Hello there, lovely Internet friends! I’m back on the blog to share all about my obsession with facial oils and serums. To preface this post, I want to tell you about how I fell into using these products in the first place.
I have somewhat oily skin — by that, I mean that some areas are more oily throughout the day than others. For so many years, I was convinced that if I used oil-based products, my skin was going to get significantly worse.
First of all, THAT’S NOT TRUE! This is coming from someone (me) who has dealt with horrible facial acne and oily skin in the past. Trust me, I’ve been through it all with my skin, and I was just as surprised as you probably are reading this.
Oil-based products do not equate to oily skin. Plain and simple.
When it comes to figuring out what kinds of facial oils or serums to use, there are a couple things I think you should consider.
- Using a facial oil or serum doesn’t mean you can stop using a moisturizer. Yes, facial oils work to lock moisture into your skin, but you still need to be adding some level of hydration before or after putting your facial oil on. Some experts say to moisturize before your facial oil, but I always do it after! 🙂
- Seek out facial oils that are natural, organic and clean. There could be a lot of gross, synthetic ingredients in facial oils. Save yourself the hassle later on and do the research now. You’ve got to have an understanding of what you’re putting on your face!
So, why exactly should you start using facial oils or serums?
Because they will be the game-changing products you’ve been looking for in your skincare routine!
Facial oils and serums are full of healthy antioxidants that your skin craves, not to mention they won’t make you look like a grease ball. Trust me — I use facial oils in both the morning and evening, and I definitely don’t think I look like I put butter on my face! They give that healthy looking, natural glow that you may have thought could only come from highlighter!
So, you know why facial oils and serums are a must in your skincare routine. Now what? Start your search for the facial oils and serums that will help with your skin concerns! Peach & Lily and Follain both offer online skin consultations that could offer you some insight about what to look for in a facial oil. Those are also my two favorite websites to look for facial oils.
I’ve shared all of my favorites below! As always, let me know if you have any questions about the products I’ve used.
Let’s get started!

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus
Although this product is advertised more to those in their 40s or 50s, I think it’s a great facial serum for people in their 20s and 30s, too. I only use this serum at night, but I think that’s perfect for my skin’s needs. My skin texture has definitely improved since I started using this. I have some acne scarring that I’m a little self-conscious about, but this stuff has helped to smooth things out. If you have troublesome skin, I think this is a great serum to introduce into your routine. It’s light, fragrance-free and has no parabens!
I’ve talked about my love for this serum on the blog before, but I wanted to highlight it again because it’s that amazing! I use this one in the morning underneath my make-up and I’m obsessed. No, it doesn’t make my make-up slip off my face. This facial oil is made with all-natural ingredients, so you know what you’re putting on your face. I’ve been using this one for over a year now. Many of its ingredients are anti-inflammatory as well, which is great if your skin gets easily irritated.

This is the lightest and freshest facial oil I’ve used! I came across this facial oil on Soko Glam’s website and it’s for-sure going to be one that I routinely reorder — it’s that good. It contains omega 3, 6, and 9 oils that help with inflammation, radiance and skin cell growth. How cool! This is definitely more of an anti-aging facial oil, if that’s something you’re looking to add to your routine.
Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum
If you have acne-prone skin, adding an acne-fighting serum or oil into your routine is a great place to start! I was using another brand for a while, but I was concerned with how ‘clean’ it was, so I switched to this brand. Juice Beauty is all-natural, so you can have peace of mind about using it everyday. This one contains a pretty low concentrate of salicylic acid and willow bark, which both help to control acne. It goes on SO SMOOTH — I love it! The formula doesn’t dry out my skin, either.

I just bought this facial oil a couple weekends ago and I’m absolutely obsessed! If you’ve never heard of Gressa, they’re a clean beauty brand that never uses any preservatives, silicones or other harmful/toxic ingredients. I was introduced to them after stopping into j. bellezza boutique at Pinecrest. This oil was recommended to me while I was there. It’s seriously a powerhouse nightly serum. It contains so many ingredients that are beneficial to skin clarity and anti-aging. When I wake up in the morning, my face isn’t oily — it’s fresh, bright and radiant!
Well, there you have it! A little lesson on facial oils and serums, as well as the products I recommend giving a try. If you end up trying any of these facial oils or serums, let me know! I would love to hear your thoughts on them!
Until next time!
Alicia <3