5 Face Oils for Naturally Clear, Flawless Skin
Acne DIY Skincare & Beauty Face Oils Natural Beauty
Can applying oil to your face actually help keep skin clear and reduce blemishes? Yes! Face oils are the best kept skincare secret to naturally clear, flawless skin. Let’s talk about how face oils help to keep skin clear and which oils are the best for reducing blemishes and scarring from acne.
I have a teeny-tiny little obsession… With oil. That I put on my face.
That’s right, I put oil on my face.
Now there was a time that I would have shuddered at the very idea.
I went out of my way to scan every skincare product I purchased for “oil-free” before giving it the green light, thinking that any oil would instantly clog pores upon contact and turn me into one big walking blackhead.
And when it came to dealing with breakouts, I saw oil as my ultimate enemy. I mean, I even wiped my face with rubbing alcohol at one point (*cringes*).
Ironically, it was in an act of acne-induced desperation that I finally gave oil a chance, and I’ve never looked back.
In this blog post, we chat all about:
P.S. Want to take all the guesswork out of it? I’ve bottled up my best face oil blends — the Body Unburdened Beauty Blends — just for you. Beauty Blend No.2 is my best-seller, formulated to gently but effectively transform blemish-prone skin.
4 Ways the Right Oils Help Keep Blemish-Prone Skin Clear
The fact is, the right face oils can work wonders for acne-prone skin.
Here’s how:
1. Certain face oils are high in linoleic acid, helping to bring balance back to blemish-prone skin
Science!
This one fascinates me the most. Studies have found that the sebum of acne-prone individuals tends to be deficient in a certain type of fatty acid called linoleic acid, and that topical application of linoleic acid can help reduce breakouts.
And guess what? Certain face oils are loaded with linoleic acid!
2. Antioxidant-rich face oils prevent sebum oxidation, a key player in blemishes and acne
More science!
A number of studies have shown that acne patients experience more oxidative stress than people with clear skin. This oxidative stress causes sebum oxidation or the oxidation of the skin’s own oil. Many researchers believe this sebum oxidation is the trigger that kicks starts acne since oxidized sebum is incredibly comedogenic (pore-clogging) and causes inflammation in the skin.
Topical antioxidants have been found to help prevent sebum oxidation and as a result decrease the frequency and severity of breakouts.
3. Face oils help to break up the gunk trapped in pores
When it comes down to it, a zit or blackhead is really nothing more than a sticky mess of oil and dead skin cells. And since like-dissolves-like (in other words, oil and water don’t mix but water and water do mix as do oil and oil), applying oil to the skin can actually help to break up this sticky mess and clear it from the pore.
4. Oils help regulate the skin’s own oil production
Applying oil to the skin can actually “trick” it into producing less sebum (its own oil). Not to mention that often, the skin will produce more sebum to counteract harsh, drying skincare products, and face oils help bring balance by deeply nourishing the skin.
Important note: excess oil production is often a symptom of hormonal imbalance (hello, androgens gone wild!). You can learn more about this and how to balance hormones naturally in my book Glow: The Nutritional Approach to Naturally Gorgeous Skin.
The 5 Best Face Oils For Acne and Blemish-Prone Skin
So which face oils help keep skin healthy, clear and as flawless as can be!?
(And NO coconut oil is NOT on the list! It breaks a lot of people out and I do not recommend it for acne-prone skin.)
PUMPKIN SEED OIL
Pumpkin seed oil is 100% hands-down my favorite face oil for all skin-types — which is why it’s in all 3 of my Body Unburdened Beauty Blends! It’s rich in the antioxidant vitamins A and C, as well as zinc. Vitamins A and C help prevent the sebum oxidation behind many outbreaks while zinc helps calm inflamed skin.
Anddddd best of all: pumpkin seed oil is especially helpful for keeping skin clear since it’s very high in linoleic acid (see above!).
GRAPESEED OIL
Like pumpkin seed oil, grapeseed oil is incredibly rich in linoleic acid, helping bring balance back to blemish-prone skin. It’s also antioxidant-rich and a very light, easily absorbed oil.
JOJOBA OIL
Jojoba oil was actually my first love. When I first started using it, all day I would look forward to bedtime so I could apply it again, knowing that I’d wake up the next morning with clearer skin (it’s a little sad but very true, and if you’ve ever been desperate for clear skin then you feel me).
Jojoba oil is a light oil that is easily absorbed. It mimics the skin’s sebum, tricking it to produce less oil, which is why it’s especially helpful for individuals with oily skin.
TAMANU OIL
Tamanu oil has been used in traditional medicine for ages, specifically for its ability to speed the healing of wounds by fighting bacteria and increasing cellular regeneration. It also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic, and antioxidant properties, making it ideal for acne sufferers.
NOTE: Stay away from tamanu oil if you have a nut allergy!
ROSEHIP SEED OIL
I confess that I decided to try rosehip seed oil after learning that Rose Byrne — a.k.a. hilariously awful and beautiful Helen from Bidesmaid — Kate Middleton, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Miranda Kerr all use this oil. You have to admit, these ladies have lovely skin.
Rosehip seed oil is a dry oil that penetrates to the deepest layers of the skin where it regenerates cells, increasing collagen production. It is rich in vitamin C and the essential fatty acids, all of which are known to help heal scar tissue. It is also high in retinoic acid, which studies show reduces the appearance of wrinkles and brightens skin.
There’s no doubt about the fact that rosehip seed oil is fantastic! (Like pumpkin seed oil, it’s in each of the Body Unburdened Beauty Blends!) But a word or warning: I personally find it too drying to wear alone. Yes, an oil can be drying! And of course drying can mean irritating so be careful. So rosehip oil is best mixed with other more emollient oils.
