Facial Oils 101: Acne-Prone Skin Edition

If you’ve got oily, sensitive skin or are prone to acne breakouts, the words ‘facial oil’ probably send off warning bells in your head. It seems like common sense, doesn’t it? If your skin already produces too much oil for its own good (and suffers as a result), why would you compound that by adding in more oil? The marketing around most skincare products for oily skin certainly doesn’t help either, with everything from moisturizers to cleansers featuring some variation of “oil-free” or “oil clear” in bold on its packaging.

But, it’s not as straightforward as it seems at first glance. Facial oils can have an important place in your skincare routine, even if you have oily skin.  Adding in the right kind of sebum-regulating face oils can actually help induce your skin to produce less oil. More importantly, oils are capable of performing functions that no other skincare formulation can, such as forming an almost impermeable protective barrier around your skin or delivering oil-soluble ingredients to it.

All you need to do to reap these amazing benefits without inflaming your acne-prone skin is to choose the right facial oil and application method.

Choosing the Perfect Face Oils

Not all face oils are created equal—some will clog your pores and trigger your acne, while others will rejuvenate and calm your skin. For instance, oily, acne-prone skin types should stay away from heavy, occlusive oils like palm and flaxseed. Some should be used in small amounts over a protective barrier like a moisturizer, while others can be massaged directly into the skin.

Here are a few facial oils your acne-prone skin will appreciate and how you can use them.

1. Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E is a powerful, naturally-occurring anti-oxidant that forms a protective barrier around your skin and shields it from free radicals, harmful particles in the atmosphere like polluting gases, and even harsh sunlight. So, it’s perfect for making sure sensitive, acne-prone skin is not affected by atmospheric irritants. Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory properties and will calm down inflammatory acne like nodules, pustules, papules, and cysts.

In addition, regularly applying Vitamin E to the skin can help fade acne scars over time.

Vitamin E face oil is one of the thicker oils on this list, so while its benefits certainly outweigh any potential side effects, its use needs to be tailored to your skin type. Apply Vitamin E oil at night in combination with only a light moisturizer. Make sure it is diluted in a carrier oil like sunflower and almond oils.

2. Moringa Oil

Derived from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera or drumstick tree, Moringa oil is another great source of antioxidants for acne-prone skin. This is because it contains a potent blend of nutrients like Vitamin A, E, and C.

But Moringa oil’s most unique property is that it contains a high proportion of linoleic acid, the oil which has been repeatedly proven to be best suited to acne-prone skin. This is because acne sufferers generally have a lower concentration of linoleic acid on their skin, which likely contributes to their pores getting clogged more easily. Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid, which means the body cannot produce it on its own. So, Moringa oil replenishes acne-prone skin’s linoleic acid.

Why not just use pure linoleic acid? Well, it has an extremely short shelf life, which makes it impractical for personal use. When contained in a natural, stable formulation like Moringa oil, however, it’s the ideal choice for oily, acne-prone skin.

3. Turmeric Oil

For millennia, women across the Indian subcontinent have applied fresh turmeric to their faces consistently and devotedly, and the magic ingredient has delivered, imparting radiance and freshness to the skin that no chemical can replicate.

Today, the whole world knows exactly how effective this unassuming product can be, especially for acne-prone skin.  It dries out active acne spots without completely stripping the skin of moisture. In addition, turmeric contains curcumin, an almost miraculous anti-inflammatory compound that can give immediate relief to irritated skin.

But you needn’t go through the laborious, time-consuming process of making a paste out of raw turmeric every few days since it does not store for very long. Turmeric oil becomes just another quick step in your skincare routine.

Its liberal use in cooking makes us think of turmeric as impotent in comparison to other essences. However, it’s important to remember that turmeric oil is the highly concentrated extract of the root of the turmeric plant. So, again, it must be used diluted in a carrier oil, like in this formulation.

Face Oils in Skincare

Apart from all of these, you can always use facial oil to remove makeup and cleanse your skin. The oil doesn’t linger on your skin when you do this, so you need not be as picky. Most oils formulated for topical use will work to cleanse your face gently but thoroughly and dissolve anything soap alone won’t take off, from waterproof makeup to sunscreen.

No matter which oil you choose, though, it’s absolutely essential that it is formulated in the right way. Life & Pursuits’ range of cold-pressed face oils are made without any mineral oils and other irritants. Still not convinced? They’re certified organic by both the USDA and India Organic. Check out these natural Ayurveda products here.

Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.