Oils in cosmetics are nothing new - cleansers, moisturisers, nourishing treatments and make up products (foundations, lipsticks...) get their lovely texture from plant oils. The latest generation of face oils, however, rely on an effective balance between nourishing oils and dry oils. Compared to their predecessors, they have a higher concentration of active ingredients and targeted formulae. These plant based oils are designed to be anti-ageing, hydrating, nourishing, soothing and so forth. They nourish and soften dry skin, brighten normal skin, close pores on fragile skin and smooth away wrinkles on mature skin. They may be blended with essential oils for added skin-friendly power. The result? The efficiency of a serum combined with the nourishing, repairing and regenerating properties of an oil.
Face oils aren't only designed for dry skin! Just because they're 'greasy' doesn't meant they don't work a treat on oily skin. Quite the opposite... There are face oils for all skin types, including problem, combination and oily skin. Once upon a time we needed to wait for a face oil to be absorbed, but nowadays their texture is much lighter than the classic body oils of foregone years. Our skin soaks them up in flash and you can immediately apply your make up.
Unlike creams and serums, face oils don't contain water so they're best applied to clean, damp skin. This helps skin to retain moisture.
If your oil's designed to target a specific issue (balancing, anti-blemish, anti-ageing...) apply it at night instead of a cream. It's whilst we sleep that our skin gets to work and it'll be able to soak up the oil's goodness to leave you with a healthy, glowing complexion!
Be careful if you decide to make your own face oil. Essential oils are powerful ingredients and you could do more harm than good. Some oils can cause flare-ups or shouldn't be blended together, whilst others react to sunlight. If you're not fully up to speed on the chemistry front, buy a face oil rather than going down the DIY route!