: Avoid Dry, Flaky Skin this Season
Pai Skincare: Viper’s Gloss Age Confidence Facial Oil
Take, for example, Viper’s Gloss Age Confidence Facial Oil from UK-headquartered clean beauty brand Pai Skincare. Formulated with a sumptuous blend of 10 potent plant-based oils, it helps to hydrate, regenerate and relax the skin while replenishing it with a dose of vitamins, omega-3 and -6, as well as other essential nutrients. Suitable for sensitive skin, the glistening cocktail promotes healthy skin metabolism and ultimately a firmer, more radiant complexion.
Augustinus Bader: The Face Oil
But what is skin metabolism, you might wonder. Put simply, it is the biological processes that regulate the dermis’s cellular turnover, determining the rate of skin renewal and collagen production and its ability to counter damaging free radicals caused by ageing and UV exposure. This is where those valuable fatty and amino acids in face oils come into play. The Face Oil by award-winning Parisian medical-cum-beauty expert Augustinus Bader features its patented TFC8 technology
and a blend of richly nourishing, cold-pressed oils, namely babassu, argan, hazelnut and karanja. Ultra-lightweight and non-greasy in texture, it offers clog-free pores and the perfect everyday protective layer for any skin type.
Indie Lee: Overnight Facial Oil
As the hours pass, the body’s sebum secretion gradually decreases, which explains why skin tends in your sleep. Overnight Facial Oil by clean beauty brand Indie Lee offers nothing less than a spa sensation. Apply to a clean, moisturised face before bedtime and treat the skin to vitamins C and E and rejuvenating oils such as rosehip, lavender, jojoba, almond, grapeseed and marula. The result? A refreshed, supple and brighter complexion in the morning. If none of the above tick your boxes, then a CBD-infused oil for both body and face might. Hong Kong-based cannabidiol skincare brand to dry out and need hydration later in the day.