How to use these face oils? Oh, the options are endless!
These oils can be used on their own or mixed with each other in a blend that best suits your skin needs.
Learn how to make a custom face oil blend and check out these top 10 essential oils for skincare, which make a great addition to your face oil blend.
And if you’re not a big DIYer well I’ve got you covered, my friend! After years and years of readers asking me to do so, I’ve finally bottled up my best face oil blends just for you — the Body Unburdened Beauty Blends!
Are you a natural beauty junkie too? Well you’re in the right place, my friend!
Hang around a bit and check out some of these other goodies I know your sweet little natural-beauty-loving heart will definitely enjoy!
- My Super Simple All-Natural Skincare & Beauty Routine
- The Best Face Oils by Skin Type
- The Top 10 Essential Oils for Skincare
- DIY All-Natural Clarifying & Toning Foaming Facewash
- Blackhead Busting Blackout Mask
I am completely new to this concept. How do you mix and apply it? A dropper? Also, are these safe during pregnancy. I am trying again and with my first my skin was terrible! Face, back, arms! Terrible! And my doctor said I couldn’t use the typical OTC stuff because of the chemicals.
Cant wait for the DYI update
Great article! I’m obsessed with oils too (Since I use various oils in my body care line)! My favorite is one which has not yet peaked in popularity…Organic Brazil Nut Oil! Similar to Jojoba, it’s fast-absorbing, full of essential fatty acids, Vitamins A, B, C & E, as well as, selenium. A mineral which is essential for skin health!
I use a mixture of rose hip oil, aloe vera gel and argan oil. I have combination skin so it only take a little for me but it’s gentle enough to use around the eyes so I have a one-and-done moisturizer.
Any word on Moroccan Argan Oil?
what do you use to wash you face, and is their a reason you don’t like the oc method?
D.E do you just put the oil in your hair do you wash it out after how ling do you leave it in
I love jojoba in my hair and on my body but for some reason, the skin on my face doesn’t approve, so I generally only use it on those areas and sometimes a tiny bit under the eyes. Pretty much the same with coconut oil and castor oil. My hair loves Coconut oil and so does the skin on my body but it breaks out my face if I use it there. Castor oil works wonders on the ends of my hair and on my eyebrows.
So far, my face seems to like Pumpkin Seed Oil that I mix with a bit of Aloe Vera (I’ve noticed a better moisture balance on my facial skin with it) and I hope to try Rosehip Oil, which I’ve heard good things about. Perhaps in the future, I’ll give Argan Oil a try as I’ve heard great things about it as well.
The great thing about organic quality carrier oil, is that if it doesn’t agree with the skin on your face, it will work with the skin on your body and/or your hair. I’ve always made great use of my oils.
It’s so nice to see others using facial oils. There’s so many people that don’t know that oil removes oil and that they’re great for acneic skin. I’m a huge fan of argan oil. I’ve been using nothing but argan for the last 3.5 years and my skin has never been better. You can also mix different organic essential oils too and make a personalized blend for whatever type of skin issue you may have. Be careful with castor oil though…if you use too much, it will dry out your skin. Great post!!
I’m also a big tea tree fan for spot treatment!
Some new ones for me to try! I’m a huge fan of pure argan oil for my hair and skin, coconut oil is great too, I put it around my eyes at night and have noticed it is reducing some fine lines and dark circles. I also love tea tree oil for blemishes!
Hi, Sonya! Thanks for the kind words 🙂 I just apply a little bit as I would a moisturizer after washing in the morning and before bed. Since each of those oils is very dry, you may experience some irritation if you use them on their own (at least I do since they don’t moisturize my skin enough) and you may want to cut them with a heavier oil with jojoba – maybe not, though depending on your skin.
Best of luck to you! I’d love an update on if any are able to help your eczema.
I love all this information. After my fourth baby, I developed eczema on my chin. Since then it has become the bane of my existence, and I have found very little that truly helps. So I’m excited to try the oils that specialize in skin renewal and inflammation reduction. ESPECIALLY helpful to me is that you advised you aren’t a fan of coconut oil for facial oil. As I love all things coconut oil, I have been cleansing and moisturizing my face with coconut oil for about the last 2 weeks, and my face has broken out horribly! So, like I said, good information!
I do want to ask … exactly how do I apply the oil? I like the rose hip, hemp, and tamanu oil attributes, but how do I use them? (Rookie oil user here! Sorry!). Thank you for your super informational blog, and for your lively writing style! I love your enthusiasm!
I have the same question as Alissa, do you use them all together in an oil blend? if so what ratio of each do you use?? Thanks!!
Is there any specific oil that would be best for really dry skin on the face?
Hey, Alissa. Well… good question. Jojoba and hemp are the only ones I use on their own. I cut the tamanu, castor, and rosehip with jojoba since *for my skin* they are each too drying. That being said, your skin may be able to tolerate these oils on their own. In a few days, I am going to do a DIY recipe post for my everyday moisturizer which uses three of these oils and a couple essential oils. But to keep you hanging, the combo I like best is 2/3 jojoba and 1/3 dry oil (rosehip + tamanu). I use this every morning. At night I use just hemp or jojoba, sometimes with a little castor (castor oil is shiny so I only use it at night).
Do you mix them together or just use whichever one will work best at the time?
Hi, Noha! Nope – I use them as a moisturizer. I’m actually not a fan of OCM.
Do u put them and then wipe off like the original castor oil method? Don’t remember its name!