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 wondering if you mix up a ‘batch’ of oil into a bottle (ie: jojoba, rosehip, tamanu) or if you just apply each oil separately as you go each evening/morning?
I have been oil cleansing on and off for a year. I started with coconut oil and olive oil first and it worked for a few months but slowly my hormonal acne started to take over and it took over BAD. I then switched to grapeseed oil and caster oil which again worked but my acne didn’t really improve. I took a break, used some not so natural things to clear a mess up and decided to do a little more research on oils that are good for acne prone skin. Minimalist Beauty did a great article on oil acids and what works with what type of skin. One she mentioned wanting to try was the Rosehip Seed Oil, so I went to my local natural food store and picked up a bottle! I LOVE IT. My acne has not returned, my scars are fading. When I cleanse, I rub the oil into my skin (I add lavender and geranium EO) for a minute or so. I then use a microfiber cleansing cloth (made for my face) to remove the oil and gently exfoliate. I then put about 3 drops onto my hands and rub into my skin for moisture. I find that after I remove the oil with the cloth my face feels tight and clean but the additional drops of oil help add moisture back in. I went back to buy more and because Dr. Oz did some show about the oil, it was all gone. I ended up ordering my oil from Mountain Rose Herbs and so far like the quality. I got 8 ounces for a very very good price because it was on sale! Oh I use the oil night and morning (most mornings) and it does not make my makeup fall. I live in Alaska so the fact that my face doesn’t feel dry with it is a plus. I do not use any moisturizer. Instead I use a BB cream as my makeup. Boy, that was a big reply! Sorry…
Hi Nadia, I find your information very very informative.. I have been using coconut oil, but I don’t feel it does enough… my question is, do you apply makeup after the morning routine… that’s IF you use makeup, you have gorgeous skin!
I read this and loved it! Thank you for this awesome blog! My daughter suffers from breakouts on her forehead and I am looking for a natural way to help her deal with them. I also like the idea of the moisturizer for me so I quickly went online and bought the 5 oils. Many of my questions have already been answered by the previous comments, but like Amanda asked above. Do you have any recommendations on sun protection. We live in the “Sun City” so this is a great concern. Thank you so much for any advice you might have.
No problem! A very small amount of castor oil will give you a lot of hydration but too much will dry your skin (ironically). Are you using jojoba? It’s also great for hydration, whereas rosehip and tamanu are dry oils… On a total side note, maybe they just need a good scrub!
Sorry so many questions :-/ I’ve already started using these oils and they are AMAZING for my face but my cheeks are still a little dry
In the “top 10 essential oils for skincare” you said on a comment you put 20 drops of a carrier oil with 1 drop of essential oil so for example you could do 20 drops of jojoba with one drop of lavender oil? Also, what is the best oil for hydration?
If you are using these as part of a daily moisturizing routine, what do you do for sun protection? I love using oil on my face as well, but have always wondered how to go about getting some SPF as well.
All of them!
Which oils would be considered a “carrier oil”?
That’s awesome that they both work so well for you! Coconut oil out is actually highly comedogenic and so makes many people break out. These are just the 5 oils that have helped me. I’m in my 20s so my main priority is clear skin.
How did we leave out coconut and argan oil? these are the only two i use on my skin!
Any reason coconut oil or almond oil hasn’t been mentioned? Coconut seems to be a light oil and almond a bit heavier. Some times I combine or just use the coconut for day time use. I also love cleansing with them no more unneeded chemicals on my skin. I’m in my late fifties and my dry skin loves these oils. Thanks for the great article I’m definitely going to try rosehip oil.
LOL – jojoba and rosehip probably have the least. They’re very subtle (plus, I add some EOs so they overpower any scent from the oils).
Do any of the above mentioned oils have a scent? I recently purchased carrot seed oil because of all the good things I read about it and I can NOT stand the way that it smells.
I’m no in my 50’s and am getting “age spots” what would be good for this? My skin is a little dry and what is a carrier oil, or which should be used as a carrier oil?? Thanks.. love the blog!!!
All very good info. Nadia you sound just like me getting passionate about something and wanting to tell everyone about it. I do the same thing with natural health when I’m studying then I have to post it to fb. Lol thx for all the research you have done here.
How can I use the oils if I have hormonal acne? What combination would I need for day and night? And can I still use my sunblock face cream with these oils?
Welcome, Sarah! Well the whole point of my blog is to avoid chemicals… so yes, these are all 100% natural. As far as I know, they are safe for use during pregnancy but if there is one in particular you’d like to try, you may want to research it a little more.