Facial oil is one of the skincare products that have found multiple uses. Despite whatever facial oil is mixed with, its moisturizing and hydrating benefits are undisputed. That one bottle of oil can be and work many things if you let it.
There are several ways you can use your facial oil in your skincare routine – morning and/or evening routine. Face oils have gone beyond the label that oils will clog your pores and cause excess shine. However, you still need to choose your oils carefully.
Achieving your skin goals doesn’t come on a platter of gold. It takes work and consistency. However, your oil is not the miracle worker; your consistency is. Continue reading to see how to make many wonders of your face oil.
Pick your oils
How to use facial oil starts with the oils you use. You need to pick oils that perfectly suit your skin type; otherwise, you may have tales of clogged pores, skin irritations, breakouts, and excess shine.
Dry skin
If you have dry skin, you should pick highly hydrating oils. Dry skin is characterized by a reduced production of sebum which is necessary to keep the skin moisturized, smooth, and soft.
The best options to help you get rid of flaky and itchy skin are sweet almond oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, maracuja oil, avocado oil, and sandalwood essential oil for fragrance.
Oily skin
Using facial oils for oily skin is not counterintuitive. On the contrary, a face oil that contains high concentrations of jojoba oil will mimic sebum production and keep your skin from producing more oil.
Additionally, one factor to consider when choosing oils is their comedogenicity.
Here are examples of other non-comedogenic oils that are great for oily and acne-prone skin: argan oil, tea tree essential oil, retinol oil, squalene oil, rosemary essential oil, green tea essential oil, marula oil, lemon essential oil, and rosehip oil.
Sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin, you should certainly stay away from “trying” products. That’s good practice. However, if you haven’t tried using facial oils, then you should. Unrefined oils are good for sensitive skin. They help to calm skin redness.
Vitamin E oil, for instance, is highly concentrated with antioxidants that protect your skin from environmental irritants that cause skin flares. It is also a natural humectant your skin needs to retain moisture.
Other oils that work for sensitive skin include argan oil, castor oil, chamomile essential oil, evening primrose oil, moringa oil, lavender essential oil, hemp oil, and apricot oil.
Combination skin
If you have combination skin, it could be any of these pairs, oily and dry or normal and oily/dry. Therefore, you should stick with oils that can perfectly work for both skin types. Such oils will help to regulate sebum production, hydrate your skin, and help acne as well.
More so, you need lightweight oils. Examples include jojoba oil, pomegranate oil, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil, lavender essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and marula oil.
Aging skin
Aging skin is mature skin, and it needs face oils that will boost moisture and smoothen fine lines and wrinkles. Face oils for aging skin should enhance skin rejuvenation and firming to restore your skin to its youth.
Neroli essential oil, moringa oil, marula oil, sandalwood essential oil, almond oil, lemon essential oil, frankincense essential oil, and pomegranate seed oil are great picks to help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and make your skin smooth and soft.
Note: Always mix essential oils with carrier oil; for every 1 tablespoon of carrier oil, add 3-4 drops of essential oil.
1. As a standalone facial oil
- As a standalone face oil in your routine, you only need about 5-6 drops of oil for even coverage
- After cleansing your face, gently tap serum all over it and moisturize afterward. In between serum and moisturizer, you should allow the serum to absorb into your skin for a minute
- After moisturizing your face, allow the cream to absorb into your skin for a minute as well
- Thereafter, tap the oil all over your face
- Then, use your fingers to gently rub it in until you have covered both face and neck
- Before you step out in the morning, ensure to have sunscreen on to protect your skin from UV rays
2. Mix facial oil with moisturizer
Another way to use face oil is to mix it with your regular moisturizer. It provides optimum hydration and moisture. Mixing face oil with moisturizer is a good way to dilute oils like essential oil and make it tolerable for your skin.
Moreover, it enhances your protective barrier and prevents moisture loss from your skin. When you add drops of facial oil to your moisturizer and apply it to your face, it gives you a dewy finish.
Take a pea-sized amount of moisturizer in your palm and add about 5 drops of face oil to the cream. Use both palms to mix the oil and moisturizer, and then apply it to your face and neck until you have even coverage.
Remember to apply sunscreen if your moisturizer does not contain SPF.
3. Use facial oil as makeup primer
Primer acts as a support frame that keeps your makeup from sliding off your face even when you sweat. Therefore, it extends longevity. Your makeup looks good even at the end of the day.
Using facial oil as a makeup primer will keep your makeup glowing and keep your skin hydrated. It also helps makeup adhere as well as a regular primer would. To use facial oil as a primer, you can mix it with your primer or use it alone.
