It’s April and the start of sandal season so time to enjoy the pleasure of fresh air on our skin once again. Bare legs, bare arms, and for some of us, bare panic as winter cocoons are shed and our heating-dried limbs, hair and faces are revealed. Fear not, it’s oil good.
There are many benefits to using natural oils in your beauty regime – especially but not exclusively if you have dry or dehydrated skin). Not only are they emollients (soothing and moisturising) but they also act on an occlusive level, keeping moisture levels intact.
Face: A good facial oil will nourish the skin, strengthen its natural barrier, sooth any sensitivity and – importantly – contain non comedogenic ingredients and so avoid clogging the pores. I’ve been testing Nordic skincare brand Aevi’s Nourishing Skin Oil as a final step in my morning routine, and can only describe it as superlative, leaving skin quenched and glowing. It is a thick, rich formulation combining lingonberries (which are ridiculously high in vitamin C), regenerative sea buckthorn and soothing chamomile. It’s spenny, but only one pump will cover face, neck and decolletage. £98, liveaevi.com
Night: A night oil needs to light enough to avoid saturating your bedding, but powerful enough to do its job; replenishing the moisture levels we lose at night due to a combination of our natural barrier becoming more permeable, and the fact that we are simply not producing as much natural oil while we sleep. Almora Botanicals blend sunflower seed oil, the benefits of which work across all skin types, barrier-strengthening grapeseed oil and natural anti-inflammatory lavender oil with feather-light borage oil to soften and nourish. Again, a little goes a long way. From £44 almorabotanica.com
Cleansing: Oil-based cleansers leave skin deliciously soft and won’t strip moisture levels. On contact with water, they will transform into a milky wash to thoroughly remove dirt and makeup and leave skin hydrated. I love Kora Organic’s Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil, a dual-phase cleanser which needs a quick shake before being massaged onto your face. Silver Ear mushroom (also known as Tremella mushroom) has been found to boost collagen production to keep skin snatched and is also a natural anti-oxidant, with anti-inflammatory properties plus it works similarly to hyaluronic acid when it comes to drawing moisture to the skin. From £18 cultbeauty.co.uk
Hair Wash: Just as you turn the heating down and abandon your woolly hat, the sun (hopefully) comes out and holiday season is on the horizon with the triple threat of chlorine, salt and sweat. An oil-based shampoo will keep hair cleansed and shiny without weighing it down and also works wonders at boosting natural body. Sebastian Professional Dark Oil shampoo combines jojoba and argan oil to produce a lightweight and delicious-smelling formula which lathers like a dream. Be cautious if you are sensitive to sodium lauryl sulphate, but if not, the payoff will be bouncy – positively plumped – smoother follicles. £23 sallybeauty.co.uk
Hair Treatment/Styling: Feels like we have TikTok to thank for the ever-growing roster of trending hair oils which promise to keep hair healthy and tamed, and give great shine. Moncho Moreno is just one option in an increasingly crowded market but it has a compelling heritage. The brand is named for after its founder, a celebrity HMUA with over 40 years of industry experience at the highest level. Products are built around the patented M28, active protein complex which works from cuticle to cortex to keep hair at optimal health. Moncho Moreno Shine on Me hair oil has received rave reviews since launch and can be used on wet or dry hair to boost shine, soften, hydrate and eliminate frizz. £17.70 monchomoreno.com
Body: Finally, the body. From the budget (shout out to Aveeno Skin Relief Body Oil Spray) to the blissful, (we love Monika Blunder Beauty Body Language Oil) there’s a wealth of choice and hovering at the affordable luxury point is L’Occitane whose award-winning Almond Shower Oil (£22) can legitimately be called iconic. If you haven’t tried it – perhaps put off at the thought of slippery showers – take our word for it, this fabulously scented wash leaves skin soft and shower trays undiminished. L’Occitane are clearly of the opinion that you can’t have too much of a good thing as they have just launched the complementary Supple Skin Oil (£40) to smooth, firm and nourish skin for up to 48 hours. Best of all, it’s as traceless as the shower oil: your skin will drink it up and leave no receipts. uk.loccitane.com
