Common myth: Those with acne-prone skin can’t use a face oil. We’re here to tell you that’s completely false. In truth, some facial oils can even benefit acne-prone skin, helping to calm irritation and fade the dreaded dark spots that arrive post-breakout. And that’s not all, facial oils can provide much-needed balance to oilier skin types by curbing extra oil production. Additionally, they quench dry skin and even balance a combination complexion. Truly, I shouldn’t need to say more to convince you that adding a face oil to your routine is a good thing. But if you do need just a hair more convincing, you’re going to want to keep reading. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of each skin type’s facial oil soulmate. Yes, it exists and your skin will thank you. Scroll on and find out which one is yours.
Despite what you might think, everyone can actually use and reap the moisturizing benefits of face oils. As long as you use it correctly and choose a formula geared toward your skin type and concerns, you’re good to go! For example, someone with dry skin probably won’t use the same oil as someone with oily skin. And yes, even folks with oily skin can use face oil. The right mixture of ingredients can actually help stabilize and regulate the skin’s sebum production, which, in turn, will help curb excessive oiliness. If you have oily skin, look for an oil with oil-soluble esters, which help the oil to sink into the skin and disappear.
Those with combination skin will most likely want to use a face oil with extra hydrating ingredients that won’t clog pores or cause excess oiliness—think squalane, rosehip oil, and jojoba oil. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, you’ll want to avoid heavier oils like coconut, marula, palm, wheat germ, and soybean. Do opt for oils like sea buckthorn, olive, tea tree, and jojoba. I know, that’s a lot to take in, but don’t worry. We have you covered on which oils are truly best for each skin type below. Keep reading—your face oil soulmate is just a scroll away.
Pros: Repairs the moisture-barrier, vitamin C brightens, deeply hydrates dry or dehydrated skin, noncomedogenic. Cons: Expensive. Celebrity and organic skincare-focused facialists agree—they love this ultra-hydrating and nourishing oil from Furtuna skin. It may be pricey, but its unique formulation and incredible benefits make it worth the splurge IMO. It contains a medley of gentle, moisturizing, noncomedogenic oils like squalane, magnolia oil, and olive oil making it a great option for all skin types. It also contains lactobacillus ferment to support skin barrier function and vitamin C to kickstart collagen synthesis within your skin. It truly does it all—I use it myself and it’s been my number one most-used oil in my rotation for moths. Customer Review: “I am obsessed with this face oil! I use it morning and night, and it works perfect with my morning Gua Sha ritual. It doesn’t leave a greasy feeling or look, just very moisturized and natural. It works great under makeup also. Love how my skin glows while using this product.”
Pros: Helps clarify acne-prone skin, noncomedogenic, tea tree oil and black cumin seed oil support clear skin. Cons: Expensive,strong smell. Tea tree oil, salicylic acid, and black cumin seed oil work together to combat breakout-causing bacteria. Then, additional strategic ingredients like hexylresorcinol and licorice help gently brighten the skin to even out lingering scars or pigmentation. Customer Review: “I’ve been repurchasing this face oil for years so I figured it deserves a review. I typically use it at night before my moisturizer and have found it works great for preventing acne and not so much for getting rid of existing pimples. At first, the clean earthy smell can be a little overwhelming if you prefer light/unscented products, but I’ve grown to love the scent so much I almost can’t get enough of it when applying it. It also feels suuuper hydrating and refreshing which is amazing for my dry skin because some salicylic acid products can feel drying. It also works amazing under makeup and I would definitely recommend giving it a try (in the smaller size if you’re feeling iffy)!!”
Pros: Budget-friendly, noncomedogenic, targets photo aging and dehydration. Cons: Strong smell. If you’re looking for one of the best oils to help keep breakouts at bay, rose hip oil gets the job done. This affordable version is one of The Ordinary’s best sellers. It’s organic and utilizes cold-pressed oils—a must. Customer Review: “I love this oil it feels really good on my skin! Since I have started using this oil, I’ve seen a difference in how my skin looks. My skin is much more hydrated and soft after using the oil.”
Pros: Serum-oil hyrbid, antioxidants protect from environmental damage, strengthens the skin’s protective barrier, deeply hydrates. Cons: Use sparingly or your skin could teeter on oily. This antioxidant serum and facial oil hybrid from Versed contains ingredients like camellia oil and sea buckthorn extract to reduce redness and strengthen the skin’s barrier. It’s great for those who tend to get both oily and dry because skin-nourishing ingredients like vitamin E and sodium hyaluronate provide extra hydration to the skin without leaving it greasy. Customer Review: “Product is wonderful for sensitive, combination skin. It can be layered on top of moisturizer and does not appear greasy at all not even on your hand. Really lovely feeling after application.”
Pros: Helps balance, restore, and refresh congested, combination, and sensitive skin, weightless on the skin, contains polyphenols, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants to seal in moisture and protect against environmental damage. Cons: Expensive. Le Prunier’s plum oil truly does it all—hydrates, protects, balances, and soothes. It’s so healing and hydrating for the skin but is also safe for sensitive skin since it contains only pure plum oil. If you tend to get oily in certain areas and dry in others, this will also help balance hydration and sebum production so that your skin will keep its equilibrium. Customer Review: “I’m on my second bottle. This oil is light, absorbs well, smells delightful and leaves my skin feeling smooth and improves clarity.”
