Face oils have become super popular in skin care over the past few years. These potent mixtures seem to hold the power to smooth, flawless skin. However, you may be wondering if a face oil would work for you if you have oily, acne-prone skin? Here we're going to discuss how face oils can be beneficial even if your skin is prone to breaking out.

Typically, those with oily, acne-prone skin would avoid oil at all costs (as it is known to clog the pores, causing breakouts). But did you know that face oils can actually help with acne?

Facial oils have unique ability to balance sebum production while moisturizing the skin, resulting in a more balanced complexion.

Which Oil is Right for Me?

You must remember that all oils are not formulated the same. Some oils are thicker in nature and some are very light and can mimic the oil your skin naturally produces. The key is to find the formula that works best for your skin. Some oils can actually help to detox and clarify the skin such as tea tree, rosemary and lavender essential oils. Some oil elixirs even contain acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid which combined with the moisturizing and soothing properties of an oil, combats dryness brought on by the acne treatment.

If you have acne-prone skin, then it's best to look for a multi-tasking oil that will break down debris within the pores while soothing the skin.

Chamomile and Neroli are great for soothing the skin while other oils can work to rebuild the surface of the skin. Oils that are high in fatty acids such as grape seed oil and rosehip seed oil are effective at protecting the skin's barrier and improving skin tone. Jojoba oil is another great ingredient to look for because it is lightweight and easily absorbed by the skin. Therefore it is less likely to clog the pores and actually mimics the natural oils in our skin.

How to Apply Face Oils

You may be unsure of how to fit a face oil into your skin care routine, especially if you are acne-prone. You should follow these steps in order:

1. Cleanse
2. Tone (leave skin damp for the next step)
3. Apply serum
4. Moisturize (oil-free)
5. Gently apply Oil (do not rub)

When you apply your face oil after your moisturizer, you should put a few drops (not more than 3) in your hands and rub them together before patting on to the skin. Patting helps to keep the oil on top of the skin while only allowing the moisturizer to be in contact with the pores.

This method works because oily, acne-prone skin requires water in order to stay hydrated. Using a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer works to provide immediate hydration without added weight. Then you can seal that moisture in with a face oil which acts as the protective barrier for your skin. The oil works to seal in all of the products underneath so that they continue to work for the skin.

It's also best to use a treatment oil at night so that it works to rebuild and strengthen the skin overnight.

If you find that an oil is causing more bumps or breakouts then you should discontinue it's use. This does not mean however that face oils are not for you. You may simply need to find a lighter formulation that works better with your skin.