Best face oils (2026)
Eight face oils compared on the oils they contain, fragrance and essential oils, non-comedogenic labels, and price, from a $34 Squalane to a $188 oil-moisturizer hybrid, plus how to use one and who should skip it.
By the Lipid Language editorial team
Key takeaways
A face oil works mainly by slowing water loss from the skin, so it suits visibly dry skin best and is usually the last step of a routine rather than its source of hydration.
Our top pick is Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Rejuvenating Overnight Face Oil: a five-ingredient rosehip blend that Pai labels fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, for $54.
For an oil that can also be your moisturizer, The SUPER Intensive Face Oil from U Beauty combines plant oils and Squalane with two forms of Hyaluronic Acid and antioxidants.
On a budget, Biossance 100% Squalane Oil is one plant-derived ingredient for $34.
Cleveland Clinic suggests that people with acne-prone skin or seborrheic dermatitis consider skipping face oils, and that strongly scented oils, lavender among them, are best avoided.
Face oils have a reputation for being either miraculous or pore-clogging, and the truth sits in between. A good one can make visibly dry skin feel softer and look more supple, especially in winter. The wrong one, or the right one on the wrong skin, can feel greasy or cause trouble. The eight below range from a single-ingredient Squalane to blends with Vitamin C and Ceramides, from $34 to $188.
What to look for in a face oil
Oils sit on top of the skin and help hold water in. Cleveland Clinic explains that, in theory, face oils reduce water loss by keeping the water already in skin from evaporating. That’s why an oil pairs best with something that brings water to the skin first, such as a hydrating serum or moisturizer.
Four things to check before you buy:
The oils themselves. Rosehip, Jojoba, Argan, and Squalane are the common bases here. Single-ingredient oils are the simplest to test on your skin; blends spread the bet across several oils.
Fragrance and essential oils. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding strongly fragranced oils, such as lavender or tea tree, which it says “can be irritating or even potential allergens.” The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) also recommends products labeled fragrance-free for dry skin.
A non-comedogenic label. Cleveland Clinic warns that “many types of face oil are considered comedogenic,” so if breakouts are a worry, look for a brand that labels its oil non-comedogenic, and patch test anyway.
Your skin type. Cleveland Clinic says people with acne-prone skin or seborrheic dermatitis may want to skip face oils, and that people with rosacea should be mindful about using them.
If your skin feels tight but also gets oily, it may be dehydrated rather than dry, and an oil alone won’t fix that. Our explainer on dry vs dehydrated skin sets out the difference.
At a glance
Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Rejuvenating Overnight Face Oil: best face oil overall
U Beauty The SUPER Intensive Face Oil: best oil-moisturizer hybrid
Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster: best fragrance-free oil blend with Ceramides
Biossance 100% Squalane Oil: best budget pick
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil: best single-ingredient rosehip
Josie Maran The Original 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil: best single-ingredient Argan Oil
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil: best with Vitamin C
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate Moisturizing Face Oil Serum: best for a scented night ritual
How we compared these face oils
No oil was applied to anyone’s face for this roundup. We worked from the labels instead: brand pages and complete ingredient lists, read in October 2026, with each oil compared on:
What’s in the bottle: the oils themselves, plus Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, or antioxidants where present.
Scent: fragrance and essential oils, on the label or in the INCI.
Pore-clogging claims: whether the brand labels the oil non-comedogenic.
Directions: alone, under or over moisturizer, and what time of day.
Cost per bottle, with the size listed by the brand.
Face oils compared
Face oil | Main oils and extras | Fragrance | Non-comedogenic label | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate | Rosehip, Buah Merah Oil, Vitamin E | Fragrance-free (brand) | Yes | $54 for 30 ml | Dry or sensitive skin |
U Beauty The SUPER Intensive Face Oil | Sweet Almond Oil, Squalane, Avocado and Jojoba Oils, Hyaluronic Acid | Lists Methyldihydrojasmonate | Not stated | $188 for 30 ml | An oil you can wear as a moisturizer |
Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster | Nine plant oils, Ceramide NS, Cholesterol | Fragrance-free (brand) | Not stated | $44 for 0.67 fl oz | Dry skin that reacts to fragrance |
Biossance 100% Squalane Oil | Squalane only | No fragrance entry | Not stated | $34 | A first face oil |
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil | Rosehip seed oil only | Fragrance-free (brand) | Suitable for acne-prone skin (brand) | $44.99 for 1.5 fl oz | Plain rosehip |
Josie Maran Argan Oil | Argan Kernel Oil only | Fragrance-free (brand) | Yes | $39 for 1 fl oz | Plain argan |
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil | Squalane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate | Lists geraniol and citronellol | Not stated | $74 for 30 ml | Dull-looking skin |
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate | Squalane, Rosehip, Evening Primrose, essential oils | Scented with essential oils | Yes | $55 for 30 ml | A scented night step |
1. Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Rejuvenating Overnight Face Oil: best face oil overall
Pai’s rosehip oil has five ingredients: rosehip seed and fruit extracts, buah merah fruit oil, Vitamin E, and rosemary leaf extract. Pai says it’s non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and independently patch tested, and it reports that the oil visibly brightened skin in a four-week consumer trial of 97 women.