Pros: Rich in antioxidants to defend skin against free radicals, contains ceramides to repair the skin’s moisture-barrier and soothe dry skin, argan oil deeply hydrates, fragrance-free. Cons: Maynot be hydrating enough to use alone. This Paula’s Choice oil is rich in ceramides, argan oil, and antioxidants to soothe and comfort dry skin. Customer Review: “This is one of my favorite oils! It is packed full of great ingredients for your skin, and is cheaper than the oil I was previously buying from Sephora. I mix it with my moisturizer both in the morning and at night before bed, and I have definitely noticed a difference, especially in the dry winter months. It doesn’t make my face feel as greasy as some of the other oils I have tried previously, and it doesn’t have that sticky feeling.”
Pros: Contains honey to provide long-lasting hydration, sea buckthorn oil curbs environmental damage, five-flower oil blend reinforces the skin’s moisture-barrier. Cons: A bit heavier than other options on this list. I’m a huge fan of Farmacy products and this facial oil works wonders for dry skin. The formula is rich in omega fatty acids, flower oils, and honey to lock hydration deep within the skin. Customer Review: “Seriously saved my skin after Accutane. I wish I would’ve known about it before I went on it.”
Pros: Contains noni fruit which is packed with over 100 vitamins and minerals, rosehip oil soothes skin, sea buckthorn . Cons: Lighter oil and may not provide enough hydration for extra dry skin types. Kora Organics offers this organic oil packed with antioxidant-rich noni fruit and 100 vitamins and minerals. It also contains rosehip oil to soothe sensitive skin and sea buckthorn oil which is rich in vitamin C, E, and omega fatty acids. Customer Review: “This is a holy grail skin product for sure—I’ve been using this for about two months now and it has literally changed the texture and tone of my complexion entirely. I apply at night after the Sephora brand hyaluronic acid serum/moisturizer and wake up literally glowing! Compared to other face oils I’ve tried, it’s a lot less oily and much lighter —so if you’re looking for a heavy duty oil this isn’t it. If you want an oil that can be used daily and soaks in overnight this is it!!”
Pros: Boosts firmness and skin elasticity, packed with omega fatty acids, conditions and rejuvenates the skin, great for sensitive skin. Cons: Texture is thicker than other oils. Pai’s rosehip oil is a great option for sensitive skin as it contains just the oil and extract of rosehip along with vitamin E. Although it’s light on ingredients, it still does the most by delivering vital nutrients to the skin like omega fatty acids. It deeply conditions the skin, promotes a clearer complexion, boosts firmness and elasticity, and evens out your skin tone. Customer Review: “Love that the the ingredients are clean and organic. Applied under my moisturizer, [it] holds moisture longer than when not used with my moisturizer.”
Pros: Noncomedogenic, lightweight, repairs a damaged skin barrier, reduces redness, helps skin maintain hydration. Cons: May be too light for dry skin. As someone with very sensitive skin, I’ve found that it’s best to opt for face oils that are noncomedogenic or one-ingredient oils like squalane, rosehip, rose oil, and so on. This squalane oil from Biossance is a great option because it’s totally weightless, helps repair a damaged skin barrier, reduces redness, and helps skin maintain its overall hydration levels. Customer Review: “Amazing product! Hydrates and isn’t greasy once it soaks in! Love!!!”
Pros: Rich in antioxidants to protect against environmental damage, omega fatty acids moisturize the skin and calm inflammation. Cons: May be too light for super dry skin. The star ingredients in this light, yet hydrating organic oil are cloudberry, cottonseed, and meadfoam oil. Each are rich in protective antioxidants, vitamins, and omega fatty acids that moisturize the skin and calm inflammation, making it great for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Customer Review: “Very lightweight, scentless oil that doesn’t irritate my face (I’ve got rosacea) and makes me feel moisturized all day.”
Pros: Contains essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants to nourish skin, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, brightens dull skin. Cons: Bottle is really small. If you’re a fan of Burt’s Bees chapsticks, you’ll love the brand’s nourishing facial oil. It contains a blend of rosehip, jojoba, and evening primrose oil to provide long-lasting hydration. Customer Review: “I’ve been using this for months now, and I put my moisturizer on top of it. ( I use Skin Food) I can really see a huge difference, I’m over 40 and it’s plumped my skin, hydrated me, and [definitely[ had an effect on my face and neck. I’ve wasted my money in the past on so much stuff and been ripped [off], but I’ll never use anything ever again. Burt’s Bees has actually changed my skin for the better. You need to stick with it to see a difference.”
Pros: Contains vitamin-rich superfoods and barrier-boosting oils, balance’s skin’s natural oil production, calms sensitive skin. Cons: May be too much for oilier skin. This super food-packed oil from Sweet Chef contains kale, beet, and ginger which are rich in vitamins A, B, and C to smooth, moisturize, and brighten the skin. Jojoba and apple seed oil also balance the skin’s natural oil production while oat and ginseng calm and soothe. Customer Review: “I have repurchased this face oil too many times to count. I mix in a few drops with my moisturizer and it’s perfecto!!”
