PROP STYLING BY ELIZABETH PRESS; ILLUSTRATIONS BY CLARE OWEN,I2IART.COMOil Boom
Take a walk down the aisles of any beauty emporium and it’s hard
not to notice we’ve struck oil—literally. The popularity of argan oil in skin-care products
has segued into an array of other exotic nut and berry extractions, including
marula, coconut, and sea buckthorn. Packed with nutrients, these slick potions are just
what your skin is thirsting for—even if you have an oily complexion.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YASU + JUNKOIT WASN’T LONG AGO that “oil-free”
was the rallying call in cosmet-
ics, and many of us wouldn’t
dream of using anything remotely
resembling an oil for fear of
clogged pores. Talk about a para-
digm shift! Now oils are our
friends. Unlike synthetic and
mineral oils that just sit on
skin’s surface, today’s are packed
with antioxidants and omega
fatty acids, and come courtesy
of Mother Nature—who (almost)
always knows best. “These lipid-
loving natural oils are absorbed
quickly into the skin, plumping
it from within while protecting
with a barrier that helps prevent
water loss and encourages cel-
lular repair,” says New York City
dermatologist Joshua Zeichner.
So even acne-prone skin won’t
be left feeling greasy. Yet pick-
ing among all the good-for-
you-sounding options can feel
overwhelming. Naturopathica
skin-care founder Barbara Close
prefers “cold-pressed” oils,
saying she believes the heat- and
solvent-free process preserves
their nutritive value. “Read the
labels,” she advises. “If addi-
tional ingredients are listed, do
some research to see if they’re
adding value—as preservatives,
or for therapeutic benefits—or
just acting as filler and diluting
the potency.” But above all,
she cautions against a one-size-
fits-all approach. “Each oil has
a different weight and profile,”
she says—so choosing the
wrong type may not give you the
results you want. To find one
suited to your needs, check out
our chart, opposite.“Most oils in facial prod-
ucts come from seeds,”
says Naturopathica’s
Barbara Close. “Store
them away from light
and heat or cold to pre-
vent oxidation and to
maintain their potency.”38
BEAUTY & STYLE
Skin