Why Face Oil Deserves a Place in Your Skincare Ritual

For years, we were taught to be afraid of putting oil on our faces.

Then somewhere between complicated ten step routines, endless actives and skin barriers crying out for a break, face oils found their way back into our bathrooms.

And we’re very happy they did.

In 2026, skincare is starting to feel a little simpler again. Less about throwing everything at our skin and more about supporting it. Nourishing it. Protecting its natural barrier and choosing ingredients that actually feel beautiful to use.

A really good botanical face oil does exactly that.

So, what does a face oil actually do?

Our skin barrier naturally contains lipids that help keep moisture in and the outside world out. When skin becomes dry or compromised, it can lose water more easily, which is why supporting that barrier is such an important part of healthy skincare.

Plant oils work beautifully as emollients, helping soften and smooth the skin while reducing that dry, tight feeling.

The result?

Skin that feels softer, more supple and comfortable, with that lovely natural glow that makes you want to skip the makeup.

Face oils can be particularly lovely at night, when they can be layered over your usual skincare to help seal everything in.

And then there’s the experience of using one.

Warming a few drops between your palms. Pressing it slowly into your face and neck. Taking an extra minute to massage your skin.

Skincare becomes a ritual rather than another job on the list.

Why we're returning to botanical oils

There’s something refreshing about recognising what’s on an ingredient list.

Our Radiance Face Oil is built around nutrient rich botanical seed oils, each bringing its own fatty acid profile, texture and naturally occurring plant compounds to the blend.

And some of these ingredients are finding their way into the most luxurious skincare formulations in the world.

Take meadowfoam seed oil. It’s prized for its unusual stability and silky skin feel. It also happens to be the first ingredient in La Mer’s The Renewal Oil.

We pair it with moringa, sea buckthorn, evening primrose, rosehip, cucumber seed and pomegranate seed oils.

Seven botanical oils. One beautifully simple ritual.

Meet the oils

Moringa Seed Oil is a rich source of oleic acid and has a wonderfully nourishing, silky feel. Moringa has a long history of traditional use and its oil is particularly valued for its stability and emollient properties.

Meadowfoam Seed Oil gives the blend its beautiful glide. It helps soften the skin and is exceptionally stable compared with many other botanical oils.

Sea Buckthorn Oil is instantly recognisable by its naturally vibrant colour. It contains carotenoids, tocopherols and an interesting range of fatty acids, making it a beautiful addition to antioxidant focused skincare.

Evening Primrose Oil is naturally rich in linoleic acid and gamma linolenic acid and is loved in botanical skincare for dry and depleted feeling skin.

Rosehip Seed Oil has become a skincare favourite for good reason. Naturally containing essential fatty acids and carotenoids, it leaves skin feeling nourished, supple and glowing.

Cucumber Seed Oil is light and delicate, helping balance some of the richer oils in the blend while providing skin conditioning fatty acids.

Pomegranate Seed Oil is particularly interesting because of its naturally high concentration of punicic acid, a fatty acid characteristic of pomegranate seeds.

Together, they create an oil that feels nourishing without turning your evening skincare into another complicated routine.

The best way to use face oil

There’s no need to drown your skin in it.

A few drops is plenty.

After cleansing, apply your water based serums or moisturiser first, then warm a few drops of Radiance Face Oil between your palms and gently press it over your face, neck and décolletage.

Because oil helps seal moisture into the skin, we especially love applying it when the skin still feels slightly hydrated rather than completely dry.

Use it in the evening as the final step in your routine, or add a drop or two when your skin needs some extra nourishment.

Make it a Gua Sha ritual

This is where face oil really comes into its own.

Gua sha should glide across the skin rather than drag it, and a few drops of face oil create the perfect amount of slip.

Apply your oil first, then use gentle pressure with your gua sha, moving slowly across the face and neck.

There’s no need to attack your face or chase dramatic before and after results. The beauty of gua sha is also in the ritual itself.

Five quiet minutes. No phone. No rushing.

Massage your skin, release some of the tension you've been carrying in your face and jaw, and let your evening skincare become part of winding down.

Maybe skincare doesn't need to be so complicated

We love great skincare. We just don't think more automatically means better.

Sometimes it can be as simple as cleansing your face, applying a beautiful botanical oil and spending a few minutes actually caring for your skin.

Seven plant oils. A few drops. One small nightly ritual.

Small rituals. Big shifts.