Today, most of us have some type of oil on our vanity/bathroom counter right? You may even have a wide range of oils from coconut oil to add luster to your hair to avocado oil to moisturize your freshly showered skin. But what are the best ways to use oil for your skin? Are you using oils correctly and effectively?
Blake Lively for Allure May 2015
I’ve been thinking about this a little more as I’ve been accumulating oils. But was I buying the right oils and using them correctly? I started to research a little more about how to use oils and even wrote about using lotion vs. oil. So I compiled this list of the best ways to use oil for your skin so I could also remember how to best use them!
The Best Ways to use oil for your skin
1. Choose the right oil
Yes, oils can moisturize your skin, but they can also clog pores too (it’s possible to have too much coconut oil!) Stay away from mineral oils. Choose a variety of oils and test them out on your skin. All oils are not created equally and your skin may react better to certain oils. Compare a few and you’ll find the right ones soon!
2. Use oil as the last step in your skincare
Oils are occlusive moisturizers and create a physical barrier to prevent your skin from drying out. Most fatty oils are occlusive. So this means that they are not humectants which actually draw moisture into the skin. They will not heal dry skin and only ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, lactic acid, and glycerine will perform this function.
3. Use oil as the first step in cleansing
I’m a new convert to double cleansing which begins with oil. My blogger friend Rowena wrote about this and I also started to use this method. Essentially oil cleansers break up makeup in a lighter way without drying out your skin. These oil cleanser may also contain salicylic acid to gently exfoliate. I love the cleaning power and scent of the Laneige oil cleanser which contains grapefruit oil and apricot seed oil! I’ll have to write about this soon too because it’s been a game changer for my skin.
4. All oils should not be used on your face
Some people swear by olive oil and coconut oil for everything. These oils are heavier and may cause breakouts for some people. Quicker drying oils like argan, apricot seed, and grapeseed are more conducive for applying directly to your face. I’ve researched lighter oils and found that jojoba oil, which is actually a wax, is very similar to the skin’s sebum (our skin’s own secretions) regulating our oil production. As a result, I’ve applied it directly to my face and skin with no reactions.
5. Use the oil to target your needs
What ailments are you trying to treat? I have dry patches on my skin and the occasional breakout. Argan oil is great for the skin because it may help to reduce inflammation and contains vitamin E. Tea tree oil, which contains terpinen-4-ol, is also great for treating acne since it has antibacterial properties. So you should look for the key vitamins in oils and select the ones you need most. Just remember that some oils are essential oils which means that they are more potent and should be used together with a carrier oil.
Thanks so much for all this information about oil for your skin. seriously did not know most of this!
Thanks Cheryl! I was curious myself so I started researching oils and wanted to share!
I’m still playing around with face oils, but I like using jojoba oil 🙂
Some great tips here, i do use oils but I use them in winter months not so much the sumemr
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
This is very helpful! Thanks for the tips!
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I’m still scared to apply oil directly to my skin, but I’m contemplating trying something by Josie Maran – her line of argan oils sound incredibly fab!
xx
Yes I remember winning argan oil from a giveaway you hosted! Argan oil is packed with vitamin E and quite a few people love applying it on their faces!
I just started learning about oils last year! You really have to be careful, because each one has a specific purpose. There’s no one size fits all. Very informative post!
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I’ve been loving maracuja oil for my hair. I’m just now venturing into trying oils on my skin. I use a cleansing oil as my first step in makeup removal.
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