Top 5 Favorite Oils
If you would’ve asked me about facial oils a few years ago, I probably would’ve cut you off mid-sentence to inform you that I have oily skin; therefore I don’t want to add oils to make my skin oiler. My way of thinking was wrong on so many levels. Yes, my skin was oily, but this was probably due to the fact that I hardly applied moisturizer and used harsh ingredients to dry it out. It took years of learning how to take care of my skin for me to realize I was lacking moisture and hydration.
As I started incorporating more hydrating treatments, I also started testing out different oils. I would’ve never thought that I could incorporate a facial oil in both my morning and evening skincare routines. I now use light oils in the morning and heavier oils at night. I’ve also started incorporating various hair and body oils. Listed below are my current TOP 5 Oils. Some of these oils are multifunctional while some are just used for one particular area of my body. If you’re interested in learning more, keep reading !
Price: $22 for 0.3 oz | 8 mL glass bottle with dropper
According to Herbivore, the Orchid Oil is designed for all skin types and can be used in the morning or night time. The oil is made with Orchid Extract, which is known to draw moisture to the skin. The other key ingredients in the oil that stand out to me is the Camellia Seed Oil and Squalane. I absolutely love the scent of the orchid oil. I find it as being a nice middle ground between Phoenix and Lapis (other oils from Herbivore). The oil absorbs well into the skin instead of just sitting on the top layer of your skin. I also find that it works well mixing with many of the acid treatments in my skincare routine.
TIP: I love the Herbivore sells this oil as a mini and also in a mini trio set. These options let you test out minis before fully committing. If you’re someone like myself who likes to rotate various types of products from the same group, getting a mini size will allow you to test out products and actually finish them. I would much rather finish a smaller size product instead of having a full size product go to waste because I wasn’t able to finish it by the expiration date.
Full list of ingredients: Capric Triglycerides (Fractionated Coconut Oil), Cymbidium Grandiflorum (Orchid) Flower Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Olive Squalane Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Absolute
Price: $24 for 10 ml
The indie vitamin infusion is a squalane based oil that is infused with vitamins C and E. The oil is lightweight and absorbs into the skin very quickly. I have normal to combination skin and I love that I can use a few drops (2-3) with my moisturizer and not look oily. This benefit has allowed me to use the oil both in my morning and evening routines. I really think this oil is suited for all skin types.
Ingredients: Squalane, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
Price: $32 for 100 ml
First let me start by saying that I love that Biossance’s Squalane oil is made with 100% Squalane Oil from renewable sugarcane. If you’re unsure about the difference between Squalane and Squalene, check out my previous post (HERE- What is Squalane Oil?).
Squalane can be used on face and body. I absolutely love how light weight and multi-functional the oil is. I’ve used this oil on my face and added it to my body moisturizers in the winter when I felt like I needed extra moisture for my skin. I’ve also heard that squalane oil can be applied to the hair. This is not something that I have yet to test out, but it is something I would like to explore trying in the future.
Being that the oil is lightweight, you can easily mix it with other oils or even in your favorite light weight moisturizers.
Price: $14 for 4.15 fl.oz.
The Fourth Ray Beauty cleansing oil is made with camellia oil. I also really like the Tatcha cleansing oil and is made with camellia oil, but I can’t justify the price tag of $48 for 5.1 ounces of product for a cleansing oil. Fourth Ray beauty is made under the umbrella of Colour Pop Cosmetics. All of their products are all natural and typically priced under $20; thus making them pretty affordable.
I’m pretty new to the cleansing oil scene and the whole two-step cleansing routine. I wear very little make-up on (brows, mascara, highlighter) on most days. For me removing make-up was never a chore for me as I didn’t really wear any. As I started incorporating more make-up into my routine such as under eye concealer, highlighter and bronzer, I wanted to explore other options of cleansing my face.
A little of the cleaning oil goes a long way. It never irritated my eyes or caused any stinging. I also like that it emulsified with water. After using it my felt soft and it removes my make-up pretty quickly. The best part about it is the price! After the cleansing oil I follow-up with a gel or cream based cleanser.
Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Juniperus Communis Berry Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Quartz.
Trader Joe’s Jojoba Oil (hair oil)
Price: $8
I’ve been using this oil for years on my hair. It’s actually not an oil but a wax similar to oil in human skin called sebum. Jojoba is known for being lightweight. Often when you purchase oils that are 100% and not mixed with any fillers or additives, they’re usually pretty expensive. The Trader Joe’s version is inexpensive and provides a sufficient qty 4 ounces of product.
Jojoba oil is known to be being beneficial for scalp issues such as dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. It’s hair growth features functions as it helps to remove excessive sebum on the scalp. Clogged pores can restrict hair from growing. I typically use Jojoba oil after washing my hair. I apply it directly to my scalp and massage it in. I also apply it a few days later for moisture to my scalp as it tends to get dry.
I’ve also seen people use jojoba oil to remove makeup. It’s said that jojoba oil can actually benefit those who are acne prone. I can’t personally attest to how it functions in this manner.
Not sure to look for when purchasing an oil?
I’m not here to tell you to purchase and use every single oil that I mention. With so many oils on the market, it really can be a trial and error process when looking to start incorporate oils into your skin care.
The first step may be looking into purchasing oils that are 100% and not blended with other oils.
Also pay attention to your body and possible allergies. If you have a nut allergy, you may want to stay away from an oil sourced from nuts or the particular nut that you’re allergic to.
Patch test (its recommended that apply a small amount of product to the area right behind your ear, by your jawline. Wait 48 hours to see if you have a reaction.
In the testing phase, try to purchase oils in smaller sizes or pick up samples from Sephora, Ulta and etc.
Places like Trader Joe’s typically price their oils at lower rates (argan oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil and etc)
Do your research. There’s multiple oils on the market targeted to suggested skin types.
If a facial oil doesn’t work out, you can try applying it to other areas of your body for extra moisture.
Honorable mentions
FACE
Herbivore Emerald + CBD- I’m slowly testing out more products that contain CBD. Being that I’ve only been testing out the Emerald Oil for a few weeks, I can only give my first impression. I find the oil extremely moisturizing. It may be one of the heavier oils in my collection. I know for a fact I would never be able to use this oil during the day, but I do find it very soothing at night- especially after acid based treatments/masks.
Earth Harbor Calypso Oil- I’ve had this sample of this oil for a few months now. I typically used this oil during the winter months at the end of my AM Routine. I really liked that this oil was one of the only lighter oils that I own and that it also contained CoQ10. At this point, I’m not sure if I would purchase the full size as I don’t always reach for it.
HAIR
-Coconut oil: I typically like to avoid oils that are made with large amounts of coconut oil for my face. For many people coconut oil clogs their pores. The only way I use coconut oil is on my hair. I slather a generous amount into my hair on a wash day. I let it sit for a few hours (sometimes even overnight) and then I shampoo it out. The results are a hydrated scalp and hair.
-Extra Virgin Olive Oil- this is another oil that I typically use in my hair prior to washing. I apply it like a hair mask and then wash it out. One of my sisters swears by extra virgin olive oil and believes it may have attributed to her growing faster. I believe this could be that the oil kept her scalp hydrated and in an environment conducive to flourish. She typically applied a few drops to her scalp and ends of her hair every couple of days.