The 11 Best Face Oils of 2024, Tested by Real People

Best Overall

Acure Radically Rejuvenating Rose Argan Oil

$17 at Amazon $19 at IHerb View on Acure.com

We tested a variety of face oils at a variety of price points, but none performed quite as well as this budget-friendly option, which rings in at less than 15 dollars and scored perfect marks in every testing category. The combination of argan oil and rose oil delivers a hefty dose of antioxidant-rich vitamin E, along with tons of fatty acids that offer a mega-hit of moisture. 

It’s a thick, rich oil, but there’s no need to stress about it being greasy. We found the formula to feel emollient and silky, and we loved how quickly our dry skin absorbed it without leaving behind any residue. Surprisingly, we even saw a reduction in the appearance of our fine lines, which is always a win in our book. If you’re looking for a do-it-all face oil that won’t break the bank, this is it.

Oils: Argan, rose | Benefits: Hydration, anti-aging | Size: 1 ounce

Best Budget

Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil

$11 at Amazon $12 at Target View on Walmart

Palmer's may be known for their cocoa butter (popular for fading stretch marks), but don’t sleep on this face oil. It combines a lengthy list of 10 different oils, along with the namesake cocoa and shea butters. It felt super light on our skin, absorbing quickly and leaving us with a nice finish that provided a solid base for our makeup. It doesn’t necessarily leave skin glowy, but its formulation with retinol and vitamin C makes it a great pick at this price point.

While it can't replace a retinol serum, it does provide some of the benefits of retinol in a gentler form. We’d even go so far as to say that this was better than more expensive oils we’ve tried in the past — just be wary of the added fragrance in this one, as it may not be the friendliest towards sensitive skin.

Oils: Blend of 10, including sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, macadamia seed oil, sesame seed oil, coconut oil | Benefits: Hydration, anti-aging | Size: 1 ounce

Best Investment

Epara Balancing Face Oil

$161 at Amazon View on Eparaskincare.com View on Revolve

If we’re spending $147 on a single ounce of facial oil, we want it to be worth every penny — and the Epara Balancing Face Oil delivers. Its decadent concoction of moringa, marula, and ylang ylang oils come together to even skin tone, brighten complexions (even those hyper-pigmented spots), and leave skin feeling more supple than ever. This rich oil gave our faces a natural luminescence that looked like our skin, only better, and served as a wonderful sealant on top of our bare skin.

Our only qualm was that we didn’t see as glowy of a finish as we did with others, but this may be ideal for those with combination or oily skin. If you feel like splurging, this is the one we recommend — and as you only need a few small drops, a little goes a long way. 

Oils: Moringa, marula, ylang ylang III | Benefits: Brightens, moisturizes, softens, soothes | Size: 1.06 ounce

Best for Dry Skin

Korres Wild Rose Brightening Absolute Oil

$40 at Amazon $54 at Sephora

To be fair, pretty much any and every face oil out there is a good option for those with dry skin, but this proved to be the best of the best. Those of us with dry skin loved how comfortable and light it felt, while still being extremely effective. This oil gets bonus points for its smoothing results and delightful rose scent, two qualities that make this oil feel like a spa facial in a bottle.

Each bottle contains the petals of one full rose, making this a beautiful addition to your skincare shelf. Not only is rose a natural source of skin-brightening vitamin C, there’s also extra vitamin C added to this formula, making it a great pick for those with uneven skin tone. This product is on the pricier side, but its ultra-nourishing formula locks in natural oils and helps softens skin over time, making it well worth the cost.

Oils: Rose, apricot kernel, sunflower seed | Benefits: Hydration, anti-aging, brightening | Size: 1.01 ounce

Best for Sensitive Skin

Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil

View on The Detox Market View on Goop.com $72 at Neiman Marcus

The fewer the ingredients, the fewer potential irritants. That’s part of the reason why we deemed this top for sensitive skin. It contains the namesake ingredient and the namesake ingredient only. Plum oil is packed with omega fatty acids for tons of moisture and nourishment, and is naturally rich in all kinds of antioxidants (vitamin A, vitamin E, polyphenols, and more) to protect skin from free radical damage.

The level of glow it delivered was nothing short of magical, and even though it is one of our more expensive winners, we gave it a five out of five in the value category. This gentle oil is definitely worth the splurge, not only for its high-quality formula and ultra-safe results, but because a little goes a long way — a drop a day will keep the dry skin away. 

