There is something undeniably luxurious about a facial oil. A few carefully dispensed drops, the silky feel of a well-formulated blend and the final touch that leaves the complexion looking beautifully cared for can turn an ordinary skincare routine into a more considered ritual.
Yet facial oils are often misunderstood. Some are designed around a single botanical oil, others combine multiple plant-derived ingredients, and some incorporate additional skincare actives. Their textures, intended uses and suitability can vary considerably.
The secret is not finding the richest formula or the most expensive bottle. It is understanding what your skin needs and choosing an oil that complements the rest of your routine.
In this Fancylicious edit, we explore eight facial oils worth knowing, from straightforward botanical formulas to sophisticated treatments designed for different skincare preferences. Each has a distinct place in the selection, helping you discover which approach might suit your complexion and daily rituals.
1. Understanding Facial Oils: What Do They Actually Do?
Before choosing a formula, it helps to understand where facial oils fit into skincare.
Many facial oils contain emollient ingredients that soften the skin and help reduce moisture loss. Depending on their composition, they can leave the complexion feeling smoother, more supple and comfortably nourished.
However, an oil is not necessarily a substitute for a hydrating serum or moisturizer. Hydrating products often deliver water-binding ingredients, while oils primarily contribute emollience and, depending on the formula, help support the skin’s moisture barrier.
Choosing the right moisturizer is just as important as selecting a facial oil, particularly in Dubai’s climate. Our guide to the top moisturizers for Dubai weather explores hydrating formulas that help keep skin comfortable without feeling too heavy.
This distinction matters when building a routine. If your skin feels tight or dehydrated, adding oil alone may not address everything it needs. Combining suitable hydrating products with a moisturiser can provide a more balanced approach.
For a complete evening ritual, our guide to creating a luxury at-home facial explores how individual skincare steps can work together without making your routine unnecessarily complicated.
DID YOU KNOW?
Some plant oils contain linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid naturally found in the skin’s lipid barrier. Rosehip seed oil is one example, making its fatty-acid profile an interesting consideration when choosing a facial oil—not just its texture or marketing claims.
2. How to Choose a Facial Oil for Your Skin
Not every facial oil will feel equally comfortable on every complexion. The right choice depends on your skin’s needs, the formula’s texture and how you prefer to use it.
For dry skin
Richer, emollient formulas may help soften rough-feeling areas and reduce the sensation of dryness. They can be particularly appealing when your skin feels uncomfortable after cleansing or exposure to air conditioning.
For oily or combination skin
A lightweight formula may feel more comfortable than a rich, heavy oil. Oily skin can still benefit from suitable moisturising ingredients, but introducing a new oil gradually is sensible, especially if you are prone to blemishes.
For sensitive skin
Keep the overall formula in mind rather than assuming that botanical ingredients are automatically gentle. Fragrance and essential oils can irritate some complexions, so patch-testing a new product is a sensible precaution.
For a radiant finish
Some oils leave a soft, luminous sheen that can make the complexion appear more supple. The finish depends on the formula and the amount applied; a radiant look does not necessarily mean that an oil treats uneven pigmentation or other specific skin concerns.
A facial oil works best when it has a clear place in your wider routine, so our guide to building a luxury morning and evening skincare routine can help you consider how the different steps work together.
BEAUTY TIP
Start with two or three drops, then adjust according to the product’s instructions and your skin’s needs. Applying more will not automatically deliver better results, and a lighter application can help prevent an overly greasy finish.
3. The Face Oil Edit: Four Formulas Worth Knowing
Our selection begins with four distinctive approaches to facial oils: a straightforward marula formula, a radiance-focused blend, an evening treatment and a classic botanical oil.
1. Drunk Elephant — Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
The straightforward nourishing choice
Sometimes the appeal of a skincare product lies in its simplicity. Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil centers on marula oil, making it a useful option for readers who prefer a dedicated facial oil rather than a more complex treatment blend.
Marula oil contains fatty acids that contribute to its emollient properties. Used appropriately, it can help soften the feel of dry skin and give the complexion a smoother-looking finish.
Its uncomplicated positioning also makes it easy to understand where it belongs in a routine: as a nourishing addition rather than a replacement for every other skincare step.
Worth considering if: You enjoy simple oil-based formulas and want a dedicated facial oil to complement your moisturiser.
2. Sunday Riley — C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric Face Oil
The radiance-focused formula
For those drawn to skincare with a glow-focused approach, Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow combines facial oils with vitamin C and turmeric in a distinctive treatment formula.
Its appeal lies in bringing these ingredients together in an oil-based format. Vitamin C is widely used in skincare formulations designed to improve the appearance of dullness and uneven-looking skin tone, although results depend on the form of vitamin C, the overall formulation and consistent use.
The inclusion of turmeric adds another botanical element to the blend, creating a different proposition from a single-ingredient oil such as marula.
