Nourish and Hydrate: The Best Face Oils for Dry Skin You Need to Try

If you’ve embraced the conscious beauty movement, you know that it’s not enough to just have a product that works. Knowing that your moisturizers and serums are formulated with ingredients that are clean, gentle, and leave the least impact on your health and the planet is just as important as seeing promised results. That is why natural oils remain one of the most powerful skin care ingredients, especially when you have dry skin.

The best face oil for dry skin is one that restores balance and revives parched skin without the concerns and side effects commonly associated with synthetic ingredients. With their quick-absorbing and hydrating properties, they can be your secret weapon against stressors like a harsh winter or travel that exacerbate dryness. But like all other things in skin care, not all face oils are created equal, and depending on your skin type and needs, you may end up loving one face oil more than the other. But how do you know which face oil is right for you? Let’s break down the best natural oil for dry skin, below.

Table of Contents:

• Understanding Dry Skin
• Key Ingredients for Dry Skin in Natural Face Oils
• The Role of Antioxidants
• Conscious Beauty and Sustainable Practices
• How to Incorporate Natural Face Oils into Your Skin Care Routine
• Best Natural Face Oils for Dry Skin
• Summary

Understanding Dry Skin

Dry or parched skin is one of the most common skin concerns and can make your skin feel flaky or scaly, rough and itchy. It’s also one of the causes of premature skin aging and can worsen the look of fine lines and wrinkles.  

For some people, dry skin is a long-term condition that needs consistent treatment while others only deal with it temporarily (such as during winter). Dry skin occurs when the skin loses water faster than it can replenish or heal itself. But why does this happen? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it can be due to several everyday factors, including using harsh soaps and beauty products, taking long hot showers, living in cold and dry places, age, certain health conditions and medications. 

By adding natural face oils to your everyday routine, you’re locking in extra moisture for your skin while amping up its natural lipid barrier. By restoring your skin’s protective layers, you’re also making it easier for other products to be absorbed and preventing further dryness and dehydration. And because face oils are straightforward and easy to use, they can be easily added into your skin care lineup and can be applied any time your skin is feeling extra parched as you go about your day. 

Key Ingredients for Dry Skin in Natural Face Oils

Natural oils are brimming with essential nutrients, fatty acids, and antioxidants—all MVP skin care ingredients—which means they come with a long list of benefits on top of delivering moisture to your skin. When it comes to choosing which face oil for dry skin is right for you, make sure to keep an eye out for these ingredients: 

• Hyaluronic Acid 

Okay, we know. We’re starting this list with something that’s obviously not an oil but hear us out. Naturally produced by the body, hyaluronic acid is a powerful hydrator that can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. As a water-loving molecule, it draws and holds water in the skin, serves as a cushion and lubricant and aids in wound-healing. When used in combination with a natural oil, you’re addressing dryness in two ways: with hyaluronic acid attracting water from the air and locking all that moisture in with your face oil. 

• Jojoba Oil 

Jojoba oil is a non-comedogenic oil, which means it can work for all skin types including those with dry, sensitive or acne prone skin. This lightweight oil is packed with fatty acids and antioxidants, but what makes it extra special is the fact that it’s structurally similar to your skin’s natural oils. This means that depending on what your skin needs, it can mimic or dissolve your skin’s natural oils to restore balance, making it perfect to use whether you have dry or oily skin. 

• Rosehip Seed Oil 

One of the most well-known natural oils, rosehip seed oil is praised not only for its moisturizing effect but also for its anti-aging benefits. According to a 2018 study, the essential fatty acids and antioxidants found in rosehip seed oil can provide significant protection against oxidative stress, which is one of the primary causes of premature skin aging, as well as relieve the symptoms of dryness and skin conditions like eczema. 

• Argan Oil 

A skin care staple, argan oil is a light, non-comedogenic oil that’s rich in anti-inflammatory linoleic acid and soothing vitamin E as well as squalene and other antioxidants. Like rosehip seed oil, argan oil has been found to help reduce oxidative damage and increase the elasticity in the skin—thanks to its antioxidant and protective properties. 

