Ever since working for Clarins 100 years ago, I've been obsessed with facial oils. Think about it like this, most cosmetic products are water based, which our skin needs, right? Okay, but what does our skin naturally produce - oils. When you mix oil with water what happens? They separate. So while water based products can be absorbed into the skin, they don't always penetrate the deepest. Now when you mix oils with oils they blend together. So if you take a bacteria fighting oil and mix it with your greasy face, its going to cut that bacteria right down and create balance. On the flip side, if your Sahara like dry ass skin has no oil (but obviously still has sebaceous glands as tiny as they may be) putting omega rich oils on top of it will make it very happy. What cosmetics companies can't really claim (but like, its kinda common sense-ish) is that oils penetrate deeper than any other topical treatment because they can mix with our natural oils and enter the skin through those sebaceous glands.
The other reason I love plant oils and essential oils is that they are the core essence of a plant, all the nutrients from a flower, nut, roots, or leaf squeezed out into a beautiful texture. When applied, you’re getting all the beautiful actives from that plant, omega fatty acids, and vitamins, they penetrate so beautifully into the skin. People always ask why my skin is glowing, it’s usually because I have a bunch of oils on. My skin feels so naked without them.
I’ve used most all of the facial oils on the market and even make my own (hint hint…). Here are the 2 I’m currently living for.
Korres is an amazing apothecary brand out of Greece that’s specializes in using natural ingredients to create effective skincare products. I’m a huge fan of their Wild Rose range (I use the Daily Brightening & Refining Buff Cleanser and Vitamin C Petal Peel), when I heard they were launching a Wild Rose Vitamin C Active Brightening Oil I was like “Put it all over my body”. This oil contains their signature Wild Rose Oil (one of the brands original ingredients) rich in Vitamin C, omega 3, 6, 9 as well as Vitamin A. The brand also added a Super C active that increases the skin Vitamin C absorption by 1000%. All these actives promote collagen synthesis, brighten the skin, offer antioxidant-rich free radical protection (making it my choice for my AM routine), and has anti-inflammatory properties. I’m obsessed with the earthy floral scent and its fast absorbing texture. I’ve been using this lightweight oil over my serums every morning for a few weeks now and have noticed my skin glowing more and more; I need so little that I’ve barely put a dent in the bottle. Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Active Brightening Oil 5/5 Stars $54
After hearing all the hype, a friend gifted me the Sunday Riley Luna Oil, while I really wasn’t expecting to even like it (I’m always disappointed when people talk about how amazing a product is) I ended up living for this oil. This deep blue oil contains Trans-Retinol Esters which help to fight fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity. I’m a huge fan of any type of retinol products, but its pretty rare to find retinols in an oil base. It also has ingredients rich in Azulene, and powerful anti-inflammatory, able to help calm down redness, even redness associated with blemishes; this is also what’s helping calm the skin from any irritation from the retinol. Luna has other oils that are rich in Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E as well as Omega 3, as well as sebum regulating properties making it ideal or all skin types. Waking up after an evening of Luna I notice smaller pores, softer skin, less irritation (especially since I’m always doing peels and lasers) and the fine lines on my forehead look a lot softer. I’ve been using it just under 2 months but it’s a new favorite and I’ll continue to use it! I apply it over my PM serums before my night cream and retinoid. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil 5/5 Stars $105.
The one that started the obsession
Let me walk down memory lane to the first facial oil I ever used, Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil. Clarins started with 3 body oils and later developed 3 facial oils, all 6 oils are still part of the brand today (the Tonic Body Treatment Oil is my JAM and great for pregnant women to help prevent stretch marks). When I worked for Clarins back in 2003 I was young and very oily. The Lotus Oil is designed to be used as a rebalancing routine, use it every evening for 3 months to calm down oily skin and make the skin act more “normal”. Night after night it made my skin softer, pores smaller, skin less oily during the day. I think my favorite part of the oil is the smell, it’s so herbal its just amazing. I purchased the oil recently when I was passing through Duty Free and was reminded how much I love it. I still use it under clay masks to do some extra detox. For the rebalancing routine apply 2-4 drops to skin still damp from toning and allow it to soak in for a few minutes before going to bed. To boost your masks, press a few drops onto the skin and apply a clay mask directly over top. Clarins Lotus Treatment Oil 5/5 Stars $54