If you are not using a face oil you are likely missing out on your best skin yet. Read on to find out why.

Oils are nothing new, the ancient Egyptians kept their skin vibrantly flawless with almond, moringa and castor oils. With so many benefits in each drop it’s no surprise that using them kept their skin smooth and soft whilst offering the only protection available from the sun.

Often now overlooked and underestimated as a vital key in any skincare routine is the mighty face oil and we are going to tell you why and answer your most FAQs along the way.

Forget fears of greasiness, an oil is the way to maximise your glow: they are anti-oxidant powerhouses preventing environmental damage and fighting the signs of ageing and are known to prevent many skin problems and imperfections that you may be struggling with.

5 face oils myths debunked

1. Face oil clogs your pores – FALSE

10 things your skin is missing out on by not using a face oil

1. Face oils fight wrinkles

Our skin’s natural oil production deceases as we grow older and due to hormonal changes such as the menopause, causing the skin barrier to break down, our skin dries out and wrinkles appear. A face oil will restore, maintain and strengthen the skin barrier leaving it more resilient to drying out.

When the skin barrier is supported by using a nourishing face oil, your skin can better absorb the replenishing nutrients, in the oil and in the rest of your skincare, that target signs of premature ageing.

Oils are lipophilic (fat loving) so they pass through the lipid layer of the skin to plump it up with moisture more effectively, smoothing fine lines– the effect is immediate and continues to improve with consistent use as your face oil constantly fosters long term anti ageing benefits.

Put simply: skin that is lacking in oil will show signs of premature ageing whereas regularly oiled skin stays supple and younger looking for much longer.

2. Face oils protect the Skin barrier and support the skin’s microbiome

Oils penetrate into the inner layers of the skin trapping water and other moisturising ingredients in and keeping toxins out whilst strengthening the skin barrier and protecting from environmental pollutants. This is particularly valuable if you work or live in a bustling area to help offer your skin extra protection against pollutants and smog.

3. Face oils shrink enlarged pores

High quality face oils, being unrefined and unadulterated by added synthetics, are able to detox grime and fat from our pores. They set to work by pulling dirt and oil out of the skin, making our pores appear smaller.

4. Facial oils provide the perfect base for make up

In particular certain oils such as neroli found in our Busy Bee face oil quickly penetrate the skin settling in areas that need moisture and immediately plumping up the skin.

The smoother and more even your skin is, the better a canvas it makes for any follow up make up. Any of our oils will provide the perfect base for your make up – you could even add a drop of your favourite face oil to your foundation or skin tint.

5. Face oils calm the skin

Face oils deliver soothing anti-inflammatory properties to help calm down irritated skin. Especially those irritations caused by rosacea and popular, harsher anti ageing products such as retinol and alpha-hydroxy acids.

The rosehip oil found in all our face oils contains linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid as well as vitamins A and E, which is why its such a great addition for eczema prone and irritated skins – it will soothe inflammation and improve the skin's texture.

6. Face oils offer beneficial doses of omega fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are great for us when ingested and they are also a tonic for the skin helping with acne, redness, dry skin and eczema.

7. Face oils contain skin-identical ingredients

Our outer layer of skin is oil-based with a high composition of fatty acids.

Applying a face oil gives your skin highly useable nutrients that are recognised as gentle and kind by your skin which will therefore welcome them in.

8. Face oils work well for all skin types

Facial oils are suitable for all skin types and incorporating them into your daily skincare routine is one of the best things you can do for your complexion. 

The key is in choosing the correct face oil for your skin. Look for a face oil with evening primrose and sweet almond oil for oilier skin, a jojoba oil based face oil for sensitive skin and look for avocado and rosehip in your face oil for dry, maturing skin.

9. Face oils are multipurpose- magnificent

Apply them to a cleansed face, mix with your face cream for extra nourishment, layer on particularly dry areas or use alone after cleansing before bed.

Note of caution: it’s best not to mix oils with your face cream if it contains SPF/or mix directly with your spf, as a face oil can dilute it, weakening its sun factor protection.

With this in mind it is also advised to let your face oil soak in for a few minutes before applying your sunscreen as the last step in your routine.