• Calendula Extract 

Calendula is known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties and is often used in products that target dryness, rashes, insect bites and conditions like eczema. As another rich source of antioxidants, it’s also effective in healing damaged skin and may also help improve skin hydration and firmness. 

The Role of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are your body’s primary defense against oxidative stress, which can cause cell and tissue damage and lead to serious health conditions. Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals—unstable molecules that trigger a chain reaction that can be harmful to your body. Certain lifestyle habits (such as smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of sleep) and exposure to environmental aggressors can increase the number of free radicals in your body, and this imbalance is what leads to oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress can break down the healthy cells and tissues in your body including the skin, making it one of the primary causes of premature skin aging. Damage from oxidative stress can lead to the destruction of collagen, inflammation and disruption of the skin’s healing process.

Antioxidants stem the damage from oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals and preventing harmful chain reactions. In doing so, antioxidants can help maintain your skin’s health by preventing, protecting and restoring it against free radical damage and oxidative stress.

Because you’re constantly exposed to external stressors that can increase the number of free radicals in your body, it’s important to incorporate antioxidants not only in your diet but also in your skin care products. Natural oils are great sources of antioxidants, but there are other naturally occurring ingredients that you should look out for when choosing a face oil for dry skin. These ingredients include green tea, niacinamide, vitamins C and E, retinol or vitamin A, resveratrol, coenzymeQ10 and polyphenols.

Conscious Beauty and Sustainable Practices

The impact of using natural face oils extends beyond their skin care benefits. For beauty and skin care enthusiasts who want to embody the principles of clean and conscious beauty, the eco-friendly quality of a product is an equally important deciding factor. Becoming mindful of the products you’re using means looking past the trends and the hype. Instead, you spend a little more time looking under the hood, making sure your product-of-choice is not only cruelty-free but also ethically sourced and sustainably produced.

By going the mindful and sustainable route, you’re acknowledging the interconnectedness of beauty and ethical principles, promoting a sense of personal well-being, and recognizing that your beauty choices can impact the planet and the lives of others.

How to Incorporate Natural Face Oils into Your Skin Care Routine

Although the use of face oils in skin care can be traced all the way back to ancient civilizations, it’s still surrounded by a lot of myths and misconceptions. For one, those with oily skin may think that face oils are the last thing they want touching their face, but the truth is, using the right face oil can actually help regulate oil production and restore the skin’s balance. Others may also shy away from face oils because of the common belief that they can clog pores and cause acne. And while it’s true that some oils can cause unwanted reactions, these can easily be avoided by choosing a noncomedogenic face oil and applying it properly. 

Below is a step-by-step guide on how you can add a natural face oil to your everyday skin care routine: 

• Start by cleansing your skin. Make sure you wash, cleanse and tone your skin before applying any product. 
•  Apply moisturizer, followed by your oil. Your skin needs both oil and water, and by applying your moisturizer first, you’re giving your skin just what it needs. Follow it up with your face oil for more hydration and to seal all that moisture in. If you want to cut down on time, you can also mix a few drops of your face oil with your moisturizer. 
• Pat the oil onto your skin. Patting a few drops of oil onto your skin is more effective and gentler than rubbing it in. 
• Massage your skin. Once patted and applied evenly, give your skin a light massage, using an upward and outward motion from your neck to your forehead. Massaging your skin can help improve blood circulation and ease tension and tight muscles. 
• Apply your SPF on top of your face oil. Natural face oils can dilute and reduce the effectiveness of your sunscreen, so make sure you apply SPF after. If your daily SPF is also your moisturizer, make sure to double up and apply another layer of sunscreen on top of the oil. 
• Use your face oil in the morning and at night. Apply your face oil during your morning and nighttime routines for best results, especially when you have dry skin. 
• Keep your face oils away from heat and sunlight to prevent the ingredients from breaking down. 

Best Natural Face Oils for Dry Skin

Whether you’re in it for the long-haul or just looking to give your cold-weather skin care a boost, these top Dermstore picks for natural face oils for dry skin will give you that smooth, supple, and glowing skin.