Hydrating Oil
Face and body oils that seal in moisture, from light squalane to richer argan and rosehip blends. We explain which oil suits dry, oily or sensitive skin, and where an oil fits in your routine. Choose per skin type and season.Read more →
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How to choose a face oil that suits your skin
A hydrating oil is one plant oil, or a blend of several, that you press onto the skin as the last step. It works differently from a cream. An oil does not add water to your skin, it keeps water from leaving. That is why an oil on its own can still leave dehydrated skin feeling tight. Layered over a water-based product, it does its job properly. You will find face and body options here, as part of our wider Skin care selection.
Fatty acids decide how an oil feels
The fatty acid profile matters more than the price on the bottle. Oils high in oleic acid, such as argan, avocado, marula and sweet almond, feel richer and stay on the skin longer. Dry and mature skin usually prefers these. Oils high in linoleic acid, such as rosehip, grapeseed and hemp seed, feel lighter and sink in faster, which suits oily and combination skin better. Squalane is a dry oil: very thin, absorbs almost instantly, and is among the least likely to block pores. Jojoba sits close to the skin's own sebum, so it is a sensible first oil if you do not yet know how your skin reacts.
Light and packaging affect quality
Oils rich in linoleic acid oxidise faster, which means they turn rancid sooner and start to smell sharp. Dark glass, a cool cupboard and a smaller bottle you actually finish are therefore practical, not decorative. A pipette draws in fresh air with every use, so a pump is often the steadier option. Many facial oils carry a period after opening of around six months.
How we choose the oils we stock
We look at three things before an oil enters our range: the oil itself, how much of it is in the formula, and whether the blend makes sense. We favour cold-pressed oils in dark glass, because delicate oils lose quality in light. We keep single oils like jojoba and squalane alongside blends, so you can test one thing at a time instead of guessing between ten ingredients. We are careful with heavily perfumed oils marketed for sensitive skin, since that combination rarely helps. Every product passes our compliance team, we test products ourselves, and independent labs spot-check batches. Read how we select brands and products.
Who benefits most, and what an oil will not do
An oil earns its place if your skin feels rough, flaky or tight by the afternoon, if central heating or wind dries you out, or if your cream alone stops feeling like enough in winter. It also works well as a body oil after showering, on damp skin, where it holds moisture in better than on dry skin.
What an oil cannot do is replace hydration. If your skin is dehydrated rather than dry, start with a water-based serum and finish with the oil on top. Humectants, ingredients that pull water towards the skin, do the drawing in, and the oil keeps it there. That is why many people combine an oil with products containing hyaluronic acid instead of choosing between them.
Comfort is usually noticeable the same evening. Changes in texture and evenness need patience: expect to judge that after two to three weeks of consistent use, and give a new oil a small patch test on the jawline first if your skin reacts easily.
Frequently asked questions
A hydrating oil is occlusive: it forms a thin layer that slows down water loss from the skin. It does not push water into the skin, so it works best on top of something that already contains water, such as a serum or a cream. The plant oils also add fatty acids that support the skin's own lipid layer, which is why skin often feels smoother and more comfortable straight after use.
In most routines the oil goes last. An oil can pass through a water-based cream, but water cannot pass through an oil layer, so a cream applied on top of oil absorbs poorly. The older thin-to-thick rule suggests the opposite, which is where the confusion comes from. If you use a very rich balm, order matters less. Press two or three drops on, rather than rubbing.
Use the fatty acid profile as your guide, then the texture you enjoy wearing.
| Oil | Main fatty acid | Texture | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squalane | Neutral, dry oil | Very light | All skin types, acne-prone |
| Jojoba | Sebum-like esters | Light | First-time users, combination |
| Rosehip | Linoleic | Light, fast | Oily, uneven texture |
| Grapeseed | Linoleic | Light | Oily, congested skin |
| Argan | Oleic, balanced | Medium | Normal to dry skin |
| Avocado | Oleic | Rich | Very dry, mature skin |
Yes, but the choice narrows. Stay with lighter, linoleic-rich oils such as rosehip or grapeseed, or with squalane, which rarely blocks pores. Richer oleic oils like coconut, marula and avocado are more likely to feel heavy and cause congestion on this skin type. Start with two drops at night only, three times a week, and give it two weeks before you judge. Patch test on the jawline first.
Two to four drops is enough for the whole face and neck. Warm them between your palms and press them on while your skin is still slightly damp, since a damp surface gives the oil something to seal. Evening is the easiest moment, because nothing else has to go on top. Mornings work too, as long as the oil does not sit under your sunscreen.
Apply your sunscreen as directed and do not mix oil into it, because that dilutes the product and can reduce the protection you expect. If you want both, let the SPF set and press the oil on afterwards, or keep the oil for the evening. Over make-up, one drop patted on the cheekbones gives a fresher finish. Avoid the eye area if you tend to get puffiness.
Comfort is immediate: skin feels softer and less tight within minutes. Visible changes in texture and evenness are slower, so plan on two to three weeks of daily use before you decide whether the oil suits you. Seasonal skin often needs a richer oil in winter and a lighter one in summer. Some people also look at supplements for skin, hair and nails alongside their topical routine.
Keep it upright, cool and away from daylight, ideally in the dark glass bottle it came in. Oils rich in linoleic acid, rosehip in particular, oxidise faster and lose quality once air reaches them repeatedly, which is a drawback of pipette bottles. Many facial oils carry a period after opening of about six months. If the smell turns sharp or waxy, or the colour darkens noticeably, replace it rather than pushing through the bottle.
