If you’re like me, you want the most trusted products for your skin at the best price. Who doesn’t love getting a bargain on an amazing product that actually gives great results?
Which The Ordinary face oil is best?
Well, with The Ordinary, you get research-backed ingredients that are recommended by experts at super low prices. Today we’ll take a look at all The Ordinary facial oils and review which is best for your skin type. I’ll also cover how to use them for your specific skin care needs.
I started using facial oils in winter a few years ago, shortly after I turned 40. They’ve been a huge help in keeping my dry skin happy in winter. And since they’re so inexpensive I really wanted to share them with other women they might be able to help as well.
The Ordinary Skincare offers a lineup of seven different face oils, each with its own unique benefits for different skin concerns. While seven is a lot, don’t let this overwhelm you. I’ll describe each of them in detail so you can pick the best one for you.
All of these oils contain essential fatty acids, which are the building blocks of your skin, and amino acids, which have great anti-aging properties. Applying products that contain essential fatty acids and amino acids helps protect your skin barrier, leading to a healthier and hydrated complexion and smooth skin texture.
Additionally, all of these oils contain tons of antioxidants, which help prevent damage from free radicals caused by the sun and pollution. Anti-oxidants are important in skincare at any age, but for those of us over 40, antioxidants became critical to fighting the signs of skin aging.
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If you’re in a hurry:
✅ this specific oil is my favorite, is highly recommended by dermatologists, is suitable for all skin types, and offers a ton of skin benefits.
First, let’s take a look at which oils are best for different skin types. You’ll notice there are some categories with more than one choice. That’s because since The Ordinary has so many oils there is often more than one that will work well for your needs.
Thankfully, they have such affordable prices it’s not too big of an investment to try out a few different ones. You can usually get all of these oils extremely inexpensively on Amazon. Plus, a little goes a long way with these oils, you only need to use a few drops at a time.
Here is a quick list of which oil is most suitable for different skin types and needs. Take a look at the reviews below the list to find out more information on each oil and decide which ones you want to try.
Best The Ordinary Face Oils For Acne-Prone Skin or Oily Skin
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
100% Organic Virgin Chia Seed Oil
Best The Ordinary Face Oils for Dry Skin:
100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Borage Seed Oil
Best The Ordinary Facial Oil for Sensitive Skin:
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Borage Seed Oil
Best The Ordinary Face Oil for Sun Lovers:
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Virgin Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil
100% Organic Virgin Chia Seed Oil
Best The Ordinary Face Oils For Hair:
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil
100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil
Tips on Buying Face Oils
I’m often asked what to look for in face oil, and if these oils can really be effective since they’re so cheap. The answer is yes! An oil that meets all the criteria below doesn’t have to cost a lot.
Here is what to look for when shopping for any facial oil(at any price):
- Fragrance Free – There is no need to add any artificial fragrance (or color) to a facial oil. Artificial fragrances and colors are potential irritants and add nothing of value to the product. Natural oils often have an herbal scent, if this bothers you, try Borage Seed oil, as it has minimal scent.
- Cold-Pressed – Look for an oil that is cold pressed. Collecting and refining the oil using processes that generate heat can destroy important antioxidants and also alter the texture of the oil.
- Packaging – Light and air destroy the antioxidants that protect and help repair your skin from damage. Look for dark tinted bottles that close tightly. Droppers or airless pumps work best.
The good news is that all The Ordinary oils meet these criteria. At their low price point that makes them a great deal and proves that effective skincare products don’t have to be expensive.
Where Do I Use Facial Oil In My Skincare Routine?
A good rule of thumb in skincare (and one I follow) is to use your products from thinnest to thickest consistency. Based on this, your facial oil will usually be the last step in your routine.
One exception is that sunscreen should always be the last skincare product in your morning routine. So if you use oil in the morning, apply a few drops right before your sunscreen.
Do not mix the oil into your sunscreen! This will make your sunscreen less effective and you could end up sunburned and with sun damage.
At night, it’s best to use facial oil after your moisturizer. I love to layer the oil on top of my retinoid and moisturizer, it prevents my moisturizer and treatments from evaporating while I sleep. If you have dry skin like me using a face oil can make a huge difference in winter!
During the colder months, oils can help keep skin hydrated and protected from the cold, dry air and wind. If you do find your skin flaking, try using a gentle alpha hydroxy acid exfoliant such as 5% or 10% lactic acid. If your skin is used to AHA’s you can also try glycolic acid. For more information on AHA’s see my complete guide to finding the best AHA for your skin.
Using The Ordinary Oils On Your Hair
To use any of these oils on your hair apply a few drops on your palms and smooth it into your hair.
Avoid using too much or hair will be weighed down and look greasy. It’s always better to start with just a few drops; you can always add more. I’ve noted in the list above that Argan oil and Marula oil are great choices but really any of these oils can work.
