The Magic Of Oil

Oils make me too happy for my typical resting bitch face!

I’ll never forget the first time I discovered beauty oils. Well, it was tanning oil, but close enough. I was probably eight years old and I was at the pool with a family friend’s daughter, who was older. She applied this oil out of a dark brown bottle that smelled like coconut and heaven. I really wanted to use some, but it was SPF 4. I was pretty sure my mom would flip out if she learned I was going below SPF 15. I just wanted to smell like the magic oil. I didn’t even care about the tan. It was around that time I stopped listening to my mother, but it would be few more years until I started using oils. Luckily, I’ve more than made up for it.

I am obsessed with Kopari Coconut Cleansing Oil. (Try saying that out loud five times fast.) I use it nightly to take off everything including waterproof mascara. I apply a few pumps to a dry face and massage it in. Then I remove everything with a hot washcloth, kind of like giving myself a mini-facial. My skin feels clean, soft and moist. And I really hate the word moist, so you know I mean it.

Ever since I started using Retin A, my skin changed completely. I went from combination skin on the oily side to combo dry. My face also became way more sensitive, as if it wasn’t my face at all. It’s like someone fired my skin and the replacement was still trying to figure out how to do its job. It was actually painful. I tried using a regular moisturizer but my skin literally felt like it was on fire. The only thing that soothed my poor face was Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil. The hurt, peeling and chapping (yes, chapping) stopped. This product is seriously the oil equivalent of Vicodin for irritated skin.  

If your skin is too sensitive and dry for a traditional serum, Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil could be a great alternative. It contains Vitamin C, which has a brightening effect and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. I also love the light feeling it has on my skin and faint rose scent.

But if you’re serious about serum The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil might be a better option for you because it combines both products. Formulated with a high concentration of wheatgerm oil and enriched with Community Trade Organic Soya Oil from Brazil, it helps you wake up with softer skin. 

You heard it here first: Agave is the new argan oil. I like to use Agave Healing Oil Treatment before and after I blow my hair out. It’s moisturizing and light. More importantly, unlike so many other hair oils, it’s not sticky. If you want to use oil but are hesitant because you only wash your hair a few days a week (or once a week- no judgments, I’m going on day seven right now), this is the one to try.

When I first heard about Kopari’s Coconut Body Glow, I thought it was trying to be the sequel to early 00’s glitter. But I was so wrong. This magic shimmery oil is mermaid-esque.  I like to layer it with sunscreen before I go to the beach or put it on my décolletage before going out on a warm night. The oil smells beachy and sexy, but not like it’s trying too hard. It blends really well with one of my favorite summer fragrances, Bobbi Brown Beach.

St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Facial Oil is a great alternative to traditional self-tanning products. It is paraben, phthalate, sulfate, and cruelty-free, so you get bonus karma points every time you buy it. Unlike many self-tanners, St. Tropez is hydrating and easy to apply with a fresh, natural scent. 

I love a good multitasking product, which is why I’m all about The Body Shop’s Brazilian Cupuaçu Exfoliating Scrub-In-Oil. Because it contains more oil than you normally find in similar products, you can really customize the ratio of scrub to oil and give your skin exactly what it needs. You also won't need any additional post-shower lotion or oil.

Pevonia's Dry Oil Body Moisturizer is a slick alternative to slick oils. An easy but effective spray, it's perfect for travel or those times when you don't want to risk feeling sticky. Also, if you are deathly afraid of slipping on your bathroom floor.