If you’re up on the latest skincare trends and research, you know thatface oils have becomethe“it” product to use. And with good reason.If you find the right oil for you, it can do wonders for your skin, balancing sebum production, clearing breakouts, hydrating, and more.

In other words - it can give you your best skin ever.

That said, finding the right oil is often easier said than done, and there can be lots of trial and error along the way.

So let’s break through the noise.

First Thing’s First: Determine Your Skin Type

If you don’t already know your skin type, you have to find out. This will really drive all of your product choices, including your oil (Sidenote: Chances are that, if you’ve had a bad experience with one before, it’s because itwasn’tcompatible with your skin type).

There are 5 main categories here, though there are certainly going to be some overlapping characteristics. Here are the key facts and differentiators:

Dry Skin

We’ve all experienced dry skin at some point in our lives - maybe we were sunburned, maybe we were dehydrated, or maybe we were using products that were too harsh for our skin. But that doesn’t mean that wehavedry skin as our default.

The harsh products, in particular, can be particularly tricky here, making a lot of peoplethinkthat they have dry skin bystripping their skin of its natural barrier and its protective oils,thereby totally drying it out.

So how can you tell if your skin is truly dry? Here’s the baseline:

Characteristics:

If you really have a dry skin type, you’ll notice:

• Almost invisible pores
• Consistently dull, rough complexion
• Red patches
• Your skin is less elastic
• More visible lines

You’ll also experiencetightness or flakiness throughout the day that could lead to cracking, roughness, and even itchiness. Again, if you have drynessevery once in a while -or if you have some dryness and some oil - then your skin is not truly dry.

Normal Skin

Ah, normal - the unicorn of skin types. If you have normal skin, you won’t have oilinessordryness (and, if you do, it won’t last for long or be too hard to resolve). You’ll have little shine, few lines or wrinkles, and your skin tone will be generally even.

Characteristics:

• No or few imperfections

• No severe sensitivity

• Barely visible pores

• A radiant complexion

If this is you, don’t rub it in.

Combination Skin

On the flip side, if you havecombination skin, you likely deal withallthe issues: your skin can be dry or normal in some areas and oily in others (particularly the T-zone aka you nose, forehead, and chin).

Characteristics:

• Pores that look larger than normal, because they’re more open
• Blackheads
• Shiny skin

Oily Skin

This is another one that’s often misdiagnosed - and, unfortunately, it’s usually a self-caused issue (whoops!). See, we’ve been conditioned to ban any shine and go for a super matte, poreless look - and we’ve basically gone scorched earth on our skin to achieve those results. Enter over-stripping products, alcohols, and unnecessary chemicals.

After this goes on, our skin tries to protect itself, recover, and even things out, overproducing oils to self-soothe and undo all the harm we’ve caused (just like our hair starts to get oily if we use lots of harsh shampoos). Then, we believe that we have oily skin. But we really don’t.

That said, if you have truly oily skin, you’ll notice significant shine along with possible breakouts.

Characteristics:

• Enlarged pores
• Dull, shiny, or thick complexion
• Blackheads, pimples, or other blemishes

Sensitive Skin

Finally, if you havesensitiveskin, it’s going to be more reactive and uncomfortable than other skin types.

Characteristics:

• Redness
• Itching
• Burning
• Dryness

This is another one that may be self-induced. While some people have naturally sensitive skin, others may find themselves to be reactive due to the products that they use.

Next: Finding the Right Oil For Your Skin Type

Once you determine your skin type, it’s time to find the right oil for you. Overall, you’re going to want aplant-based oil that has small molecules (similar in size to your natural sebum). That’s where people went wrong before - choosing synthetic or harsh oils with large molecules that clogged pores and caused lots of congestion. Today, we know better.

Dry

If you have dry skin, you’re looking for an oil that deeply penetrates the skin rather than sitting on top of it. That means finding one that hassmall molecules along with deeply hydrating ingredients likeoleic acid. Why? Well, think if your skin like a sifter - rocks won’t sift through, but sand will, right? Well, you’re looking for the sands of face oils. Some great options here include:

• Squalane
• Camellia oil
• Marula oil

Use it with: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and exfoliation  

Normal

If you have normal skin, you don’t have to worry as much about clogged pores, irritation, or dryness. You can use a middle-of-the-road oil like:

• Olive
• Argan oil
• Squalane

Use it with: A comprehensive routine. You can try a full array of products with our Discovery Kit here. 

Combination

Here, you’re really looking for an oil that will hydrate and protect without clogging pores. Some great choices here include:

• Marula oil
• Squalane oil
• Chia seed oil

Use it with: Balancing cleanser, toner, and weekly masks. 

Oily

For oily skin, you’ll want a product that will balance and calm your natural oil production. It basically tells your bodyI got thisso you don’t have to overproduce. This will be a lightly hydrating oil that doesn’t clog pores or feel heavy on the skin, like: 

• Blue Tansy
• Tea tree
• Jojoba
• Squalane

Tea tree, in particular, is an effective treatment oilhere - particularly if you're prone to acne as well. It's got strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can clear and soothe oil-prone skin.  Although not listed, you could also combat dryness with a macadamia oil for skin.

Use it with: While it's always important to start with a complementing cleanser, exfoliant, and serum, you can work to start customizing your routinehere. 

Sensitive

For sensitive skin, you’re looking for agentle, soothing oilthat won’t cause a reaction. This includes:

• Rosehip
• Chamomile
• Squalane
• Calendula

Use it with: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, antioxidants, and calming moisturizers.

 

Best In Show: Marula
There’s a reason why marula oil is the star ingredient in our High Society serum. It's derived from the kernels of the marula fruit tree, which is rich in nutrients and oleic acid. On top of that, its molecules are very similar in size to those in our own sebum, which means it'll absorb quickly and effectively. 

This molecule size also makes marula oil: 

• Non-comedogenic
• Effective at preventing transdermal moisture loss
• Well-tolerated by all skin types
• Fast-absorbing and non-greasy

Happy hydrating!