The 3 Best Oils for Oily Skin

If shaving really makes the hair grow back thicker and darker, let’s just say most razor companies would be out of business. While many common beauty myths have been dispelled, some continue to linger like a bad perfume.

Take facial oils for example, and the claims that putting oil on your face will make it oilier and more prone to breakouts: is this myth or fact?

Contrary to popular belief, facial oil is one of the best treatments for any skin type – including oily skin. Using an oil can replenish your skin’s natural oils, which can keep oil levels balanced and breakouts at bay.

We’re here to debunk some common myths about facial oils, the best oils for oily skin, and the benefits of using these wondrous beauty elixirs.

We understand that using a facial oil on oily skin sounds paradoxical and well, terrifying! Is it a slippery slope into an acne apocalypse, or are facial oils simply misunderstood and actually skin-friendly?

Let’s start with what happens when skin has too little oil. If skin is deprived of natural oils, it will go into overproduction mode to make up for a lack of sebum. Drying out oily skin by skipping moisturization and using harsh, stripping ingredients will actually lead to breakouts, acne, and even more oil.

If you’re using the correct oil for your skin, it can help replenish your natural facial oils, which can keep levels balanced and breakouts at bay. Some facial oils can even target excess oil, and help to slough away dead skin cells that might clog pores.

Using a facial oil for oily skin types creates an occlusive layer to seal in moisture, keeping it hydrated and plump. These ultra-luxe elixirs provide anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits, which can help reduce the redness and sensitivity of acne while diminishing post-breakout discoloration. Facial oils also provide an extra sealant of protection, and can transform skin from dull to dazzling.

Lucky for your skin, no two oils are alike – that means there’s plenty of hope for oily skin in search of treatment! If you want to reap all the potential benefits of using a facial oil, you’ll need to choose one that’s formulated specifically to your skin type.

So, what kind of facial oils should you choose and why? You’ll want to use lighter oils that can be absorbed quickly and easily into your skin, so there’s no pore-clogging residue left to torment your complexion. Look for oils with a smaller molecular size: argan, squalane, and jojoba oils do the trick. If the molecular structure of an oil is too big, it won’t be able to penetrate the top layer of your skin.

Without further ado, here are the top 3 best oils for skin:

Jojoba Oil
Ultra lightweight jojoba oil can help balance your own oil production without leaving behind a greasy residue. In fact, it’s the top choice for mimicking your skin’s own sebum. This similarity can essentially fool our bodies into producing less oil, meaning less chance for breakouts.

Jojoba oil can also be very beneficial for acne prone skin since it is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores. Thanks to jojoba oil’s small molecular size, it’s able to penetrate deeper layers of the skin. This can help carry along active ingredients like retinol and vitamin C to combat breakouts and acne.

To help regulate sebum production, try adding jojoba oil after a lightweight moisturizer. You only need a few drops of this holy grail of facial oils to do the job.

Olive Squalane
Olive squalane replenishes skin’s moisture barrier and leaves skin plump and hydrated. The texture is super-light, non-greasy, and absorbs well into the skin.

Squalane’s non-comedogenic quality is useful for balancing sebum production and regulating excess oil production in oily or acne-prone skin types. Even oily skin types can benefit from squalane – especially if they’ve been stripped by drying acne products.

As for using squalene oil for oily skin, it can be used daily to maintain light moisture levels. Try using a few drops of this beauty elixir, or add to a lightweight moisturizer.

Argan Oil
We’ve seen it, heard about it, but don’t really know what secret skin weapons lie in argan oil. Not only does the vitamin E in argan oil act as an anti-inflammatory for irritated or sensitive skin, it may also bring balance to your skin’s sebum levels.

Combine the skin-soothing benefits of vitamin E with the powerful antioxidants in argan oil, and you’ve got a “liquid gold” love potion for fighting acne and fading acne scars. “Argan oil is rich in oleic acid, which can improve skin permeability and assist with other ingredients penetrating the skin barrier,” says Susie Wang, expert skin care chemist and co-founder of 100% PURE™. Now we’re true believers!

Intensive Nourishing Facial Oil
Our Nourishing Facial Oil is lightweight, making it a friendly choice for oily skin. This wonderfully silky oil moisturizes without leaving a heavy, greasy feeling behind. So why is it so good for you in the first place? The main ingredient in this formula is grapeseed oil. It’s an amazing antimicrobial oil that helps fend off acne-causing bacteria.

Grapeseed oil also contains an omega-6 fatty acid called linoleic acid. Your skin barrier is composed of tons of fatty acids and lipids that help your skin retain moisture naturally. Linoleic acid is one of the most prominent. Without them, you would develop a compromised skin barrier. In fact, studies show that acneic skin usually lacks this particular omega-6. That’s why oils rich in linoleic acid are great for oily or acne-prone types!

Working alongside grapeseed oil are blackcurrant and rosemary oils. We love using antioxidants like blackcurrant, which is rich in flavonoids and polyphenols. The rich pigment and strong flavor of these berries is proof of their impressive nutrient profile! This potent ingredient works to help boost UV protection and protect from free radicals found in pollution, smoke, and other environmental stressors.

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Facial Oil
Our favorite part about this nighttime facial oil is the fact that it’s infused with tons of antioxidants. Think vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D3, coenzyme Q10, and retinol. Not only are you getting these potent concentrations of free radical fighters, you’re getting oils rich in vitamins and skin barrier protectors. Rosehip seed oil and green tea oil are just two examples of antioxidant-rich oils in this formula.

A common objection is that vitamin C and retinol shouldn’t be formulated together. While certain kinds of vitamin C contain a different pH than retinol, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is the form of vitamin C we use in this oil. It’s a much gentler, more stable version compared to ascorbic acid. It’s also oil-soluble so you don’t have to deal with any weird or grainy textures.

Although these facial oils may not have landed a spot in our top 3 best oils for skin, they’re still major players in the natural beauty scene with some amazing benefits. Let’s find out who these gems are and unlock their skin-loving benefits.

Tea Tree Oil
You can’t miss this oil: its crisp, herbal scent can reach the moon – and so can its benefits. This light, non-comedogenic oil is ideal for acne-prone skin due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can kill bacteria that live in oily regions of pores on your face to help eliminate those pesky, painful acne bumps.

If you have sensitive skin, you’ll need to be mindful how you’re using tea tree oil. It’s a potent essential oil – hence its mighty acne skin-fighting properties – and will therefore need to be diluted in a carrier oil.

Marula Oil
Marula oil is a lightweight, fast-absorbing, and antioxidant-rich beauty elixir that may have well fallen from the hands of skin care gods. Marula oil is always a great choice for acne-prone skin since it's light in texture, kills acne-causing bacteria, and won’t clog pores.

Add a few drops of facial oil to your moisturizer, or apply the oil and layer a lightweight moisturizer over once it’s absorbed.

Green Tea Oil
If its skin and health benefits are as over-the-moon wonderful as drinking its liquid counterpart, green tea oil is invited to the party anytime! As we know, excess oil or stripping your skin of its natural oils can clog pores and lead to breakouts. The polyphenols and EGCG, a main catechin or polyphenol in green tea, are effective in controlling sebum production and breakouts.

Green tea oil’s antibacterial properties help tame bacteria that can live in oily pores, which causes painful acne bumps. EGCG is responsible for that antimicrobial activity – it’s a true multitasker and a prized skin care gem!

Hopefully, we’ve calmed your mind and cleansed it of any myths preventing you from using facial oils for your oily skin type. Simply adding a few drops can do major wonders for your skin. No myths, just facts, and the rest is for you to unlock the ultimate skin care secrets of facial oils.