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11 best face oils to soothe, soften and nourish skin

From fragrance-free to scented, we’ve found lavish and lightweight buys for every budget

Helen Wilson-Beevers
Thursday 11 January 2024 12:16 GMT
Some of these products were included in our skincare routine for more than six months
Some of these products were included in our skincare routine for more than six months (The Independent)
Our Top Picks

Face oils offer a multitude of skincare benefits, from soothing easily irritated skin to adding nourishing ingredients and promoting hydration. Designed for use with moisturisers, serums and other skincare, there are plenty of picks to choose from.

Oils offer a protective barrier – they help skin retain moisture by sealing it in. If you’re prone to dry skin or need a hydrating boost, adding an oil into your routine will help other moisturising skincare layers work more efficiently. Preventing the loss of natural moisture too, oils are suitable for skin prone to irritation, sensitivity, acne, dryness and redness.

Depending on your skin type and any concerns, ingredients to look out for include brightening vitamin C, healing rosehip, plumping peptides and soothing vitamin E. If you do suffer from sensitivity, fragrance-free formulas may be best.

At which point in the skincare process oil should be added depends on personal preference. According to skin experts, it’s best as the final step, for successfully sealing hydration into the skin’s surface. As ever, it’s still vital to pop an SPF on top, though.

Should your skin be oily, sensitive, combination or dry, oils can also rebalance sebum levels. However, not every face oil will serve up the same results, so, we’ve been sampling a selection, to find the best.

How we tested

We trialled the face oils in this round-up over several weeks – though we used some of the products in our daily skincare routine for six months or more. To make the final list, the oils needed to be smoothing and nourishing while promoting hydration. Read on for our full tried and tested list of best face oils, to suit all budgets.

The best face oils for 2024 are:

  • Best face oil overall – By Sarah London hero facial oil: £34, Bysarahlondon.com
  • Best budget face oil – The Ordinary 100% organic cold-pressed rose hip seed oil: £9.70, Theordinary.com
  • Best face oil for dry skin – Clarins blue orchid treatment oil, dehydrated skin: £40, Clarins.co.uk
  • Best soothing face oil – StriVectin multi-action super-B barrier strengthening oil: £38.55, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best evening face oil – Liz Earle superskin concentrate oil for night: £48, Boots.com

By Sarah London hero facial oil

By sarah best facial oil indybest
  • Best: Face oil overall
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Restores and rejuvenates a dry or sensitive complexion
  • Why we love it
    • Organic ingredients
    • Lavish feeling
    • Great for make-up-free days
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The Ordinary 100% organic cold-pressed rose hip seed oil, 30ml

THE ORDINARY 100% ORGANIC COLD-PRESSED ROSE HIP SEED OIL, 30ML.png
  • Best: Budget face oil
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Hydrates skin, brightens and balances uneven skin tone, supports skin elasticity
  • Why we love it
    • Adds glossiness
    • Great value
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Clarins blue orchid treatment oil, dehydrated skin

CLARINS BLUE ORCHID TREATMENT OIL, DEHYDRATED SKIN.png
  • Best: Face oil for dry skin
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Tones, revitalises and restores radiance to moisture-depleted skin
  • Why we love it
    • Lovely botanical scent
    • A little goes a long way
    • Noticeable glow, even under make-up
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StriVectin multi-action super-B barrier strengthening oil

Strivectin multi-action super-B barrier strengthening oil, 30ml.png
  • Best: Soothing face oil
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Reinforces the skin’s natural barrier and corrects dryness
  • Why we love it
    • Fast-absorbing
    • Calms enflamed or dry skin
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Liz Earle superskin concentrate oil for night

Liz Earle.jpg
  • Best: Evening face oil
  • Size: 28ml
  • Benefits: Helps to soften and rebalance skin
  • Why we love it
    • Easy to spread
    • Great as an overnight treatment
  • Take note
    • On the runny side
  1.  £48 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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Lumity skin nutrients facial oil

Lumity.jpg
  • Best: Multi-tasking face oil
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Moisturises and reinforces the skin’s natural barrier
  • Why we love it
    • Spa-like experience
    • Versatile
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Ole Henriksen strength hydrabarrier nourishing face oil

Ole Hendriksen.jpg
  • Best: Skin-softening face oil
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Boosts hydration and strengthens moisture barrier
  • Why we love it
    • Subtle berry scent
    • Velvet-soft finish
  1.  £45 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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Sacred elemental glow face oil

Sacred.jpg
  • Best: Face oil for dewiness
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Balances out skin tone, fades scars and minimises breakouts, while locking in moisture
  • Why we love it
    • Amazing smell
    • Helps to create an even base
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Perricone MD chia oil

Perricone MD chia oil.png
  • Best: Luxury face oil
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Nourishing, softens the appearance of fine lines and creases
  • Why we love it
    • Gentle on sensitive skin
    • Helps plump out fine lines
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Dermatology M anti-acne face oil

Dermatology M anti-acne face oil.jpg
  • Best: Face oil for acne-prone skin
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Soothes, brightens and smooths skin, helps rebalance skin sebum
  • Why we love it
    • Matte-finish
    • Great for acne-prone skin
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Kora Organics noni glow face oil

Kora noni glow face oil.jpg
  • Best: Vegan-friendly face oil
  • Size: 30ml
  • Benefits: Skin is left smoother, softer and with a natural-looking, radiant glow
  • Why we love it
    • Vegan-friendly
    • Hydrated effect
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The verdict: Face oils

By Sarah London’s hero facial oil is our best buy overall, due to it being soothing, calming and skin-softening. Meanwhile, Liz Earle’s superskin concentrate oil for night offers a relaxing evening option for helping to promote hydration. Finally, Lumity’s skin nutrients facial oil is a comforting skincare layer suitable for use on hair and nails too.

Want to reduce wrinkles? We’ve rounded up the best anti-ageing day creams

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