My Favourite Multitasker: 10 Ways To Use Your Face Oil

I switched from a cream moisturiser to using a face oil over 7 years ago and haven’t looked back. Face oils do so much more than the average moisturiser: they also heal, nourish, soothe, protect and replenish nutrients in your skin very effectively (find more reasons to swap here). The plant oils in the blend act as superfoods for your skin. If you are already the proud owner of a face oil, you’ll be reassured to see its many multi-tasking benefits below. And if you can’t live without your favourite moisturiser, you’ll be happy to know that you can easily introduce a face oil to your existing skincare routine in addition to a moisturiser — see the first point below. Offering multiple uses, a face oil can be a part of a simplified, zero-waste lifestyle helping you put the ‘less is more’ philosophy into action.

1. Extra nourishment — boost your moisturiser

Natural face oils contain 100% active ingredients derived from plants and can make your cream more healing and nourishing plus you can customise the benefits you want. For dry skin types, try face oils like my Replenish Magixir which contain richer plant oils such as macadamia. And for oily skin try face oils containing lighter oils like jojoba which help balance the natural skin sebum production: my Gentle Balance is ideal for this purpose. You can also customise the benefits: for instance, to help prevent breakouts, choose a tea tree containing face oil. To use, add a few drops to your cream's pot and stir with a clean object, such as a toothpick; or mix a small amount of your moisturiser with a drop of face oil in your palm and then apply to your face as usual. 

2. Overnight repair —  nourish dry skin & help with balancing oily skin

Using a face oil overnight is a great way to nourish your skin while it’s at rest. When makeup free and away from environmental stressors like pollution or UV rays, your skin can focus on absorbing nutrients, healing, and repair. If you ever worry that some richer oils take longer to absorb or cause shine, you won’t have that concern at night! So feel free to apply a bigger amount of face oil and enjoy the healthy glow in the morning.  

3. Better makeup application — look more natural

Face oils make a great base for makeup. Makeup products are generally oil-based (that’s why it’s so hard to get them off by just washing your face with water, since oils and water don’t mix). Using a face oil is a great trick if you want your foundation to appear more natural: the colours mix better and your foundation or bronzer will look more skin-like. Plus you get the added nourishment boost!

4. Skin healing — soothe dry hands

Frequent hand washing and antibacterial gel can take a toll on your hands and normal hand cream may not be enough to repair the damage. This is where a face oil can contribute: bursting with nutrient-rich ingredients, a face oil will provide deep nourishment and speed up the healing process. Plus, you can use it as a weekly anti-aging treatment for your hands to keep the skin soft, nourished, and healthy. Just apply a few drops on the hands and rub the oil in before applying hand cream on top, preferably do this before bed for an overnight treatment.

5. Hair shine — smooth and soften locks

Doubling up my face oil as a hair oil is one of my favourites: it helps protect against split ends and calms down frizz. Just put a few drops in the palm of your hands and run through your hair, starting midway through the length of the hair. Your face oil can also be applied to the scalp as a hair mask and will be a great boost for both the scalp and hair growth but you need to remember to wash it off thoroughly: leave on for a few hours and then wash with shampoo twice. 

6. Eyebrow glow and nourishment — tame unruly eyebrows

Run out of eyebrow pencil and need to tame those hairs? Bring your face oil to the rescue! Just a drop will make your brows easier to shape, acting like a hair wax, and the eyebrow colour will look more accentuated. Applying oils will also stimulate the hair of your eyebrows, helping them become thicker and longer. And you don’t need to use an eyebrow colour or run out of one in order to apply it: just go over your brows in addition to your skin when massaging in your face oil.

7. Healthy cuticles — prep for an easy manicure

Apply a drop on each finger and rub it over your cuticles. It will moisturise and soften the area helping to prevent dry skin and peeling. With continued use, your nail beds will also benefit from the added vitamins absorbed from the oil. Skin peeling becomes a thing of the past.

8. Lip rescue — boost with nutrients

I can’t live without lip balm as I have a history of getting cracked lips — as some of you know its actually why I started Miss Organics. A face oil won’t replace a lip balm but it brings different benefits. Lip balms are normally made with richer oils and butters, such as coconut and cocoa, which have a different nutrient profile to thinner oils used in face oils, like rosehip or evening primrose oil. By using both a lip balm and a face oil, you are giving your lips the equivalent of a ‘multi vitamin’. Tip: just apply your face oil all over your face AND lips every time you use it.

9. Massage oil — luxuriously prop your jade roller or gua sha

Face oils are great for face massage. Use them to massage with just your hands, or as a prop to a jade roller or gua sha ritual. The benefits of a regular face massage are numerous: increased circulation improves lymphatic drainage, helping your skin detoxify and boosting it with nutrients that help keep skin looking young and healthy. And it’s easy to do at home as part of your own personal beauty ritual.

10. Cleanser — travelling saviour

If you’ve run out of cleanser, you can use your face oil instead. As mentioned above, makeup in general is oil-based and your face oil will attach to makeup molecules, plus other impurities found on the skin, and serve as an effective cleanser. However I would only use a face oil as a cleanser when I don’t have another option because face oils contain many precious ingredients that would just get wiped away with your cotton ball / tissue: I see this as waste. But it’s a lifesaver when travelling! 

Considering all the various ways and benefits of using face oils, don’t you think they may be the best-kept beauty secret? Have a look at my organic face oils and pick the one for your skin type: dry or mature, combination / oily, or normal and sensitive, there is something for everyone.

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