10. Face oils make your skin glow

For glow lovers, try applying them on top of your moisturiser before your SPF for the glass skin look.

Oil left on your palms or between your finger tips after applying? Simply rub into dry cuticles or slick through hair. You can even tap any residue onto your cheekbones to highlight and add luminosity.

7 key face oil ingredients to look out for

• Nourishing omega fatty acids found in oils such as sweet almond  oil.
• Antioxidants to prevent against everyday aggressors such as vitamin E oil and nature's very own antioxidant rich raw honey
• Evening primrose oil to support the skin lipids barrier leaving skin regenerated and resilient.
• Rosehip seed oil for nourishing, regenerating and soothing. Great for ageing or dry skin and sensitive and easily irritated skin: it is found in all our face oils.
• Raspberry seed oil - adds vitamin nourishment, replenishes skin cells and offers some natural sun protection.
• Jojoba oil -  great for sensitive skins, helps with eczema, irritation and psoriasis.
• Avocado oil - rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins A, D and E making it a potent anti-inflammatory and exceptionally nourishing for mature and thinning skin.
  
  

Over to you…….

Let’s help by answering your most frequently asked face oil quandaries:

Why is a natural face oil is better?

Face oils really represent an ancient alchemy unlocking natural botanical treasures and powerful ingredients sourced from nature that deserve to be brought to the forefront of natural skincare and shared with you.

Synthetic oils however are generally a mixture of oil and water (sometimes even petroleum based) and will have significantly less concentration than an enriching oil made up of solely premium plant and natural oils.

Natural face oils deliver natural essential oils whose aromatics have positive effects on our mood, with the duo ability to replenish skin whilst uplifting, motivating and energising you.

Natural oils contain antioxidants polyphenols, catechism, flavonoids and fat soluble vitamins that are absent in synthetic oils. Natural face oils are most bio-similar to our own skin oils and so readily absorbed, easily transporting their benefits into our skin.

A fine example of such an oil is the avocado in our Bumble Bee face oil. Being rich in palmitoleic fatty acid which is naturally found in the skin’s fat tissue means this oil is deeply absorbed into the skin for unrivalled nourishment of mature and thinning, menopausal skin.

Synthetic, mineral/petroleum oils, may often feel nice on application and their in expense compared to natural oils can be attractive, but they impart absolutely no restorative effect to the deep dermal layers of the skin.

Natural oils are also particularly suited to sensitive easily irritated skins as they are gentler on the skin than their synthetic counterparts.

Pure natural face oils do not need any preservative like many synthetic ‘watered down’ oils need. Look for natural cold pressed oils whereby the vitamin and conditioning properties of the plant oils are not extracted using a high heat so retain all their conditioning and vitamin properties.

Opt for face oils that are sold in dark or opaque glass packaging – the richer the natural face oil is in active ingredients the more important that it is shielded from UV light so it stays at its most potent efficacy, so this bottling is a great sign that you are choosing a premium oil with the most powerful benefits and value for money.

My skin is so oily and prone to breakouts, I wouldn’t dream of putting an oil on it

Natural face oils actually regulate your natural sebum production leading to a reduction of, and even completely eliminating, breakouts. They are able to balance the overproduction of the skins own oils.

The key is to look for an easily absorbed, light face oil that will work well for your oilier skin. – look for ones with antifungal, antiseptic natural essential oils such as lavender.

Skins that are acne prone present with a lower level of linoleic acid (omega 6) in their skin’s surface lipids than those with ‘normal’ skin. This deficiency of linoleic acid makes the sebum go thick, clogging pores and then in turn trapping bacteria.  A face oil high in linoleum acid such as that found in rosehip and evening primrose have been proven to be heroic at unclogging pores and reducing inflammation by liquefying the natural sebum and unclogging those pores. Find all these plant oils, teamed with the extra antibacterial hit of raw Welsh honey in our face oil for oilier skin.

It’s also worth mentioning here that acne is actually often caused by bacteria rather than excess sebum so choosing an anti inflammatory, anti bacterial face oil like Busy Bee will help purify and cleanse acne prone skin.

