The latest crop of botanical elixirs is designed to deliver even more benefits for your skin. Here’s how to tap into the next level of radiance.
There was a time when taking care of your skin meant putting on a serum and a moisturizer—and that’s as complicated as it got. Then face oils exploded into the skincare market, creating an entirely new category of complexion boosters. Now there is a plethora of options at the ready, says Patricia Ceballos, M.D., a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New Rochelle, NY. Often derived from plant-based ingredients, these elixirs are packed with high levels of antioxidants and essential nutrients to deliver major beauty benefits—from sealing in extra hydration to fending off breakouts. But not all face oils are created equal, points out Rhea Souhleris Grous, founder of La Suite spa in Greenwich, CT, and a former head esthetician at Bliss Spa in NYC. Here, the experts weigh in on how to pick the best oil for your skin’s needs—plus, one bonus find that works wonders on your hair, too.
Find Your Match
If your skin is…
1. Dull Look for supercharged Abyssinian seed oil to help eliminate dry patches and illuminate lackluster skin. Find it in: MyBody Glowbiotics Probiotic
HydraGlow Cream Oil, $59, GLOSquad spa, Greenwich, 203-340-0790, or glosquad.com
2. Oily or Acne-Prone “Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties and kills the bacteria responsible for blemishes. It also seems to regulate the skin’s oil
production, another benefit for those with acne,” says Dr. Ceballos.
Find it in: Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil, $80, sephora.com
3. Mature Raspberry seed oil helps to plump your skin’s appearance, softening the look of fine lines. It also blocks UV rays during the day, says Dr. Ceballos.
Find it in: Aromatherapy Associates Anti-Aging Fine Line Face Oil, $87, The Greenwich Medical Skincare and Laser Spa, Greenwich, 203-637-0662
4. Dry “Argan oil is one of the most popular oils and it’s especially helpful for dry skin due to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamin E, polyphenols, and carotene,” says Dr. Ceballos. “And it is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores.”
Find it in: Decléor Aromessence Marjolaine Nourishing Serum Oil, $73, La Suite,
203-861-7338
5. Sensitive “Avocado oil, with its high content of B vitamins and vitamins A and C, is very nourishing,” says Dr. Ceballos.
Find it in: Peet Rivko Balancing Face Oil, $56, peetrivko.com
6. Multi-Tasking Hero! With its blend of tsubaki and grape seed oils, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil adds shine and hydrates rough spots: try misting a thin layer on your face and massaging it in for an instant glow, or working it through hair for instant sheen.
$28, The Red Door Spa, The Westchester, White Plains, NY, 914-840-8880
