What are the benefits of face oils?

In addition to feeling and smelling great, face oils have many benefits. They go on beautifully and are easily absorbed by the skin. They add moisture and also create a barrier on the skin that locks moisture in. But it all comes down to the ingredients.

Ceda oils are comprised mostly of plant-based carrier oils (organic grapeseed, apricot kernel, and rosehip seed oils, and organic jojoba), with a small amount of high-quality essential oils that are gentle on the face and skin. (See our list of skin concerns and the essential oils that may help.)

To learn more about what’s in each of our oils, go to shop oils, scroll to the bottom of any individual oil’s page, and read about the ingredients and their benefits.

Will face oils make my skin oily?

Contrary to what many people think, face oils can help mitigate excess sebum production. When your skin is oily, it’s often because your skin is dry and craving moisture. The sebaceous glands (located under the skin’s surface) respond by creating sebum (which in excess can cause oily skin, clogged pores, and acne) to hydrate it. When you use a good-quality face oil, your skin’s craving for moisture is met and sebum production regulates.

Up until my 30s, I had oily skin and acne, so I, too, was hesitant about using face oil. But my skin loved it from the beginning and I’ve been a believer ever since. Whatever face oil brand you use, just make sure that the product’s carrier oils have low comedogenic numbers (the lower the number, the less clogging the oil). All the carriers in Ceda oils have a comedogenic rating of 1 or 2 (on a scale of 0-5).

Will face oils work on acne-prone skin?

Yes, in fact they can help regulate sebum production. They did for me.

What is the best way to apply face oil?

Some people like to use face oil as part of their regular cleansing/moisturizing routine. Because face oils introduce a barrier between your skin and the environment, it’s best to use them on top of your regular moisturizer. Other people (myself included) use only face oil, after cleaning the skin with a mild cleanser. For me, the fewer products and ingredients the better.

How do I choose a face oil?

If you have skin issues, check out our skin concerns page to see if there’s a particular oil that might work better for your skin type—or maybe there’s one that you want to avoid. All our face oils are comprised of about 98 percent carrier oils, with approximately 20 drops of essential oils per bottle, so the ingredients are mostly the same.

Many essential oils have crossover benefits, with some addressing more specific issues (for example, black pepper and cardamom are believed to help with circulation). For the most part, I tell people to go with the fragrance they like best. Some customers have very strong opinions about certain smells; others (like me) seem to love them all.

What’s the difference between face serum and face oil?

Serums are typically water-based, and are applied after cleansing and toning but before moisturizing, and are often used to address a specific concern (i.e., uneven skin tone or texture). Their texture is light and fluid.

Face oils are oil-based and richer, they penetrate the skin more slowly, and are typically used on top of moisturizer, to seal in moisture; they can also be used alone.

Face oils and serums can be used together, but should be applied in order of consistency: light to heavy, with serums being applied first.

What if I have a reaction to my face oil?

It’s strongly recommended that you test your face oil on your arm or wrist before using it on your face (if you do have a reaction, it’s much more tolerable and less visible here). Our oils have been tested by many men and women of all ages, and there has been little to no adverse reaction to any of the oils. This is not to say it doesn’t happen—everyone is different, and some people may have sensitivities to certain plants that they don’t know about until they use them on their skin. So it’s best to be cautious when you first use your oil, just in case!