I use a face cream instead so I don’t need a face oil too?

Facial oils are in fact better at nourishing the skin than your face cream. Of course creams and lotions, being naturally water-based moisturisers, will hydrate the skin with desperately needed H2O. but for optimal effectiveness your skin needs an oil based moisturiser too, whatever your skin type.

Your skin naturally produces oil to moisturise and protect itself so water based moisturisers will never moisturise your skin in the way oil does to give your natural oil production a helping hand or helping balance.

Use a water based face cream and/or serum in conjunction with your face oil - together they really reap the scientific magic – oil molecules will act like tiny Trojan horses, tricking the skin into letting active ingredients from any anti ageing serums deeper into the skin, closer to those all important collagen producing fibroblasts.

What if I do need to choose between one or the other?

If you do need to choose between the two we suggest reaching for your face oil particularly when your skin is exhibiting signs of dryness, flakiness or is rough (which shows that the skin barrier is compromised).  Using a facial oil will replenish the skin’s natural oil content, form a barrier and feed the skin with the restoring nutrients it so desperately needs to stay healthy.   

My skin is so dry I don’t think an oil will moisturise it properly?

Oils are in fact the ideal way to target dry, flaky skin and redness. Due to their small molecule size they are much more effective at moisturising than your creams as they can reach deep into the lower levels of your skin.

For added hydration apply a few extra drops of oil over the top of your face cream to really seal in moisture or for really dry areas opt for a beeswax balm applied as an overnight treatment to really nourish those dry, sore patches whilst your skin restores during sleep.

My skin is too sensitive for a face oil

Natural face oils are great for supporting sensitive skins and calming irritation - choose natural over any synthetic chemical face oils that may further irritate your skin and opt for oils that are free from essential oils and fragrance. A jojoba based face oil is great for creating a soothing seal for sensitive skin barriers as its typically non irritating and hypoallergenic - find it in our fragrance free Sensitive Bee face oil. 

How do I incorporate a face oil into my routine?

Enhance the benefits of your face oil further by incorporating in a facial massage or using a Gua Sha combined with your chosen oil.

Massage in your face oil by dispensing a few drops into your hand and tapping into skin and sweeping in circular motions with your fingertips or a specifically designed real jade stone cooling Gua Sha allows you to enjoy the sensorial aromatherapy experience of your chosen face oil along with a circulation boost and lymphatic drain to really detox and brighten your complexion.

How do I get the maximum benefit out of my face oil?

Traditionally it has always been advised to apply your oil before your face cream – working from thinnest to thickest product in your skincare routine.

However, like everything else, things move on in the beauty industry and the latest advice from dermatologists and beauty experts alike centres on applying your face oil as the last step in your skincare routine – so after face cream and before sunscreen. 

This latest science backed research suggests that your face oil, is the most occlusive product (meaning it can form the most efficient protective barrier over the skin) and lock moisture from our face cream in. If applied before your face cream it is suggested that that face cream will not be able to penetrate the seal formed by your face oil effectively and therefore renders your chosen face cream less effective.

In short moisturisers/face creams are water based and water cannot penetrate through oil but the oil can penetrate through the face cream to deliver its benefits; logically leading to the conclusion that your face oil should be applied after moisturiser.

Facial oils have the ability to act as a sealant, locking in absorbent ingredients below to help them work better. We are trying this now ourselves here at HBB to see if it brings any noticeable changes for us so we’ll let you know and please do let us know if applying your face oil as a last step in your regime works for you or not?

The most important message is that the water based moisturisers such as face creams and oil based moisturisers play two different roles in improving your skin and should both be used to support each other - like everything else the order in which you use them has much to do with your personal preference and what works best for you.

We hope sharing these top revered face oil benefits has inspired you to curate your own love of face oiling and that answering your most FAQs has helped clear any worries up.

If you are still feeling unsure about whether a natural face oil is worth a try, would like any further information about our oil ingredients or any face care advice in general we would be delighted to help in an way we can so please reach out and let us know.

Wishing you all happy healthy skin,
Cath and Bec xx