Rosehip is the classic face-oil base because it’s rich in linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids, and Pai keeps everything else out of the way. That short list, plus a non-comedogenic label, is why it leads.
Key features:
Short ingredient list: free of essential oils, fragrance, and preservatives, according to Pai.
Easy to start: press two to three drops into slightly damp skin in the evening, after your moisturizer.
Gradual introduction: Pai suggests starting on two to three evenings a week.
Best for: visibly dry or sensitive skin that wants a simple, fragrance-free oil.
Tradeoff: it’s made as an overnight oil, so it’s less suited to wearing under makeup.
Price: $54 for 30 ml.
2. U Beauty The SUPER Intensive Face Oil: best oil-moisturizer hybrid
Most face oils need a moisturizer underneath. The SUPER Intensive Face Oil, U Beauty’s “Oil-Hydrator Hybrid” for the face and neck, is built so you can wear it on its own. Sweet Almond Oil and Squalane lead its ingredient list, followed by Avocado, Rapeseed, and Jojoba Oils, and further down sit Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, and an algae extract that’s the source of astaxanthin, the antioxidant that gives the oil its apricot color. It’s all powered by proprietary SIREN Capsule Technology™.
U Beauty reports results from an independent 30-volunteer instrumental study after 30 days of twice-daily use: a 34% increase in hydration and a 29% improvement in moisture barrier integrity. For visibly dry skin, that means the comfort of an oil and the hydration of a moisturizer in one step, leaving skin feeling nourished and supple.
Key features:
Wear it alone or layer it: use it as your daily moisturizer, or press it over The SUPER Hydrator for extra hydration. The two are designed to work together for very dry skin.
Face and neck: two to three drops pressed onto both, morning, evening, or both.
Hyaluronic Acid in an oil: two forms on the ingredient list, alongside the plant oils.
Best for: visibly dry skin that wants an oil and a moisturizer in one step.
Tradeoff: at $188 it’s the most expensive oil on this list, and it contains a fragrance ingredient, Methyldihydrojasmonate, eighth on the list.
Price: $188 for 30 ml.
3. Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster: best fragrance-free oil blend with Ceramides
Paula’s Choice blends nine plant oils, including Jojoba, Safflower, Apricot Kernel, Sunflower, Cranberry, Argan, Borage, Evening Primrose, and Echium Seed Oils, with Ceramide NS and Cholesterol. The brand says it’s made without fragrance, and it’s designed as a booster, so a few drops can go on alone or be mixed into a moisturizer.
Key features:
Oils plus skin-identical lipids: Ceramide NS and Cholesterol sit at the end of the list.
Two to three drops: a couple more if you’re covering the neck and chest too.
Under-eye friendly: Paula’s Choice says it can be applied under the eyes, avoiding the eye itself.
Best for: visibly dry skin that reacts to fragrance and essential oils.
Tradeoff: at $44 for 0.67 fl oz, it’s one of the smaller bottles here, so the cost per drop is high.
Price: $44 for 0.67 fl oz.
4. Biossance 100% Squalane Oil: best budget pick
Biossance’s Squalane is a single ingredient, made from sugarcane rather than the shark liver Squalane was once harvested from. Biossance describes it as weightless, and it works on the face, body, and hair, which makes it an easy, low-risk first face oil.
Key features:
One ingredient: nothing else in the bottle, including fragrance.
Face, neck, and chest: warm a small amount between your hands and pat it on.
Beyond the face: Biossance suggests it for body and hair too.
Best for: anyone trying a face oil for the first time, or wanting one oil for the whole bathroom shelf.
Tradeoff: it has no antioxidants or other oils, so it does one job.
Price: $34 on Biossance’s site.
5. Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil: best single-ingredient rosehip
Trilogy’s bottle is pure, certified organic rosehip seed oil. Trilogy says it’s fragrance-free, dermatologically tested for sensitive skin, and suitable for acne-prone skin, and that every batch is tested for at least 80% omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. It also reports a reduction in the look of fine lines in a study of 20 women using it twice a day for eight weeks.
Key features:
Just rosehip: a single oil, so it’s easy to tell how your skin responds.
Three sizes: 0.34, 0.68, and 1.5 fl oz.
Batch-tested fatty acids: Trilogy publishes its testing standard.
