Oils for the face and hair are suddenly everywhere. That may sound counterintuitive, but today’s beauty oils are light and nourishing, and won’t leave you greasy. Instead, they smooth split ends, beat frizz and hydrate your face better than a moisturizer.
“Oils are hugely misunderstood,” says Patricia Tortolani, beauty director at Allure magazine. “But a lot of the oils that women abroad have been using for years — in Europe, India and Japan — are plant-based oils.”
That’s exactly what’s being used in the products becoming popular now — from argan oil to pomegranate, carrot seed and sunflower seed oils. “The good thing about plant-based oils is that, unlike mineral oils, they’re very easily absorbed by the skin and the hair, so you don’t have to worry about them clogging your pores or weighing down your hair,” says Tortolani.
Here are some of the best:
Pomega5 Daily Revitalizing Concentrate
These fun little ampuls are full of exactly the amount of antioxidant-filled pomegranate-seed oil needed to moisturize your face. Use daily as an easily absorbed moisturizer and skin brightener. $48 for 30 at pomega5.com
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Josie Maran Argan Oil
From argan trees grown in Morocco, and full of vitamin E and fatty acids, this can be used as a daily facial moisturizer. Tortolani also suggests adding a bit of oil to foundation and mixing it in the palm of your hand. “It’ll give your skin a really beautiful, dewy finish,” she says. $48 at sephora.com
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Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil
Made with olive and jojoba oil, this cleanser is for all skin types. “Cleansing oils work really well because they dissolve oil and also makeup — even waterproof makeup — without overdrying the skin,” says Tortolani.
$32 at Bloomingdale’s, 59th Street and Lexington Avenue
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Rodin by Recine Olio Lusso Luxury Hair Oil
Mix oil and water with Olio Lusso, which can be applied to hair that’s wet or dry. A special blend of eight oils, it smooths hair and smells amazing, to boot. A little goes a long way: Two drops are sufficient for most manes. It can also be added to conditioner, or used for a scalp massage. $65 at barneys.com
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Suki Hair/Scalp Conditioning Oil
This leave-in conditioner soothes your scalp with a blend including neem seed oil — an ingredient popular among women in India. $32.95 at
sukiskincare.com
Alex Afervez
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Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Treatment
Long known for its hair oil, Moroccanoil just introduced Moroccanoil Body, a line for the skin infused with argan and other oils. This multipurpose cream is designed for soothing dry skin. $27 at moroccanoil.com
