10 Must-Have Face Oils for Your Skincare Routine (2024)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Skin Type: All | Key Ingredients: Plum oil | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Le Prunier’s Plum Beauty Oil is proof that sometimes simplicity is best. Plum oil–its powerhouse sole ingredient–is rich in antioxidant polyphenols, nourishing omega fatty acids, and vitamins A and E, helping to condition the skin without overloading it. The pared-back formula is ideal for sensitive skin types (assuming you’re not allergic to plums, of course).

Our tester lauds the texture of this face oil, noting that it felt lightweight and serum-like, quickly absorbing with no visible residue left behind. The hydrating formula helped restore moisture to his skin, which was slightly dry and irritated from prescription skin treatments, and it even gave his complexion an instant glow.

Alfredo, a tester with combination skin: “There are mornings when I wake up and all I want to do is just go out and get coffee, but I want to look alive. I just apply the oil on my face for an instant glow and on my hair to tame it.”

Skin Type: All | Key Ingredients: Rosa canina seed oil | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Our budget-friendly pick is another one-ingredient wonder, this time from The Ordinary. It’s made from rosehip oil, which helps brighten and even out skin tone and improve elasticity, making it a great choice for mature skin. Plus, because it only contains one ingredient, it plays well with other formulas, adding plenty of hydration on top of retinol or exfoliating AHAs.

Our tester describes the formula as “oily in a good way.” Her face was slick when she applied it before bed, but felt perfectly soft and hydrated by morning. Although the face oil is designed for all skin types, our tester felt it was not a daytime-appropriate product for her oily T-zone and she noticed that her sunscreen slid right off when applied on top of it. Note to self: Give this formula plenty of time to absorb.

Shannon Bauer, associate editorial director with combination skin: “I noticed pretty immediate moisture and always woke up with my skin feeling soft and smooth.”

Skin Type: All | Key Ingredients: Chamomile oil, lavender oil, vitamins E and A | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s a reason so many women use Bio-Oil to help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy; it’s famous for being ultra-hydrating yet still lightweight. The formula boasts a slew of nourishing oils to help condition the skin, including soothing chamomile, calendula, and rosemary. Our tester loved the smooth, thin consistency of the product, which felt dewy and light on his skin. Although it absorbed quickly with no residue left behind, he preferred to use it as the final step in his evening skincare regimen. By morning, his complexion was moisturized and radiant.

Mikey, a tester with combination skin: “Over time, the face oil improved my skin's overall hydration, too. I used the face oil at night before bed, and it allowed me to wake up in the morning with a soft glow and radiant finish.”

Skin Type: Mature | Key Ingredients: Squalane, retinol, soybean oil | Size: 0.67 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Retinol is a powerful radiance-boosting, fine-line-smoothing ingredient, but it can initially make the skin dry and flakey. By combining it with hydrating squalane and soothing vitamin E, this pick aims to counter any potential irritation. Our tester loved the light, thin consistency of the oil, which never felt overly greasy. It took up to an hour for the formula to fully absorb, so it’s best to apply right before bed, but on occasions when she used it in the morning, it layered surprisingly well underneath makeup. Our tester noticed her skin felt hydrated and elasticity improved, although it didn’t make a huge difference to her forehead lines. What really set the oil apart, in our tester’s opinion, is the healthy glow it imparted. “I haven’t been able to replicate it with any other product,” she said.

Ashley, a tester with combination skin: “It provides my dry skin with nourishment and moisture. My skin elasticity improved slightly.”

Skin Type: Oily/blemish-prone | Key Ingredients: Blue tansy, kukui nut oil, jojoba oil | Size: 0.3, 1, 1.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The slippery texture of face oil may not create the best canvas for applying makeup in most cases, but this formula from Herbivore might just be the exception. It gave our tester’s complexion a glow that made his makeup look perfectly dewy. The lightweight, bright blue formula was easy to spread and delivered deep hydration. His skin reacted well to the product, and he noticed improvements in the texture of his skin with consistent use.

Saleam, a tester with normal-combination skin: “It works under makeup by adding a natural-looking glow as a base before applying foundation or a skin tint. It does add a noticeable radiance to the skin without looking like you’ve just applied heavy oil to your face.”

Skin Type: Mature | Key Ingredients: Algae, moringa, watermelon | Size: 0.5, 1.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Mature skin needs a little extra TLC, and this face oil aspires to provide just that. It’s enriched with antioxidant-packed, moisturizing moringa oil and a proprietary algae blend crafted to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. The product spreads nicely with an aloe-like texture that’s easily absorbed and never feels oily. Our tester loved the hydrating, brightening effects of this oil so much that she felt completely comfortable stepping out without a scrap of makeup on her face. It even helped fade areas of hyperpigmentation and left her skin supple and glowy.

Samantha, a tester with mature-sensitive skin: “The darkness around my mouth and chin lessened and I do think this face oil can take credit for that. I feel like this face oil did the darn thing and not only made my face feel better, but actually look better as well.”

Skin Type: All | Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam, hemp, and rosehip oil | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This quenching, nourishing formula contains a blend of 16 noncomedogenic oils, and it feels like an instant pick-me-up for the skin. Our tester loved how smoothing and hydrating it felt and how easily it absorbed. Unlike other face oils she’s tried, this one layered well under makeup, giving her a lovely glow on days when she was feeling tired or just plain “blah.” Although she liked its “neutral nutty” scent, others might not be so keen.

