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We’re proponents of lazy skincare, biggest results with minimal effort, so we get the grumbling about adding another step to your skincare routine. But know this, collagen production drops by 1% every year after the age of 18.
Oils are little supercharged packs of antioxidants that help perk up skin and rewind some of the fun we had in the sun (and maybe at bars) and the lingering effects of stress from work, life and the environment. Plus, many facial oils deliver more vitamin benefits to the skin than their ingestible food counterparts like orange juice.
Won’t facial oils clog my pores?
Some face oils are traditional pore cloggers, but not consistent offenders. It depends on your skin and genetic makeup. Coconut oil clogs the crud out of some pores while others can withstand and benefit from it. But it will react differently to each skin type (kind of like the way a fragrance dries down differently on everyone, annoying, but that’s life.) One function of a face oil is to keep skin’s barrier intact so that the good stuff, including moisture, from creams and serums doesn’t escape. In that effort, some oils can seem to clog pores. But don’t worry, there’s a facial oil for everyone.
Why rosehip seed oil is queen.
Rosehip seed, a dermatologist favorite, does everything but pick up the dry cleaning. Extracted from the rose bush, rosehip seed is packed with anti-inflammatories, fatty acids and Vitamins A and C.
It’s a cure-all:
- Rosehip seed oil restores and heals signs of fine lines, scarring and acne
- Works on dry or rosacea-prone skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties
- Astringent properties tighten pores and brighten skin (thanks to Vitamin C)
- Non-greasy, super light and fast-absorbing oil
- Helps to correct hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone
- Contains large amounts of Tretinoin, a form of Vitamin A, that’s clinically shown to combat hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture
- Helps skin rebuild collagen and prevent oxidative stress
Best of all? Rosehip seed oil is universally skin-friendly. It’s famous for agreeing with all skin types and is naturally soothing/calming to irritated skin.
What if my skin is oily?
A lot of oily skin cases are a result of a lack of moisture, which sounds blasphemous to those who have been battling breakouts. Skin produces oil to stay hydrated, and when skin is deprived of outside moisture (facial creams), it reacts by going into overdrive to produce the oil it believes skin needs. Basically, don’t discount your skin; chances are if you experience breakouts and oiliness, an oil can help regulate sebum production and breakouts. Facial oils similar to or containing rosehip or jojoba (which is actually a liquid wax) work to control skin’s sebum production.
When do I use it in my skincare routine?
There are two arguments here, and it boils down to what you’re looking to treat:
After moisturizer: Oil is a gatekeeper of moisture, not a huge provider – they’re occlusive, which means they trap moisture. Their function as a gatekeeper helps seal in not only the moisture but the benefits of your moisturizer. This process of helping skin retain the moisture is known as helping to prevent TEWL (Trans Epidermal Water Loss).
Before moisturizer: On the other side of the application fence, some prefer pre-moisturizer application so that the oils can perform their carrier duty and help “carry” actives from moisturizers (Vitamin A for example) down deeper where the skin cell turnover action is.
Either way, oils help maximize the performance of our creams and moisturizers and it largely depends on finishing texture and what kind of lay down you’re looking for. When in doubt, cocktail application is always an option, which means adding a couple drops of oil to your face or body cream and mixing together prior to application.
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