Dry skin manifests in many ways. You could experience everything from roughness to flakiness, dullness, redness, or irritation. Slathering on serums and lotions can help (at least temporarily), but what your skin actually needs is an occlusive—something to seal in moisture. Yep. It's time to talk about face oil.
Trust me, your friendly neighborhood beauty editor who's prone to dry skin herself. The right face oil can be game-changing. Apply it over a hydrating serum or moisturizer, and your once dry and dull complexion will become plump, juicy, and glowy. Take it from Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology. "[Face oils] prevent the evaporation of water from skin to keep it hydrated so that skin is plump and bouncy." He adds that they have a smoothing effect, leveling out "cracks and crevices" on the skin surface that could contribute to a rough texture and dull appearance. They may even provide a "negative feedback signal" to prevent the skin from overproducing sebum. Finally, "they provide a glow that contributes to skin brightness."
So, yeah, if you're ready for supermodel skin, it's time to invest in a face oil, but not just any face oil. Ahead, see the 10 best ones for dry skin. They're expert-vetted and editor-tested, so you can rest assured that they really, truly work.
The Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum
- Best Lightweight/Fast-Absorbing: Neurae Harmonie the Oil
- Best Firming: Summer Fridays Heavenly Sixteen All-In-One Face Oil
- Best Brightening: Herbivore Botanicals Phoenix Facial Oil
- Best Soothing: Herbivore Lapis Blue Tansy Facial Oil
The Best Face Oils for Dry Skin
Best Overall: Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum
Size: 1.01 oz | Skin Types: All | Key Ingredients: 27 botanical oils
Pros: Moisturizing, nutrient-rich, multitasking, clean formula
Cons: Pricey
Yes, this is called a serum, but it's not the lightweight, watery, essence-like stuff you might be used to. It's a true face oil composed of 27 nutrient-rich botanical ingredients, including grape seed, hazelnut, avocado, rose, carrot seed, evening primrose, nettle, alfalfa oils… the list goes on. At the heart of it is the brand's proprietary Phyto Radiance Infusion, which is a 21-day process in which nutrients from whole plants are infused into the formula. At the end of it, each drop of the golden oil is concentrated with 60+ nutrients, including phytoceramides, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fatty acids, and more.
I've been using this face oil for years, as have so many other beauty editors. It's a cult-classic product for a reason. Apply just a few drops onto the skin, and you'll be left with a smooth, plump, glowing complexion. I've also seen it brighten my skin and improve dark spots over time, as well as tackle fine lines and minor wrinkles around my eyes and mouth. It's really *that* good.
Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock wearing Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum.
Best Lightweight/Fast-Absorbing: Neurae Harmonie the Oil
Size: 1.06 oz | Skin Types: All, including sensitive skin | Key Ingredients: Phytosqualane, meadowfoam, moringa, and camellia oil
Pros: Moisturizing, nutrient-rich, skin-soothing, lightweight, fast-absorbing
Cons: Pricey
This face oil is beloved by the Who What Wear team, so much so that it won a 2025 beauty award, and my fellow editor, Jamie Schneider, penned a love letter to it. It's a dry oil, meaning it's lightweight and fast-absorbing, so it won't leave a greasy residue behind. Thanks to a brightening blend of meadowfoam, moringa, castor, and camellia oils, it leaves the skin looking softly luminous.
Best Firming: Summer Fridays Heavenly Sixteen All-In-One Face Oil
Size: 1.0 oz | Skin Types: All | Key Ingredients: 16 nutrient-rich oils
Pros: Moisturizing, firming, smoothing formula
Cons: None
If you want a face oil that can fix your dry skin while also firming, plumping, and boosting elasticity, this is it. Summer Fridays' Heavenly Sixteen All-In-One Face Oil contains (you guessed it) 16 nutrient-rich oils, including meadowfoam, hemp, sunflower, cranberry, broccoli, and grapeseed oils. Together, they seal moisture into the skin, as well as firm, plump, and boost elasticity. Did I mention it's chock-full of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, and it's noncomedogenic? Yeah, it's a clear winner.
Best Brightening: Herbivore Botanicals Phoenix Facial Oil
Size: 1.7 oz | Skin Types: Aging, dull, and discolored skin | Key Ingredients: Rose hip oil, sea buckthorn oil, CoQ10
Pros: Moisturizing, brightening, antioxidant-rich formula, can mix with foundation for an added glow
Cons: Not as suitable for oily skin types.
I first heard about this face oil from Megan Fox's makeup artist, who mixes it with foundation for dewy, flawless-looking skin. Since then, I've tested it on my dry, discolored, and redness-prone skin, and I've come to love it. Thanks to a mix of rose hip oil, seabuckthorn oil, CoQ10, and more, it brightens dullness, helps even discoloration, and stimulates skin cell regeneration. Plus, its natural orange color makes my skin look exceptionally glowy...almost sun-kissed. It's since become a staple in both my skincare and makeup routines.
Best Soothing: Herbivore Lapis Blue Tansy Facial Oil
Size: 1.7 oz | Skin Types: All, including red, irritated, acne-prone skin | Key Ingredients: Blue tansy oil, kukui nut oil, squalane
Pros: Moisturizing, soothing, anti-inflammatory formula
Cons: None
Here's the second Herbivore Botanicals face oil to clinch a top spot on this list. It's suitable for all skin types, including red, irritated, and acne-prone skin. (I've used it on my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, and it didn't lead to a flare-up. In fact, it soothed and alleviated it.) "This lightweight face oil contains blue tansy to soothe irritation, kukui nut oil to balance blemish-prone skin, and squalane derived from olives to support the skin's natural protective barrier and lock in moisture," Camp says.
