When I was a young teen, my mother introduced me to the world of skincare, taking me through her simple three-step beauty routine in front of the bathroom mirror. But now, as a 40-year-old, the choices for skincare are endless. With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed – should I go for a face oil or a serum? Should that be a vitamin C serum or an oil-based serum?
Luckily, as an Expert Panellist on the Clean + Conscious Awards, I have been given the opportunity to try out some amazing skincare products, including face oil. I admit, I was hesitant to try face oil at first. After all, during my teenage years and early twenties, I spent most of my time trying to remove oil from my skin! But when I gave it a try, I was surprised at how incredibly soft and smooth it made my skin feel. Over time, it transformed my skin and gave me a balanced, healthy, and blemish-free glow.
Now, I can’t imagine my skincare routine without it. There are so many benefits of face oil, especially during the harsher, dry, winter months. Here are my top five reasons why you should consider trying face oil:
1. Face oils are incredibly hydrating
Thanks to their essential omega fatty acids, face oils can penetrate deep into the skin and help lock in moisture. This makes them a great choice for dry or maturing skin, or for use during the dryer winter months. For extra hydration, try layering your moisturiser on top of your face oil.
2. Face oils are free of water
Since face oils don’t contain any water, one of the benefits of face oil is that there’s no need for potentially harmful preservatives or emulsifiers. This makes them a safe, non-toxic addition to your skincare routine.
3. Face oils are multi-talented
Despite their name, face oils are multi-talented! You can use them as a primer under makeup, as a face mask before bed, as a soothing balm for sunburns, or as a massage oil for your body. They can even help fade scars and hydrate dry spots on your elbows, hands, and lips.
4. Face oils are unlikely to make your skin oily
If you suffer with oily skin or acne, you might be wondering why on earth you’d want to add more oil to your skin? Facial oils are suitable for all skin types because they mimic the skin’s natural sebum production process. This means they actively work to balance and reduce the excess oils produced by your skin, as opposed to simply adding an extra layer of oil to your skin.
5. Face oils can act as a protective barrier
When applied to the skin, face oils not only seal the good stuff in, but act as a barrier against environmental enemies. Free radicals, generated through environmental stressors such as pollution and UV light, attack healthy skin cells through the process of oxidisation. When oxygen is taken from our skin cells, the skin can age much faster. Face oils act as a barrier against free radicals, helping to protect your skin from premature ageing.
To discover Award-winning face oils that are non-toxic, ethical and sustainable, check out the 2023 winners of our Face Oil category.