I’m frequently asked by clients, friends, family and on social media about whether or not to use an oil on the face, how to use an oil and what types of oil are best for particular skin types. Your questions answered!

Help! Should I be using a face oil? 

Almost all skin types will benefit from using a hero oil. If you have the skin condition Rosacea then I would avoid using oil on the skin due to irregularities of the sebaceous glands, and that goes for in your make-up too. Even an acne skin can benefit from using specific oils or dry oils. If you have oily skin, look to dry oils, especially oleic acids (omega 9s) because they are most similar to our natural sebum. Moringa, apricot kernel, olive oil, safflower or ylang ylang are all rich in Omega 9s. The right aromatherapy face oil will penetrate deeper into your skin than your moisturiser can reach and will carry with it essential and powerful natural ingredients to balance, soothe, tone or brighten you skin depending on your skin concerns and your chosen oil.

So now you’ve determined that you need an oil for your skin, which one do you choose? Here’s a break down depending on your skin type:

DRYER SKIN
For those of you with a dryer skin you will want a richly nourishing thicker oil such as an avocado, argan, coconut, baobab or Vitamin E based oil to restore hydration levels and plump the skin.

OILIER SKIN
If your skin tends to be on the oilier side then you should stick to dry oils as mentioned above or essential oil of Ylang Ylang to help balance and provide antibacterial properties to calm spots and blemishes.

NORMAL / COMBINATION SKIN
Normal combination skins will benefit from borage, pomegranate (brightening) and rosehip seed which is also great for anyone needing scar healing.

As a general rule of thumb, always choose natural oils and categorically avoid mineral oils labelled as Paraffin Liquidum which block the pores and through time leave you with more skin problems than you had in the first place.

Got it?! So now you’ll want to know how to apply these amazing skin oils

You can apply your face oils once or twice a day depending on your skin type, the dryer the skin the more often you can apply. Apply to freshly cleansed skin in the evening or underneath your moisturised in the morning (depending on the oil).

When it comes to dosage, if you have a pipette or dropper, apply 3 drops or a pea sized amount into the palm of your hand and then use firm fingers in circular movements to spread the oil all over the face, neck and décolleté. If you have poured too much, you can always use on dry areas such as elbows and knees.

Many of my clients use serums, in which case I advise them to layer the serum under the oil. A water based serum should be applied to the skin first to ensure optimal absorption (and not be blocked by oil which has larger molecules).

Top Tip

Add a few drops of blended essential oils to your favourite masks and moisturisers for added benefits.