At our book club meeting last week, one of our members mentioned that she went to my blog to see which facial oils I recommended for dry winter skin. Although I have reviewed a lot of face oils over the years, I haven’t put the recommendations together in one place. So I thought I’d take a few minutes and do just that.
StriVectin S.T.A.R. Light Retinol Night Oil
I’ve written about StriVectin S.T.A.R. Light Retinol Night Oil several times since I first discovered it a year ago. It has been one of the staples in my nighttime skincare routine over the past year, and it made it onto my Best Skincare of 2019 list. The lightweight orange oil has a delightful fresh scent that disappears on my skin. I love the fact that it both hydrates my skin and delivers retinol, the skincare ingredient that dermatologists recommend most. In addition, it’s packed with antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Importantly, it contains StriVectin’s patented ingredient NAI-114 to limit potential skin sensitivity to retinol. The only drawback to this fab face oil is the price. I bought it during StriVectin’s 30% off sale last January, so it made the regular price of $99 less onerous. Fortunately, even though I have been using it several times a week for the past year, there’s plenty left.
Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Isopropyl Palmitate, Squalane, Myristyl Nicotinate, Retinol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Bark Extract, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Bakuchiol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Fragrance (Parfum), Citric Acid, BHT, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Citral, Citronellol
Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Treatment Oil
A more affordable and all natural option to keep wrinkles at bay is Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Treatment Oil. It contains Retinyl Palmitate, a chemical compound formed from the reaction of retinol with palmitic acid. It is 20% less potent than pure retinol, but it is more affordable. The fragrance-free orange oil also contains antioxidants from rosehip and grapeseed oils. The price is a decidedly more affordable $13.95.
Ingredients: Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Organic Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Oil*, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Natural Fragrance Oils.
The Ordinary 100% Cold Pressed Virgin Marula Oil
I received The Ordinary 100% Cold Pressed Virgin Marula Oil as a gift for Hanukah last year, and that was the first time that I tried Marula Oil, an oil from the kernels (nuts) of the Marula tree. The oil is primarily made up of monounsaturated oils that make it very stable. Because it is a superb hydrator rich in antioxidants, it is used in cosmetics to soften, moisturize and return radiance to the skin. But it is also used as a meat tenderizer and preserver! Maybe that’s why it’s so good on my skin 😉
Although Marula Oil is described as having a nutty scent, this oil from The Ordinary comes across as unscented to me. Lightweight, pale yellow in color, it absorbs quickly and leaves a velvety skin feel behind. Priced at $9.90.
Ingredient: Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
Rosehip oil with its natural vitamin E and A makes it perfect for addressing lines and wrinkles. Plus it’s a key hydrator. Squalane, the stable form of squalene, is a powerful anti-inflammatory that helps with acne and eczema, while it also provides anti-aging benefits.
Biossance’s natural and organic products are a real delight. Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil (reviewed here) is a pale yellow, lightweight oil without much of a scent. Leaves skin feeling velvety and hydrated. A pricey option, it ranges from $32 for the travel size and $72 for the full size.
Ingredients: Squalane, Pistacia Lentiscus (Mastic) Gum, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Geraniol
Pixi Skintreats Rose Oil Blend
Pixi launched its Skintreats Rose collection last year, and I was dying to try it. Luckily for me, a sweet friend from Hawaii sent me a number of products from the line including Pixi Skintreats Rose Oil Blend (reviewed here).
Rose Oil Blend is a straw-colored oil with the faintest scent of roses that makes it so delightful to use! In fact, I just put a drop on the backs of my hands, and it’s heavenly.
A rose oil blend, this oil also contains nourishing sweet almond, jojoba, pomegranate seed, and rose geranium oils in addition to rosehip seed oil. It is moisturizing and helps restore elasticity and glow.
The price for Pixi Skintreats Rose Oil Blend is $24.
Ingredients: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil.
Gold Mountain Beauty Elixir with Rosehip Oil and Gold Dust
Gold Mountain Beauty Elixir with Rosehip Oil and Gold Dust is my latest skincare heartthrob. I received this lovely oil a couple of weeks ago along with two other products from this new to me natural brand. Honestly, it was love at first use. I’ll be writing more about it when I review the three skincare products in a couple of weeks after I have been using them for about a month.
But in the meantime, I just have to say this lightweight, fast-absorbing, essentially clear oil is a real winner. It has the lightest possible scent; in fact, I can’t really smell it. The subtle gold dust helps give the skin a glow that goes beyond what rosehip oil does. Plus it truly makes my skin feel like velvet due to the dimethicone in the formula. Love love love it! Plus, the price is $14.99. Sold on the Gold Mountain Beauty website.
Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange), Oil Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosehip) Oil, Gold Flakes, Fragrance
Final Thoughts
I’ve selected some of my favorite oils that are good for nighttime or anytime use that provide hydration as well as anti-aging benefits at a variety of price points. All of the options are cruelty-free and most are all natural.
Let me know if any of these pique your interest, or if you have a favorite oil that you’d like to recommend!
Nice list some I have heard of other not. I have dry winter face so I use a lot of oil in the winter.
Which oil(s) do you like, Gloria? Any faves?
Excellent choices. I find t Pixi and StriVectin to be too strong for my nose. The Gold Mountain sounds like it’s a good find.
MarciaF recently posted…Universal beauty from BeautyStat!
Yes, those two oils have fragrances while the others mostly don’t (the Biossance has a light scent). The Gold Mountain Beauty was such a big and pleasant surprise. I thought it was going to be very expensive. I was shocked when I learned how affordable it is. I love it!
I like that derma e one. I use some of Biossance products but not this oil yet. Now I am intrigued!
I think you would love the Biossance Vitamin C + Rose Oil – so lovely!
I love the Pixi Rose Oil Blend. I do however love this list of oils you’ve made and I’ll have to try a couple of them notable the Gold Mountain Beauty Elixir with Rosehip Oil and Gold Dust that one is right up my alley
Natoya, I was blown away when I found out that the Gold Mountain Beauty Elixir was so affordable. I thought it was going to cost a fortune. It and the StriVectin pricey retinol oil are my two faves, though The Ordinary Marula Oil is really good too.
I love rose-scented face products!
Sounds like some good products!
This is just my kind of post, Allison! What a wonderful selection of face oils!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Mustela Gentle Soap With Cold Cream
I think you were my inspiration in trying facial oils. They were a new to me skincare product, and now I understand your love of them. The fact that I found a neroli oil that I love is amazing to me!
Great selections here, Allison. I love Graydon SuperFood Serum and Herbivore Lapis Oil the most.
Shireen L. Platt recently posted…THE BEST ONE YET: FARLEYCO WINTER BEAUTY BOX
I’d like to try the DermaE oil and can certainly appreciate the more affordable price point!
The amount of oils and serums available today is totally overwhelming! But I seriously want to try them all!!