BY KATHRYN DICKINSON
I will admit – facial oils used to scare me! I was convinced that these concoctions of botanical, seed and essential oils would make me break out and make me oily (and I know this is going through everyone else’s mind when they give me the side eye for suggesting that they switch to a facial oil).
But once I took a closer look at the ingredients of my cream and researched facial oils, I realized I needed to rethink my whole stance on oils. First thing I noticed, most moisturizers have my dearly beloved oils in them – along with water, emulsifiers and fillers. Why would I pay for a watered down version of the ingredients that are actually the beneficial part of the face cream? Second – beauty oils have been around for CENTURIES, while whipped moisturizers are a more recent phenomenon, so the beauty oil ingredients have been well researched and have, quite literally, stood the test of time. And last, all of the ingredients you THINK are helping you, retinol, etc, are cheaper, synthetic versions of what nature already gave us. Did you know that willow bark extract is a natural salicylic acid and pumpkin enzymes can act as a natural retinol? It’s just cheaper and easier to make the synthetic ingredients, but they also come with their major drawbacks and hazards.
Entering in to the world of facial oils can be daunting – so here is my list of go-to facial oils for different needs.
BEST SENSITIVE/REACTIVE SKIN OIL:
Indie Lee Squalane Oil – I call this the “gateway oil” We naturally produce squalane in our skin, but our production of it declines rapidly in our late 20’s and is nearly non-existent by our 50’s. This one ingredient wonder oil is nearly bio-identical to the squalane our bodies naturally create - which is gentle, non-irritating, and noncomedogenic. I’ve never had a single customer negatively react to this oil once they’ve tried it, even the most acne prone or sensitive skin.
BEST ANTI-AGING OIL:
Moonlight Catalyst – Our go-to for anyone currently using a retinol product, Kypris’s Moonlight Catalyst uses fermented pumpkin enzymes to effectively and gently refine and exfoliate skin while you sleep. It’s amazing for acne breakouts, scars, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines, and environmental overexposure.
BEST VITAMIN C SOURCE:
Maya Chia Super Couple – We all know the powers of Vitamin C in our anti-aging creams. Did you know there is another miracle ingredient – Astaxanthin (from a micro-algae plant) that is 65x stronger than Vitamin C and 14X stronger than Vitamin E in combatting free radicals? The Super Couple has Astaxathin, plus Chia (great Omega-3 Fatty Acids which are as good for our skin as they are in our smoothies) - and a whole host of other great ingredients to help your skin (COQ-10, Babbasu oil, Sunflower seed oil, Nettle, Jasmine and Rosemary)
BEST AFTERNOON PICK ME UP:
Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator – does your skin look a little tired in the afternoon from the office AC/Heat. The Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator is the perfect pick-me-up. This convenient spray feels amazing on clean skin, but can be applied over makeup and restore the dewy look you walked out with in the morning. Aloe Water, Coconut and Grape Seed oil give you hydration plus you get the added benefits of Herbs and oils – but one of my favorite things about this oil is the amazing smell (marshmallow root and vanilla). A must have for your purse when you travel.
BEST EVERYTHING SERUM:
Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum- This 22 ingredient wonder was built by founder April Gargiulo to be her “desert island product” and the hype is absolutely true! This does-it-all wonder oil heals, clears, anti-ages (I know that’s not a word but I’m going with it), hydrates and transforms all in ONE step. It truly is the MIRACLE oil.
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