I Was a Face-Oil Virgin Until I Realized It Could Transform My Super-Dry Skin

I never paid much attention to face oils because I thought they were just going to leave my skin feeling greasy, heavy, and way too shiny. I wrote them off for the longest time, but then the Who What Wear beauty team tested out a new face oil-serum for a story, and my mind was completely changed. The serum wasn’t greasy or oily at all. In fact, it was lightweight and fast-acting.

I guess I should preface all of this by saying that my skin doesn’t have too many problems other than being prone to dryness. Sometimes, it goes absolutely nuts and gets super parched, red, scaly, and all-around unhappy. In those moments, I’d normally slather on my go-to moisturizers, but now, I also add select face oils to the mix to get my skin under control. These oils absorb into my skin so quickly and leave it much smoother, plumper, and more glowy. The one-two punch of face oil and moisturizer cuts my skin’s freak-out time in half, so my dry and angry skin is moisturized and happy within three to four days instead of a full week. When I add a face mask to the routine, the healing process is even faster.

Now, whenever my friends complain about dry skin, I go on and on about the miraculous power of face oils. The thing about face oils is that there’s one for every type of skin condition, not just dryness. Some tackle hyperpigmentation and dullness. Others target acne and breakouts. And there are products that deliver awesome anti-aging benefits.

If you’re looking to deal with your dry-skin woes, I’ve got you covered. Take a look at the best face oils for dry skin below.

The Best Face Oils for Dry Skin, Listed

1. Best Overall: Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum
2. Best Oil-Serum Hybrid: Dr. Few Skincare Supreme Oil Serum
3. Best Brightening: Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil
4. Best Before Bed: Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil
5. Best Budget: Burt’s Bees Facial Oil
6. Best Splurge: Augustinus Bader The Face Oil
7. Best for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oat & Hemp Seed Dry Oil
8. Best Scent: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate Face Oil
9. Best Multitasker: Paula’s Choice Boost Moisture Renewal Oil
10. Best Single-Ingredient Oil: The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
11. Best Soothing: Kinship Kinskin Oat Ceramide Relief Oil
12. Best Drugstore: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Face Oil
13. Best for All Skin Types: Tatcha Gold Camellia Beauty Oil
14. Best Non-Greasy: Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate & Glow Oil
15. Best Under Makeup: Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Superfusion Face Oil

How to choose a face oil for dry skin:

Look for face oils that contain hydrating ingredients like marula, rose hip, or jojoba oils. If you’re trying to address any other concerns, look for an oil that specifically calls them out.

Best Overall Oil for Dry Skin: Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum

Best Oil-Serum Hybrid: Dr. Few Skincare Supreme Oil Serum

Best Brightening: Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil

Best Before Bed: Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil

Best Budget: Burt’s Bees Facial Oil

Best Splurge: Augustinus Bader The Face Oil

Best for Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oat & Hemp Seed Dry Oil

Best Scent: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate Face Oil

Best Multitasker: Paula’s Choice Boost Moisture Renewal Oil

Best Single-Ingredient Oil: The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil

Best Soothing: Kinship Kinskin Oat Ceramide Relief Oil

Best Drugstore: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Face Oil

Best for All Skin Types: Tatcha Gold Camellia Beauty Oil

Best Non-Greasy: Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate & Glow Oil

Best Under Makeup: Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Superfusion Face Oil

More Face Oils to Try for Other Skin Concerns

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.