4 Skin-Healing Uses of Facial Oils

Want clearer, smoother skin? Facial oil might be your best bet. "The misconception that oils make you breakout comes from the fact that not all oils are created equal," says Victoria Tsai, founder of Tatcha Skin Care. "Inexpensive mineral oils and lanolins are comedogenic, but high-quality oils like camellia, macadamia, jojoba, and squalane are non-comedogenic and can help draw excess sebum from pores. They are also great emollients and can repair skin barrier function."

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Lina Hanson Global Face Serum
1. Wear as a Primer
Hollywood makeup artist Lina Hanson has worked with Natalie Portman and Emma Stone, and counts Ellen Page and Ewan MacGregor as fans of her new Global Face Serum. "Many of my clients insist on using it before a red carpet event," she says. "The oils in it-camellia, mandarin, pumpkin seed, etc.-penetrate into the skin faster than a cream and give a healthy, natural glow." Hanson says she loves botanical facial oils because "they're very high in vitamins and antioxidants and can help prevent the formation of lines and wrinkles. They also have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin."

Norma Kamali Wellness Olive Calcium Liniment
2. Reverse Sun Damage
It's purported that the vitamin E and other antioxidants in olive oil neutralize some of the free radicals created from UV rays-so it's no wonder Mediterranean beauties have used it as a moisturizer and wrinkle-smoother for centuries, or that designer and wellness guru Norma Kamali has an entire skin care line based on it. According to Kamali, whose products are sourced from a vineyard in Tuscany, using olive oil on the face can also have a therapeutic effect: "Every year, as with wine, the climate and conditions around each olive tree orchard change the taste and smell of the oils; when you rub them on your face you smell the natural scent of the earth and it's very comforting."

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Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil
3. Combat Redness
Linda Rodin's eponymous line of beauty oils is a favorite among the fashion set (think Chanel Iman and Liv Tyler), but she says her Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil is meant for everyone-and every skin type: "It penetrates deep into the skin and doesn't leave any greasy residue." In particular, Rodin notes that two of the 11 oils in her face salve, arnica and evening primrose, help with healing acne and reducing redness. Added bonus: the jasmine and neroli oils in the mixture "give a sense of well being. The scent of the oil is very soothing and relaxing."

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
4. Use as a Cleanser
The main difference between treatment oils and cleansing oils is their relationship with water, says Tsai: "Leave-on oils should be applied to clean skin, over any moisturizers. This is the only way water-based moisturizers will be absorbed because oil forms a hydrophobic barrier that repels water." Face oil cleansers, on the other hand, contain an emulsifier that makes oil bond to water and wash away. "They are the best cleansers for melting away impurities and excess sebum without stripping the skin of moisture," says Tsai, whose Tatcha collection includes a cleanser with camellia and rice bran oils. "They're also the most effective way to remove makeup and sunscreen because the synthetic oils and silicone in these products dissolve readily in oil but not water."

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