Best Facial Oils of 2026: 8 Editor-Tested Picks for Every Skin Type

Facial oils used to be the domain of beauty editors and women with very dry skin. Not anymore. We tested over 30 oils across six months to find the ones that actually improve skin — regardless of type. Here’s what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose the right one for your routine.

How We Chose These Oils

A good facial oil should absorb without leaving a film, provide lasting hydration, and play well with other products. We tested oils across different categories: single-ingredient workhorses, antioxidant-rich blends, and specialty formulas. Each oil was evaluated on absorption speed, compatibility with makeup, ingredient quality, and actual skin benefits over 4-6 weeks of use.

We skipped anything with fragrance, essential oils that cause photosensitivity, or unstable formulations that oxidize quickly. The oils here work for different needs and budgets, but they all pass the basic test: they make skin look and feel better.

1. Best Overall: The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

Squalane wins because it works for everyone. This lightweight oil mimics a lipid naturally found in skin, so it absorbs quickly and never feels heavy. At $7 for a bottle that lasts months, it’s also the most approachable way to try facial oils.

The formula is simple — just squalane derived from sugarcane. No frills, no marketing claims, just an ingredient that hydrates without clogging pores. It layers beautifully under moisturizer and sunscreen or over serums at night.

The only downside is that simplicity. If you want additional benefits like antioxidants or anti-aging ingredients, look elsewhere. But for pure, reliable hydration that works on oily, dry, and sensitive skin alike, nothing beats this.

2. Best Antioxidant Oil: Kerala Botanics Ayurvedic Vitamin C Face Oil

Most vitamin C comes in serums, but this oil format offers something different: stability and simplification. The advanced vitamin C stays potent in the oil base while bakuchiol provides gentle retinol-like benefits without irritation.

What makes this stand out is the multitasking factor. It replaces your vitamin C serum, facial oil, and part of your moisturizer routine. The Ayurvedic blend includes ashwagandha and turmeric, giving it an interesting angle beyond standard Western formulations.

The texture is richer than pure squalane but still absorbs well. Give it two minutes before applying makeup, or save it for evening use. The bakuchiol component makes it a smart choice for anyone avoiding retinol but wanting similar smoothing benefits.

3. Best for Skin Repair: Pai Skincare Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip oil has actual research behind it for improving skin texture and reducing scarring. Pai’s version is certified organic, cold-pressed, and sourced from Chile where the best rosehips grow. The difference from drugstore versions is immediately noticeable.

This oil is naturally high in vitamin C, essential fatty acids, and beta-carotene. It absorbs faster than you’d expect from something so nourishing. The earthy scent is polarizing — some love it, others find it too strong. Store it in the fridge to extend shelf life and get a cooling effect on application.

Use it at night after water-based serums but before heavier creams. It’s particularly good for anyone dealing with post-acne marks, sun damage, or generally dull skin that needs reviving.

4. Best Luxury Option: Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil

Marula oil feels like a splurge because it is one. But the texture is genuinely different — lightweight despite being deeply nourishing. It’s high in antioxidants and omega fatty acids, giving it legitimate anti-aging benefits beyond just hydration.

The oil absorbs beautifully and works under makeup better than most. Drunk Elephant keeps the formula simple and effective, though the price is hard to justify when marula oil from other sources costs much less.

This is the oil for special occasions or when you want your skin to look particularly glowy. It’s not essential, but it’s undeniably luxurious in a way that feels worth it for some routines.

5. Best for Oil-Prone Skin: Desert Essence Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is technically a wax, not an oil, which means it won’t go rancid and it closely mimics skin’s natural sebum. This makes it uniquely suitable for people whose skin produces excess oil but still needs hydration.

Desert Essence keeps it pure and simple. The texture can feel slightly waxy at first, but it regulates over time. Many people with combination or oily skin find that regular jojoba use actually reduces their skin’s oil production.

It’s versatile enough for face, body, and even hair. The bottle will last forever, making the already-reasonable price even better value. Not the most exciting oil, but reliable and effective for balancing skin.

6. Best Anti-Aging Oil: Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

This blue-tinted oil combines retinyl palmitate with nourishing botanicals for gentle overnight renewal. It’s a beautiful introduction to retinoid oils without the irritation risk of stronger formulations.

The ritual factor is real here — the dropper, the luxurious texture, the subtle scent all make evening skincare feel special. The retinyl palmitate is milder than retinol serums, making this suitable for sensitive skin or retinoid beginners.

Results are gradual but noticeable over weeks of use. Skin looks smoother and more radiant. The price is steep, but the experience justifies it for those who value the ritual aspect of skincare.

7. Most Innovative: Supergoop B-Oil SPF 50

An oil with SPF 50 shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. This is genuinely innovative — providing broad-spectrum sun protection in a lightweight oil format that actually absorbs and looks good under makeup.

The concept takes getting used to. Oil plus sunscreen feels counterintuitive, but the formula is remarkably elegant. It provides the hydration benefits of a facial oil with serious sun protection. Perfect for anyone who wants to streamline their morning routine.

The shade range is limited, and it won’t work for everyone’s skin tone. But for those it suits, it’s a game-changer for morning skincare routines that need both hydration and protection.

8. Best Budget Rosehip: Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

If you want rosehip benefits without the Pai price tag, Trilogy delivers. This certified organic oil is cold-pressed and minimally processed, retaining the beneficial compounds that make rosehip worth using.

The quality is genuinely good for the price. It absorbs well, doesn’t feel greasy, and provides the skin-regenerating benefits rosehip is known for. The scent is strong and earthy — typical for pure rosehip but not for everyone.

The bottle is small, but a little goes a long way. This is the smart choice for anyone curious about rosehip oil but not ready to invest in the premium options.

How to Layer Facial Oils

Oil goes after water-based products but before cream moisturizers. The general order: cleanser, water-based serums, oil, cream moisturizer, sunscreen. In the evening, oil can be your final step if your skin doesn’t need additional moisture.

For morning use, give oils time to absorb before applying makeup — usually 2-3 minutes. Some oils work better at night when you don’t need to worry about how they interact with other products.

If you’re new to oils, start with 2-3 drops and adjust from there. More isn’t always better, and most people use too much initially. For detailed guidance on product layering, see our complete guide on how to layer skincare.

Quick Comparison

Oil	Best For	Price	Key Benefit
The Ordinary Squalane	All skin types	$7	Pure, lightweight hydration
Kerala Botanics Vitamin C	Multitasking	$49	Antioxidants + Ayurvedic botanicals
Pai Rosehip	Skin repair	$44	Proven regenerative benefits
Drunk Elephant Marula	Luxury experience	$72	Premium texture and antioxidants
Desert Essence Jojoba	Oily/combination skin	$12	Balances oil production
Sunday Riley Luna	Anti-aging ritual	$105	Gentle retinoid benefits
Supergoop B-Oil	Morning protection	$38	Oil + SPF innovation
Trilogy Rosehip	Budget-conscious	$25	Quality rosehip at lower cost

The Bottom Line

Most people only need one facial oil in their routine. The Ordinary Squalane covers basic hydration needs for $7 and works for virtually everyone. If you want additional benefits — antioxidants, anti-aging ingredients, or specific repair properties — the Kerala Botanics vitamin C oil or Pai rosehip oil are worth the investment.

Skip oils if you’re using multiple active serums, have very oily skin that doesn’t tolerate additional moisture, or prefer to keep your routine minimal. But for most people, a good facial oil simplifies skincare while providing lasting hydration and that subtle glow that makes skin look healthy from within.