10 of the best face oils

Known for its array of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, rose oil is the perfect antidote for dry skin. Not only does it contain anti-bacterial properties that help battle acne, it also soothes redness and inflammation – a skin win-win.

This lightweight, non-greasy oil gets around the issue of retinol’s penchant for causing dryness by combining it with a heap of moisturizing ingredients, such as sunflower and canola oils that feel deeply nourishing and work hard to soften skin. If you’re looking for the anti-aging benefits of retinol – including reduced pigmentation, a plumper complexion and fewer lines – minus dryness and irritation, this one’s for you. Apply a few drops to cleansed skin each night.

All skin tones can become prone to developing patches of pigmentation, with age and UV being the two main culprits, so it’s important to use a product that will help keep it at bay. This luxurious oil helps to maintain evenly toned skin with amino acids, vitamins and nourishing babassu, argan, hazelnut and karanja oils. Massage a few drops into cleansed skin and you’ll likely find you won’t need to use a moisturizer.

Early mornings and late nights can take their toll on skin, leaving it looking dehydrated and dull. This luxe oil swoops in and undoes the damage, strengthening the skin’s barrier and reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. That’s on top of a serious glow boost. Shake the bottle first to combine the dual-phase formula, which includes La Mer’s signature Miracle Broth, sea-sourced actives and lime tea concentrate, then massage three to five drops into the skin before moisturizing.

If you have blemish-prone skin you may well baulk at the idea of adding more oil to your face, but the right face oil is capable of balancing the skin’s own sebum production and reducing excess shine. This fast-acting, non-greasy blend has been developed using all-natural ingredients, including purifying grape seed oil, antibacterial tea tree oil and soothing clary sage oil, which leave skin balanced and nourished.

Hero ingredient squalane oil is known for its powerful moisturizing abilities, providing deep hydration and improved tone for the plumped-up, healthy-looking skin you lust after. It absorbs quickly, leaving skin silky-smooth, glowing and ready for makeup. Short of time? Mix a few drops with your moisturizer for an easy radiance boost.

The rich texture, beautiful packaging and heavenly scent of this oil make it a real treat to use – and the ingredients more than measure up. Sustainably sourced, omega-packed Amazonian kaya oil is the hero, while Brazil nut and tucuma boost its wrinkle-busting, skin-plumping abilities. Try using this oil when your face is dry and dull, and watch your skin transform. One note: a little goes a long way, as tempting as it is to use the whole bottle at once.

Sensitive types often avoid face oils for fear that they’ll be too rich, but this lightweight formula is a dream on even the most easily irritated faces. Like a superfood smoothie for the skin, it uses chia, green tea, raspberry and pomegranate to gently and naturally nourish and plump. It smells just as good as it sounds, and leaves skin smooth, soothed and soft to the touch. Delicious.

What we love about this brand is how it expertly marries traditional Korean ingredients with high-tech processes to get the very best from the botanicals. Fermentation is at the heart of this oil, which is great news for your skin. Elasticity and firmness are improved, and the multitude of essential oils tackles everything from dehydration to dullness. And for those looking for more considered, sustainable skincare, this oil serum is also vegan.

While it may seem counter-intuitive to put a face oil on oily skin, it is actually one of the best things you can use. Why? Because these oils do not interfere with the pH of the skin or strip away the naturally occurring oils: instead, they strengthen the skin’s barrier. This highly concentrated formula contains 100 percent cold-pressed camelia oil that actually works to balance oil production while locking in moisture.