Skincare Gold

Facial oils to moisturize, treat and repair are all the rage. From big box to boutique companies, skincare lines now include beautiful dark glass dropper bottles filled with blends and promises. Following the guidelines of skincare guru Caroline Hirons (CarolineHirons.com), the best products don’t contain mineral oil, are cold pressed and sourced from living things: plants, vegetables, fruits and flowers. Cold pressed oils ensure that every essential nutrient is maintained, and it also means purer, cleaner base. As Hirons reminds us, “Oils are suitable for all skin types – dry, dehydrated, normal, oily and acne-prone. They are miracle workers that have been in use for thousands of years.”

Many oils are recommended for use in the evening, along with facial massage (with fingers or a cooling jade roller), though they can also be used in the morning. Skin conditions change day-to-day, so one day it may be appropriate to moisturize with an oil and the next to mix a drop or two in foundation. Because there are so many facial oils on the market today, it’s recommended to lean botanical and vitamin-packed.

What makes a facial oil great? How quickly it’s absorbed and whether the oil’s texture is soft and light, versus cloying. The scent is another factor. Most botanicals have a touch of lavender to soften the aroma of some of the active oils, while others reflect a heavier hand with top quality flower oils (jasmine for instance) to give aromatherapeutic benefits. Slogging through a great number of popular oils, these are considered the current crop of liquid gold:

Sunday Riley’s Luna Oil is notorious for having an herbaceous scent that’s either loved or hated. It is a powerful overnight treatment oil packed with blue tansy, a next generation retinoid that’s said to improve the skin’s appearance and battle the signs of aging. This is one oil said to show immediate results. (Available at Sephora.)

Herbivore Botanicals’ Orchid Oil is pumped with jasmine sambac and Japanese camellia oils to assist in defending against free radicals, increase elasticity and offer vitamins and fatty acids to help with premature aging. It smells divine. (Find the line, there are two other facial oils and a couple body oils that are stunning as well, at söpo.)

Green Evangeline’s Elasticity Bath and Body Oil is lush, fast-absorbing and can be used on the face. (A local product available on Etsy.)

The Blissful Body’s Miracle Beauty Oil and Serum is a personal favorite for adding to foundation. Recommended by beauty babe Jaclyn Hill, it gives a gorgeous glow without greasiness. (Only available online through Etsy, a portion of proceeds goes to ministries that help women and children in need.) 

Kypris’ Antioxidant Dew and Moonlight Catalyst; the former is super light and deeply hydrating and the latter is a retinoid alternative. (Through KyprisBeauty.com.)
 

Lorin’s Love List

This month it’s been all about a fresh daytime look

Cleanser: Sunday Riley Blue Moon

Lipstick: Tom Ford in Spanish Rose 04