Oils: Plum oil | Benefits: Hydration, antioxidant protection | Size: 1 ounce, 2.03 ounces

Best Smoothing

Frigg Attuning Face Potion

View on Effleuragestudiobeauty.com

We noticed particularly smooth and hydrated skin after we started using this hemp-infused face oil which reduces the appearance of dark spots, controls oil production, and generally soothes skin. We thought it hit all the right notes, absorbing quickly thanks to its lightweight consistency — leaving us with a luminescence that lasted until the morning.

Added ingredients of sea buckthorn oil and other botanical extracts make for a collagen-building cocktail that our dry skin loved year-round, keeping complexions balanced and moisturized in all climates

Oils: Broad spectrum CBD, CBG, sea buckthorn oil, squalane | Benefits: Smoothing, brightening, balancing oil, calming, plumping, antioxidant protection | Size: 1 ounce

Best for Dull Skin

Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil

$49 at Amazon $49 at Nordstrom $49 at Sephora

If your complexion is looking a little worse for wear during the winter, or you need to restore a bit of life back into sun-weathered skin, then your new best friend is this nutrient-packed oil from Youth to the People. This product was a relief for dry or eczema-prone skin, as its syrupy formula smoothed into a lightweight serum that sank effortlessly into our skin.

Its hero ingredients of maqui, prickly pear, and acai were working in overdrive to make our skin look soft and supple while also restoring its vibrance, leaving us with an ethereal glow without making us look greasy. We loved the results of this oil so much that we chose to go makeup-free — it made our skin look more alive than any foundation could. 

Oils: Maqui, acai, goji, prickly pear, squalane | Benefits: Smoothing texture, moisturizing, anti-aging | Size: 1 ounce

Best Anti-Aging

Burt's Bees Facial Oil with Rosehip Seed Extract

$16 at Amazon $22 at Target $20 at Walmart

Moisture is key when it comes to anti-aging skincare, and Burt’s Bees mastered moisturization with their rosehip face oil. The formula’s rosehip oil aids hydration and elasticity, according to Dr Michele J. Farber, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Philadelphia. Further, Dr. Yadav says rosehip seed oil is “naturally rich in antioxidants, which help to protect the skin against free radicals to prevent premature aging.”  

The oil is definitely one of the richer formulas we tested, and it didn’t absorb particularly quickly: We could still feel it on our skin a few minutes after application. This product is best suited for those who have especially dry skin or anyone looking to up their moisture in the winter. If you need an ultra-rich formula at an unbeatable price, this is the face oil for you. 

Oils: Rosehip seed oil, jojoba oil, evening primrose seed | Benefits: Hydration, anti-aging, antioxidant protection | Size: 0.05 ounce

Best Vitamin E

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil

$11 at Amazon $7 at Target $22 at Walmart

This face oil might seem like a steal, but its low cost only gets better when you consider how many different ways it can be used: You can use it on your face, body, hair, cuticles — you name it. It both nourished our skin (without leaving any trace of greasy residue or sticky texture) and minimized the appearance of scars and stretch marks, which helped it nab a perfect score in the value category. While we did like the fragrance (it wasn’t an overpowering scent), we want to note that it may be a potential irritant for those with sensitive skin types.

Oils: Mineral, sunflower, chamomile, rosemary, calendula | Benefits: Hydration, improves appearance of stretch marks and scars | Size: 2 ounces

Best Lightweight

Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil

$29 at Amazon $29 at Sephora $28 at Koraorganics.com

Many of our winning oils were lauded for being lightweight, but this one took the cake. There were no greasy elements to this formula, and we didn’t feel any residue on our skin after we applied it. It manages to strike the perfect balance of moisture and weight, so it’s not too heavy for any skin type. Case in point: This oil worked wonders for those with combination skin types, performing equally as well on oily spots as dry areas.

It’s an expensive product, but we liked how it made our skin feel, so we think it’s still worth the buy. Plus, this product could even replace your antioxidant serum, as ingredients like rosehip, pomegranate, and sea buckthorn oils are chock-full of antioxidants.

Oils: Rosehip, pomegranate, sea buckthorn, jojoba seed | Benefits: Hydration, brightening, antioxidant protection | Size: 1.01 ounce