It is important to remember that an illuminating finish and longer-term changes in skin appearance are not the same thing. A product’s results should be assessed according to its formulation and realistic expectations.
Worth considering if: You are interested in a facial oil that combines nourishing oils with a radiance-oriented skincare approach.
3. Kiehl’s — Midnight Recovery Concentrate
The evening skincare ritual
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate has a particularly recognisable place in nighttime skincare routines. Its blend of botanical oils and other supporting ingredients makes it different from a straightforward single-oil formula.
The appeal is partly practical and partly ritualistic: an evening treatment that can be incorporated into the final stages of a routine when you want to give your skin a more nourishing finish.
Despite its nighttime positioning, it is important not to interpret the name as a promise of overnight transformation. Skin renewal and changes in skin appearance take time, and no facial oil can guarantee a particular result by morning.
For readers who enjoy a more elaborate evening routine, the key is to use the concentrate as directed and avoid layering it with multiple unfamiliar treatments at once.
Worth considering if: You enjoy a dedicated evening skincare step and prefer a formulated blend to a single botanical oil.
4. Clarins — Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil
The classic botanical treatment
Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil offers a different perspective on facial oils, with a botanical formula positioned for dehydrated skin.
Its intended appeal is comfort and softness rather than an intensive radiance treatment. This makes it a useful contrast to Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow, whose positioning centers more explicitly on vitamin C and a luminous-looking complexion.
When choosing a botanical treatment, consider both the oils in the formula and any fragrant ingredients. Plant-derived ingredients can be appealing, but they are not automatically suitable for every sensitive complexion.
As with any facial oil, the amount used and the way it sits alongside your existing skincare products will influence how comfortable it feels.
Worth considering if: You prefer a traditional botanical treatment oil and want to complement a routine focused on keeping skin feeling soft and comfortable.
A More Considered Approach to Facial Oils
The first four products illustrate why facial oils should not all be treated as interchangeable. A single-oil formula offers a different experience from a vitamin C blend, while a dedicated evening concentrate or botanical treatment has its own formulation and positioning.
The most useful question is not which product promises the most dramatic transformation. It is which formula makes sense for your skin, your existing routine and the finish you enjoy.
We will explore four more facial oils, including accessible botanical options, a prestige formula, a skin-barrier-focused oil and a further nighttime treatment. We will also look at how to apply facial oils, where they fit into your routine and which common mistakes are worth avoiding.
Not every facial oil needs to be rich, elaborate or positioned as a luxury investment. Some appeal through a straightforward botanical ingredient, others through lightweight textures or carefully developed blends. The best choice for your routine depends on how a formula feels on your skin and what you want it to contribute.
4. The Face Oil Edit: Four More Formulas Worth Discovering
5. The Ordinary — 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
The botanical essential
The Ordinary’s Rose Hip Seed Oil takes a more straightforward approach to facial care. Its formula centres on cold-pressed rosehip seed oil, offering an alternative to multi-ingredient blends and more elaborate treatment products.
Rosehip seed oil contains naturally occurring fatty acids, including linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids, which contribute to its emollient properties. It can help soften the feel of skin and complement a routine designed to maintain a comfortable, supple complexion.
Its simplicity is part of its appeal, although a single-ingredient formula is not automatically suitable for everyone. Rosehip oil has its own characteristic texture and scent, and individual tolerance can vary.
Worth considering if: You prefer a straightforward botanical oil and want to explore a formula without a long list of additional skincare actives.
6. Augustinus Bader — The Face Oil
The sophisticated, multi-oil treatment
For readers drawn to more elaborate skincare formulations, Augustinus Bader The Face Oil combines a blend of botanical oils and supporting ingredients with the brand’s proprietary TFC8® technology.
The formula includes oils such as grape seed, jojoba, argan and hazelnut, alongside other ingredients selected to support the skin’s appearance and feel. Rather than relying on one headline botanical, it brings several components together in a single treatment.
Its appeal extends beyond a simple moisturising finish: the brand positions the oil around nourishment, smoother-looking texture and radiance. These are cosmetic benefits to consider in context, rather than guarantees of particular results.
The texture and formulation may appeal to readers who enjoy a more comprehensive facial oil, while those who prefer minimalist skincare may find a single-oil formula more straightforward.
Worth considering if: You want a sophisticated blend that can be incorporated into a routine focused on softness, suppleness and a radiant-looking complexion.
7. BYOMA — Hydrating Recovery Oil
The modern, barrier-conscious formula
BYOMA approaches facial oil from a skin-barrier perspective. Its Hydrating Recovery Oil combines squalane and several plant oils with ceramide and skin-identical lipid ingredients.
This combination distinguishes it from a straightforward botanical oil. The formula is designed to nourish the skin while supporting its moisture barrier, making it particularly interesting for readers who prefer a modern, ingredient-focused approach to skincare.
