A good facial oil can be one of the most transformative additions you can make to your routine, but not all facial oils work the same for everyone. The question isn't whether facial oils work - that's already been proven - but which one is right for you. And for that, it's important to first understand what makes them truly good.

What makes a facial oil really good?

The short answer is: the quality of what's inside and its affinity with your skin. But it's worth going into a little more detail.

A cold-pressed vegetable oil retains its essential fatty acid profile, fat-soluble vitamins and antioxidants intact. This is what gives the oil its ability to nourish, strengthen the skin barrier and help the skin function better over time, not just at the time of application. When an oil is over-refined or mixed with filler ingredients - mineral oils, silicones, artificial fragrances - that richness is diluted or disappears.

The other key factor is lipid compatibility. The best facial oils have a composition similar to the skin's natural sebum, which makes them easier to absorb and avoids that heavy or greasy feeling that still scares many people. When an oil blends well with your skin, it's no coincidence: its molecular profile speaks the same language as yours.

And then there is something more difficult to measure but equally important: the intention behind the formula. A rigorously designed oil - with traceable ingredients, careful processes and a consistent philosophy - shows. Not just in the results, but in the whole experience of using it.

Oils according to your skin type

One of the most common doubts is whether facial oil is for everyone. The answer is yes, but with nuances. The type of oil and the way it is used does change depending on what your skin needs.

If you have dry or dehydrated skin, oils rich in oleic acid are your allies: argan, marula, rose hip and plum. They are dense, nourishing and absorbed by the skin with an ease that is noticeable almost immediately. Tension disappears, texture improves and a radiance appears that has nothing to do with a greasy glow, but with skin that finally has what it was missing.

If you have oily or combination skin, the key is oils rich in linoleic acid - rosehip seed, raspberry seed, jojoba - which are lighter and quicker to absorb. There is a paradox that many people discover late: oily skin often produces excess sebum because it is dehydrated. When you give it what it needs with a well-chosen oil, production is regulated. The trick is quantity: a few drops are enough.

If your skin is sensitive or reactive, The most important thing is to avoid oils with added fragrances and to opt for simple formulas with few, well-documented ingredients. Squalane, jojoba or hemp seed oil are generally well tolerated even on skin that tends to become irritated.

And if your skin is mature, Almost any good vegetable oil can make a visible difference. Skin loses lipid density over the years, and oils are, in that sense, a very direct way of giving back some of what time takes away.

Top 3 best facial oils

There are many facial oils on the market, but not all of them deserve the same space in your beauty bag. These three have one thing in common: they are formulated with real demand, they have an identity of their own and, once you try them, it's hard to forget them.

Fabulous Face Oil 25ml - Aesop

There are oils that smell good and there are oils that make you close your eyes for a moment when you apply them. The Fabulous Face Oil by Aesop belongs to the second category. Its scent is herbal, warm, with that botanical and slightly earthy character that characterises the Australian brand: something between a garden in the sun and an old apothecary. It is not a perfume, it is a scent that convinces because it makes sense, because it comes from its ingredients and not from an added fragrance.

On the skin, the experience is just as concrete. It spreads smoothly, absorbs without leaving a greasy trail and leaves an immediate feeling of comfort - that lack of tightness that dehydrated skin recognises immediately. Its combination of rosehip oil, grapeseed oil and botanical extracts makes it a particularly good choice for mature or dehydrated skin looking for nourishing density without heaviness. It's one of those products that make the ten minutes before bedtime feel a little more like your own.

The Face Oil - Saent

After the stronger aromatic profile of Aesop, Saent moves into another register. The Face Oil It smells, and it smells good. It is a clean, vegetal scent, with a soft background of neroli that appears without imposing itself. It does not compete with your perfume, but it turns the application into a little evening ritual.

The formula is logically constructed. Argan and rosehip provide fatty acids that reinforce the barrier and improve elasticity. Squalane facilitates rapid absorption, with no heavy residue. Rice oil and broccoli oil leave a silky feel; prickly pear and sea buckthorn add antioxidants that, with use, translate into brighter skin. Oatmeal and calendula bring calm when the skin needs it.

In practice, it melts quickly and leaves softness, not shine. It's an oil that doesn't promise miracles, but it does promise consistency: real nourishment, refined texture and that feeling of balanced skin that, over time, is noticeable.

Plum Beauty Oil - Le Prunier

This is the oil that surprises the most the first time. Not because it is extravagant, but because it is unexpectedly light for coming from a plum pit. There is a preconceived notion that fruit oils are dense, and Le Prunier dismantles this from the very first contact: the Plum Beauty Oil spreads with an almost watery fluidity, absorbs in seconds and leaves no residue. Just a clean radiance, the kind that makes skin look rested even when it's not.

The smell is soft, sweet without being cloying, with a slightly almondy background that reminds us -from afar- of the fruit it comes from. It does not overwhelm, but it is there, and it is pleasant.

What makes this oil unique is not just how it feels, but what's behind it. Le Prunier is a California family farmer who grows, harvests and processes their own plums with an almost artisanal level of control. The plum kernel oil they obtain has a much higher vitamin E concentration than argan oil, as well as an exceptional antioxidant profile. For those who value traceability and want to know exactly where what they put on their face comes from, this one is hard to beat.

How to use facial oil in your daily routine?

The good news is that incorporating a facial oil into your routine is easier than it sounds. The most frequently asked question is when to use it, and the answer is that it depends on what you want to achieve.

At night is when it makes the most sense. While we sleep, the skin goes into repair mode: cell renewal is accelerated, absorption of active ingredients improves and there are no external factors to interfere. Applying the oil as the last step in your routine - on top of moisturiser if you use it - allows it to act as a nourishing layer that seals in and enhances everything you've applied before.

It is also possible in the morning, with some nuances. Use smaller amounts and allow time for it to be well absorbed before applying sunscreen or make-up. Lighter oils, such as Le Prunier or Saent, integrate well into daytime routines without creating the sensation of saturated skin.

A gesture that greatly enhances the experience: warm up a few drops between the palms before applying. That warmth activates the oil, facilitates absorption and turns application into something that feels more like a moment to yourself than a routine step. Over time, it stops feeling like an obligation.

What to consider before choosing an oil for your face?

Before format and price influence your decision, there are some more useful questions to ask:

What is the first ingredient on the list?

The ingredients are listed in order of highest to lowest proportion. If the first oil listed is mineral oil or if the list is dominated by silicones, you are not buying mainly vegetable oil, however much the packaging suggests it.

Does it say anything about the extraction process?

Cold-pressed and unrefined are indicators that the oil retains its nutritional richness. If nothing is mentioned about the process, it is usually because there is nothing remarkable to report.

Does it have added fragrances?

They are not necessarily bad, but if you have sensitive or reactive skin, they are best avoided. A good vegetable oil already has its own natural scent - which can be precious - without the need to add anything.

What does the brand say about its ingredients?

Transparency on this point is a sign. Brands that work well often want to tell you where their raw materials come from, how they process them and why they choose them. When that information is missing or vague, it's a tip-off.

And one last thing, perhaps the most important: give it time. A facial oil is not a product that has an immediate effect - although some, like Le Prunier's, are quick to surprise. Real changes in the skin happen week by week, not overnight. If you've been using it for two or three weeks and your skin feels better, smoother, more balanced, that's sign enough that you're on the right track.