If you’re not slathering on oil as part of your daily skincare routine, I suggest you change that sooner rather than later, says editor Trudi Brewer. She shares an oil for every beauty duty, skin type, and budget.
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Skin oils offer the skin something that no other moisturising product can: an instant enviable glow. Oils are lipophilic or lipid-loving, and complement the natural fatty acids in our skin. So to that end, they penetrate deep into the skin, trap moisture and strengthen your skin’s barrier. Used daily, they knock out dryness (FYI, body oils are best used alone, pressed into the skin while it’s still slightly damp post-shower to lock in moisture), balance oiliness, (yes they do), while helping to refine the skin and overtime help reduce pore size.
Here are the best on offer.
Ultra Calming
MARZENA POST-WAX CALMING BODY OIL, $17.
Brand spanking new, this oil is brilliant for soothing the skin post waxing. Enriched with hemp seed, wheatgerm jojoba seed and evening primrose oils it instantly removes sticky wax, without feeling greasy, we use it post-shaving too, and the best news - it’s made in New Zealand.
Boost Radiance
Costa Brazil Sol Sunlight Body Oil, $81.
I, for one, am craving sunshine right now, and this oil makes me feel I am getting some. Stacked with skin-loving antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, the brand calls it a ‘Brazilian rainforest elixir’ because of the lineup of ingredients in the formula. These include patua, babassu, cacay, and Brazillian nut oils, as well as acai, passionfruit extracts, and finally, bacuri butter. It’s so sumptuous and leaves a sunkissed glow in its wake.
Brighten dull skin
Pure Fiji Kakadu Super Vitamin C Brightening Oil, $105.
A concentrated vitamin C boost powered up by the brilliant antioxidant Kakadu plum and the natural alternative to retinol, Bakuchiol, in a base of heavenly moringa oil. While lightweight, it packs a potent punch to smooth fine lines and wrinkles while correcting dullness. This is skin radiance in a bottle.
Organic option
Weleda Harmonising Body Oil, $39.
A skin super soaker, it’s ideal for nourishing rough patches and hydrating dry, itchy skin. It’s not only organic; it’s luxurious, thanks to the three million flowers it takes to make one litre of this precious oil. Once lovingly picked and pressed, it is then blended with sweet almond and organic jojoba oil. We love the scent and the sheen it leaves on the skin for hours.
Heavenly scented oil
Pure Body Luxe in Nourish, $79.
The exotic blend of frankincense and mandarin oils not only leaves your skin silky smooth that combo smells divine. Ideal for anyone with dry, dull skin or who prefers perfumed oil over wearing fragrance - one word of caution - it’s addictive.
Best beauty buy
Essano Hydrating Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, $24.
Cold-pressed, certified organic rosehip oil boosted by the goodness of organic acai berry oil and vitamin E. This little bottle of gold is sustainably sourced from Chile's pristine region of Patagonia Austral, hand-picked and pressed, and then shipped to over 6,000 supermarkets and chemists across NZ and Australia. It’s won dozens of beauty awards for being so pure yet potent, and we can not understand why it’s still only $24 - my skin soaks it up.
Find out if the hype is real.