4 Face Oils That Won't Make You Break Out

break out
They provide incredible moisture and are safe for acne-prone skin.
As featured in Better Homes & Gardens
By Megan McIntyre February 16, 2022
There's nothing like moving across the country to a semi-arid climate 5,280 feet above sea level to make you really take stock of your skin-care life choices. After 16 years living in NYC, I recently relocated to Denver, Colorado, and learned very quickly that my skin needs a lot more moisture than I was used to giving it. The problem? I'm also the not-so-proud owner of highly reactive, acne-prone skin that breaks out if I so much as glance at a heavy cream. My solution, I discovered after talking to numerous dermatologists, was to incorporate a face oil for acne into my regularly scheduled routine.

Seem counterintuitive? According to Marie Hayag, M.D., Board Certified Dermatologist and Founder of 5th Avenue Aesthetics, it actually makes perfect sense. "Certain oils can help regulate your skin's oil production, get rid of excess oil on your face, and minimize the appearance of pores," she explains. "In fact, overly stripping oily skin to try to get rid of excess oil can actually cause your skin to produce even more sebum to compensate, creating a vicious cycle."

Hayag's favorite face oils for acne-prone skin include jojoba, grapeseed, and rosehip. Jojoba is almost bio-identical to your skin's own natural sebum and is an anti-inflammatory, while rosehip has antioxidants and anti-acne vitamin A, and grapeseed has antimicrobial properties. Rosehip and grapeseed are also rich in linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid that acts as a building block for ceramides, an important moisturizing element that fortifies our skin's barrier. 

That said, not all oils are good news for the blemish-prone among us, says Hayag. Those on the no-fly list include the ubiquitous coconut oil and avocado oil—they are both known to clog pores, which is the absolute last thing anyone who deals with acne wants to happen.

As for application, Hayag says to apply your face oil as the last step in your nighttime routine—during the day it should go as the last step before sunscreen—and to gently press (don't rub!) one to three drops into your skin. "Rubbing your skin vigorously can cause an inflammatory response and aggravate certain conditions like cystic acne," explains Hayag. 

 

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