The lightweight texture may appeal to those who want an oil-based product without the feel of a particularly rich treatment. However, texture is personal, and even a lightweight formula may not suit every complexion.
If you are already using a moisturiser formulated with barrier-supporting ingredients, consider how the oil fits into your routine rather than automatically adding another layer.
Worth considering if: You are interested in a multi-ingredient facial oil that combines emollient oils with ingredients associated with moisture-barrier support.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
A thoughtful skincare routine does not need to contain every trending ingredient. Choosing a few compatible products that suit your skin can be more useful than continually adding new steps.
8. Erborian — Skin Therapy Night Oil
The multi-tasking night treatment
Erborian Skin Therapy is described by the brand as a multi-perfecting night oil-serum. This distinction is important: it is not simply a conventional facial oil, but a hybrid formula that combines oil-based emollients with ingredients commonly found in serums.
Its formulation includes squalane, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and gluconolactone, alongside a blend of botanical extracts. These ingredients give it a different profile from Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, even though both products are designed with evening routines in mind.
The combination of humectants and emollients makes this an interesting option for readers who prefer a single treatment that brings together several skincare approaches. Because the formula contains fragrance, however, those with particularly sensitive skin should review the ingredient list before use.
Rather than thinking of it as a second version of Kiehl’s, consider the difference in formulation: Erborian combines the characteristics of an oil and a serum, while Kiehl’s is positioned more traditionally as an evening concentrate.
Worth considering if: You enjoy multi-functional skincare and want an evening treatment that combines botanical ingredients with both hydrating and emollient components.
5. How to Apply Facial Oil Without Overdoing It
The way you apply a facial oil can influence how comfortable it feels and how well it fits into your routine.
Start with clean skin. Apply your usual hydrating serum or other water-based skincare products first, allowing each layer to absorb as directed.
Use a small amount. Follow the product’s instructions. Many facial oils require only a few drops, and applying more than necessary can leave the complexion feeling greasy.
Apply gently. Warm the oil between your fingertips if the instructions permit, then press or smooth it over the face without unnecessary rubbing.
Consider the final layer. Facial oils are often used after water-based products and moisturizer, or mixed with a moisturizer when the manufacturer permits. The right order depends on the formula and the rest of your routine.
Keep sunscreen in your morning routine. Facial oil does not replace sunscreen. During the day, finish with broad-spectrum sun protection appropriate for your skin and local conditions.
In the morning, finish your routine with broad-spectrum sunscreen; our guide to luxury face sunscreens for everyday protection can help you explore suitable options.
For readers looking to build a more complete routine, our guide to the best hydrating serums in Dubai explores another category of skincare products that can complement a facial oil.
6. Common Facial Oil Mistakes to Avoid
Even a beautifully formulated oil can disappoint when it is used in a way that does not suit your skin.
- Assuming every oil suits every skin type. Botanical ingredients can still irritate some people, and richer formulas may feel uncomfortable on certain complexions.
- Using too much product. More oil does not automatically mean more nourishment. Start with the recommended amount.
- Replacing every other skincare step. Oils can contribute to softness and help reduce moisture loss, but they do not necessarily provide everything a hydrating serum or moisturiser offers.
- Introducing several new products at once. Add new products gradually so you can identify any irritation or breakouts.
- Expecting overnight transformation. A smoother or more luminous finish can be noticeable relatively quickly, but longer-term changes depend on the product, consistency of use and individual skin.
7. Finding the Formula That Fits Your Routine
The eight formulas in this edit illustrate the different ways facial oils can fit into skincare, from single botanical oils to multi-ingredient treatments. Some focus on a straightforward nourishing experience, while others combine oils with ingredients selected for radiance, hydration or moisture-barrier support.
There is no universal winner. A formula that feels beautiful on dry skin may not be the most comfortable choice for someone with an oilier complexion, and a sophisticated blend is not automatically better than a simpler one.
The most worthwhile facial oil is the one that suits your skin, complements your existing products and feels good enough to use consistently.
EDITOR’S NOTE
A considered beauty routine is not about owning every celebrated formula. It is about understanding your skin, choosing products for a clear reason and giving them time to fit into your everyday life. Before investing in another facial oil, consider what your current routine is missing—and whether a new product would genuinely add something useful.
Final Thoughts
Facial oils can bring a welcome sense of comfort and ritual to a skincare routine when chosen thoughtfully. Whether you prefer the simplicity of marula or rosehip oil, the radiance-focused approach of a vitamin C blend or a multi-functional evening treatment, the goal is to find a formula that serves a clear purpose.
Rather than collecting products for their reputation alone, pay attention to texture, ingredients, personal tolerance and how your skin responds. A little discernment can make a beauty routine feel more personal, more effective and every bit as luxurious.
