Face oils are all the rage in the skincare community, and for good reason. Once shunned for shine-inducing effects, oils are now appreciated for their hydrating benefits, and we embrace the dewy look they support. It was a glorious day when the powdery matte, shine-free, dry look ended its trendy reign!
If you are hesitant to incorporate face oil into your routine, maybe you’ve fallen victim to some misconceptions. Let’s discuss a few common mistakes that face oil users might make and a simple DIY for making your very own custom face oil.
Common Face Oil Mistakes
1. Choosing the wrong oil
With all the varieties available, itโs an overwhelming task, and a person can easily pick the wrong oil for their skin. Some oils are nourishing and rich, and others are ideal for clogged or oily skin. Some oilsโ molecular structures make them quickly absorbable, and others not so much.
If youโve picked an oil for oily skin and yours is dry, you might be wondering why your skin doesnโt feel very hydrated. This list is extremely helpful in finding the right kind of oil for your skin type.
2. More is better, right?
Wrong. Face oils are concentrated derivatives from plant-based extracts, so a little goes a long way. I recommend a maximum of 6 drops total for your face and neck.
Some days 3 drops might be sufficient. When it comes to face oils, less is more.
3. Applying it last
Not the best way. The most important products you apply on your face need to touch your skin first. If you layer oil last, meaning on top of sunscreens or other products, you will not benefit from the effects of the oil penetrating the skin.
Instead, oil should be the first item (sometimes it might even be the only item!) applied to the face and neck after cleansing and toning. The only exception would be in a multistep product. In that case, always adhere to the guidelines of your product in the order for its application.
4. Rubbing it in longer
Not necessary. Oils do not need to be rubbed into the skin for absorption. Drop some oil into the palm of your hands, press your hands together to warm it up a bit, and then gently pat the palms of your hands into your face and neck, lifting your hands off your face and repositioning them in a different spot to spread the oil evenly. When using oils designed for the eye area, a gentle dab and tap around the brow bone and underneath the eye will sufficeโnever tug or pull on the fragile skin in this area.
5. Not exfoliating
When you have dry skin, a common misconception is that you just need more and more moisturizer, serum, or oil. A key to alleviating dry skin is to exfoliate regularly. Exfoliation will allow your custom face oil to absorb properly into your skin.
When there is a layer of dead skin cells sitting on the face, a treatment or oil has difficulty penetrating the skin, often being blocked by this layer. Use this guide to help introduce exfoliants into your skincare routine.
6. Not customizing for your skin
Once youโve decided on the correct oil for your skin type, you are almost done with your custom face oilโit’s that easy. Donโt be scared to mix two oils together to treat different needs.
For instance, if you have dry skin and you also struggle with a loss of elasticity, use equal parts sweet almond oil and avocado oil to address both issues. The last ingredient you’ll add to the recipe will be an essential oilโuse 2 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of carrier oil.
Here are some to consider:
All skin types: clary sage, geranium, lavender, Roman chamomile
Dry skin: geranium, helichrysum, lavender, myrrh, sandalwood
Oily skin: basil, eucalyptus, Melissa
Aging skin: clary sage, frankincense, helichrysum, myrrh, sandalwood
Sensitive skin: lavender, Roman chamomile
Acne-prone skin: clary sage, geranium, lavender, melaleuca, rosemary, sandalwood
The combined oil should be stored in a dark glass jar in a cool, dark spot to prolong its efficacy and potency. Just place a few drops of your custom face oil into the palm of your hand, warm your hands by rubbing your palms together, and then pat the oil onto your cleansed face and neck each evening before bed. If possible, customize a few different oils to have on hand to rotate seasonally or for different areas of your face.
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glowโs medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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Every night I add a few drops of your oil mixture to my face. My skin glows and at age 66, I get many compliments on how young my face looks. I just love-love-love your recipes on eo's and how to incorporate them into my daily life.
I look forward to reading your emails to see what else I can make with my eo's…. Thank you for sharing your ideas, and recipes !
Thank you so much for the tips and the chart.
What about raspberry seed oil. I noticed it was missing from your list.
I am confused here, some say carrot oil, jojoba, or coconut oil is good for the face and dry skin.
And we should apply our oil first before using other products.
please I need the correct product and how to apply it.
my face is black with sunburn and a dark circle, I have dry and itching skin.
please what can I use? I m in Nigeria
I’m not clear on how many drops of essential oils should i put in 1oz carrier oil. Say, i want to use 3 different essential oils, ow do i go about?
Hi,
My face serum coagulated . How do I prevent this? A little bit of coconut oil is probably the culprit.
what if ai don’t want to mix essential oil? Is that fine? T hankss
Your first mistake is putting fresh herbs in oil!!! Before infusing plants in oil, they must be completely dry! If not, the moisture can easily become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold. Putting that on your face can lead to botulism and other gross infections.
Oils are sealants, if you apply them first all of your water based products won’t penetrate into your skin. You apply oils last after massaging the water based moisturizers into your skin. The oils will absorb fine as they won’t evaporate like a typical moisturizer.
This is so helpful! Thank you.