Just the smallest amount of oil will help give hair shine, moisturize and tame flyaways. You’ll often see argan oil used in shampoos and conditioners, I recommend these ones.
Reviews of The Ordinary Facial Oils
Ok, now that we’ve taken a look at which oils work best for which skin types we can take a more in-depth look at each.
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Ingredient: Rosa Canina Seed Oil
This oil was the first one I bought from The Ordinary and remains one of my favorites. This is a lightweight oil with a slight yellow color (will disappear into the skin when applied) and it smells slightly herbal. Just a few drops are enough for your entire face.
This oil absorbs into my skin easily and leaves no greasy finish. Rosehip Oil is great for a variety of skin concerns including acne, making this a great choice if you have acne-prone skin. It’s also high in Vitamin A, which can help fade dark spots and fights wrinkles.
100% Organic Virgin Chia Seed Oil
Ingredient: Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Who’s heard of Chia Pets? I admit that was the only reference I had to chia seeds before I learned about this oil from The Ordinary. Well, the good news is that in addition to making cute little plants chia seeds also are great for your skin!
The oil from chia seeds contains a high level of antioxidants, making it great for combatting damage from the sun and environmental pollution and fighting the visible signs of aging. That high level of antioxidants makes chia seed oil very anti-inflammatory which is great for healing acne.
100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil
Ingredient: Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
This oil has a light yellow color which disappears into the skin. The skin absorbs it quickly and it’s relatively lightweight. This makes it great for using on hair since if you just use a few drops it won’t weigh it down.
Marula is a great all-around facial oil with a good amount of fatty acids to moisturize skin and antioxidants (including Vitamin C) to fight damage. Marula oil also contains the amino acids L-arginine and glutamic acid.
One downside of marula oil is that it can clog pores more than some other types, making it a better choice for dry skin and mature skin than for those who have oily or acne-prone skin.
This product is a great alternative to the pricey Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil. They’re both 100% marula oil so why pay more?
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil
Ingredient: Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Argan oil has fewer antioxidants than marula oil, but it’s non-comedogenic so it won’t clog pores. Argan oil has tons of fatty acids, including linolenic acid, making it moisturizing and a great choice for dry skin. Fatty acids are essential to keep skin healthy and glowing.
Even with all that moisturizing power, it’s still easily absorbed into the skin. Argan is one of the oils most commonly used on hair, where it’s great for smoothing and adding shine.
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Borage Seed Oil
Ingredient: Borage Officinalis Seed Oil
Borage Seed oil is mostly clear with very little fragrance, making it a good choice if you don’t like the herbal scent of many oils.
It’s full of antioxidants and gamma linoleic acid- an amazing fatty acid that calms inflammation and reduces irritation. That makes Borage Seed oil a great option if you have sensitive skin. The high content of gamma-linoleic acid also makes this oil very moisturizing and one of the heavier oils.
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Virgin Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil
Ingredient: Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Sea Buckthorn Oil is a bright orange color, and this does have a tendency to stay on the skin, so it’s definitely best used at night unless you’re going for the Oompa Loompa look.
This oil is high in antioxidants, including Vitamins C, E, and A, which are all great for our skin, particularly as we get older. The high antioxidant content makes this oil a powerhouse at fighting and repairing sun damage.
Using a Vitamin C serum ( take a look at my top picks and also my review of my favorite) in the morning and this oil at night provides your skin 24 hours of powerful antioxidants to fight against the signs of aging skin.
“B” Oil
Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Oenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol.
This is the only The Ordinary oil that has multiple active ingredients. “B” oil contains a mixture of various oils and extracts to form a great all-around facial oil.
In addition to containing several of the oils we’ve already looked at, this formula includes calming bisabolol, moisturizing squalene, and Vitamin E, a strong antioxidant. “B” Oil includes a purified form of micro-algae which is a great source of fatty acids for your skin.
Final Thoughts on Finding the Best Facial Oil from The Ordinary
That wraps up our review of The Ordinary’s facial oils!
One quick note on a product that I haven’t included above: The Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane. I didn’t include it in this article since squalane is not actually an oil (its chemically related cousin squalene is). However, squalane is a great moisturizer that is lightweight and non-comedogenic. You can use it on both skin and hair the same as you would oil.
I also highly recommend The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser for all skin types, but particularly dry skin. It will clean your skin without stripping it and is a good value. For those of us who like a bargain, it’s a great deal!
No matter your skin type, you can find a facial oil that will work for you. And with the affordable prices of The Ordinary, it’s easy to experiment and find the one you like best.
Facial oils are a great way to moisturize and soothe skin all year round but are especially effective in the winter. They can help protect your skin from wind and cold temperatures during the day, and heal irritated skin at night.
Final thoughts on Which The Ordinary Facial Oil is Best For Your Skin: A Complete Guide
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