In Depth Facial Oil Review ~ From High End Brands To Drugstore

This is probably going to be one of the most in depth and detailed reviews that I have ever done since starting my blog. I got intrigued with facial oils a little over a year ago and started trying all sorts of different ones. Before this past year I had never even tried a facial oil before because I just always thought of them as unnecessary and thought they would probably just clog my pores and break me out. But then I came across an article in a magazine (Can’t remember which magazine) that was praising the benefits of using facial oils and mentioned how great they are for all skin types, which was the total opposite of what I had always thought about them. So after reading the article I knew that I really should at least try one and see if my dry and somewhat mature skin could benefit from using one. So my journey with facial oils began….

Physician’s Formula Argan Oil

I first tried out the Physician’s Formula Argan oil that I purchased from CVS for around $12.99. I think the glass bottle packaging is quite nice, especially for a drugstore brand and I love that it has a long dropper so that you can access the product down in the bottom easily. This oil has no scent at all which I quite like since it’s something that I layer on along with other products. It feels nice and soothing on my skin and sinks in immediately leaving my face feeling hydrated and ready for makeup or my nighttime moisturizer. I used this every morning and night for several months straight and loved it so much that I included it in a few of my monthly favorites videos over on my Youtube channel. There is so much product in this that even after several months of use it wasn’t even half way gone through yet. So when you consider the price, how much product you get and how well it works, this is an absolute MUST TRY in my opinion.

PHYSICIAN’S FORMULA SAYS:

“The Argan Oil is a multi-tasking Moroccan miracle. This weightless oil combines the benefits of a moisturizer, primer, brightener, protector, and treatment all in one.”

• Hypoallergenic
• Paraben Free
• Fragrance Free
• Non Comedogenic
• Silky Texture that absorbs immediately
• Dermatologist approved
• Use on Hair, Body And Nails
• Smooths appearance of fine lines
• Brightens dull skin
• Doesn’t leave a greasy finish

L’Occitane Amande Supple Skin Oil

I received this deluxe sample size Amande Supple skin oil as a free gift with purchase, but the regular 3.4 Fl Oz one retails for $46.00 on the L’Occitane website. This oil has an amazing sweet, light almond scent that I love! It is not so strong that the scent lingers, but you can smell it on your skin after first application then the scent diminishes as the oil soaks into your skin. This sample size packaging is nice but I do miss having a dropper for sanitary purposes. So what I did to try and keep it sterile was to just gently tip it and pour some into one hand without letting the top of the bottle touch my hand, and then just used my fingers on my other hand to gently pat it onto my face. The full size product comes in a gorgeous bottle with a spray nozzle that supposedly creates a nice oil mist which I think I would really like as long as I can keep it out of my hair! This oil is super light but yet so hydrating and makes my skin feel absolutely amazing. With most of the oils I only use them in the areas that I get super dry in (Example: Around my mouth and nose, middle of forehead) But with this one, it is so light that I use it all over my face and it has never caused me to breakout. It keeps my face looking and feeling hydrated all day long even under makeup for 6-8 hours which is a miracle in itself for me. I think that after I finish up this sample sized one I will probably go ahead and bite the bullet by buying the full-size, because I really enjoy this oil, but I just hope that I like the spray mist version.

L’Occitane Says:

“Formulated with MORE THAN 50% ALMOND OIL, this light, fine oil makes skin feel supple and smoother. Skin feels nourished thanks to the ideal combination of Almond Oil, rich in Omega 6, and Camelina Oil, rich in Omega 3. This balance provides suppleness and comfort to the skin. The oil melts into skin and envelopes it with a mouthwatering scent of fresh almonds while leaving a satiny smooth finish.”

