The 17 Best Oils for Face and Skin
Is Coconut Oil Good for Your Face? And Other Oils Your Face Will Love.
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Is coconut oil good for your face? And what other oils do faces love? Here is a list of 17 of the best oils for face and skin tone.
While we usually focus on removing oil from our face, finding the right oil could make the difference in your skin. The beauty industry has trained us to avoid oil at all costs, but that doesn’t have to be the case, especially when you are looking for more natural remedies for your facial woes. There are, in fact, several oils that not only are unlikely to make you break out in acne, but your face may end up loving. The best oils for faces can depend on your skin’s needs.
The oils that our skin produces (called sebum) help hold in moisture, protect our skin from damaging effects of the environment such as free radicals, provide a barrier against bacteria, and act as transport for antioxidants, pheromones, and even vitamin E. The production of this oil is a good thing, but our skin does not always produce it in the proper quantities. Often, lifestyle factors affect how much sebum is secreted whether too much or too little. We can help offset this disparity but supplementing oil to our skin after cleansing. While having oily skin is largely hereditary, it is also affected by hormone levels and by how you treat your skin. As you work to combat the oil, often you end up stripping too much oil from your skin without replenishing the protective layer. This causes your skin to produce more oil to compensate. Your skin is trying to protect itself with the oil, and you are not leaving enough for it to accomplish that. By cleansing your natural oil off your face (because of dirt and skin cell build-up) and following with oil and moisturizer, you can give your skin the protective factor it craves while also supplementing other nutrients that come from these oils. If your skin is dry, then these oils may help it to become supple and moisturized once again.
Argan Oil is great for dry or aging skin. It is high in Vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. The fatty acids help your skin make healthy cell membranes, reduce inflammation, and promote collagen production.
Avocado Oil is excellent for dry, sensitive, or irritated skin. It is very moisturizing with Vitamins A, E, C, and B vitamins plus omega-3 fatty acids.
Almond Oil is good for dry skin. It absorbs quickly and moisturizes deeply. It is also odorless so it can be the best oil for faces of those who may not like strong scents.
Apricot Kernel Oil, also good for dry skin, is very similar to almond oil in that it absorbs quickly, is very moisturizing, and has very little scent.
Borage Seed Oil is good for sensitive or damaged skin. It contains gamma linolenic acid which decreases inflammation when used topically. It can be used to treat acne, eczema, and dermatitis.
Coconut Oil What is coconut oil good for? It works well for sensitive skin and eczema. It is light and absorbs very well. It is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it is considered comedogenic.
Flaxseed Oil is great for irritated, sensitive skin especially eczema and dermatitis. It contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids making it anti-inflammatory. Studies have shown that if taken daily, it can improve skin conditions such as eczema in as little as three months.
Grapeseed Oil is good for oily, acne-prone skin. It contains linoleic acid and antioxidants. It is anti-inflammatory and absorbs quickly making it less likely to leave an oily sheen on the already oil-prone skin.
Hemp Seed Oil is also good for oily, acne-prone skin. Being high in linoleic acid and antioxidants, it is anti-inflammatory. It can be used to treat eczema and psoriasis. It also works well on broken skin which can be common with these skin conditions.
Jojoba Oil (pronounced ho-HO-ba) is actually a liquid wax. It is excellent for dry skin, but its properties can also make it compatible with oily, acne-prone skin. Its chemical structure is very similar to our skin’s natural oils making it easily absorbed. This can help balance oil production. It contains zinc, copper, Vitamin E, and B vitamins.
Lavender Oil can be soothing to irritated or acne-prone skin. It helps control sebum production and acts as a natural antiseptic and disinfectant. It can also be used to boost other skin products.
Olive Oil is suitable for very dry skin. It is rich and heavy and may take longer to absorb. You may want to only apply this as night time so it can absorb while you sleep. It is very rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E. It is also similar to the oils our skin produces so it absorbs well. Because of its heavy nature, it should be avoided by those with acne-prone skin.
Pomegranate Seed Oil is good for aging, mature skin. It is rich in flavonoids which neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation.
Rosehip Oil is good for acne-prone or mature skin. It is excellent for those whose skin is both mature and acne-prone. This oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and linoleic acid. These properties cause it to act like a natural Retin-A without the side effects of a prescription. It increases cell turnover, collagen, and elastin production. Studies have shown that applying it for just a few weeks can bring significant improvement to skin discoloration.
Safflower Oil can be used for dry, irritated skin. It is high in linoleic acid which helps the skin make ceramides. Ceramides are lipids that help the skin hold onto water and avoid dehydration. It is only one step below argan oil for effectiveness in treating dry, inflamed skin, but it is also much less expensive than argan oil.
Tamanu Oil can be used on oily, acne-prone skin. It can speed wound healing by fighting bacteria and increasing cellular regeneration. It is antimicrobial, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and contains antioxidants. WARNING: Do not use if you have an allergy to tree nuts.
Tea Tree Oil can help acne-prone skin. It penetrates skin quickly and helps kill bacteria in pores and around hair follicles.
As you use these oils, you can use one or make a mix of several. Not all are moisturizing. Some, such as tea tree, can even be drying to the skin and should be mixed with another oil. In your face regimen, oil would be best applied after any serums and before moisturizer. You only need between 1-3 drops total. Pat onto the face rather than rub, pushing it into the pores. Try out a few to find which works best with your particular skin. You can combat skin problems, including excess oil, with oil itself so long as you use the right type of oil.
Using these oils for faces or combining with the best essential oils for soap making can create the right environment for your skin. Follow a complete essential oils guide to determine which other oils are safe for skin contact.
What do you think? Is coconut oil good for your face or have you found tea tree oil or safflower to be the best oils for face and skin?