The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Size: 1.0 oz | Skin Types: All, including oily skin | Key Ingredients: 100% rose hip seed oil
Pros: Budget-friendly, moisturizing, soothing, anti-inflammatory, simple formula
Cons: None
Don't sleep on this single-ingredient face oil. Not only does it cost an affordable $11 per bottle, but it also contains 100% high-purity, sustainably sourced, organic, cold-pressed rose hip seed oil. ICYMI, rose hip seed oil is incredible for the skin. It's moisturizing, it's anti-inflammatory, and it's rich in antioxidants. Oh, and it makes the skin feel petal-soft without clogging pores or contributing to breakouts.
Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil
Size: 1.0 oz | Skin Types: All | Key Ingredients: Plum oil
Pros: Moisturizing, lightweight, fast-absorbing, simple, clean formula
Cons: None
Camp recommends another editor-favorite formula, Le Prunier's Plum Beauty Oil. "Containing only organic prunus domestica seed oil, this fast-absorbing, weightless face oil helps brighten, balance, and restore skin while locking in moisture."
Using a blend of plum varietals, this face oil is naturally abundant in antioxidants, omega fatty acids, polyphenols, and vitamins A and E. Since it's so lightweight, fast-absorbing, and noncomedogenic, it's even suitable for people who are prone to clogged pores and congestion. Since it doesn't make my skin feel greasy or overly oily, I've even used it to prep my skin for makeup.
Eve Lom Renewal Treatment Oil
Size: 1.0 oz | Skin Types: All, especially mature skin | Key Ingredients: Argan, meadowfoam seed, and rose hip seed oils
Pros: Moisturizing, brightening, boosts elasticity, lightweight
Cons: Pricey
Eve Lom's Renewal Treatment Oil is the luxurious, lightweight face oil for anyone who wants to target signs of aging like dullness, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and more. It contains a proprietary oil blend that restores the skin's moisture barrier, as well as a ceramide complex, lipids, and stabilized vitamin C for good measure. Plus, it has a silky texture that provides the perfect amount of slip for a facial massage or gua sha routine.
Sky Organics
Size: 1.0 oz | Skin Types: All, especially dull or discolored skin | Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, organic rose hip, turmeric, and jojoba oils
Pros: Budget-friendly, moisturizing, brightening, antioxidant-rich
Cons: None
Another budget-friendly brand I like to buy my face oil from is Sky Organics. Its products are available at most major retailers, and they feature clean, simple formulas. This one is no exception. The Vitamin C Bright Glow Oil Serum contains a combination of vitamin C and E and organic rose hip, turmeric, and jojoba oils. Together, these ingredients target dullness and discoloration.
Kora Organics Noni Glow Radiant Face Oil
Size: 1.0 oz | Skin Types: All, especially dull skin | Key Ingredients: Noni fruit, rose hip oil, sea buckthorn oil
Pros: Moisturizing, glow-boosting, antioxidant-rich, clean formula
Cons: None
Kora Organics' Noni Glow Radiant Face Oil is *the* formula to use if you want the most glow you can get from a skincare product. It's packed with antioxidants from noni fruit, rose hip, and sea buckthorn oils, and it leaves the skin looking bright and radiant. It's also certified to be 100% natural and 99.28% organic.
Benefits of Face Oil
Face oils are occlusive, meaning they seal moisture into the skin and prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This, according to Camp, gives the skin a "plump and bouncy" look. They also smooth out rough texture, banish dullness, and may even help control the skin's natural oil production.
Downsides of Face Oil
There is a downside to face oils, and that's that they can lead to clogged pores and even acne in people who are already prone to it. Luckily, there's a fix; you just have to reach for noncomedogenic oils. "Some oils are more comedogenic than others, meaning that they may be more likely to clog pores and contribute to the formation of acne," Camp says. "Selecting products with oils that are more palatable to the skin is key to seeing results." He recommends looking for oils like argan, squalene, marula, and jojoba. "The molecular structure of squalene, for example, is small enough so that it can be absorbed."
What to Look for in a Face Oil
If you have acne-prone skin, look for the "palatable" oils that Camp mentioned above. Otherwise, the right face oil depends on personal preference and individual skin concerns. Do you struggle with dullness and discoloration? Look for an oil that contains brightening ingredients like vitamin C. Do you like lightweight, fast-absorbing oils? Look for an oil that's marketed as a "dry oil," meaning it won't leave a thick, greasy residue behind. One thing that many people look for is a "cold-pressed" label. This means the oils have been extracted without heat, therefore preserving heat-sensitive nutrients.
How We Chose
After researching the most popular face oils on the market, consulting reviews, and making a master list, I reached out to an expert for professional recommendations (in this case, that expert was a double board-certified dermatologist, Brendan Camp, MD). Then, I put them to the test, wearing each face oil until I felt I could offer the most thoughtful, detailed feedback. Once it was all said and done, I had a list of the 10 best face oils for dry skin.
Why Trust Us
With nearly 10 years of experience as a beauty editor, Kaitlyn McLintock is an expert on all things beauty. She's tested thousands of products and consulted hundreds of skin, hair, and nail experts over the years. As someone who has dry skin herself, she knows what separates a good face oil from a bad one and a great face oil from a good one. With the added expertise of a top dermatologist, there's no doubt these face oils are some of the best on the market.
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