After cleansing your face, apply serum and moisturizer. Then, rub face oil all over your face and neck. Allow the oil to absorb into your skin completely before you apply makeup.
4. Mix facial oil with foundation
Mixing facial oil with foundation makes the foundation lighter and glides smoothly onto your skin. Also, it keeps your skin hydrated and glowing. Contrary to what you may expect, mixing oil with your foundation gives your makeup a dewy finish.
Here’s the way to go. Put some drops of foundation on the back of your hand, then add some drops of your facial oil to it. Use your foundation brush to mix them. Then, you can go ahead to apply your foundation to your face.
5. Facial oil mist
One of the many ways to use facial oil is to make a DIY face mist to refresh your skin in the middle of a tiring day, especially after long hours of activity.
You can mix your facial oil mist in a small spray bottle and carry it around in your handbag. This face mist can help to set and refresh your makeup when it gets oily. Also, it helps to hydrate your skin before you moisturize.
To make this facial oil mist, you need oils that work with your skin type. Follow this direction to make a face mist in a 2-ounce bottle:
Materials: 3 drops of lavender essential oil, one tablespoon of witch hazel, ¼ cup of distilled water or rosewater, and your spray bottle
Directions:
- Pour all the ingredients into the spray bottle and shake the content of the bottle to mix them
- Afterward, spray the content of the bottle on your face when necessary
- You can use the face mist during your morning routine and use it for midday touch-ups
6. Face cleansing
Oil cleansing is a great method to cleanse your face of makeup, excess oil, dirt, and grime. This follows the oil lifts oil principle. The oil penetrates your pores and dissolves sebum and dead skin cells that form clogs.
Oil cleansing also effectively removes heavy makeup, especially around the eye area.
- To cleanse your face with oil, rub the oil all over your face
- Allow the oil to absorb into your pores
- Then, soak a clean towel or washcloth in warm water
- Gently wipe your face with the towel to remove the oil and makeup or dirt
- Wipe until your face doesn’t feel greasy with oil
- Afterward, moisturize your skin with a face cream
You can also follow these steps for facial steaming. For facial steaming, the water should be a little hot but not enough to scald your face. Place the hot towel over your face and hold it for up to five minutes. Facial steaming is effective for removing blackheads.
7. Face scrub
Face oils make good ingredients for DIY face-lightening scrubs. However, like a regular scrub, it shouldn’t be an everyday routine.
For a face scrub, you need a carrier oil that perfectly suits your skin type, sugar/coffee, and honey.
- Mix all ingredients in a small bowl and stir until you have a uniform paste
- Then, apply the paste to your face and scrub for a few minutes gently using your fingertips
- Rinse off the scrub well and moisturize your face
- Do this once a week to get results
8. Facial oil for gua sha
Gua sha is a face therapeutic massage that helps to relax facial muscles. Oils are the best products to apply to your skin before using a gua sha tool or facial roller because it aids the gliding of the tool. They also prevent skin wear and tear.
How to use facial oil:
- Take some drops of oil in your palm
- Tap the oil all over your face and rub it in gently
- Gently use your gua sha tool to massage your face
- Go from your temple to your forehead and then to your cheeks and chin
- Glide the tool over your nose and jaw to sculpt your face and enhance your facial features
- Go over the steps 3-5 times before you wipe the oil off your face
9. As anti-aging night cream
A face oil like retinol oil can serve as an anti-aging moisturizer to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your face. Retinol is a powerful anti-aging ingredient that stimulates cell turnover and collagen synthesis and promotes skin elasticity.
In your night routine, apply the oil all over your face, focusing on the areas where you have wrinkles and fine lines. Over time, the appearance of these signs of aging will improve.
FAQs
Are facial oils necessary?
Yes, they are.
Face oils are concentrated with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are essential to the health and appearance of your skin. Moreover, it is very moisturizing and creates a protective barrier over the skin to prevent moisture loss.
Do you use facial oil before or after moisturizer?
Use facial oil after moisturizer to boost hydration levels and retain moisture. Also, it helps to enhance the function of your natural barrier and prevent moisture loss.
How often should you use face oil?
Apply facial oil twice a day in your morning and evening routine.
You can also use face oil in between the day, if necessary. Most importantly, use your products with consistency to few results.
Conclusion
With so many moisturizers in the stores, you may wonder if you should use a facial oil. Yes, you should because they are very nourishing and moisturizing.
The use of face oil in your routine is limitless and highly beneficial if you use it correctly. The right use of any product starts with choosing the right formula for your skin type. When you have chosen the right oil, your skin opens to receive the goodness in the oil.
Most importantly, pay attention to your skin and use oils according to its demands.
Thanks for reading.
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