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If the skin is a mirror into daily habits, then it doesn’t take a skilled detective to determine when someone has probably been overindulging, sleeping intermittently, and generally hitting their limit. Even when makeup does its best to hide it, skin still manages to look uneven, dull, and dry when it's not being treated to a proper skincare regimen.
While we will always recommend a healthy diet, regular exercise, and solid sleeping routines to create naturally healthy skin, we also realize that such balance takes time to cultivate. So as you bounce back with leafy salads, routine workouts, and regular hydration, let us also recommend this trick: an anti-aging face oil.
You’ll see your face get brighter, smoother, softer, and more even in no time. Anti-aging face oil can be your secret weapon as you create healthier habits. Featuring ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it can also help your skin keep its glow for those nights when you skimp on your skincare routine.
If you're ready to start shopping, here are the best anti-aging face oils we recommend for the job.
Edible Beauty Snowflower Illuminating Face Oil
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Courtesy of Edible Beauty
Makes skin look radiant
Evens out skin tone
It's edible
Can be a little heavy
Here’s a good way to start and end your day: Apply this vegan illuminating face oil on your clean face and neck. Its nourishing mix of snow flower seed, Kakadu plum seed oil, and jojoba seed oil will brighten, even, and moisturize your skin. The Kakadu plum seed oil has a high concentration of vitamin C to help address the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Active Ingredients: Snowflower seed, kakau plum seed oil, emu apple seed oil | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 3 to 5 drops | Size: 1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
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Courtesy of Amazon
Available in multiple sizes
One ingredient
Lightweight
Not ideal for acne-prone skin
All skin types can benefit from the antioxidants in this Drunk Elephant facial oil, which is made from nothing but virgin marula seed oil. This deeply nourishing, nutrient-dense African nut oil is easily absorbed, so your skin will look dewy, youthful, and smooth.
Active Ingredients: Marula kernel oil | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 1 to 3 drops | Size: 0.5 oz. or 1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
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Courtesy of Sunday Riley
Calms redness
Helps smooth fine lines
Refines pores
Contains dyes
If you’re stressing about visible pores and dryness, drops of this facial oil will help you see your skin in a much more pleasing light. The paraben and cruelty-free formula contains trans-retinoic acid ester, which helps exfoliate and smooth skin. It's also super soothing and is packed with natural botanicals like blue tansy, chia seed oil, and German chamomile.
Active Ingredients: Retinol, avocado seed oil | Skin Type: Dry | Dosage: 2 to 3 drops | | Size: 0.5 oz. or 1.2 oz. | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Farsali Rose Gold Elixir
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Courtesy of Farsali
Wears well under makeup
Makes skin look radiant
A little goes a long way
May irritate sensitive skin
This elixir can be used as a daily moisturizer, and that’s just the type of luxury that we’d get behind. It contains rosehip seed oil, which has essential fatty acids to hydrate and smooth while fighting inflammation.
Active Ingredients: Rosehip seed oil | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 1 to 3 drops | Size: 1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Kiehl's 1851 Midnight Recovery Concentrate
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Courtesy of Kiehl's
Soothes sensitive skin
Available in multiple sizes
Makes skin look radiant
Some may prefer something more hydrating
When dullness and uneven texture are your main facial concerns, stick to this option from Kiehl’s. Its combination of lavender essential oil, evening primrose oil, and squalane moisturize, even out, soothe, and repair your skin as you sleep so that it appears healthier and more radiant.
Active Ingredients: Lavender oil, squalane, evening primrose oil | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 2 to 3 drops | Size: 0.5 oz., 1 oz., 1.7 oz., or 3.4 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No
Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil
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Amazon
One ingredient
Helps firm skin
Lightweight
Strong scent
Josie Maran’s entirely organic oil will do the trick if you’ve noticed a loss of elasticity in your skin. Argan oil is loaded with vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants to repair and nourish skin, making it feel more resilient.