Lauren, a tester with sensitive-combination skin: “Immediately after using this face oil, my skin would get a glow. This is likely because it adds a quick, intense layer of hydration. I often use face oils for this purpose, especially on mornings when I look tired, or my skin appears dull.”

Skin Type: Oily, combination, normal | Key Ingredients: 1.5% Salicylic acid, tea tree oil, black cumin seed oil | Size: 0.5, 1.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you struggle with acne, it can seem like madness to slather an oily product on your skin, but this dry oil was specifically formulated with clarifying tea tree and exfoliating salicylic acid to help treat breakouts while gently moisturizing the skin. Our tester appreciated that the mid-weight oil was easy to spread and layered well with other skincare products. It made her skin feel hydrated and fully absorbed in an hour or two, without feeling too heavy or greasy. Immediately after application, her skin was noticeably more glowy–so much so that she skipped makeup some days–and her complexion continued to improve daily. Although our tester’s skin isn’t particularly oily, this pick did help clear some bumpy breakouts along her chin.

Cullen, a tester with normal-dry skin: “I feel as though my skin has looked better and better. The bumps around my chin don't feel as prevalent as they did when I started using the face oil.”

Skin Type: All | Key Ingredients: Rosehip seed oil, olive fruit oil, jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: yes

There’s nothing more annoying than painstakingly applying your favorite beauty elixirs and then noticing they’re starting to pill. That wasn’t an issue with this oil from Tata Harper, which our tester used as the final step in her morning skincare routine. Not only did it pair nicely with her other products, but it also made a great base for makeup, adding a dewy finish to her favorite foundation. It’s a thin oil and a little goes a long way, so the best approach is to pat it on with your fingertips. Once applied, our tester says her skin looked radiant and felt hydrated all day long.

Ashley, a tester with combination skin: “My makeup applied nicely when it was worn under my foundation, as long as I did not apply too much oil. My skin looked more radiant with the oil than without.”

Skin Type: All | Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, squalane, avocado oil, jojoba oil | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: yes

If your skin skews dry and dehydrated, it will drink up this ultra-hydrating face oil from U Beauty. Created to mirror the skin’s natural composition by replenishing its lipid layer and utilizing hyaluronic acids to prevent moisture loss, it significantly boosts hydration while sealing it in for lasting effect. Our tester happened to be dealing with retinol flaking when she used this formula (IYKYK)—it quickly tackled dry, irritated patches and replenished her skin. Go easy on the pump applicator because you only need a little product for perfect hydration and a dewy finish.

Bianca, a tester with combination/acne-prone skin: “I was dealing with retinol uglies, so I had a lot of flaking when I woke up each morning. This knocked those flakes right on the head and helped my skin feel and look plump, bright, and hydrated.”

FAQ

• Can you use face oil on oily skin?

  Believe it or not, you can use face oils on oily skin—it just depends on the type of oil. “It’s important to select an oil that won’t clog the pores or worsen breakouts,” says Dr. Garshick.“ Oils with a larger molecule size can be considered comedogenic, but those with a smaller molecule size, such as squalene and argan oil, penetrate the skin a bit better.

• Do face oils cause acne?

  According to Dr. Garshick, face oils, similar to body oils, don’t necessarily cause acne. “A concern around facial oils has been that, as the name states, they contain oil which traditionally is thought to clog pores and lead to breakouts—however, not all oils are created equal,” she says. “There are oils that won’t clog the pores and, as such, won’t cause acne. Additionally, oils such as tea tree oil may even have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits and may be helpful for those with acne.” So the idea that oil is a no-no for the skin? It’s not always the case.
  

• Which facial oils are best for mature skin?

  If you want more than a quick glow-up from a facial oil, Adell recommends seeking out more complex formulations. “Oils that contain bakuchiol (a retinol alternative), vitamin C to brighten, and squalene for hydration are ideal for mature skin,” she says.
  

• When should you apply face oil?

  Dr. Garshick says it’s best to apply face oil after a moisturizer—and more importantly, not necessarily treat it as a replacement for your traditional cream and lotion moisturizers. “It’s important to note that face oil does not necessarily replace a moisturizer, especially for those with dry skin,” she says. “Moisturizers may help to draw moisture in, while the oil helps to create a barrier for the skin to trap moisture in, creating a seal. Although oils may have a thinner consistency than a moisturizing cream or lotion, it’s generally best to apply them after moisturizer as they'll help seal in moisture. If oils are applied too early in a routine, they may even prevent subsequent products from getting absorbed.”

• What face oil is best for glowing skin?

  If your goal is radiant, glowing skin (whose isn’t?), board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kseniya Kobets, M.D., recommends finding a product that delivers vitamin C to brighten the skin or bakuchiol to increase cell turnover. “Plus nourishing ingredients like antioxidants, for example, squalane or essential oils, to fight free radicals,” she adds. However, thanks to the glossy sheen they impart, most face oils will also give you a glowy look in the immediate, too.

• Is face oil better than a serum?

  The question of which is better—face oil or serum—is dependent on your skin type and goals. Try looking for products that will layer well and combine both for optimal results. “If your skin needs hydration, then you should choose products with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides squalane, and dimethicone for extra occlusion,” advises Dr. Kobets.