“Your complexion doesn’t have to suffer as the seasons change. ”
If there’s one thing the past year has taught us, it’s the importance of maintaining rituals and routine—especially in the face of uncertainty. You may not be going to the office or popping into your favorite workout class, but you can keep up a daily cleansing routine (or start a new one) to keep your skin feeling healthy and fresh. Many of the women featured on Passerbuys begin with a face cleanser followed by a face oil to hydrate and soothe.
As winter brings colder days and fewer hours of daylight, nourishing your skin becomes even more important. A face oil can ease the transition from day to night, calming redness and washing away your makeup without harsh chemicals. “I use natural beauty products, and I love face oils because they also remove eye makeup,” food stylist Diana Yen tells us. But using a face oil doesn’t have to be just an evening ritual - Stephanie Danler shares that she applies hers multiple times a day: “My friend Ari Basile of the flower crown company Thistle and Seed mixes me a face oil (blend of argan, jojoba, calendula) that I use morning, noon, night.”
While there are a lot of face oils out there, we rounded up the most recommended by the women of Passerbuys.
Pai Rosehip Oil
Recommended by Emily Didonato, Dana Drori, Sabrina Diaz, Verena von Pfetten
Made for all skin types, this “skin nutrition in a bottle” reduces dryness and dullness while tackling blemishes and fine lines. The rich color comes from the seeds of rosehip, which is packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C and omega 3s. “It’s super hydrating and makes me glowy,” model Emily Didonato says.
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Peet Rivko Balancing Face Oil
Recommended by Nicole Najafi, Eva Goicochea, Haley Nahman, Emma Ramos, Carolina Santos-Neves
A signature blend of organic avocado, jojoba and prickly pear oil nourishes and strengthens the skin. Two to three drops on the face provide a hydration boost without a greasy finish. Copywriter and art director Nicole Najafi says that Peet Rivko “feels like self-care because it’s so damn soft and pure.” The face oil is created for all skin types, and fragrance-free.
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Aesop Fabulous Face Oil
Recommended by Leta Sobierajski, Daryl Oh, Moriel Zelikowsky
Fabulous Face Oil is produced with floral ingredients like jasmine petal, juniper berry and evening primrose. With three to five drops in the morning and evening, the oil balances and replenishes - it’s best for normal, combination, dull or congested skin. Art director Leta Sobierajski says “Aesop takes good care of my skin” while scientist Moriel Zelikowsky shares that the brand’s oils “are amazing and make my skin glow.”
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Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum
Recommended by Kayla Tanenbaum, Diana Yen , zoe beyer, monica paolini, Maura Walters and elaine huntzinger
With twenty-twp botanical ingredients (including avocado, lavender and jasmine), this face oil is designed to nourish, soothe and revitalize. The formula begins with naturally-sourced whole plants, which are gently infused into the serum over the course of 21-days. It promotes a natural radiance for all skin types, supporting the circulation of the skin while hydrating and balancing. "Believe the hype” social media strategist Holly Liss tells us. “The 22 active ingredients are like a spa session for your face and do wonders for giving you that healthy, gorgeous glow."
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Lesse Face Serum
Recommended by Mina Alyeshmerni, Rachel Nguyen
Alleviating redness and inflammation, Lesse’s Ritual Serum is made with balancing turmeric and sea minerals. It provides hydration while re-calibrating, rebalancing and renewing, transforming the skin on a cellular level. The lightweight serum is created for the most sensitive skin types, and has also been shown to treat skin conditions like rosacea and dermatitis.
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Diane Higgins Regenerating Facial Oil
Recommended by Erin Allweiss and maura walters
Made in small batches, this face oil is “skin care for the purist” designed to heal and hydrate while stimulating cell renewal. Ingredients include organic jojoba, organic rose hip, plus a blend of organic essential oils for a deeply nourishing daily ritual. Entrepreneur Erin Allweiss praises everything from this NYC based facialist: “Diane Higgins makes the best facial oils! She's cared for my skin for eight years and grows everything upstate where she has her apothecary/lab. It's affordable (but should cost a fortune). I recommend balancing facial oil but also adore the regenerating facial oil. I think I have everything she makes.”
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Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil
Recommended by Holly Liss, Haley Nahman, Natalie Pace
Drunk Elephant’s Marula Face oil “is like rehab for your skin,” nourishing and balancing while promoting a youthful glow. It comes straight from the seeds of the marula fruit, containing powerful antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9. “I use Drunk Elephant's "Marula Luxury Face Oil” religiously,” Natalie Pace tells us.
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Marie Veronique Protective Day Oil
Recommended by Molly Surno, Dana Drori
The Protective Day Oil from Marie Veronique comes in two sizes so you can test it out before you commit. With key ingredients like kiwi seed, chia seed oils, algae oil high in EPA and pomegranate seeds, the face oil provides antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to support healthy skin.
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The Ordinary’s B Oil
Recommended by Nat Guevara, Natassia Dreams
Writer and publicist Nat Guevara tells us that the $7 face oil from The Ordinary is “the best beauty purchase I made this year.” She uses the herbal blend “everywhere” and shares that it can even double as “an amazing cuticle oil.” Designed for all skin types, the “B” Oil is vegan and gluten-free, made with a purified form of micro-algae to support healthy skin defense.
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True Botanicals Renew Pure Radiance Oil
Recommended by Rachel Nguyen
Increasing hydration and reducing the appearance of fine lines, this face oil smells like a bouquet of fresh jasmine and roses. Ingredients like chia seed and kiwi help the skin retain moisture, while passion fruit and papaya seed oil dissolve impurities. The “simple ingredients paired with good techniques” are what influencer Rachel Nguyen loves about this product - it takes just two to ten drops on the skin twice daily to refresh and restore.
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Other recommendations include Brooklyn Herborium Nourish and Replenish face oil (as recommended by Liz Turrigiano), Aromaflor Orgánico (as recommended by Rian Fossett), Circumference Pure Balancing Botanical Face Oil (as recommended by Zan Goodman), Youth to the People (as recommended by Celine Semaan), F. Miller Face Oil (as recommended by Marina Sulmona), and Linne Repair Oil (as recommended by Molly Surno).
Words by Stephanie Mace