Face massage is one of the most beneficial activities for your skin alongside your skincare and facials. I recommend that you always massage with beautiful, natural plant oils which bring multiple benefits. Face oils replace oil that the skin has already lost and help prevent further moisture loss. I know there are many differing views out there on facial oils, however my personal view from being a facialist and skincare expert for over 20 years is oils are good for this skin, its about choosing the right oils for your skin.

Not only do they nourish but each oil will have differing skin benefits such as antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Each oil has a different molecule size, meaning some penetrate further where as others sit more on the surface. 

Which face oil is best for you?

There are many beautiful blends of plant oils available, here are just a few of the base oils that are good for particular skin types:

• Sensitive skin: sweet almond, peach kernel, evening primrose, St. John’s wort, avocado
• Ageing skin: argan, rosehip seed, camellia, sea buckthorn, pomegranate seed
• Combination skin:  borage, pomegranate, rosehip seed, sea buckthorn
• Oily skin: look for ‘dry oils’, which have a lighter texture, absorb quickly and are similar to the skin’s own sebums – such as moringa, apricot kernel, olive oil, safflower, hemp, borage, milk thistle.

I only ever recommend face massage with a plant-based oil, not mineral oil petroleum oil or paraffin liquid, so no bio-oil or baby oil!!  these will just coat your skin like cling film, block your pores and most likely break you out in spots or cause dehydration over time. They have very little if any nutrient skin benefit, unless you have broken skin, which requires a more waterproof, protective barrier.

Let me chat through some easily accessible oils and their key benefits. 

• Coconut oil: incredibly nourishing and super-hydrating, so particularly good for dry skin. It contains antioxidants, is anti- inflammatory and antibacterial. It’s also rich in high saturated fatty acids, which means it’s solid at room temperature – so there won’t be spillages if you use it at night before climbing into bed.

• Argan oil: loved by the hair and beauty industry, it has high levels of vitamin E and sterols, which make it soothing and good for healing skin and reducing inflammation.

• Rosehip seed oil: light yet nourishing, it’s full of vitamins, antioxidants and EFAs that are known to correct dark spots, hydrate, reduce fine lines and support scar healing.

• Sea buckthorn oil: neither too oily nor too light, it contains high levels of vitamins BandC, as well as omegas 7 and 9. It’s great for cell regeneration and skin healing. Supposedly good for fighting fungal infections, which is why it’s used in many nail treatments.

How to apply face oils

The texture of oils makes them perfect for massaging with which gives a healthy glow by bringing fresh blood to the surface and helping drain puffiness. Oils can be used day and night – I love the evening to support the skin’s natural regeneration process that occurs when we sleep.

Only a small amount is necessary – you can add more if you feel the skin is dragging. I usually recommend to gently wash off residue of the oil after you have massaged, or if you have a dryer skin type you might like to leave it on.

Oils don’t require added preservatives because bugs generally won’t grow in them, which makes them purer. However, if left in sunlight and aged they can go rancid and will increase free-radical damage when applied to the skin.

You can see all of my anti wrinkle, anti ageing face massages by clicking here.

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