Best for: people who want plain rosehip oil at a mid-range price.
Tradeoff: Trilogy suggests following it with a moisturizer, so for most routines it adds a step.
Price: $44.99 for 1.5 fl oz.
6. Josie Maran The Original 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil: best single-ingredient Argan Oil
Josie Maran’s oil is one ingredient: organic Argan Kernel Oil. Josie Maran labels it fragrance-free and non-comedogenic and says it suits all skin types, including oily. In a two-week consumer survey, the brand reports that 97% of 45 people agreed it kept their skin feeling moisturized for 24 hours.
Key features:
Just Argan Oil: a single, simple oil.
A finishing step: warm two to four drops in your hands and press them into skin last, morning and night.
Non-comedogenic label: the brand says it suits oily skin too.
Best for: people who want one plain oil the brand says works across skin types.
Tradeoff: it has no hydrating ingredients, so dehydrated skin will still want a serum or moisturizer underneath.
Price: $39 for 1 fl oz.
7. Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil: best with Vitamin C
This Biossance oil combines Squalane with Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, an oil-soluble form of Vitamin C and the second ingredient on the list, plus rose extract, in a seven-ingredient formula. Biossance reports that 97% of 32 women agreed their skin looked firmer and more supple in a 21-day consumer study.
Key features:
Vitamin C in an oil: an antioxidant-led blend rather than a plain oil.
Seven ingredients: a short formula.
Flexible order: Biossance says it can go after serum as your moisturizer, or on top of a moisturizer.
Best for: dull-looking, dry skin that wants an antioxidant oil.
Tradeoff: it lists geraniol and citronellol, fragrance allergens that may not suit sensitive skin.
Price: $74 for 30 ml.
8. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate Moisturizing Face Oil Serum: best for a scented night ritual
Kiehl’s blends Squalane with rosehip, evening primrose, and jojoba oils and a mix of essential oils, including lavender. Kiehl’s says 91% of 52 participants showed a visible reduction in fine lines after using its Midnight Recovery Collection (a cleansing oil, this oil, and a night cream) together for seven days.
Key features:
A night step: Kiehl’s positions it as the last step of an evening routine.
Labeled non-comedogenic: and non-acnegenic, per Kiehl’s.
Four sizes: 15, 30, 50, and 100 ml.
Best for: people without sensitive skin who enjoy a scented night oil.
Tradeoff: it’s scented with essential oils, such as lavender and geranium, and Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding strongly fragranced oils like lavender.
Price: $55 for 30 ml.
How to use a face oil
Use a few drops. Most brands above suggest two to four drops pressed into the skin.
Apply to damp skin or over moisturizer. The AAD recommends moisturizing while skin is still damp. Brands split on the order: Pai and Kiehl’s put oil last, Trilogy suggests moisturizer after the oil, and U Beauty’s oil can be worn alone. Our guide to skincare routine order shows where oils usually go.
Pair it with a humectant if your skin is dehydrated. Oils slow water loss but add little water, so a serum or moisturizer with Glycerin or Hyaluronic Acid underneath helps. Our roundup of hydrating serums has options.
Choose fragrance-free if you’re sensitive. The AAD recommends products labeled fragrance-free for dry skin.
Wear sunscreen during the day. An oil doesn’t stand in for sunscreen; it goes underneath it in the morning.
If dry patches crack, itch, or don’t improve with a gentle routine, a board-certified dermatologist can check for eczema or another cause.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best face oil?
For most dry skin, a simple, fragrance-free oil labeled non-comedogenic. Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Rejuvenating Overnight Face Oil is our top pick, The SUPER Intensive Face Oil works as an oil and a moisturizer in one, and Biossance 100% Squalane Oil is the budget option.
Are face oils good for your skin?
They can be, especially for visibly dry skin. Cleveland Clinic says oils may help reduce water loss and can be useful for very dry skin, but many are comedogenic, and it suggests people with acne-prone skin consider skipping them.
Can a face oil replace moisturizer?
Sometimes. A plain oil slows water loss but adds little water, so most people get more from using it with a moisturizer. A hybrid, such as The SUPER Intensive Face Oil contains Hyaluronic Acid and is made to be worn on its own.
Should face oil go before or after moisturizer?
Brands disagree. Pai and Kiehl’s put oil last, Trilogy suggests moisturizer after the oil, and Paula’s Choice says its oil can be mixed into a moisturizer. In the morning, sunscreen goes on top of both.
Can you use a face oil on oily or acne-prone skin?
Carefully. Cleveland Clinic suggests people with acne-prone skin consider skipping face oils and warns that products not labeled non-comedogenic may clog pores. If you try one, pick an oil the brand labels non-comedogenic, such as Pai, Josie Maran, or Kiehl’s, and patch test first.
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