Obsession of the Moment: Facial Oils

Hey guys! Words cannot express how obsessed I am with facial oils right now.  I used to be apprehensive of the facial oil trend, believing it was best left to those with super-dry skin. That all changed when I got a few facial oil samples in my Birchbox last summer, namely the Caudalie Divine Oil and Marula Pure Marula Oil. The Caudalie Divine Oil is so luxurious, it consists of grapeseed oil mixed with argan oil and smells amazing. Unlike what I had previously anticipated, it did not leave my face a greasy mess but fully absorbed in about five minutes, leaving me with really soft and refreshed skin in the morning. The Pure Marula Oil was just as nice. 




I used every last drop of those samples and really noticed that my skin looked healthier and brighter after just a couple of days. I did some research and learned that facial oils are an amazing source of antioxidants because they are derived from botanicals which are naturally full of vitamins and antioxidants. You know how much I love antioxidants! In addition, facial oils keep wrinkles at bay because they help build up the moisture layer in our skin. Basically, as we get older our wrinkles start to look more pronounced because our natural oil production decreases and our skin starts to dry out. Oils are lipophilic, which means they can pass through the lipid layer of skin easily and are able to prevent water loss and moisturize more effectively from within. In addition to all these benefits, essential oils are highly aromatic and have aroma-therapeutic qualities that are very relaxing and soothing after a long day.

Botanics Organic Facial Oil

Unfortunately, both of the samples I tried are very pricey (especially the Pure Marula Oil), and for my first full-size facial oil I was not prepared to invest quite that much. Instead I headed to Target to see what I could find. When I saw the Botanics Organic Facial Oil with rosehip I knew I had to buy it, having recently read an article about rosehip oil being Miranda Kerr's favorite beauty secret. This little cocktail of facial oils is really good; in addition to rosehip oil it also has almond oil, argan oil, vitamin E,  and geranium oil. It is full of omegas, which are so good for your skin, as well as antioxidants, and it smells amazing. All in all I am very happy with this facial oil, and I think it's a great budget-friendly option.

Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil

My next facial oil purchase was the Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil. This one was a bit of an impulse buy when I still had some money left over from my summer job (those happy days). I LOVE this facial oil, it is probably the most luxurious of the ones I have now and I seriously look forward to the days when I am able to wear this one (I have a little rotation cycle going due to the ridiculous amount of facial oils I have acquired haha). The star of this facial oil is seabuckthorn oil, which is packed with omegas and has been used for generations in Sibera for its restorative properties. In addition it has cranberry seed, camellia seed, grapeseed, and sweet almond oils, which are all antioxidant powerhouses. Love it!

Jose Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil

The next facial oil I acquired was the Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil. This is probably the most well-known facial oil, and for good reason. It is amazing! I got this little travel-size version in a gift pack of Josie Maran goodies my parents got me for Christmas. It is 100% argan oil, which is a nut grown in Morocco that is famous for being rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. It is also a really good option for oily skin because it is very lightweight and absorbs very quickly. While I really like this oil and feel as though it does a good job of moisturizing my skin, I do feel that it's a bit over-priced for being just argan oil. If I'm honest, when I run out of this miniature-size I think I'm going to buy Acure Organics Argan Oil, which is also 100% argan oil but much more affordable at $14.99 for an ounce. 

Acure Organics Seriously Firming Serum

Which brings me to my next facial oil, Acure Organics Seriously Firming Serum. Acure Organics is a really great organic skincare line that is sold at Wholefoods. This is a great option if you want something a little more affordable; in addition to the argan oil for $15 they also have a marula oil for $16 that I will definitely try at some point. The Seriously Firming Serum is not really a serum, its actually a concentrated blend of pure essential oils. Specifically,  it has safflower oil, sesame seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, borage oil, argan oil, cranberry seed oil, lavender oil, oive oil, and rosemary oil. All of these oils are jam-packed with antioxidants and nutrients to revitalize your skin. Definitely a great affordable option.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

By now my obsession was full-blown, so for my birthday this past February I got not one, but two facial oils (one from my parents, one from my boyfriend).The first was the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil. Maracuja is a rare Amazonian fruit that is very rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerhouse antioxidant that will brighten your skin and stimulate collagen production. The oil is also very rich in fatty acids to rebuild and repair your skin. It absorbs instantly and leaves your skin looking refreshed and luminous. 

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

The second one I got was the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This is more of a treatment than a facial oil, which the price definitely reflects. It's described as a "replenishing elixir of pure essential oils and distilled botanicals to visibly restore the appearance of skin by morning." It has about every botanical oil you can think of, including rose hip oil, evening primrose oil, jojoba seed oil, lavender oil, rosemary leaf oil, jasmine extract, and sunflower seed oil. Evening primrose oil is amazing for repairing your skin barrier, and the lavender oil soothes inflamed or irritated skin. The blend is also enriched with squalane, a botanical lipid that is similar in molecular structure to natural skin lipids and helps restore skin’s natural moisture. I literally savor this one, and only use it once a week as a treat to my skin. 

While some of these are pretty pricey, I don't feel too bad about investing in high-quality products for my skin. Additionally I only use 3-4 drops at a time, so I feel like they are definitely investment purchases that will last me a long time. I use my facial oils at night so that my skin has plenty of time to fully absorb and benefit from the powerful ingredients while I'm asleep. Specifically what I do is mix 3-4 drops with my night-time moisturizer, which at the moment is the Cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. This is a great night-time moisturizer because it has ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, which are all skincare essentials that increase the skin’s ability to attract, hold and distribute moisture. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please let me know in the comments if you have a favorite facial oil that you're in love with! I am seriously eyeballing the Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil and Aesop Fabulous Face Oil, but I think I'm going to wait a long time before I buy another facial oil. I've definitely acquired enough to last me the rest of my life (or at least a couple of years haha). 

xoxo Patricia