Active Ingredients: Argan oil | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 2 to 4 drops | Sizes: 0.5 oz., 1.7 oz., or 4 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil
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Courtesy of Kora Organics
Smells good
Softens skin
Non-irritating
Expensive
This facial oil, which works on most skin types, is ideal for combating dullness and uneven texture. Packed with a blend of organic noni extract, rosehip, pomegranate, and sea buckthorn oil, the formula helps the skin appear moisturized, smooth, and naturally radiant.
Active Ingredients: Rosehip seed oil, noni fruit extract, pomegranate oil | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 2 to 3 drops | Size: 0.3 oz. or 1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
What Our Testers Say
“The Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil is a fantastic product. It's fast-absorbing, hydrating, and leaves skin glowing.” —Karla Ayala, Product Tester
Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Active Brightening Oil
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Courtesy of Korres
Makes skin look radiant
Softens skin
Can help with hyperpigmentation
Not as easily absorbed as other options
Vitamin C works with real rose petals in this potent serum to deliver radiant skin. It’s also rich in fatty acids to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles. All it takes is a few drops applied to the skin every morning and night.
Active Ingredients: Wild rose, vitamin C, sea daffodil extract | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 2 to 3 drops | Size: 1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Herbivore Phoenix Facial Oil
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Helps firm skin
Helps smooth fine lines
Hydrates dry skin
May irritate sensitive skin
Natural ingredients like jojoba, neroli, and rosehip work to help dry and sensitive skin stay moisturized and protected from environmental stressors. It’s also gluten-free and cruelty-free.
Active Ingredients: CoQ10, rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil | Skin Type: Dry | Dosage: 3 to 10 drops | Sizes: 1 oz or 1.7 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
RMS Beauty Beauty Body Oil
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Courtesy of RMS Beauty
Softens skin
Helps smooth texture
Smells good
Expensive
This organic beauty oil hydrates thanks to rosehip oil and soothes skin with its highly concentrated mix of herbal ingredients. Its hardworking ingredients include vanilla extract and oils from buriti and tamanu seeds, and the formula aims to moisturize and soften while reducing redness in the skin.
Active Ingredients: Jojoba oil, rosehip oil, buriti oil | Skin Type: All | Dosage: 3 to 4 drops | Size: 0.5 oz. or 1 oz. | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules
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Courtesy of Estée Lauder
A little goes a long way
Makes skin look radiant
Softens skin
Slightly greasy
Stressed-out skin can find relief in this night serum since its intensive formula with ChronoluxAI technology works along with our skin's natural repair process. It promises to hydrate as it repairs dull and uneven skin texture.
Skin Type: Dry | Dosage: 1 ampoule | Size: 60 count | Cruelty-Free: No
What to Look For in Anti-Aging Facial Oils
Vitamin C
When it comes to anti-aging facial oils, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brian Hibler considers vitamin C one of the most important ingredients to look for. “A potent antioxidant, it protects the skin from UV damage that leads to fine lines and wrinkles,” he says. “It’s brightening and can help fade hyperpigmentation, creating a more even complexion while giving the skin a nice, even glow. It also boosts collagen production.” In short, it’s an anti-aging powerhouse that can help address and protect against a litany of skin concerns.
Niacinamide
Another top ingredient to look for is niacinamide, which Dr. Hibler recommends for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. “Any redness or excess pigment resulting from sun exposure can make an individual appear older than their actual age,” he explains. “Niacinamide helps calm inflamed skin and can even out pigmentation. It also supports the skin’s lipid barrier, helping to retain moisture and hydrate the skin.”
Rosehip Seed Oil
Finally, Dr. Hibler recommends seeking out inflammation-fighting and skin barrier-boosting rosehip seed oil. “It’s anti-inflammatory, protects skin from oxidative stress, and has anti-aging properties by increasing collagen production and improving skin elasticity,” he says.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Brian Hibler is a board-certified and Harvard-fellowship trained medical and cosmetic dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.