Once perceived as the bad guy of the beauty world, face oils have undergone a huge transformation in recent years, firmly earning their place in modern routines. The best face oils are no longer heavy and gloopy, instead, today’s formulas are lightweight, thoughtfully blended and designed to support everything from barrier repair to radiance and long-term skin health.
At their best, face oils work by sealing in hydration, strengthening the barrier and delivering a concentrated hit of lipids that the skin naturally recognises. Ingredients like squalane, rosehip, jojoba and meadowfoam seed oil can help replenish moisture without clogging pores, while antioxidant-rich oils like marula, camellia and sea buckthorn can help protect against environmental stressors. So, while drier skin types might benefit from richer, cold-pressed blends, combination and oiler skins tend to be better matched with fast-absorbing oils that sink in without leaving residue.
So, whether it’s layered over serum, mixed into moisturiser or pressed into skin as the final step in a night-time routine, a good face oil can often be one of the most versatile products in your routine. Keep reading to discover our tried and tested favourites.
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The best face oils for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Skin Rocks the support oil: £65, Spacenk.com
- Best budget buy – Q+A super food facial oil: £8.50, Hollandandbarrett.com
- Best for mature skin – Liz Earle superskin concentrate: £48, Lizearle.com
- Best for instant glow – Summer Fridays heavenly sixteen all-in-one face oil: £55, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best for brightening dull skin – Nip+Fab vitamin C fix antioxidant morning oil 20%: £29.95, Nipandfab.com
How I tested
In order to find the best face oils, I tested a range of formulas over several weeks, incorporating them into our daily skincare routine. I mostly focussed on nighttime use, but some formulas were used during the day. In all cases, products were applied to freshly cleansed skin, either alone or layered over hydrating serums, in order to see how they performed. You can read my full in-depth testing criteria at the end of this guide.
Read more: Best cleansing oils 2025, recommended by a beauty editor