La Mer The Renewal Oil

Out of all the oils I have tried, I was most excited about trying this one because DUH… It’s La Mer! This is just a deluxe size sample that I received as a gift but the full size of 1 Oz. costs a whopping $240.00 (And I don’t know about your budget, but thats a little hefty for mine. However, I do think that good quality products are worth splurging on.)  This deluxe sample has nice, glass packaging and a dropper which of course is great. Upon first use of this product I instantly hated the scent and still can’t stand it after using for 2 months straight. I don’t really know how to describe the scent other than that it’s just stinky. LOL. I think the oil hydrates nicely and does help to make my fine lines appear softer when using, but honestly I just can’t find the WOW FACTOR in this product and with a $240 price tag, it shouldn’t be that hard to find. I was thinking after reading the description of the product on the La Mer website (See below) that I might get luckily and it visibly firm my skin as it claims to but, no such luck. It does what any other oil does as far as making my skin feel more soft and supple while wearing, but honestly I did not notice one single real benefit while using it. I would think that after two months of consistent use I would notice some sort of skin benefit but I saw nothing different or spectacular. I am so disappointed in this and thought I must just be crazy so I have went all over the internet looking at reviews and most people seem to love it. So, I guess maybe I am just crazy. But then I wonder if they have tried other more inexpensive brands to compare it to because I would honestly prefer to use the Physician’s Formula over this any day. I say SAVE YOUR MONEY and buy something else, Or buy a lot of something else for the $240.

La Mer Says:

“This dual phased elixir blends Miracle Broth and sea-sourced actives, unleashing a wave of activity to infuse skin with youth. collagen production improves, helping to soften fine lines and wrinkles while visibly firming skin. Day by day skins natural barrier becomes more resilient. Miracle Broth energizes skins repair process. Soft and ultra smooth, skin glows with new vitality. Aromatic and soothing, the renewal oil enriches everywhere applied. creating the possibility of infinite bespoke skincare rituals.”

Derma E

Derma E changed the packaging on this product since I started using it and now I can’t even find this product on their website so, I am not sure if they even make it anymore. But I did find it on several other sites like IHerb, Amazon, eBay, etc… for around $12. This oil comes in a nice glass bottle with a long dropper and has a scent that is similar to Olive oil. I have used this on my face, elbows, cuticles and hair ends and have loved it for each type of use. On my face it hydrates well and soaks in immediately without  feeling greasy or messy. I think this works great for my dry skin and moisturizes my face for the whole day when I apply it first thing in the morning or at night before bed. Since I am not sure if Derma E is going to continue selling this or not, I am just going to stop here with this one. I would recommend trying this one if you can get your hands on it though.

Tarte Maracujá Oil

I bought one of the Tarte gift sets last year that contained this deluxe sized sample of their Maracuja oil and was really excited to try it since so many people seem to love it. The sample size and the full size (1.7 oz) both come packaged in this gorgeous Purple glass bottle with dropper. The full size retails for $48 over on Tarte’s website which I think is a fair price considering the amount of product you get, the nice product packaging and because it contains Passiflora Edulis Seed oil. (Which is a vine species of Passion flower that is native to southern Brazil through Paraguay to Northern Argentina) This oil has a slight scent that reminds me of olive oil but there is a slight sweetness to it as well. It doesn’t necessarily smell good nor bad to me. I get dry patches on the sides of my nose and mouth sometimes and I love using this oil in those areas to help keep them moisturized and from flaking further. This oil is very lightweight and a little goes a long way, so just a few drops and I can cover my whole face. I use this before putting on my makeup and before my moisturizer at night and I truly feel like it has done wonders for my skin. I even use this on my lips each morning so that when I apply my lip liner and lipstick they go on seamless and perfectly smooth. This oil truly can be used for so many different purposes and I think that everyone could find this oil beneficial to their skincare routine.

Tarte Says:

“Vegan face oil for a healthy, radiant complexion with no greasy feel. This Maracuja oil is rich in fatty acids and vitamin c for firmer, brighter, smoother skin, helps promote active skin cell recovery and rejuvenation while delivering maximum hydration. This powerful, precious skincare oil is cold pressed from the maraca fruit, naturally rich in brightening vitamin c and replenishing  essential fatty acids to nourish, protect and feed your skin. Harvested from the best in nature to restore balance and harmony.”

• Formulated without Parabens
• No mineral oil
• No pathalates
• No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• No Glueten
• Contains Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil Tocopherol

After using each of these oils for 2 months, I have my favorites for different reasons. Surprisingly though, the La Mer is my least favorite. I think that the Physicians Formula is definitely a great and affordable choice that anyone could use. And the Derma E and Amande Supple skin oil are both fantastic choices too. And if you can afford it, the Tarte Maracuja oil is a game changer if you use it daily over a period of time, you will see some great results. Tell me what your favorite facial oil is please. Now I am dying to try some new ones and need suggestions!