For years, oil was to the skincare industry what fat was to the food industry — it was to be avoided at all costs. Anyone suffering from acne scanned the labels of products, sighing with relief when they saw the term “oil-free.”
And then Linda Rodin, fashion stylist and the coolest septuagenarian ever, launched her face oil Rodin Olio Lusso in 2007, unknowingly causing a seismic shift in the way oil was perceived. “It’s the face oil that launched a thousand other face oils,” according to Into The Gloss. And suddenly, pressing aromatic plant oils into your face was all the rage because, as it turns out, it was good for us all along. (Sadly, Estee Lauder, who acquired Rodin in 2014 announced it was shutting down the brand in April.)
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Though the oil craze has cooled slightly, they’re still very much part of the skincare world. “I think once you use an oil, you don’t go back,” says April Garguilo, founder of Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum, a cult face oil that launched in 2014. “The first time I put an oil on my face, I woke up and thought, ‘Yeah, the angels are singing,’” she recalls.
Probably the most important thing to know about using a face oil is that oils do not hydrate — that’s what water does. They should be applied after your water-based product. “It provides that lock to maintain that hydration in the skin,” Garguilo says. Using a few drops, press it into your face, and revel in your glow.
Here are some great face oils to know and love.
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It takes three to five weeks to make one bottle of this product, which features 22 different oils, including grapeseed, carrot seed, frankincense, avocado, evening primrose, neroli and bergamot.
Related: I tried avocado oil as an overnight hair treatment and this is what happened.
Schisandra plant extract reduces irritation while cocoa reduces tension in this Omega-rich oil designed to treat irritated, reactive skin.
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Nine nutrient-dense oils including bakuchiol, amla and cacay address fine lines as well as boost radiance.
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Crafted in Toronto, this jojoba-based oil is a blend of 22 botanicals like Argan, sunflower, pomegranate, meadowfoam and cranberry to nourish, soothe inflammation and restore radiance.
Related: Easy DIY face mists to make at home (plus what to use them for).
One of the brand’s best-sellers, this blend of squalane, damascus rose extract and chios crystal oil brightens and boosts elasticity.
Related: Top new beauty products arriving in Canada this June.
