Slather On! Why you should use face oils (even if you have oily skin!)

Our contributor gives us all the greasy deets on face oils… they’re really not something to glide away from!

Living in Singapore where it’s either hot or humid, it seems ludicrous to be slathering your face with oil, doesn’t it? Considering most of us are already dealing with clogged pores, greasy skin and the occasional spot. After all, isn’t oil the root cause of all this?

But how does one ignore the latest skin trend – face oils? They are literally everywhere. Celebrities, Beauty Editors and bloggers are all swearing by them. They are supposed to be are miraculous. They have superpowers. They fight wrinkles, nourish dry skin, brighten dull skin, and even reduce oiliness and acne!

So do face oils really work? Do they actually live up to the hype? Are they are magical as they are touted to be? There was only one way to find out. And so, I did the unthinkable. I put oil on my face. Yes, I put oil over my oily, acne-prone skin.

And the unthinkable happened.

Face oils are not really THAT oily.

Okay, to begin with, face oils are not the icky-sticky overtly greasy oils that you imagine. They have a lighter, silkier, oil-like texture that glides onto your skin without leaving it feeling like you wiped your frying pan over your face.

In fact, you need just 2-5 drops for your face and neck. Your skin appears all shiny when you pat it on – but that’s short-lived. Within minutes, the oil is absorbed, leaving you with a healthy, dewy sheen. That highly coveted Korean glow can be achieved within minutes!

They are brimming with anti-oxidants.

Face oils could be a blend of several natural oils or single-origin oil (like Argan Oil). And they are jam-packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids that help fight all kinds of skin issues, including damage from the sun. Since we are almost living on the equator, we need all the anti-oxidants we can get our hands on to counter the harmful effects of the sun.

They are all-natural.

Face oils don’t need preservatives (oil itself is a preservative). So you’re literally putting only good, natural stuff over your skin. No chemicals. No fillers. No rubbish.

They moisturise dry skin but also reduce oiliness in oily skin.

If your skin is dry and flaky, a face oil is just what the doctored ordered. Oils pass though the lipid layer of your skin super fast, preventing water loss and plumping skin with moisture.

If your skin tends to get oily, a face oil may actually balance your skin’s oil production. That’s because when you strip skin of oil, it tends to produce even more to make up for the loss. But if you add oil, your skin gets doesn’t go into ‘starvation mode’ and stops over-manufacturing oil. So oiling your oily skin is actually a great idea! Who would have thought?

They significantly improve the penetration of your other skincare products.

If you apply oil just before your anti-ageing cream, the oil molecules trick the skin into pushing the active ingredients deeper into your skin. This makes your cream much more effective.

You can see (and feel) a difference almost instantly.

Most products don’t have that effect. You got to use it for a month or more to see any change. But face oils give you instant gratification. Your skin immediately plumps up. It’s as if you fed your skin and it’s feeling full – a happy full.

And it gives you that unmistakable glow… which is perfect when you want to cover up a hangover, prep for a stressful meeting or go a romantic date. Hell, it’s ideal for every situation!

A ‘face oil’ is not just for the face.

Don’t be fooled by the name. You can use a face oil just about anywhere. On your body, your nails, even your hair.

A little goes a long way.

You need just a few drops of face oil. Some days I need only 2 drops. On others, I need 4. It really depends on what your skin needs that day. But any more than a few drops is a waste. You want the oil to be absorbed into your skin, not sit on it. So go easy.

Pour-Rub-Pat-Press.

There’s a technique to applying face oil to prevent wastage and increasing its penetration powers. Pour a few drops of oil in your palm, quickly rub between your palms (to warm it up) and then pat all over your face – cupping and pressing it in. Don’t miss your eyes – lids and under-eyes. Yes, they need it too.

Quality is key.

There is a reason why face oils tend to be a bit pricey – high quality ingredients don’t come cheap. So when you’re ‘investing’ in a face oil, make sure it’s 100% pure, organic, unrefined and/or first cold-pressed botanical oil, without added fragrances or additives.

If you’ve been too afraid to try a face oil, don’t be. The first time is a bit hard no doubt, but once you take the plunge, you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.